A quiet, unassuming sitcom that combines brilliantly scripted writing with 'real' unscripted elements from the children plus clever observation of the humour in daily life, Outnumbered is written by the writing team of Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton who previously brought us Drop the Dead Donkey.
By this season the actors having settled into the roles of their characters and the production crew having worked out the best way of making a programme where there is a combination of scripted and unscripted/improvised dialogue but hasn't been running so long that it starts to run out of 'classic situations' that parents with young children find themselves in... and often dread.
Episode 2.1 The Wedding - One of those 'classic situations' referred to already, common enough to be familiar and famously an event where children can 'steal the limelight'. Some nice visual gags, as well as the expected clever humour, make this a very strong opener for the season, with the return of 'wild and free' Auntie Angela (Samantha Bond) and the inevitable clever, verbal one-upmanship with Sue, plus the introduction of a major drama element about shortage of cash.
Episode 2.2 The Dead Mouse - Without a specific setting this episode is more 'bitty' but with standout moments with the 'impersonating mummy' routine which is hilarious and the 'overprotective mother to potential girlfriend talk' which made me laugh and cringe in equal amounts... and obviously there's a dead mouse that has to be given a proper burial...
Episode 2.3 The Old-Fashioned Sunday - A Sunday without TV... many parents have tried but few have succeeded! Attempts are made to play family games instead and Sue's father is thrown into the mix as he comes to stay after an accident which raises worries about his future independence... just another thing Sue and Pete have to deal with cleverly kept funny without ever being demeaning to the topic. A slightly weaker episode but still with some very funny moments.
Episode 2.4 The Airport - Being trapped in an airport waiting for a delayed flight is bad enough without children... and that's without realising how much debt you're in after taking the holiday. This episode is a mixed one for me as it provided me with the most laugh out loud moments of the whole season but also pushed believability just that little bit too far at times, taking away from the normally very natural humour.
Episode 2.5 The Night Out - Pete and Sue try to have one quit night out and leave the children with a babysitter. another situation which most parents find themselves in and can relate to... This episode shows of the well observed comedy in the writing in the parent's discussions (as well as the children's) particularly well and the character of the babysitter is excellently realised. Though the adlibs are amusing throughout I confess it's a couple of the scripted lines that really got me laughing, though their innocent delivery by the children is often what sells the joke.
Episode 2.6. The Football Match - Another episode with a major 'big theme' situation. however it packs in the drama and the humour with revelations about the 'perfect family' next door (that Sue always feels she must compete with), the growing jealousy from Pete over Sue's new boss and the lengths Pete is expected to go through to get the promotion he's going for.
Episode 2.7 The Long Night - The parents just want to sleep but it's one of those days when events, as well as their children, conspire against them. Good follow on in the drama from the last episode and a fantastic one liner from a policeman that I really want to repeat here but don't want to spoil it... Not the strongest end to the season but a good episode nonetheless with all the characters getting a chance to shine and make us laugh at one time or another.
Comic Relief Special - Loads of great humour to be had as the children come up with charity moneymaking schemes for Red Nose Day with a wonderful turn by Sue trying desperately to prove Mummy's can be funny. the big visual gag is telegraphed but I feel deliberately so which actually gives it an even better payoff because you know it's coming!
Christmas Special - Christmas lends itself brilliantly to the humour of the show and this extended episode doesn't disappoint as it pulls together all the elements that make this show so good. Grandad escapes from 'Colditz' and joins the family for an unforgettable Christmas day and Sue and Pete have trouble with double standards on lying and insurance claims... and everything has a great payoff with humour and some real Christmas spirit and joy.
To be honest the only things I don't understand surrounding the whole show are some of the BBFC ratings and the knock on effect these seem to have on the scheduling forcing a post-watershed slot (the first series was stripped over 2 weeks at gone 10:30!). Though children below 12 may not get the humour (probably because it's the very observation of children of their age's behaviour that provides that humour) I personally really can't see anywhere where any adult subject or theme isn't treated sensitively enough that says they shouldn't see it... one episodes BBFC guidance is "Contains comic wordplay and mild language"... and this rates a 12? I can only assume some of the subjects handled by the parents in the series (such as explanations on why it's wrong to lie... sometimes, or does the Devil really exist) the BBFC would prefer that real parents handle themselves.
However, to sum up my feelings on the show itself, the cast is excellent, the scripts are sharp and clever and there are moments of 'amused recognition' (of your own children, someone else's or even your own childhood) as well as laugh out loud scenes or lines are in every episode. The situations and struggles are all real enough to be familiar and even when quite 'dark' (such as a relative with Alzheimer's) they are treated with a beautifully light touch that means they never jar with the humour but are also never belittled. A real gem of a series of which I think this is the best season... catch it before the younger children in the show grow up too much to provide the spontaneity and unselfconscious humour that is at its heart.
The DVDs:
Season 2 comes with the Comic Relief special (very funny and actually how I discovered the programme even existed thanks to the scheduling issues mentioned above!) and some deleted/extended scenes (13 minutes) and some bloopers/outtakes (6 minutes) which are not only amusing but also interesting as they show just how good the child actors are as well as still being real children.
Nothing special technically (1.78:1 apect ratio, anamorphic, Dolby Stereo sound) but as a situation comedy this hardly needs the surround sound, hi-def treatment of a blockbuster movie... and it does have English subtitles.
No extras, no nothing (except subtitles), this really should be part of the Season 3 set (which aired only 4 months after it was shown so it's not like they weren't sure about the show's return!) not a standalone title. A single episode, even if extended by 50%, doesn't deserve a separate release with a £10 RRP but luckily it can now be found for a lot less than that and if you can pick it up at a bargain price it is worth doing so as it is a standout installment.
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Please feel free to disagree (the reviews are just my personal opinion after all) or correct technical points - all constructive criticism welcome. I also accept praise if you actually like what I've written :)