If you're a fan of mockumentaries, you can easily see the potential in this show. It's definitely getting its footing, but even with that being said, it's has great moments. Holmes is almost effortlessly funny. Sam Straley is a great opposite and the balance between them is perfect. Also super excited to see Aya Cash in this. She's so good in The Boys. I think this show will hit its stride and be really, really great.
102 Reviews
Stick With It...
amberabcg31 March 2022
I wanted to like this show.
Episode 1 did little to impress me, but by episode 3, I'm charmed by the characters and looking forward to the next one.
By episode 6, I'm literally laughing out loud.
Give it a chance, don't compare it to anything, and be pleasantly surprised & delighted!
Episode 1 did little to impress me, but by episode 3, I'm charmed by the characters and looking forward to the next one.
By episode 6, I'm literally laughing out loud.
Give it a chance, don't compare it to anything, and be pleasantly surprised & delighted!
quirky, off-beat, and fun
bardielhartley21 March 2022
Give it a couple episodes to get to know these wonderful weird characters and understand the cadence and humor of the show. The reviews of Flatch on here remind me of early reviews of Napoleon Dynamite....this low-key kind of small town humor definitely flies over/under some people's heads. Overall, it's a fun and entertaining watch with some really punchy laugh out loud surprises. Looking forward to watching more.
More please
gibbs-7891929 March 2022
I'm from rural America. This is real! The lack of familiar names & faces adds to the authenticity of the characters and stories.
I've watched several episodes, and nothing in this show seems exaggerated or contrived.
These are very realistic characters, living very believable lives, and it's FUNNY! TV isn't making good sitcoms lately, but this is a shining exception.
I've watched several episodes, and nothing in this show seems exaggerated or contrived.
These are very realistic characters, living very believable lives, and it's FUNNY! TV isn't making good sitcoms lately, but this is a shining exception.
LOVE THIS SHOW
Claudia1000015 May 2022
Why all the bad reviews?? I catch myself laughing out loud which doesn't happen often! This show may be starting off a little slow but its got great potential to be an amazing show. The characters are so funny and I could see everyone falling in love with them just like parks and rec!! Hopefully this gets a season 2!!
Ok start
confidential-6789720 March 2022
I grew up in rural Ohio in a town like Flatch...
jamesnorthunion20 March 2022
...and dear God does it nail the super small Midwest town aesthetic and culture. From personalities, to town interactions, to even the way people treat the Reverend. The only thing wrong with it? For Ohio, not enough OSU paraphernalia, and quite frankly, the people are nicer than small town Ohio "Midwest nice" individuals tend to be.
Flatch-u-lence
captspastic27 May 2022
Yes, fart jokes & baseline, low-brow humor is the cornerstone of the show. Which if you've ever spent any time or lived in a small town, you'll know did this show is pretty on the mark.
Tons of "Hold my beer" moments, really drive home the authenticity of the portrayal of small town life. Ya get BORED people! So you do anything for laughs & entertainment.
The whispered conversations and hand over the mouth gossip, is exactly the kinds of things that goes on in these small towns where everybody knows everybody's business.
All in all, not a bad show at all. Has really funny moments, but some really endearing ones as well and very relatable if you ever lived in a small town.
The show has had a great starting point, I really want to see where they take it from here.
Tons of "Hold my beer" moments, really drive home the authenticity of the portrayal of small town life. Ya get BORED people! So you do anything for laughs & entertainment.
The whispered conversations and hand over the mouth gossip, is exactly the kinds of things that goes on in these small towns where everybody knows everybody's business.
All in all, not a bad show at all. Has really funny moments, but some really endearing ones as well and very relatable if you ever lived in a small town.
The show has had a great starting point, I really want to see where they take it from here.
Reviewers here don't have a clue.
NullUnit19 March 2022
#1) It's not a "rip off" of HBO's "Somebody Somewhere". They are NOWHERE near similar. This is an "Americanized" remake/reshooting of the BBC's "This Country" -- I mean down to the fact the lead actresses look exceptionally similar in both This Country and Flatch.
2) Current reviewers have no sense of humor. The POINT of the show is that it IS low brow and Kelly and Shrub are idiots, while thinking they are the smartest people in town.
