Is Gavin and Stacey supposed to be funny?

[stratobuddy]

I never watched it when it was on originally, but I was looking forward to the much-hyped Christmas special "last-ever" final episode.

Both OH and I have watched an hour of it, both stony-faced, we can't see anything funny about it.
In fact, it is just like Eastenders with everyone shouting and arguing with each other all the time.

I'd assumed it would be the normal 1/2 hour format, and we've both been thinking it seems to be very long, and hoping it would finish soon. Now I've discoverd it was 1 hour 35 minutes long!

Whether or not we ever get to the end is debatable. OH says we've put up with it so far for so long, we may as well watch the rest to see if anything funny happens.

What to others think of the series and this last episode?

 

[Toril]

I’ve watched a couple of the series over the years but did watch the finale. Like you, I didn’t find it the least bit funny. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be but I wouldn’t know. Maybe a Gavin and Stacey fan will tell us what the appeal is?

I certainly won’t be watching anything to do with Gavin and Stacey again.

 

[Jazzydrury]

I had never watched it until last night, I don’t get the hype

 

[Ant7t]

I wasn't a fan of the series: yes, I'd seen some through the years, but that's it. So, regardless of the hype yesterday, I didn't see it.

 

[maymorganlondon]

I really enjoyed it. I found it funny and moving in equal measure, but then I lived the series.

 

[pyjama princess]

I’ve watched all the tv shows and waited, not so patiently, for this final episode. It was put together to follow up on outstanding issues like what was Smithy’s answer to Nessa’s proposal. I loved the finale and wept several times. I can see me watching it more than once. There’s several videos on FB showing people watching the show in places such as pubs and cinemas and a huge cheer goes up when Mick stands up in answer to Smithy’s question as to whether he should marry Sonia.
I’m Welsh, born and bred and have visited Barry many times as a child. Perhaps you have to have lived among the Welsh to ‘get’ it all. Are any of you not Welsh and enjoyed all the shows?

 

[donna255]

I wanted to know what really happened on the fishing trip?

Did Bryn tell Jason, I am your father?

Or was it like Brokeback Mountain?

 

[stratobuddy]

Thanks for the comments, but WAS IT SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY?

I had always thought that it was supposed to be a comedy sitcom like Porridge, One Foot in the Grave, etc etc, but obviously not.

I didn't warm to any of the characters, they were constantly arguing and shouting, and Uncle Bryn even squared up for a fight!

The only reason I watched it was because of the weeks of hype on the BBC and in newspapers, and because BARRY ISLAND was my favourite stomping ground as a child and teenager. I went there almost every weekend with family, then as a teenager on a friend's motor bike (and almost had a bad accident) and later in my own car. And the dancing school I went to had an annual dance in Bindles ballroom. I even stayed there for a week at Butlins while it was there. In fact, I cycled there from home a few times when I was about 15, quite an achievemtnt on my old bike.

 

[MrMarple]

Yes, IMO it’s probably one of the funniest TV programs from the last 20 years but if you’ve never watched the previous episodes it would possibly affect your enjoyment of it because you’re not aware of the different personalities of all the characters.

 

[donna255]

Strato, the comedies you mention are all from the 1970s times have changed, Gavin and Stacey is the 21st century. Not all laughs, moments of saddest and heart.

 

[historymystery]

I never watched it when it was on originally, but I was looking forward to the much-hyped Christmas special "last-ever" final episode.

Both OH and I have watched an hour of it, both stony-faced, we can't see anything funny about it.
In fact, it is just like Eastenders with everyone shouting and arguing with each other all the time.

I'd assumed it would be the normal 1/2 hour format, and we've both been thinking it seems to be very long, and hoping it would finish soon. Now I've discoverd it was 1 hour 35 minutes long!

Whether or not we ever get to the end is debatable. OH says we've put up with it so far for so long, we may as well watch the rest to see if anything funny happens.

What to others think of the series and this last episode?

The woman who plays Stacey couldn't act her way out of a paper bag, IMO. Chronically awful. I watched a couple of the episodes of the original series years ago, but wasn't impressed. OK, before I get slated I know it's not meant to be funny ALL through, but I couldn't see the appeal at all. We had visitors yesterday, so turned on only very briefly, just in time to see Joanna Page (think that's her name = Stacey) attempting to act - and failing. So on my (very limited) experience of the programme, I'd say it's typical case of over-hyped, emperor's new clothes type situation that TV does so well.

