Kate Box doesn't need to do much to be funny. She just is. Her reactions are priceless as was shown by scene-stealing performance in the wonderful "Rake" series. She doesn't disappoint here. She keeps the entire project from falling down.
The plots are merely serviceable but adequate. The acting fine. The writing occasionally boring but mostly touched with wry wit. But there is a big issue here. For some unexplainable reason, the two creators, both named Kate, have no visual style.
In fact, the directors they hired are so incompetent, they darken the series - even in the brightest sun - so that this all looks like it was shot in twilight. The faces, so important to more talented writers and directors, are often hard to see and decipher as they filmed with their faces darkened. Putting faces in darkness is an insult to Box and the other actors. Their work is often hidden in the shadows. (Perhaps the lack of lighting is due to budget restraints?)
Obviously, the Kates are talented humorists but are slaves to the words. They needed to have someone show them how to light a show and let the actors shine by showing us their internal emotions and thoughts on their faces and posture instead of spelling them out with dialog.
The plots are merely serviceable but adequate. The acting fine. The writing occasionally boring but mostly touched with wry wit. But there is a big issue here. For some unexplainable reason, the two creators, both named Kate, have no visual style.
In fact, the directors they hired are so incompetent, they darken the series - even in the brightest sun - so that this all looks like it was shot in twilight. The faces, so important to more talented writers and directors, are often hard to see and decipher as they filmed with their faces darkened. Putting faces in darkness is an insult to Box and the other actors. Their work is often hidden in the shadows. (Perhaps the lack of lighting is due to budget restraints?)
Obviously, the Kates are talented humorists but are slaves to the words. They needed to have someone show them how to light a show and let the actors shine by showing us their internal emotions and thoughts on their faces and posture instead of spelling them out with dialog.