3) It's NOT "at the expense of small towns." There's no such place as Flatch, Ohio -- it's fictitious. If you see ANY similarities to your small town.. well....
I enjoy the dry, acerbic, humor.
Seean William Scott as a preacher is a different role for "Stiffler" and that in itself is interesting. And Aya Cash as the "fish out of water" aspect has "legs".
Is the show meant to elevate your thinking, teach you morals, educate you on today's social constraints, and try to change mindsets?? Heck no! That is what makes it good. It's a 30 minute departure from the real world where you can forget your troubles momentarily... meaning it's entertainment, not propaganda.
In short, reviewers here certainly need to lighten up and stop expecting the "30 minute, laugh-track laced, propagandized dramas being passed off as sitcoms" from the last few years. GOOD entertainment isn't meant to teach you anything or change your world view on some subject.
I think people in the US have completely forgotten what humor actually is and how to laugh.
Is This Country better than Flatch? Maybe in some respects, but Flatch isn't much behind in my opinion. If anything I find them on an even keel.
As for Somebody Somewhere.. that was a typical Duplas brothers "junk" show with zero humor -- Somebody Somewhere WAS/IS propagandized light drama, not comedy. Any comparison between the two shows CLEARLY means you haven't really watched one of them.
2) Current reviewers have no sense of humor. The POINT of the show is that it IS low brow and Kelly and Shrub are idiots, while thinking they are the smartest people in town.
3) It's NOT "at the expense of small towns." There's no such place as Flatch, Ohio -- it's fictitious. If you see ANY similarities to your small town.. well....
I enjoy the dry, acerbic, humor.
Seean William Scott as a preacher is a different role for "Stiffler" and that in itself is interesting. And Aya Cash as the "fish out of water" aspect has "legs".
Is the show meant to elevate your thinking, teach you morals, educate you on today's social constraints, and try to change mindsets?? Heck no! That is what makes it good. It's a 30 minute departure from the real world where you can forget your troubles momentarily... meaning it's entertainment, not propaganda.
In short, reviewers here certainly need to lighten up and stop expecting the "30 minute, laugh-track laced, propagandized dramas being passed off as sitcoms" from the last few years. GOOD entertainment isn't meant to teach you anything or change your world view on some subject.
I think people in the US have completely forgotten what humor actually is and how to laugh.
Is This Country better than Flatch? Maybe in some respects, but Flatch isn't much behind in my opinion. If anything I find them on an even keel.
As for Somebody Somewhere.. that was a typical Duplas brothers "junk" show with zero humor -- Somebody Somewhere WAS/IS propagandized light drama, not comedy. Any comparison between the two shows CLEARLY means you haven't really watched one of them.
It's a easy to watch funny show
bcoby565 April 2022
Go and watch "This Country" (2017) insetad
adrian-m-miller18 March 2022
Go and watch what this seems to be a yankified version of, This Country (2017-2020), with Daisy May Cooper as "Kerry Mucklowe" and her brother Charlie Cooper as "Kurtan" Mucklowe. It actually won awards and is actually funny....
Youre welcome.
The only successful transatlantic remake ever was, and will ever be, was The Office. Deal with it Hollywaste. Stop remaking stuff and sapping all the humour from it.
Youre welcome.
The only successful transatlantic remake ever was, and will ever be, was The Office. Deal with it Hollywaste. Stop remaking stuff and sapping all the humour from it.
Give it a chance
doc-0746019 March 2022
From where I'm sitting, those who are giving this less than five stars and seriously negative reviews are people who have only watched the first episode. I've watched all seven (currently available via streaming), and it has potential. As a rule, I generally give a new show three or four episodes before deciding. If you're a fan of Paul Feig's work, you'll know what to expect - quirky, absurd and off-beat.
This show isn't a dig at small-town America, nor is it a knock-off of Somebody Somewhere. I grew up in a small town, so it's kind of relatable.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.
This show isn't a dig at small-town America, nor is it a knock-off of Somebody Somewhere. I grew up in a small town, so it's kind of relatable.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.
Not Too Bad
vladas-518 March 2022
I am big fan of Daisy May Cooper and This Country. Main problem here is that main characters look like top tear models in comparison with This Country, same problem as in The Office. Plus is that you can understand what they are saying without subtitles (actually I prefer UK English accents, esp. Yorkshire so this is minus too). But if you didn't watch new This Country episode for several years this is close enough.
