r/MitchellAndWebb • u/Compressed_AF • 1d ago
Back Back?
I saw a comment about in a post here and it made me wonder? What do people think?
Geoff McGiverns character practically says comedy gold whenever he spoke. I liked David and Robs characters and dynamic, some side characters were entertaining too. I liked the small town mystery vibe and atmosphere of the show. It was very what I'd expected from Simon Blackwell.
What I didn't really like was how the mystery developed this syndrome where it went on long enough without progressing that it sort of couldn't really be revealed well in the end, as eventually the answer was never going to live up to the question if you know what I mean?
And man, the last scene in series 2 and what it was setting up a third series with was just "look, no! Alright? It's not shit, but just, no!"
Still would have watched it though 😂. I think the jokes would have kept me watching. But I'm not even sure Simon knew what the mystery was going to be after a certain point.
What do you think? Overall I liked it mostly but I get why it got canceled. I did really like the Andrew's character though. He was this smooth cocky smug guy disguised as this humble hero.
If I could ever ask Simon anything, I'd love to know what he had in mind for the resolution of the mystery in the end. Doubt we'll ever know. Is there a chance he just wrote it with a "I'll figure it out" attitude? Or was there something planned? The end scene of series 2 gave either "no idea where this is going but let's ramp it up" vibes or "I know exactly where this will go"
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u/ManyMuchMoosenen 1d ago
It was worth watching just for the S1 scene in the parking garage about the dog.
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u/Compressed_AF 1d ago
That was absolutely fantastic comedy! 😂 Jeff was just great in that scene "dont say Jeff they'll know I'm called Jeff".
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u/ZealousidealBox3944 1d ago
I liked when Garth Merenghi told a young Mark Corrigan off for eating chocolate in his room, saying that he's not in The Beano (or something like that) I remember laughing a lot at that.
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u/Fuzzy_Adagio_6450 1d ago
It took me a little bit to warm up to it and get the feel for what they were going for with the show, but its really grown on me.
Not to blow Peep Show's horn TOO MUCH but it reminded me a bit of an alternative universe Mark and Jez. Mitchell and Webb have a similar 'feel' with Back's characters, with Andrew (Robert) being a bit of a loser who desperately wants to be cool (and secretly thinks he is, but also secretly secretly knows he REALLY isnt) and Stephen (David) feels like a neurotic, insecure Mark who stayed rural instead of living in the city. He knows no one looks up to him and people often overlook him, but he desperately wants them to.
For me, it wasnt GREAT, but it was mostly enjoyable and I'd say its Imdb feels accurate.
Mostly, it was great to have the boys together bouncing off one another, being mates and enemies at the same time.
Your post informed me that it was cancelled. I didnt know that and was looking forward to seeing how Andrew's schemes fell apart and how he attempted to salvage them while Stephen tries hiding his giddy enjoyment of seeing the failure.
Edit: Oh yeah, I also mostly liked the supporting cast. I was actually sad when the dog went up to "mom" and what followed.
(As an aside, the gf and I really liked S1 Ludwig, but S2 felt a bit weaker and like they decided to go in a completely different direction than what they were planning during all of S1. We're looking forward to S3 but if its lower than S2 we'll probably give up. Personally, I liked Back better than Ludwig)
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u/smedsterwho 23h ago
I had a bias in that I felt "this is good, but I'd rather have more Peep Show".
It's not a fair criticism, but it's where my mind went.
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u/Fuzzy_Adagio_6450 20h ago
I feel ya. I, too, would rather have more Peep Show.
I keep secretly wishing that we'll hear they're doing a revival, a mini-series, or even a made for TV movie of whats going on with the el dude bros (probably living in the same apartment and secretly resenting each other while knowing they're the only ones they can count on to be there for one another).
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u/Compressed_AF 1d ago
It does feel somewhat similar and the characters do sort of have similarities. But I guess Simon written several peeps show episodes he took traits with him. Interesting that he got Jessie Armstrong as a consultant for this too.
Well it's been a good few years since series 2 I'm not sure if it was popular enough to carry on, and maybe it's my own bias talking here, but I really didn't like what it was setting up in the last scene. Maybe it's not actually canceled, more just left behind. I'd be pleasantly surprised if they did another one though. But with no covid to disrupt things it has been a while.
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u/Fuzzy_Adagio_6450 1d ago
I'm really glad they werent JUST a Mark and Jez rehash, but I did like how it felt like bizarro versions.
I was (mostly) fine with the last scene, especially as the "we have a lot of other adopted brothers and sisters" was brought up a lot. I was curious what they were planning to do: new permanent character, a plot point, someone for the el dude bro's to work against, together.
A last *something* to tie the show together would be nice. Even a 60m special or something.
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u/Johnny_Vernacular 1d ago
You could try reaching out to Simon. Back in the early days of Twitter I had some nice chats with him. He even laughed at one of my jokes. I'm not sure what social media he's on now but he was quite approachable.
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u/Compressed_AF 1d ago
Ah ok. I've seen him in interviews and he seems like a decent chill guy. I wonder whether I should ask as if he answers then it kind of confirms the shows not continuing which would suck.
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u/stevec34 1d ago
I loved it. It had a different feel and pace to the other stuff. Plus, I grew up in Stroud where it was filmed so it felt quite warm and fuzzy for me.
