Podcast Summary
A relatable British comedy series about friendship: Listeners were drawn to the intimate portrayal of friendship in Josh, found themselves relating to the characters, and plan to continue exploring the series.
"Josh," a British television show starring Josh Widdicombe, Alice James, Beatty Edmonson, and Jack Dee, is an intriguing and relatable comedy series about three flatmates in North London. Despite not knowing much about the cast beforehand, the podcast hosts were drawn to the show's intimate portrayal of friendship and found themselves relating to the characters in unexpected ways. The first episode they watched, titled "Mom and Dad," stood out as particularly strong, with two interwoven storylines that resonated with them. Though they were unable to rewatch the first episode for this podcast, they plan to continue exploring the series episode by episode. Overall, "Josh" offers a fresh and engaging take on the comedy genre, showcasing the relatable experiences and quirks of its well-cast characters.
Exploring complex relationships beyond cliches: Improvised banter and sibling-like care add depth to predictable plotlines, challenging beauty standards and individual perspectives.
While the plotlines in the show may seem predictable or cliche, particularly the dynamic between the popular, beautiful bully (Lily) and the bullied, less confident character (Kate), the true strength of the show lies in the relationships and banter between the characters. The cast's improvisational skills add comic value to otherwise dull writing. Despite the characters' frequent annoyance with each other, they display sibling-like care and concern. The idea of intrinsic hotness versus perceived hotness is a complex issue, and while beauty standards do exist and can impact people's perceptions, ultimately, it's the attitudes and perspectives of individuals that shape their relationships and experiences.
Stereotypical portrayal of Lily and Josh: Despite exploring themes of attraction and rebellion, the execution of Lily and Josh's plotline felt forced and unrelatable, while Kate and Judith's interactions shone with authenticity and relatability.
The TV show under discussion perpetuates stereotypes through its characters Lily and Josh. Lily, who is trying to rebel against her father's disapproval, comes off as the "crazy girl" stereotype, while Josh, who is trying to win her affections, is an embodiment of the "everyman" trope. Their plotline felt forced and unrelatable. However, the episode shines when focusing on Kate and her relationship with her mother, Judith. The fact that Jennifer Saunders, who plays Judith, is the real-life mother of the actress playing Kate adds authenticity to their interactions. This subplot was more engaging and relatable, making it the standout part of the episode. Overall, while the show explores themes of attraction and rebellion, the execution of these plotlines left room for improvement.
The complex relationship between Kate and her mother Judith: Despite feelings of unlovedness and overshadowing, Kate's perspective is not entirely sympathetic as she compares herself unfavorably to her sisters and tries to please her mother. Judith's past experiences and new romantic interest add complexity to their strained connection.
The relationship between Kate and her mother Judith in "Absolutely Fabulous" is complex and multifaceted, with both parties contributing to their strained connection. From the start, Judith's landlord Jeff shows an unusual interest in Kate's life, and Kate feels unloved and overshadowed by her mother's past experiences. However, Kate's perspective is not entirely sympathetic, as she compares herself unfavorably to her sisters and is overly eager to please her mother. The introduction of Owen, who becomes infatuated with Judith, adds an unexpected element to the story, as Owen attempts to win Judith's affection and prove himself to be "great with mums." Meanwhile, Kate tries to connect with her mother through a cake inspired by the British baking show "The Great British Bake Off," but the result is a disastrous representation of Mary Berry. Overall, the episode explores the themes of love, acceptance, and the complexities of family dynamics.
Exploring Connections and Misunderstandings through Gift-Giving: Thoughtful gifts can bridge gaps between people, but misunderstandings and differing perspectives can complicate even the most heartfelt gestures.
The gift-giving scene in the show highlights the unique connections and misunderstandings between the characters. Jeff's thoughtful spa tickets and Owen's heartfelt mixtape show their individual efforts to connect with Judith. However, Josh's attempt at giving a mixtape was met with disdain, highlighting the characters' differing perspectives and sensitivities. Later, at Judith's birthday celebration, Kate feels left out and panics when she realizes that Owen and Judith might be together. The episode ends with Kate discovering that Owen had put different boxer shorts in the bed, leading to varying interpretations about their relationship. Overall, the scene showcases the characters' complex relationships and their attempts to navigate intimacy and connection.
