Gavin and Stacey Season One follows the path of their relationship from the first "live" meeting in Central London to the inevitable wedding in the season finale. In between, we discover how this relationship is reflected in their friends and family. While the couple's relationship is evolving we get to enjoy the finer points of British culture, including quiz night and fish-and-chips on the pier. The series is a fast-paced adventure, as the two get to know each other.
It is a comedy in the sense that humor both punctuates and moves the story forward. For example when Gavin, on impulse, proposes to Stacey at train station and gets mistaken for a terrorist. Both dramatic and funny, it portrays the sense of urgency they have for each other. Normally in a sitcom this staging would make the scene feel contrived; what carries it off is the feeling that you want their relationship to move forward and see what happens. In fact by episode two you indeed care about the couple and the pace of their relationship.
The closest comparison that springs to mind is Coupling, another BBC series that aired 2000 through 2004. Although in that series there are multiple woven assignations, Coupling is primarily about Steve and Sarah's stormy relationship. Like that series, Gavin and Stacey features swift dialog that is honest, raw and humorous.
The appeal of Coupling, is the circumstance of the central relationship within a whirlwind of other relationships. However, the appeal of Gavin and Stacey is its simple story line and strong characters. The writers have successfully woven together a main plot line, Gavin and Stacey's relationship, and strong subplots that reinforce the beauty of a simple honest association.
And this is what is exactly right about Gavin and Stacey. A simple, humor-filled story about two people we have a genuine affinity for — the type of couple we would like to have down our street.
Article comments
1 - MartinTSI
I came to Gavin and Stacey a bit late after being recommended it by a work colleague - I then watched the entire first series back-to-back in preparation for the second. Great show in the category of good clean(-ish) family entertainment.