Black Ops (2023– ) User Reviews

Stupid but funny, in a good way

[yooniverse · 6/10 · 6 May 2023]

Hard to say whether this show will have any staying power, but the first few episodes have been pretty funny. The show starts with two idiot Police Community Support Officers with no policing experience who end up going undercover into a drug ring. It's a ridiculous premise, but that's the whole point. It's been a while since I've watched a silly comedy, perhaps not since Brooklyn Nine-Nine or No Activity.

While Dom and Kay (played by Gbemisola Ikumelo and Hammed Animashaun) break out their brainless antics, everyone else plays the straight man. The two of them have great comedic timing and work great together.

I especially like the fact that it can tell race jokes in a time when other shows are running away from them. Perhaps comedy could find its way back to the days when a joke was a joke?

Funny street comedy

[brendanandchristine · 8/10 · 5 May 2023]

Easy watch and a bit of fun. Likable lead characters and a good script.

The idea that members of the Metropolitan Police Force could be so inept isn't difficult to believe unfortunately. I enjoyed the interaction between the various cast members that kept a good pace and provided a few genuine laugh out loud moments. The trailers shown on the television did a good job of seeing the scene without using up all the best one liners. I've only watched the first episode so far but I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series. I'm in my sixties so I don't agree with a previous review that suggested it was one for the kids.

One Trick Pony

[girliefingers · 4/10 · 11 May 2023]

I really wanted to rate this higher but it really is rather lame. I can put up with the over the top acting because that is part of the comedy. The music is really really annoying and doesn't add anything to the show. I laughed a few times in the early episodes but as it went on I started to loose the will to live. The show is one trick and not a very good trick. It relies on our two protagonists being as dumb as you can get, which doesn't add up because they were supposed to have held a job that relies on them having some brains. Anyway I was about to give up when I realised there were only two episodes to go, so I persevered. Not sure I'm the right demographic for this shallow comedy. Oh well never mind.

About time we had a new laugh out loud comedy

[Janet1612 · 10/10 · 6 May 2023]

At last! A decent comedy. I love Detectorists and The IT Crowd and they were the main laugh out loud comedies that I watched. I saw the trailer of this comedy and liked the look of it. I've just watched episode one and there are many laugh out loud moments, not just visual but spoken too. I'll be going back for more. Great plot too.

The actress playing Dom is very funny. I"m not sure where it's filmed as I didn't recognise any Hackney landmarks.

The only negative is the annoying music. I have the remote control ready for muting. NB: I'm not a teenager (someone felt the comedy was aimed at youngsters) I'm in my late 50s.

OK it's a bit OTT quick firing joke a minute, but the acting by all cast member (so far) is great.

Far-fetched comedy drama that lacked laughs

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 4/10 · 5 May 2023]

Based on the writing the target audience looked to be teenagers - so surprised to find this on BBC1 rather than BBC3.

The basic premise had a lot of scope for laughs but the show didn't quite know whether it wanted to be a drama or a comedy and fell flat somewhere in the middle. It wasn't sitcom LOL funny or straight drama dramatic. There was a lot of effing and blinding that felt out of place in what would have worked best as a daft comedy for a younger audience.

Cast did their best and were fine but storyline and lack of laughs in the script let it down. Be surprised if it finds an audience.

I love UK Dramedies

[keepitgoingtolife · 10/10 · 7 May 2023]

I find UK shows so much more my level of humor and cadence.. This show is excellent. The chemistry with the two main characters is spot on. Its smart and funny and drama all at the same time.. thats hard to pull off.. its a great story line, plenty of hijynx, lots of HOLY COWS, a number of DID SEE THAT COMING... Seriously, well well done.. My only complaint about UK TV is that they only do 6 episode seasons.. us lazy americans like 20.. hahah we are a sad lot.. But i am so grateful for the internet and being able to bootleg UK TV.. It really makes me happy and this show is just a new addition to my tranquility..

Cliche after cliche and not beliveable

[karlwbrown-15764 · 4/10 · 10 June 2023]

Tried hard, gave the first episode a pass as it needed to settle in by the third episode of listening to the predictable humour and signalled jokes got tiresome and I hardly laughed, sympathy for the characters was nil. I am scratching my head how The Guardian gives this 5 out of 5.the premis that the police would use 2 rookies as stupid as these two is just not believable even in the cause for comedy. The baddies are too soft, and mire incompetent than my granny. I understand the need to suspend belief to let the comedy happen, but the script is just nor good enough even allowing for the need to highlight some racial context.

