The dynamic between the trio of the cynical cantankerous bookshop owner Bernard, his good-natured bullied assistant Manny, and his man-hunting friend Fran, are what drives this quirky British sitcom. Excellently written and acted, and aided by marvellous cameo appearances, there are many memorable hilarious scenes across the short runtime of the show with only 3 seasons of 6 episodes each.
The series is however rather up-and-down - some episodes are fantastic while others are forgettable. There are also moments where the irritability of the lead character can be disquieting rather than comical with the Bernard-Manny relationship making for rather unpleasant viewing at times. I also wish there was more evolution of the character personalities and relationships through the show's course, and a defined finale would have also been beneficial.
In conclusion, Black Books has engaging plots, contrasting larger-than-life personalities, and a faithful representation of its setting in a seedy second-hand bookshop. The humour mightn't be for everyone, but for those who appreciate irreverent British satire, Black Books will be right up their alley.
The series is however rather up-and-down - some episodes are fantastic while others are forgettable. There are also moments where the irritability of the lead character can be disquieting rather than comical with the Bernard-Manny relationship making for rather unpleasant viewing at times. I also wish there was more evolution of the character personalities and relationships through the show's course, and a defined finale would have also been beneficial.
In conclusion, Black Books has engaging plots, contrasting larger-than-life personalities, and a faithful representation of its setting in a seedy second-hand bookshop. The humour mightn't be for everyone, but for those who appreciate irreverent British satire, Black Books will be right up their alley.