 

[donna255]

Joanna does series about wildlife rescues and she just the same the way she speaks and mannerisms.

 

[pyjama princess]

She was also a nurse in ‘Men Up’.

 

[Suki 1]

I had never watched it until last night, I don’t get the hype

Never watched it.

 

[May]

I laughed when Nesaa said .. she’s got her HRT and feminine wipes
And the irony of Gavin being a Welsh name and Stacey English name lol ..

 

[Nicci205]

I never watched it when it was on originally, but I was looking forward to the much-hyped Christmas special "last-ever" final episode.

Both OH and I have watched an hour of it, both stony-faced, we can't see anything funny about it.
In fact, it is just like Eastenders with everyone shouting and arguing with each other all the time.

I'd assumed it would be the normal 1/2 hour format, and we've both been thinking it seems to be very long, and hoping it would finish soon. Now I've discoverd it was 1 hour 35 minutes long!

Whether or not we ever get to the end is debatable. OH says we've put up with it so far for so long, we may as well watch the rest to see if anything funny happens.

What to others think of the series and this last episode?

It is not 'funny' in a way a lot of old sicoms are, no. It's more subtle and is humour based on observation comedy. I find it funny and beautifully character crafted. The Finale started a bit forced but as it wnt on it became classic Gavin & Stacey. The ending eas perfect and i truly loved it but I have watched every episode ever and in my opinion you certainly needed to know the rhythm plus back stories of all the characters. Knowing the characters nuances is key so if you haven't ever watched it it won't come across the same. The history of interactions between characters and their individual personalities is necessary i feel. Otherwise you would find it a bit dull. Similar to The Royale Family sitcom in that aspect i think but to Gavin & Stacey fans it was perfect from a third of the way in. My opinion only.

 

[donna255]

Strato, did you try Wallace and Gromit, Vengeance Most Fowl?

Loads of little in jokes. Newsreader Anton Deck, reporter Onyo Doorstep.
Terminator Gomes, the ultimate super villain, Feathers McGraw.

 

[Peppermint Patti]

I never watched it when it was on originally, but I was looking forward to the much-hyped Christmas special "last-ever" final episode.

Both OH and I have watched an hour of it, both stony-faced, we can't see anything funny about it.
In fact, it is just like Eastenders with everyone shouting and arguing with each other all the time.

I'd assumed it would be the normal 1/2 hour format, and we've both been thinking it seems to be very long, and hoping it would finish soon. Now I've discoverd it was 1 hour 35 minutes long!

Whether or not we ever get to the end is debatable. OH says we've put up with it so far for so long, we may as well watch the rest to see if anything funny happens.

What to others think of the series and this last episode?

Never watched any of it, can't stand James Corden.

 

[LV73]

Thanks for the comments, but WAS IT SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY?

I had always thought that it was supposed to be a comedy sitcom like Porridge, One Foot in the Grave, etc etc, but obviously not.

I didn't warm to any of the characters, they were constantly arguing and shouting, and Uncle Bryn even squared up for a fight!

The only reason I watched it was because of the weeks of hype on the BBC and in newspapers, and because BARRY ISLAND was my favourite stomping ground as a child and teenager. I went there almost every weekend with family, then as a teenager on a friend's motor bike (and almost had a bad accident) and later in my own car. And the dancing school I went to had an annual dance in Bindles ballroom. I even stayed there for a week at Butlins while it was there. In fact, I cycled there from home a few times when I was about 15, quite an achievemtnt on my old bike.

Yes it is supposed to be funny but a lot of the jokes are running ones and you need to know the back story of the characters. I thought that the Xmas special from 5 years ago was way better than this, but for a fan it was the tying up of all the ends so maybe in order to do this, the episode as a whole wasn't as funny.

 

[stratobuddy]

Strato, did you try Wallace and Gromit, Vengeance Most Fowl?

Loads of little in jokes. Newsreader Anton Deck, reporter Onyo Doorstep.
Terminator Gomes, the ultimate super villain, Feathers McGraw.

Not watched yet, but it is reccorded.