Ratings don't do it justice (<6 at the time of reviewing)

[pcvdisqus · 8/10 · 8 May 2023]

If you like the 21 Jump street vibe, you'd love this.

Its really funny, both the main characters did a solid job with the acting.

I don't understand how its dropped to under 6 here. Its pretty fast paced and not boring at all. I binged it all in one go.

Story is pretty derivative and not anything new but it still works really well. They also reference Line of Duty many times in the show (if you haven't watched that, give it a go). One of the best police crime/thriller shows ever made where the quality never falls off.

I hope they do a season 2 as this show definitely deserves a sequel. Watch at least the first episode fully before deciding whether to continue or not.

Fun and easy watch

[Lynds777 · 8/10 · 6 May 2023]

I also disagree with the review that it's just for teenagers, I'm nearly 40, just finished the 1st series, thought I would probably watch it over a week or so, short episodes to fit in before leaving for work/going to bed, but I've ended up watching them back-to-back on my day off (oops). It was just such an easy watch, good fun and quick paced so I didn't need to switch to something else.

I wasn't quite sure about the 2 main characters in the 1st episode, suppose I thought they were a bit too daft, but keep watching, give it at least 2 episodes before writing it off. I'm hoping there are more series to come.

Hilarious and suspense at same time.

[claremont-93938 · 10/10 · 5 July 2023]

Thought this was hilarious. The two main characters are a blast. And the series' plot was twisting and gripping enough to also provided enough suspense to make me keep watching to the end. Loved it. Wonder if they will make a second series to carry on the two man characters' antics as undercover cops? Bungling, but ultimately smart enough to outwit the bad guys. Really enjoyed watching the whole series. Most funniest, but also gripping, series I've watch in quite a long time. Well done to the creators and actors, and the BBC for commissioning the series. Will definitely be keeping my eye out for Black ops 2! Well done.

Laugh out loud

[hchmmyzv · 9/10 · 24 June 2023]

Several laugh out loud moments in episode 1. Can't wait to watch episode 2. Funny - watch it. Anything that Hammed Animashaun is in is worth watching - he has funny bones, and is a brilliant actor (stage and tv/film). Such a great cast - what a treat. It should be advertised more. Silly, funny, witty, definitely British humour with class actors. This is definitely funnier than many programmes that get more attention advertising and press wise. More of this please. There's room for many types of humour on TV and it's always pleasing to get humour which manages to highlight something troubling or something blatantly suspect in society without being 'in your face'. It has that feel good subversiveness of Young Offenders.

Rare UK Cop Satire

[t-d-t-m82 · 8/10 · 22 June 2023]

I enjoyed it. It's a satire. Not everyone understands satire. It also plays up to the Black Lives Matter mantra and modern political aspects

The sketches are fun and hilarious. They play up to white people's prejudices in a fun and humorous way. For instance when they are judged on their looks one looks like a famous randb singer and the other a famous hip-hop artist who has died.

It's obviously not true but the lack of awareness and imagination by the person interviewed (white) is what they are poking fun at. It's refreshing to see a script like this.

The area location is good. It's set in East London and I'm sure the set is from Top Boy in the estate footage. The drugs gang is hilarious and they've definitely taken inspiration from Top Boy for the casting.

Hierarchy in modern society is highlighted. Privileged white people making decisions. This happens. They have done it with a good amount of humour and poking fun at society.

It works and it's refreshing. It's educational as well. It's got a lot of snappy sketches and the actors are type-casted perfectly.

I'm looking forward to a second series.

Fresh & Funny

[Britwhagwan · 10/10 · 13 June 2023]

Whilst the premise may not be totally new (what is nowadays) the characters are great, script is funny and it's a throughly watchable and likeable series.

I'm so sick of reading reviews saying "it''s totally unbelievable" - what sitcom do you go into thinking you are about to watch realism?? Just a silly thing to say. A sitcom is meant to heightened, sometimes silly, versions of characters and stories.

I think a lot of people take crime-set sitcoms way to seriously. It's kind of got some similar tones to Outlaws so if you like that you would probably like this. I think it's great the BBC are giving more breath to diverse stories and writers.

I want more!