b-ere-94 Safe to say, when Fresh Meat started to air it didn't take me too long until it caught my attention. In the beginning I found it a little uneven, but I still kept coming back because there was always a sense of potential with both the series as a whole but also with each individual character - if they were given the chance to evolve (thankfully, they got this chance). As the series progressed I found myself more and more invested in these characters. Sometimes the characters - or at least some of them - weren't even that likable depending on which season and storyline you're at. However, likability isn't something I'm always craving in television series (or films) - I would much rather have characters I don't agree with or even like as opposed to having characters that doesn't make me feel any emotions at all. The thing is, even though you might not always like these characters, you'll always recognize parts of them - either in yourself or in others around you.[...]Furthermore, if you don't recognize at least a part of yourself/others in these characters, you're in denial. The six students could be seen as heightened versions of people ALL OF US meet at university. For instance, look at JP. We have all met at least one person at university that reminds of him, or is that just me? That posh, rich "lad" that's often found using the phrase "banter" while not having to worry too much about his time at university because when he's graduating he'll still get a good job and living situation because of his privileged background (during the late revelation that the house also had a cellar, JP said the wonderful: "Now you tell me. And all this time I've been storing my wine in a rack, like some...accountant"). I know I've met several JPs in my life. The same goes with the more pretentious versions of Kingsley I've been introduced to throughout the years, the insecure versions of Oregon I've come across and the Vods that are so sure of who they're it's almost a bit scary.For me personally, these six students are lovable idiots. They're messy and doesn't always make the right decision, but they're always human. They might tease and mock each other, even get seriously angry at each other at times, but no matter what they always find their way back to each other. Maybe above all, they defend each other from people outside of their group. I love how, no matter how eccentric or absurd the different characters might come across, there's also humanity to them. That's a beautiful aspect to a university-centered comedy-drama series, which is not something I see too often in that category of series. I've always had this lingering feeling that when you start university - and especially when you finish and leave - there's this pressure from both yourself but also the ones around you that you should be this very wise, grow-up person that knows exactly what to do next in life and that has a plan. That isn't always the case, at least not for a majority of people and when you leave university you're still young and there's so much time left to explore and figure out what you want in life. I think Fresh Meat really addressed these anxieties in an impressive way that felt very real and relatable.

Ersbel Oraph Boring. Dull. Unpleasant attempts at jokes.Sure. It has sex. It would have been revolutionary back, say in the 1970s. After Windows 95, sex is quite accessible. And the scenes are prude, just enough to give the producers bragging rights.And the fun density is close to zero. Some witty remarks and that is about it. But there is enough space to wonder why I am watching this kindergarten crap? I mean: the frustrated virgin boy says something about a glory hole to the not virgin ignorant peasant girl. And ha-ha, she is going to google it with her comfortably close smart phone and, ha-ha she is awkward. A joke bringing the grandchildren (who know) together with the grandparents (who can google).This is not a comedy. This is something that got classified as comedy for the lack of a better choice.Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

