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Gavin and Stacey - With Hindsight. |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
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Gavin and Stacey - With Hindsight.
Forgive me for starting a thread on such an old series, but I wondered if I am alone in my thoughts on this?
I only ever caught the odd episode of Gavin and Stacey in its day, and I recall finding it quite enjoyable but never watched it properly, So when I noticed it on Gold currently I decided to give it a watch. To say that I am not a Corden fan is an understatement, but hey, he was just starting out and probably hadn't learned to be so far up his own backside at that point? I was sure I could handle it - Boy was I wrong ![]() Now I don't know if its the knowledge what Corden is going to grow into, but I am finding the whole thing to be a self indulgent vehicle for his ego - Forget the whole "whacky loveable best mate" thing, Smithy is the main character, no other characters can so much as have a poo without Smithy being involved at some level. With Hindsight I think James Corden just wanted a show all about himself. but knew no one would watch it, so he had to write in a couple of likeable, good looking characters to legitimise the whole thing. Am I right, or is my hatred of Corden blurring my vision? . |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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Smithy and Nessa are really the main characters, Gavin and Stacey were a little dull as people. The "straight men" if you will.
Don't forget Ruth Jones co-wrote it too, possibly reigning Corden in a bit along the way. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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I only watched G&S for the first time about 6 months ago and I thought all 3 series were great, although I wasn't so keen on the Christmas special. I had no prejudices at the time but, since watching Larry Lamb in I'm a Celeb, I have now. He turned out to be a right tosser and will probably spoil the show if I watched it again.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,482
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I also can't bear James Corden, but Gavin & Stacey is an excellent show, in my opinion.
And I actively avoid everything else that James Corden is in or on. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
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Unquestionably one of the worst comedies to have ever been created.
How it was so successful is simply baffling. ![]() ![]() ![]() As you say, Corden's self-indulgent grandstanding is grating. Ruth Jones' character is just annoying, especially with that stupid manner of speaking she adopts. Gavin and Stacey are both utterly wet, whiny and devoid of all humour. Alison Steadman overacts. Larry Lamb just goes through the motions. And Rob Brydon's "whacky" Uncle Bryn character soon becomes incredibly tedious. He's Welsh. We get it. Name me a bunch of popular comedies and I'll tell you that I find 9 out of 10 of them funny in some fashion. But this show? Its popularity is simply mind-boggling, because I find the humour to be practically non-existent. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lost
Posts: 43,317
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Quote:
Forgive me for starting a thread on such an old series, but I wondered if I am alone in my thoughts on this?
I only ever caught the odd episode of Gavin and Stacey in its day, and I recall finding it quite enjoyable but never watched it properly, So when I noticed it on Gold currently I decided to give it a watch. To say that I am not a Corden fan is an understatement, but hey, he was just starting out and probably hadn't learned to be so far up his own backside at that point? I was sure I could handle it - Boy was I wrong ![]() Now I don't know if its the knowledge what Corden is going to grow into, but I am finding the whole thing to be a self indulgent vehicle for his ego - Forget the whole "whacky loveable best mate" thing, Smithy is the main character, no other characters can so much as have a poo without Smithy being involved at some level. With Hindsight I think James Corden just wanted a show all about himself. but knew no one would watch it, so he had to write in a couple of likeable, good looking characters to legitimise the whole thing. Am I right, or is my hatred of Corden blurring my vision? . I think the show having a number of memorable characters already places it above many shows of its type. Having said that, it's certainly not high in my list of favourite sitcoms. It's not a show I'd watch again and again, not like Father Ted or Red Dwarf. My mum liked it though, and there's very few sitcoms we could watch together and we'd both find entertaining. Most modern stuff she doesn't find funny at all. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: OP is a murderer!!
Posts: 27,200
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Quote:
Forgive me for starting a thread on such an old series, but I wondered if I am alone in my thoughts on this?
