TV, Together, BBC3, Episode 5/6

Together

I'm really enjoying this gently quirky romantic comedy. The twist that the lovers barely meet is almost incidental. It’s the little details and beautifully nuanced performances that really make this a winner for me. I think the moment that swung it was last week during the picnic outing when dad Ashley (Alex Macqueen) ran round and checked that all the car door handles were locked just like I do. I guess it’s a Dad Thing. 

Anyway, in this week’s episode it really does look like Tom (Jonny Sweet) and Ellen (Cara Theobold) are going to get together and maybe even have sex. There is a heatwave and, as Ellen's flatmate Hermione explains, according to Facebook it’s the “randiest day of the year” and everybody wants to get laid. But the course of true love is not allowed to run smoothly in sitcomland. Particularly when Ellen realises that she still has her police tag on and there are some deliciously crossed wires about role play in the bedroom. 

I know that the awkward conversations between Tom and his parents about sex are ridiculous, but they are ridiculously funny. And yes, Tom’s sister is played by Katy Wix, who is only about six years younger than Alex Macqueen who plays her dad, but who is counting except for me? And how come Hermione lives in an enviably flash warehouse conversion? (I think it's probably because her dad is in property).

The fact that it works despite these little niggles shows just how wonderful this is. Being generally charming helps, as does Jonny Sweet's nervy man-child Tom and the casting of Tim Key as a smiling, dithering policeman. But it is putting all of these elements and much more together that makes Together so good.

Together, Tuesdays, 10.30pm, BBC3.

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