HuntinPeck80 Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, creators of Peep Show. It was probably these names that drew many of the more mature viewers to Fresh Meat, but unless my eyes deceived me, they only wrote episode one. Got the ball rolling. Actually, I'd say many of the later episodes were funnier, but imho Fresh Meat Series One is a disconcerting blend of brilliance and incompetence.What we have is the now pretty standard set-up of three guys and three gals plus a few ancillaries who come and go. Must not forget Paul, the unseen housemate, although the script often does. He's no Maris Crane. Six visible housemates at Manchester University. Their lives and loves, fears and insecurities, the ups and downs of burgeoning friendships.Now, I didn't go to Manchester, but I did go to uni and not so long ago that I have forgotten that university is nothing like it's made out to be here. I'd say the behaviour of the characters was often rather more sixth form than undergraduate and the show doesn't concern itself much with actual study. Rather fortuitously, all the guys seem to be reading Geology, but I found Kingsley's decision to change courses, for highly spurious reasons, unbelievable both as a personal decision and as a choice the university would permit. Little comedy mileage is created by his new subject, Drama, although the little that is demonstrated is entirely realistic, as I know from personal experience.I also had a problem with the idea that Vod could get into an English Literature degree course without the slightest enthusiasm for the subject, much less ability. Her friend Oregon is clearly an excellent student, though determined to hide the fact from her rebellious housemate; still, if I could accept the idea of her affair with the English professor, I couldn't believe the scene where she not only reads but starts to edit his new book's manuscript. Come on! He might fancy a bit on the side, but to allow a fresher to tinker with his book in her first term at uni? Generally, the housemates demonstrate the adolescent malaise that escaped my age group. With the exceptions of Howard, JP and Vod - the show's most confident characters and also the funniest and most likable - the others display an insufferable mixture of insecurity and bravado, constantly equivocating, hedging, humming and hawing, using annoying phrases - but if, that is to say, not that I've, and I'm like No way! - you know the sort of thing. It's impossible to care about the droopy romance between Kingsley and Josie which is as wet as a haddock's bathing costume. There often isn't any discernible basis for the characters' behaviour and little development. Why is Vod a druggie and a rebel? Why is Orgeon such a ludicrous mythomaniac. Why is Josie, meant to be seen as sensible and grounded, so obnoxious? One is looking for a little more explication, even in a show about people who have a problem communicating.And yet...Fresh Meat is often very funny, with lots of puns and neologisms, "guymens" for male hymens being one of my faves. The cast are faultless in their portrayals of these deeply worrying freshers, with Jack Whitehall and Zawe Ashton standing proud. Seeing Robert Webb playing such an insignificant needy teacher, another character hard to believe in, was both funny and poignant, since despite its merits and (occasionally) creative use of swear words, Fresh Meat isn't a patch on Peep Show (yet). It does come from the Channel 4 stable and no British channel has created or imported as much high quality comedy in recent years as Channel 4, so here's hoping Series Two will be both funnier and more tightly written.

watson-james-902-282983 Definitely an interesting new take on an aspect of life we previously thought differently of - the life of a group of university students during what is meant to be the best days of their lives.My favourite aspect of the storyline is Kingsley and Josie's relationship, which brings to mind Tim and Dawn from The Office - two people who obviously have feelings for each other, but unable to bring themselves to confess to it, partly because she has a boyfriend and lacks the willpower to dump him. But as Dawn and Tim eventually got together, hopefully so will Kingsley and Josie. Even though their later interaction was a little difficult to watch, because it was obvious that it was their love for one another that was making them argue and fight so much, but one still felt rather uncomfortable that neither could defend themselves when the other launched into them - Josie experienced it in the early stages of the season, and Kingsley in the later part of the season. Vod and Oregon's interaction, though, was also particularly fun to watch - it was obvious that Oregon was trying to emulate Vod to disguise her privileged upbringing, even agreeing with Vod's open disgust for students who have cars, despite Oregon having one herself. Vod's reaction upon discover her best friend was lying about herself and was the very thing she hated was a very good idea indeed.But I am also impressed with J.P. - for all the flak public schoolboys tend to receive, and the general perception of being prim, proper and well-mannered that's associated with them, it's nice to see a more realistic perspective of one for a change - yes, he is arrogant, but he is comically arrogant, and incredibly hedonistic. It was particularly satisfying for him to say outright "Am I just the posh guy nobody wants to hang out with?"The best laughs, though, came from Howard. There's nothing people like more in a sitcom or TV show than a socially inept guy, and a guy with a regionally distinct accent, and, while I appreciated Josie's sweet nature and Welsh accent, Kingsley's insecurity, JP's arrogance and posh accent, Vod's forthrightness, and Oregon's insecurity over her image, none of those traits put together would've equalled Howard, who definitely killed two birds with one stone. I'd say, meanwhile, that my favourite part of the series was the very final scene, where very few loose ends were tied up, but we were satisfied they would be answered very soon - it felt satisfying to see JP finally show that he was human by mourning for his father while in the shower, and to see Oregon and Vod's friendship at least partially resume. I am glad, though, that the Kingsley/Josie saga wasn't quite wrapped up, but that it was clear that Josie no longer felt angry with Kingsley. I shall continue watching with great interest.