I only ever caught the odd episode of Gavin and Stacey in its day, and I recall finding it quite enjoyable but never watched it properly, So when I noticed it on Gold currently I decided to give it a watch. To say that I am not a Corden fan is an understatement, but hey, he was just starting out and probably hadn't learned to be so far up his own backside at that point? I was sure I could handle it - Boy was I wrong ![]() Now I don't know if its the knowledge what Corden is going to grow into, but I am finding the whole thing to be a self indulgent vehicle for his ego - Forget the whole "whacky loveable best mate" thing, Smithy is the main character, no other characters can so much as have a poo without Smithy being involved at some level. With Hindsight I think James Corden just wanted a show all about himself. but knew no one would watch it, so he had to write in a couple of likeable, good looking characters to legitimise the whole thing. Am I right, or is my hatred of Corden blurring my vision? . I first watched him in Fat Friends in the 80/90's and he was excellent in that and knew he would go a long way. I don't get the hate for him as he has done so well in his life.. maybe that is why or how can a fat person do as well as he has. That's the impression I get anyway. I admit I do not like the ad he is in only because he does not give himself enough time to stop if the light do change to red. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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Quote:
I first watched him in Fat Friends in the 80/90's and he was excellent in that and knew he would go a long way.
I don't get the hate for him as he has done so well in his life.. maybe that is why or how can a fat person do as well as he has. That's the impression I get anyway. I admit I do not like the ad he is in only because he does not give himself enough time to stop if the light do change to red. ![]() I love Gavin & Stacey, though I've never liked Smithy, and if I watched it again now I'd probably like him even less due to my dislike of James Corden. So it's not just you, OP! |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Crosby
Posts: 1,650
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I'm not a Corden fan by any means but Gavin & Stacey is an amazing comedy series with lots of underrated comedy moments. It will certainly be ranked high in the future when the inevitable "Best Sitcoms of the 21st Century" countdown shows start to compile their lists.
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#10 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
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I'm not a Corden fan by any means but Gavin & Stacey is an amazing comedy series with lots of underrated comedy moments. It will certainly be ranked high in the future when the inevitable "Best Sitcoms of the 21st Century" countdown shows start to compile their lists.
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
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It's a great show but the main flaw is that imo, the title characters are the weakest characters and as the show developed, i couldn't care less about them. I was more interested in both of the characters friends and family. But because Corden and Jones both wrote the show and starred in it, there is a slight bit of self indulgence in their writing as they were guilty of making sure they had the best material to act from in their characters. You shouldn't always leave the best jokes for yourself, especially in a ensemble.
The character of Nessa is up there as one of my all time fav characters from a british sitcom. Where as James Corden was essentially playing himself, it was Ruth who molded a character a million miles away from herself. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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The very first episode of G&S that I saw was on Christmas Day way back when they showed the Bank Holiday at the beach episode which, by then was almost the end of the third series.
I then caught up with series 1&2&3 and the Christmas show and loved every one of them. By no means am I a fan of Corden but I thought as a comedy, it's up there with some of the best. |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,868
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I love it, although haven't seen it for a while. I like how it's very true to life in one way, and then very out there in another sense. Like Nessa having so many famous friends and connections, there's people out there who aren't famous, but the have a friend who is famous, like a childhood friend who's made it big, yet in Gavin and Stacey, it's extending it to Nessa having many famous friends.
I love the in-jokes, like about Gavin's group of friends, and their nicknames, Stacey being engaged five times (You couldn't find a nicer bloke than Achmed). Also how Bryn is just accepted by everyone and his peculiarity isn't questioned, and how Smithy was almost adopted (not in any formal sense) by the Shipmans and just slots into the family. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Oct 2010
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"You're eating ham, Pam....."
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#15 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,937
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Quote:
Forgive me for starting a thread on such an old series, but I wondered if I am alone in my thoughts on this?
I only ever caught the odd episode of Gavin and Stacey in its day, and I recall finding it quite enjoyable but never watched it properly, So when I noticed it on Gold currently I decided to give it a watch. To say that I am not a Corden fan is an understatement, but hey, he was just starting out and probably hadn't learned to be so far up his own backside at that point? I was sure I could handle it - Boy was I wrong ![]() Now I don't know if its the knowledge what Corden is going to grow into, but I am finding the whole thing to be a self indulgent vehicle for his ego - Forget the whole "whacky loveable best mate" thing, Smithy is the main character, no other characters can so much as have a poo without Smithy being involved at some level. With Hindsight I think James Corden just wanted a show all about himself. but knew no one would watch it, so he had to write in a couple of likeable, good looking characters to legitimise the whole thing. Am I right, or is my hatred of Corden blurring my vision? . |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,937
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Quote:
Unquestionably one of the worst comedies to have ever been created.
