Apple TV has turn into the unofficial house of the considering particular person’s sci-fi epic, courtesy of reveals resembling Foundation and Silo. But the streamer has additionally emerged as a manufacturing line for quietly affecting sitcoms which forged a wry eye at up to date life.
It hit the laconic bulls-eye with Trying, a gently downcast comedy a few London couple trying to conceive. We return to London and the sadder aspect of the trendy situation with Still Up – a charmingly unflinching portrayal of platonic friendship between two chronic insomniacs.
Danny (Craig Roberts) is an unemployed music journalist – prime marks for realism – hiding in his condo to keep away from a prying neighbour. As he hunkers down in his man-cave, his solely contact is Lisa (Antonia Thomas), his non-romantic finest pal and fellow insomniac with whom he communicates through nightly video name.
In one of the simplest ways attainable, it’s the alternative of Apple’s shouty and overhyped Ted Lasso – a comedy constructed solely of pretend positivity and sign-posted stomach laughs. Still Up – co-created by Steve Burge and Natalie Walter – is far bleaker, its jokes constructed atop a withering tackle Twenty first-century life. Danny and Lisa are each conscious that they’re drifting by their 30s and that their insomnia is a symptom of a deeper malaise. But quite than confront their issues, they’re completely joyful to bury their woes beneath landslides of nightly banter.
There’s not a lot plot, which additionally feels true to life. But episode by episode, the sequence fills within the blanks on the unhappiness fuelling the sleep deprivation of each Danny and Lisa. Each has had their romantic ups and downs – although, lately, it’s primarily downs. Danny’s emotions had been shredded at a marriage a number of years beforehand. Lisa’s relationship together with her boyfriend Veggie (Blake Harrison) is in the meantime going from staid to rocky. She wouldn’t thoughts if he proposed – he doesn’t appear inclined to.