The seventy-eighth TV show: #589 Black Books
It's freezing outside right now and I am working from home. My commute time? Let's finish another show.
We've watched Black Books before, but I have been looking forward to a rewatch, especially of the later seasons that we don't get to in a rewatch. Following Graham Lineham's work, this is as much if not (after the first season) more driven by Dylan Moran, who plays Bernard, one of the main characters and the owner of the titular book shop. He's a grumpy shopkeeper who's perpetually inebriated and unlikeable. Tamsin Greig plays Fran, the awkward neighbour, first as fellow shop owner, but later just hanging out. Manny, played by Bill Bailey, is hired in the first episode to help Bernard out in the shop, and tries to improve the shop and their life.
The show's comedy gets nihilistic, but veers towards the absurd rather than dark comedy, the latter initially following from what I've seen of other Graham Lineham show, but with its own feel. They're three friends encouraging their worst impulses, becoming shut ins and where that goes wrong. It's not moralizing, it just follows these bad people (especially Bernard) through their life. Mostly, it's hilarious and rewatchable, varied through its episodes.