How it was so successful is simply baffling. ![]() ![]() ![]() As you say, Corden's self-indulgent grandstanding is grating. Ruth Jones' character is just annoying, especially with that stupid manner of speaking she adopts. Gavin and Stacey are both utterly wet, whiny and devoid of all humour. Alison Steadman overacts. Larry Lamb just goes through the motions. And Rob Brydon's "whacky" Uncle Bryn character soon becomes incredibly tedious. He's Welsh. We get it. Name me a bunch of popular comedies and I'll tell you that I find 9 out of 10 of them funny in some fashion. But this show? Its popularity is simply mind-boggling, because I find the humour to be practically non-existent.
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#17 |
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Les Pays-Bas
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Watched the the first series and a few odd episodes, but what became annoying was the concept of it being a 'nation's favourite' and the endless bloody hyping of it. It wasn't as great as all that.
I don't mind Corden. His two series of The Wrong Mans was great. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 263
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I love it. All my family love it.
I still quote or refer to parts of it most weeks, such as the takeaway scene. |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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I love it. All my family love it.
I still quote or refer to parts of it most weeks, such as the takeaway scene. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
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Quote:
Watched the the first series and a few odd episodes, but what became annoying was the concept of it being a 'nation's favourite' and the endless bloody hyping of it. It wasn't as great as all that.
I don't mind Corden. His two series of The Wrong Mans was great. Looking back, although I enjoyed it sometimes, there wasn't one single character, that at I didn't find annoying at one time or another. Nessa could occasionally be hilarious but most of the time, she was pretty horrific. I'm sure if someone else had been writing it, more of them would've told her to STFU. |
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#21 |
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kent but ex Sarf London
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I discovered it by accident as James and Matt were on Soccer AM talking about the show starting on BBC3 the following night.
The clips looked decent but what swung it is that one of my mates lives in billericay and I know the area well. I preferred it when it was a low key show onBBC3 as I think the hype was a bit OTT but it was s very good show. I loved the wedding episode as ive been to ones exactly like that |
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#22 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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I don't know why James Corden is disliked so much, he seems pretty talented to me. Carpool Karaoke has broken YouTube records (obviously Adele is the best) and who can forget Smiffy at The Sports Personality of the Year;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvvKUtHlDK8&t=627s from 6,30. |
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#23 |
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 108
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I don't know why James Corden is disliked so much, he seems pretty talented to me. Carpool Karaoke has broken YouTube records (obviously Adele is the best) and who can forget Smiffy at The Sports Personality of the Year;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvvKUtHlDK8&t=627s from 6,30. As you say, I don't know why Corden is so disliked or why anyone should not find fat ranting Essex boy characters hilarious
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#24 |
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Honiton, Devon
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Quote:
I don't know why James Corden is disliked so much, he seems pretty talented to me. Carpool Karaoke has broken YouTube records (obviously Adele is the best) and who can forget Smiffy at The Sports Personality of the Year;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvvKUtHlDK8&t=627s from 6,30. |
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#25 |
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 86
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Quote:
Unquestionably one of the worst comedies to have ever been created.
How it was so successful is simply baffling. ![]() ![]() ![]() As you say, Corden's self-indulgent grandstanding is grating. Ruth Jones' character is just annoying, especially with that stupid manner of speaking she adopts. Gavin and Stacey are both utterly wet, whiny and devoid of all humour. Alison Steadman overacts. Larry Lamb just goes through the motions. And Rob Brydon's "whacky" Uncle Bryn character soon becomes incredibly tedious. He's Welsh. We get it. Name me a bunch of popular comedies and I'll tell you that I find 9 out of 10 of them funny in some fashion. But this show? Its popularity is simply mind-boggling, because I find the humour to be practically non-existent. G&S is utter drivel and I have no idea how anyone would want to suffer a whole episode. It is beyond rubbish. |
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