Watch Him & Her
- 2010
- 4 Seasons
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7.8 (4,900)
Him & Her was a British television sitcom that aired from 2010 to 2013 on BBC Three. Created and written by Stefan Golaszewski, the show revolved around the lives of Becky and Steve, a young couple in their mid-twenties who spend most of their time at home in their cluttered, untidy, and cramped flat in a slummy part of town. The show follows the ups and downs of their daily lives, from the mundane to the absurd, as they navigate their way through love, friendship, and family.
Russell Tovey played Steve, a slacker who often wears the same clothes for days on end and enjoys watching television and listening to music. Sarah Solemani played Becky, a sardonic and sarcastic woman who works as a temp and has a difficult relationship with her obese sister Laura (played by Kerry Howard). Joe Wilkinson played Dan, Steve's annoying and tactless best friend.
The show's main strength came from its focus on characters and dialogue over plot. The series took place entirely within Steve and Becky's flat, with each episode consisting of a single day in their lives. The show utilized a fly-on-the-wall style of filmmaking, with the camera acting as a silent witness to Steve and Becky's daily routines and occasional arguments with each other.
The show was praised for its realistic portrayals of young adults living on a tight budget, and for its ability to find humour in the everyday. The show tackled a variety of topics, from relationship troubles to family drama, from sexual tension to fake tan disasters. Despite its often crude and bawdy humour, the show never veered into the offensive, instead opting for a gentle and honest approach to comedy.
One of the show's most memorable episodes was "The Toast", in which Steve and Becky's attempts to make breakfast are repeatedly interrupted by Dan's arrival and Laura's disastrous attempt at a spray tan. The running joke of the episode is Steve's desperate attempts to toast a slice of bread, reflecting the show's ability to find humour in the mundane.
The show also explored the relationship between Steve and Becky in depth, with the two often bickering but ultimately supporting each other through life's struggles. The show has been called a "love letter to cohabitation", as it portrays the realities of sharing a living space with someone else, including the sometimes frustrating but ultimately fulfilling rewards of such an arrangement.
The show's final season focused on Steve and Becky's attempts at planning their wedding, and the pressures that come with such a major life event. The show's ending was bittersweet, with Steve and Becky finally getting married but also leaving their beloved flat behind. The show was praised for its ability to bring a satisfying conclusion to its characters' stories while also staying true to the show's overall vibe of realism and mundanity.
Overall, Him & Her was a refreshing and original take on the traditional sitcom formula. Its commitment to character development and dialogue over plot made for a unique viewing experience, and its ability to find humour in the everyday ensured that the show was never dull. The show's cast, especially Tovey and Solemani, were praised for their naturalistic performances and the chemistry between the characters.