Comments on: Royle Family New Sofa Review

By: chris holmes

chris holmes — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:36:21 +0000

I thought the Christmas 2008 episode was tragic. Whereas the comedy in all previous Royale Family episodes derived from touching/funny banality of everyday family conversation, this episode just didn’t work. The gags all went on too long. No-one would ever conceivably serve up such a disastrous meal. The set was wrong, the clothes were wrong (especially Caroline Aherne’s) – and Dave simply wouldn’t have had parents like that. Whereas the writers have, in the past, so successfully created believable, empathetic characters with traits everyone can identify with, this was just a parade of grotesques acting out a series of seriously unfunny gags, removed completely from any semblance of reality and truth. The endless ‘joke’ about ‘mingling’ was over-repetitive, and far from orignial, and Tom Courtney’s endless ‘catchphrase’ was just ludicrous. The sofa gag was interminable (would they truly have never seen a reclining sofa before?). Everyone can identify with the vacuous dialogue that was so true, of earlier Royale Family series. But this was like a completly different genre. Tired, unoriginal, lazy writing it pressed no emotional buttons whatsoever, and failed to raise a single laugh. Really, really sad.

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:33:04 +0000

I think it is completely wrong to say that it was rubbish although it wasnt the best episode it was still a very good one and had me laughing all the way through it was hilarious and so nice to have it back on television after so long. The only problem was it had no nana and no anthony but obviously Nana wouldnt be in it as she died last year and ralph little who plays Anthony has had other work commitments apparently. I think Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash did an amazing job and the script was brilliant although it was a different episode with them not having it all in the royles it was good.
Some of the stuff like twiggys being in jail stuff and Denise’s ” Yeah Christmas isnt really a time for kids is it? ” was hilarious.

I hope they bring back some more. I am a massive fan of the show and have been since it first started i even got all my friends and family hooked on it. Bring it back again i hope!!!!

By: lanab

lanab — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:20:35 +0000

utter garbage from beginning to end, sat down to enjoy what I thought would be a good laugh but found not one!! all the gags were incredibly ridiculous to say the least. I dont imagine there will be another xmas special and if so I wont be watching!!

By: Top Lizard

Top Lizard — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:21:47 +0000

I’d have rather watched a turkey thaw than this

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:50:24 +0000

The whole point of the The Royle Family was that it was so believable. Lots of families do sit around the TV and do nothing else but talk about what they had for tea and who they saw down The Feathers.

This episode though just descended into Terry & June. Yes there was some funny lines, Jim & Bab were stil great, Denise’s ” christams is n’t really for kids ” but the frozen Turkey……..come on … how retarded would you have to be ? A banana in the the punch …… 1 potatoe each… no veg except carrots….

All in all a shame to think this classic may end on such a bum note…

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:03:32 +0000

This was one of the funniest episodes I’ve seen, and does not deserve to be called a “disaster”!. The quality of the script was both funny and natural-far surpassing any of the other feeble comedy series today, and most importantly, all the characters are immensely lovable and believable, as despite all their adversities and foibles, they have family values at heart, and it is like dropping in to visit old friends!

I laughed from the first minute, as Jim was watching Jamie Oliver, until the end! I loved Barbara opening Jims present of socks, as he was to lazy to get his present from under the tree, and Jims reaction to havimg a pair for every day of the week! Also Twiggy having just come out of jail for fraud-”nothing too serious”-stating that “12 months is just about right!” His news about ordering a Thai Bride from a catalogue-delivery 6-8 weeks also creased me up.

Defrosting the turkey may have been a joke too far, but I would never have thought of putting it on a sun bed!!

I also loved the way Denise and Dave were trying to follow Nigella’s cooking instructions with raw carrots on the table just pulled from the allotment. I suspect most people would do no better than them!

Whatever anyone thinks, it had a real feel good factor about it, and there was nothing to offend people.

So what if it all seemed rather silly-that’s what people act like at Christmas! It may not have been the best episode ever, with some key characters missing, but I loved every minute!

By: Ade

Ade — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:58:50 +0000

Absolute rubbish.A complete disaster.They must have wrote it in 5 mins.Appalling.