Year of the Rabbit (2019) User Reviews

Televisual Marmite.

[halcyonbear · 8/10 · 19 June 2019]

Like Marmite, you will either enjoy this or you'll hate it. It's not perfect. I have watched the first three episodes. It works well as a parody of historical crime dramas, it is surreal and has a good sense of camp. The writing has a wonderful turn of phrase. It is definitely not everyone's jar of London fog, but it's worth a look.

Loved this!

[matt-16644 · 8/10 · 30 January 2022]

I'm a huge Matt Berry fan anyway but I loved this show, very funny with great characters and all set up for a second season until channel 4 pulled the plug on it. I think this could be one of those series that people didn't really know existed but wouldn't be disappointed once they stumbled across it.

I laughed so much watching this off beat comedy and what they did with the John Merrick (Elephant Man) character was hilarious.

I'll just have to watch it again.

Gloriously Daft Victorian Police Shenanigans!

[wentworthstreet · 8/10 · 9 July 2019]

This ribald romp has the reassuring benefit of a terrific cast who know what they are doing. Matt Berry is at the helm and it is very difficult to imagine anyone else in the role of "high functioning fried breakfast" Inspector Rabbitt. Susan Wokoma and Freddie Fox as Rabbitt's police colleagues are wonderful, as is Alun Armstrong as their Guv'nor and Mabel's Dad.

I would love to see much more of David Dawson's fantastically arch Elephant Man and the sublime Ann Mitchell (of blessed 1980's Widows memory).

People who are unable to cope with the odd rude word (ok, lots of rude words) should perhaps look elsewhere.

I do hope Year of the Rabbitt will be recommissioned by Channel 4 and that it will not suffer the fate of BBC Victorian medical comedy Quacks, which was inexplicably pulled after only one series.

Funny as heck!

[agnabeya · 10/10 · 10 June 2019]

I just binge watched all 6 episodes- and loved it! Humour is subjective- and although there is lots of swearing, it didn't bother me. It was funny enough to carry it. Matt Berry is terrific as always- but everyone involved was good. It was like Bluestone 42 was sent back in time to Jack the Rippers London. Hope it's not too long until their next series and their mission from Queen Victoria. :)

Brilliant but Different

[mrgreenbeef-57-565653 · 9/10 · 12 June 2019]

Dan of most of Matt Berry's other stuff, wasn't 100% sure about Year of The Rabbit after the first episode, but cracked on with the second, then third and then the rest. Loved it. Different type of character played by Berry in this to his usual pompous type but very believable and interesting. All other cast are well suited and it just seems to work very well indeed. 100% recommended.

Funny

[grantss · 7/10 · 22 April 2023]

Detective Inspector Eli Rabbit is a policeman in Victorian era London. He's a hard-bitten, tough-as-nails veteran whose seen just about everything. He's given a new partner, a young, inexperienced and naïve Sergeant, Wilbur Strauss. Together they investigate crimes, often in the sleaziest parts of the city.

I watched this because it stars Matt Berry (The IT Crowd, What We Do In The Shadows, Toast of London, amongst others) as Rabbit. He is well cast for the role and puts in a decent performance and the episodes are reasonably funny. The Victorian setting contrasted with some modern vernacular and sensibilities makes for some great gags.

Berry is upstaged, however, by Susan Wokoma as Mabel Wisbech: she has the best lines and delivers them perfectly.

However, while good the show is not brilliant, lacking that special something to make it so.

Hilarious!

[dubwize · 9/10 · 18 June 2019]

Clever writing, intelligent use of language (obscure, period based and obscenities) are all timed and delivered beautifully. Great acting, uniquely scripted and very well casted. All the characters are perfectly chosen for their roles and do it so very well. I can only think those who don't like this show obviously do not appreciate Matt Berry humour. Loved him in IT Crowd, he was awesome in Action Team and in this one he really shines.

I cannot wait for more of this series. Deserves Nine Stars, Year of the Rabbit is a return to clever British comedy that keeps you engaged with every episode.

Not bad at all

[a_mobbs · 7/10 · 15 June 2019]

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. If you like Matt Berry you will love this

Funny as..

[mjhopkins34 · 10/10 · 17 June 2019]

Not many things make the hubby laugh out loud but this did. Loved all 3 characters. John Merrick was hilarious. Hope there's a series 2

mabel is black, let's move on

[murrungay · 7/10 · 7 July 2019]

Overall a great romp. i don't care the head of police has a black daughter... cause everything is absurd, in a good way. disjointed premise is fine by me, but it breaks the (good) absurdity with "lessons" of racism. funny when mabel gives a beating w/ the very thick bicycle chain. but more of the subject turns a perfectly good farce into a dreadful "vehicle" on racism. i don't want any of that.

BRILLIANT! Britbox Jump On This!

[GeorgeTinNYC · 10/10 · 29 March 2023]

I'm obsessed. This show has been on my queue for a while and I don't like watching things with one season because if I enjoy them, I'm devastated when they aren't or haven't been renewed. But this show and it's full cast of characters was absolutely brilliant! The stories worked well and the humor was there. It is rare that I write these review unless something is TERRIBLE or ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. This was the latter, it's understandable that Covid cut network budgets but honestly this is one of those shows I would sign each and every petition for because it worked on so many levels. Everyone's performance had me on the floor. I am just going to watch it on an endless loop until Britbox, Hulu or any steamer renews it.

Delightfully quirky and fun

[commercials-1 · 7/10 · 2 May 2020]

In this comedy police procedure set in late Victorian times, Matt Berry leads a team of police into a series of unlikely adventures. The plots are silly, but the dialogue, characters and meta-jokes are great.

