Colin From Accounts Series 2

[The Mollusk]

That episode stressed me the fuck out. Worth noting that everyone who was in a position to help her or even listen to her while she was lost and vulnerable was another woman.

I can't remember if season 1 was the same but there's a lot of solid commentary on gender issues in this one. The wanking episode and Gordon's family episode do a good job of revealing more about Gordon, in that it's easy to see him as a decent bloke in the present tense but actually his past is littered with toxic behaviour that he has normalised in his own head, to the extent that he gets very defensive when challenged about it.

[Pink Gregory]

Colin sleeps in a little sleeping bag oh my god

[neveragain]

Meggles' new girlfriend in the restaurant jeeesus. I legit know people like that, really well written character.

Yes, such an excellent unbearable character. At one point I pearl-clutched, "is this transphobic in intent?", but no... I'm pretty sure it's not.

[mrfridge]

Yes, such an excellent unbearable character. At one point I pearl-clutched, "is this transphobic in intent?", but no... I'm pretty sure it's not.

What could have been construed as transphobic?

[The Mollusk]

Finished this last night. Enjoyed it very much and felt like it expanded on the first series really well, especially since it picks up at the moment the last series ended which allowed everything to keep flowing.

Ash and Gordon's prickly relationship was mostly a result of her suddenly realising he's far from perfect and justifiably taking him to account for things that made her uncomfortable, and his subsequent defensiveness, which is all completely fair (though she is totally in the right). If it had been more of an easy ride for them as a couple then it would have just been them observing the chaos around them, which is fine, but the struggles not only made it more open minded and realistic but also a lot funnier at times. The wanking stuff is something honestly most dudes would secretly admit is super relatable. The fuckin dog being on the bed right next to him was so real, I was laughing so much.

The further analysis into Lee and Lynette's relationship was very well written too. They switched him from being a creep in the doghouse to someone who, despite being in the doghouse, has still managed to slowly twist and manipulate his partner to his will. The sudden realisation on her face when Meggles' dad talks to her at the wedding was a brilliant touch, as was Lee at the bar pathetically trying to frame the dying out of the controlling white male as a bad thing.

I dunno if spoilers are still necessary now? But for this bit I will:

Spoiler alert

The proposal I could see coming a mile off, and the refusal and Gordon's meltdown are both well worn tropes, which whilst being well performed just felt a bit too predictable, especially since he'd had a similar meltdown just a couple episodes ago at James' party. Still though it gives perfect fodder for a third series so I can't really complain too much!

[close]

[Pink Gregory]

not sure how I feel about the generation gap jokes (episode 2) so far.  They're good lines and they get a laugh out of me, but the fact thay Gordon is older doesn't strike me as that important, it's inconsistently applied at times, and it feels like something that just comes up when a joke can happen, but maybe that's part of the efficiency. 

They don't seem different enough due to age for it to be such a big thing, I suppose that's what I mean.

[neveragain]

What could have been construed as transphobic?

I knew I was veering into over-sensitive but the thought that crossed my mind was - do they think this is what all trans people are like? Self-centred and insensitive to the point of... just unbearable. Will certain viewers feel that way? (There were some pretty harmless pronoun gags in the first series but they just made me wonder.)

But ultimately I've always been of the opinion that comedy characters can and should be flawed no matter what type of person they are.

If the actor/character of Meggles' new partner isn't trans then I've been even sillier.

[The Mollusk]

If the actor/character of Meggles' new partner isn't trans then I've been even sillier.

Yeah I don't think she is my dude

[neveragain]

Yeah I don't think she is my dude

Whoops. I have been silly then. No ill will or offence meant.

[Vodkafone]

I like the way Gene's character is written, he's a good addition to the comedy Little Man pantheon. He's a bit of a dick, not a total dick like e.g. Murray Hewitt, but I like that he's a dick in work in a different way to he's a dick outside of work. It's like he tries different modes of behaviour in and out of work but manages to be a bit of a dick in both - because he is a dick - but in different ways. Never quite manages to not be a dick.

[mrfridge]

Whoops. I have been silly then. No ill will or offence meant.

Hehe! You did make me think I'd completely misunderstood that character for a minute!

[Vodkafone]

Gordon's family, fucken hell . That episode is a perfect depiction of how people can revert to familial roles when they visit the folks, even if that's not who they are anymore.

The Mollusk is right, some of the observations on gender are spot on.