Embracing Comfort Zones: Josh and Kate's Challenges: Despite attempts to step out of comfort zones, Josh and Kate face challenges and reveal their flaws, highlighting the importance of embracing what we love and enjoying experiences authentically.
The characters in this discussion encounter various challenges and unexpected situations while trying to fit in or enjoy experiences outside of their comfort zones. For Josh, this means attempting to attend a darts event, or "DOTS," by getting drunk despite being short on money. He attends a fake wedding as an attempt to acquire alcohol, but ends up in an awkward situation. Kate, on the other hand, tries to spend a day alone without getting bored, but struggles to engage with high culture and eventually gives up. Both characters face challenges that reveal their own flaws and limitations, and the situation often leads to humor and awkwardness. It seems that the message behind these scenarios is that it's important to embrace what we love and enjoy, even if it doesn't always align with societal expectations or the expectations of others. However, the plot also raises questions about the value systems underlying these challenges and the motivations of the characters.
High and Low Culture Coexist: People enjoy both high and low culture, but there's a societal pressure to hide low culture preferences, leading to a secret enjoyment.
High culture and low culture are not mutually exclusive, and people's preferences for each can coexist. The discussion revolved around the contrast between the young actress's interest in "The Great Gatsby" as a symbol of high culture and her enjoyment of the "Don't Tell the Bride" reality show as a representation of low culture. However, it was pointed out that Pixar movies, which the actress had not seen but was assumed to be low culture, are not typical children's movies but rather high-quality productions. The actress's age and potential childhood attachment to "Don't Tell the Bride" were also considered. The episode's content was assessed as not particularly noteworthy, but the language used was appreciated for its unique expressions, such as "tittled" and "her indoors and trouble and strife." The conversation also touched on the idea that even in today's academic climate, where high and low culture are increasingly blurred, people still find pleasure in both and may feel a sense of secrecy or guilt when indulging in low culture. The episode ended with Jeff and the actress sharing a human connection, which was a nice reminder of the importance of interaction and the joy of discovering new words.
Criticism for Martha's characterization and outdated stereotypes: The fourth episode received backlash for its portrayal of Martha as a one-dimensional, humorless feminist activist, and for relying on outdated stereotypes. The episode missed an opportunity for meaningful character development and satire.
The fourth episode of the show was criticized for its treatment of the character Martha. She was portrayed as a humorless, vegan, feminist activist, and the interactions between her and Mike were seen as cruel and misogynistic. The episode received criticism for relying on outdated stereotypes and failing to provide depth to Martha's character. The b-plot involving Owen and his friend Teabag, who were portrayed as big drinkers, also added to the overall sense of boredom and lack of substance in the episode. Overall, the episode was seen as a missed opportunity for meaningful character development and satire.
Lack of Progressiveness in Entertainment Shows: Despite having progressive individuals involved, entertainment shows may not always represent diverse perspectives or offer authentic representation. More depth and authenticity is needed.
The entertainment industry, even with young and seemingly progressive individuals involved, may not always reflect the desired representation or perspectives. Josh Widdicombe, a frequent panel show guest, was criticized for his lack of progressiveness in his own show. While being in close contact with progressive figures does not necessarily equate to sharing their views, it was hoped that shows written and led by these figures would offer a better representation. However, such shows may not yet exist on a regular basis. The discussion also touched upon the portrayal of easy targets in media, such as warhammer geeks and activists. Despite some enjoyment derived from the subplots, the overall sentiment was that more depth and authentic representation is needed.
Issues with plot lines and character development in the TV show: The show has appealing aspects but faces criticism for underdeveloped characters and plot lines, with some viewers finding certain characters relatable despite their blandness or preferring others despite their similarities.
Despite having some appealing aspects, the discussed TV show has significant issues, particularly with its plot lines and character development. While some viewers find certain characters relatable, others, like the main character Josh, are perceived as bland and underdeveloped. The show's pacing might make it worth watching the remaining episodes on a leisure day. However, the lack of depth in the main character's storyline is a major concern. In contrast, some viewers prefer other characters, like Kate, despite finding her bland, as they can relate to her better. Ultimately, the show's appeal is subjective, with some viewers enjoying it despite its flaws and others finding it unengaging. For the next discussion, we plan to explore seventies children's British sci-fi and fantasy programming.