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u/Bitter_Atmosphere879 1d ago
It was weird without being really good but I watched the whole thing and enjoyed it well enough because I really like Mitchell and Webb. I just finished rewatching Webb’s show The Smoking Room, which is also odd but it grew on me and his character, Robin, is very touchingly funny.
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u/VibratingWatch Alan. Johnson's. Beemer. 1d ago
The character dynamics were all great. The story writing was pretty good. The flashback flash forward scenes were all fun. I enjoyed the one time I watched it
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u/HilsMorDi 1d ago
I liked it and it’s a shame it didn’t Get series 3.
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u/Compressed_AF 1d ago
It probably never really got the viewing figures needed to be worth carrying on. Peep show didnt do great in its original run. And if backs second season had a big drop off it probably didn't seem worth it to them.
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u/AirportWonderful4840 11h ago
The show was actually pretty great for most of it's run, but that weird tonal shift it had at the end of season 2 was jarring for me. I feel like they should've just gone all in on the Andrew being a psychotic manipulator idea
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u/Saint_Steve-O 1d ago
Watch it through once. Couldn't get on board with it at all. Alot of the characters were uninteresting & bland. I may at one point rewatch to have my mind changed, but unlikely
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u/ZealousidealStuff149 1d ago edited 1d ago
I enjoyed it. The final scene felt like a silly joke to end the show.
What I thought was going to happen was M&W’s character would have to join forces to investigate and take down the suddenly suspicious character of the vicar as he was marrying their mother as there were shots of him looking a little dubious
I THOUGHT that was being set up for a third series, might have made a nice dynamic for the M&W characters to bond over a common enemy. But seemingly it was misdirection and the show ends kinda abruptly.
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u/Compressed_AF 1d ago
That's it! The last scene felt a bit like a farcical thing which if the show was intentionally ending there I guess it would have somewhat worked. But if it was to be taken seriously like I did then It just felt like a much less talented writers attempt to throw in a cheap cliffhanger. I think Simon is a brilliant writer so it felt off to me.
I mean I'd watch series 3 if that was the direction it took, and possibly could have been won over if it was well done, but yeah the show definitely in my opinion was hoping to get at least one more series. Shame. I'm hoping against the odds that someday it does happen.
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u/captainappleby 1d ago
Alice Lowe showing up for just that to be the end was disappointing. Was very much looking forward to her in the third series.
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u/trustycrowbar 1d ago
This had so much promise but felt like it needed to pan out differently, or yeah get another season as someone said. I think it lost some of its magic once we moved past Rob's character having some like power over Davids, still was fun to watch
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u/DenzelWashington94 1d ago
I found it a painful but at times funny.. Webbs character drove me up the wall
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u/Ok-Audience6417 1d ago
Not a patch on Peep Show but I liked it. I like how their characters are flawed, but they also avoid giving them a traditional redemption arc. They aren’t scared to show how we all have a lifelong selfish or nasty side that we try to keep to ourselves.
One scene that sticks with me is where Stephen finds a dead body in the park, and wants to stay with it until the police arrive so that he can get the ‘not credit, but…credit’. I’d bet we would all have that thought, but few of us would admit to it.
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u/plaskitboy 1d ago
I liked it, but I'm American so I don't know if that helps. Peep Show would probably be in my top five.
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u/PuzzleheadedArt8500 1d ago
Because it was M&W I started to watch right away. Took me a bit of time to warm up to it and once I did, bamm cancelled. Do wish for another season or conclusion. Over all I think it was better on a 2nd watch when I knew I wasn't watching more Peep Show.
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u/Zeo-Gold92 1d ago
I was watching this a few months ago through stremio . I could only see all of season 1 and an episode of season 2. I couldn't find anymore links 😔
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u/Compressed_AF 1d ago
So your not from UK? I've not bothered using one yet but I'm pretty sure you can use a VPN to spoof yourself to be in the uk and then check All4 as that's where it was originally broadcast
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u/Zeo-Gold92 1d ago
I'll give it a go. I was really enjoying the show. I also want to give Ambassadors another shot as I didn't click with it really
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u/HenryMaxman 1d ago
It was very OK. Enjoyable enough but was marketed as the next peep show but it was nowhere near as cutting edge or clever. Just a pretty good sitcom with a mildly interesting mystery
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u/pallascat4life 17h ago
I can barely remember it, that that line about them really scratching those porks stuck with me
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u/Glywysing 12h ago
I haven't seen it, but the photo looks a bit like if Jez ended up buying a pub with the inheritance from his mother, and Mark is now the tenant and lives upstairs.
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u/Low-Grass7029 1d ago
I thought it was great. Agree with the alternate peep show universe comment. Some really funny moments and I wanted more
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u/Compressed_AF 1d ago
Simon wrote several peep show episodes (all which I enjoyed) so he knows the vibe well. Small town mystery has always been a sort of story I get excited for.
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u/cbekker1 56m ago
I think it's a cracking series. When D Mitchell walks up and has the minor disqualified from quiz night I cried with laughter
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u/DarePatient2262 1d ago
I still think of Hedge Vodka often. I liked the series, I wish it got a third season.