With this and "What we Do in the Shadows", Matt Berry is finally getting the recognition he deserves. The only thing I miss is that Berry isn't allowed to use his usual bass voice, a voice so fruity he speaks in pomegranates. For that, I suggest listening to his demented BBC radio show "I, Regress".

Matt Berry saves the show

[gezieteruit · 5/10 · 18 June 2019]

If you love Matt Berry you'll love this show, he's his usual funny and charming self. other than that there is nothing there but the standard recent UK tv tropes.

This was pretty funny.

[joe-751-819608 · 9/10 · 11 June 2019]

This was much more entertaining than I thought it would be. Could be a hit.

British Comedy is Back on Top

[alecturton · 10/10 · 15 June 2019]

The Year or the Rabbit is splendidly written! Character development is outstanding and I'm surprised constantly by the quality of the production! Staging any period drama is an achievement but doing it so well in a way that makes it so believable you can just sit back and enjoy the hilarious comedy is hard to understand how they achieved it.

The cast is outstanding and the comedic acting is exceptionally on-point! Matt Berry plays everyone's favourite character of 'Matt Berry' and is perfection as always. The rest of the cast play at keeping up with his wit and timing and they all do it exceptionally well.

British Comedy is having a major revival in my personal opinion and this is definitely headlining the comeback!

Is "historical" an excuse for "misogyny"?

[joannen-01464 · 18 June 2019]

It's a shame "Year of the Rabbit" has only two male writers. It may have historical relevance but it makes the serious sadly misogynistic 😢 Female writers are needed for a female perspective, if that matters?

I like it, but there is just something about it that just doesn't play right

[etann-36707 · 6/10 · 2 March 2024]

I think what gets me is that it's full out bizarre in some respects and then really amazingly well stylized for it's time-period. I think the really strange stuff just saps all the atmosphere out of the show and is in the end pointless to be set in any particular time period when it's so profoundly slapstick and goofy and yet have grotesque and blatantly violent and grim. For me there just isn't a balance that plays well all the time. The setup and delivery just threw me out of the narrative. This show I think would have been far better if it was played more straight without so blatantly throwing in so many gags and odd characters with completely unbelievable personas. Then there would be a better flow to the story telling. I liked it, but it feels a bit exhausting to watch. You have so many competing personas on the screen, the desperate girl who's fighting for women's liberties, the eager yet daft partner, the corrupt but competent detective, and the endlessly pursuant rival. It's a lot to cram into these rather short episodes. On top of all these conflicting characters you have a story narrative to follow. I would have liked if it was stretched out a bit to allow the characters to breath a bit and you can get familiar with them. Beyond that, it's still a really well done production, just wish it wasn't so compact.

This will be a Cult Classic

[gingebaggy · 9/10 · 20 June 2019]

Brilliant concept and characters, I cannot get enough of it.

Excellent

[nick-davison1 · 10/10 · 14 June 2019]

An unexpected treat. Everything about this series works extremely well. The humour, the writing, the acting, background music, the setting, the incorporation of modern references etc are all great. We binged watched the entire series and loved it. Hope they make more.

Rabbit is Funny as F

[celt007 · 9/10 · 16 November 2020]

Hilarious bawdy London police comedy ...

A comedy for smart people a much watch

Supposedly clever, but without a scintilla of wit.

[Good-Will · 2/10 · 16 June 2019]

I don't understand why anyone would find this funny or even vaguely amusing. I watched the first two and a half episodes in the hope that it would become better, but it became obvious that it just wasn't my cup of tea. To those of you who enjoyed it then kudos to you, but this was a complete waste of talent and seemed to be written by a group of 11 year olds. "Let's put Matt Berry in a historical comedy again, but make him swear more!" is not the secret of comedy gold. I love Matt Berry in almost everything he's been in, but he desperately needs a new agent if this is anything to go by.

Run Rabbit Run

[bqbussey · 10/10 · 27 November 2022]

I knew I was going to love this show within the opening scene as Rabbit conducts a brutal police interrogation and even gets a bloody, tear filled confession only for us to learn this was a demonstration in front of school children with the teacher being interrogated. Hilarious! Then we get to meet Joseph Merrick (aka The Elephant Man) who would take this show's rating up to eleven if he was only featured every episode. The show does a tremendous job with a of the characters and the comedy is brilliant (and sometimes subtitle). My biggest regret is there is only one season. Hopefully, with enough positive reviews a second one will be on the way.

Inspired!

[ccelloyd · 10/10 · 20 June 2019]

Quite possibly the funniest thing on TV right now. If you've not watched it yet, get on it! Roll on series 2!

Ripper street meets the Sweeny for plenty of laughs

[peterrichboy · 8/10 · 11 June 2019]

Matt Berry, Alan Armstrong, Paul Kaye Jill Halfpenny Sally Phillips and Keely Hawes some of the countries finest acting talent so what can go wrong? Well nothing really, set against the backdrop of the Victorian Eastend of London. Berry is in fine form as the no nonsense detective who gets results his way. Assisted by Freddie Fox and Susan Wokoma they set about solving the Murders brutal crimes with hilarious one liners. There is more than a passing resemblance to Charlie Brookers Touch of cloth and earlier classics like Police Squad. Overall this is well made well acted piece of costume drama comedy 8/10

1 episode in and I'm hooked!

[carlaellenboyles · 9/10 · 13 June 2019]

Got a good balance of sleuthing, modern battle of prejudice (like any and all) and off the wall humour. Love it and shall continue to watch and giggle.