Another American Attempt...
stane-9584218 March 2022
American copy of "This Country", originally by the BBC. I'm sure anyone who knows of American copies- will know which one would be more enjoyable to watch...
There are so many jokes, scenes, and dialogues that have been directly taken, and then misconstrued. The context of the jokes in the original were clearly missed by the writers. Let's be honest, hence all I said, this has been made unfunny.
There are so many jokes, scenes, and dialogues that have been directly taken, and then misconstrued. The context of the jokes in the original were clearly missed by the writers. Let's be honest, hence all I said, this has been made unfunny.
Fun and watchable
jillh-9414317 March 2022
For some reason I thought this would be a weird American knockoff of Letterkenny, but it is not. It has quite a few recognizable faces and the acting is spot on. It's a very easy watch and I quickly binged all 7 episodes on Hulu. Can't wait for more!
Pretty decent
eddieathomas-774559 April 2022
The show isn't great but it manages to keep entertained and interested. Some times I even get a couple of laughs from the show. Sometimes it's a bit boring and has dry humor, but for the most part this is a pretty good show in my opinion.
Clever Little Show
jodee14326 March 2022
network mockumentary show
SnoopyStyle10 October 2023
In the small town of Flatch, Ohio, a documentary crew follows slacker cousins, Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Sam Straley). Father Joe Binghoffer (Seann William Scott) is the town priest. Girlfriend Cheryl Peterson (Aya Cash) followed him to the small town before getting dumped. She's now running the local newspaper. It's the life of these people and other quirky locals. The second season brings in new character Barb Flatch (Jaime Pressly).
It's a network mockumentary sitcom adapted from a British show. Never seen it. A lot of this depends on whether one likes Holmes. I get her humor and that helps. Sam Straley is the loveable idiot. The rest are good solid comedic actors. The texts on small town life can be condescending at times. It can feel like it's trying to teach the audience. Mostly, it's pretty good. I like these characters.
It's a network mockumentary sitcom adapted from a British show. Never seen it. A lot of this depends on whether one likes Holmes. I get her humor and that helps. Sam Straley is the loveable idiot. The rest are good solid comedic actors. The texts on small town life can be condescending at times. It can feel like it's trying to teach the audience. Mostly, it's pretty good. I like these characters.
It's funny. Don't hate.
blakesjackson20 March 2022
Justin Linville!
Marynewcomb201320 May 2022
It's been a pretty good show showing how some people really are! Sean William is perfect for father Joe!! You got a good cast here except for Justin!! His acting ability just doesn't fit with this show & cast!! Hopefully they will recast him with a better fit actor next season!!
Inferior to BBC's This Country
info-33728-3004022 March 2022
This American remake just doesn't cut it or come close. The comedy element just doesn't translate well at all, leaving it completely and utterly not funny.
Best to watch the original BBC's This Country, which is excellently casted.
Best to watch the original BBC's This Country, which is excellently casted.
Everyone needs to lighten up
CaitlinRTodd2 April 2022
I think this show is hilarious! I was shocked by all the bad reviews. This show is the perfect way to decompress after a long day. I love that it has mostly unknown actors and Sean William Scott's role is delightfully different from his normal characters. Also, for those pissed about the "misrepresentation of small towns?" Stop lying to yourself. I grew up in a small town and there are hilarious similarities. I will gladly keep watching this show!
"This Country" it is not
mjones41-826-63073616 May 2023
"Flatch," the US adaptation of the popular UK show "This Country," unfortunately fails to capture the same charm that made its predecessor so endearing. The pacing in "Flatch" is notably faster, and the acting tends to be exaggerated, resulting in a more cartoonish feel compared to the believable and understated nature of the original British version. While "This Country" immerses viewers in genuine situations with authentic characters, "Flatch" struggles to recreate that same realistic ambiance.
It is disappointing that the creators of "Flatch" underestimate the attention span of the US audience. There is a desire for the show to slow down, allowing for a more engaging and immersive experience. By giving the viewers the opportunity to fully absorb the story, "Flatch" could offer a more satisfying adaptation that resonates with its audience.
It is disappointing that the creators of "Flatch" underestimate the attention span of the US audience. There is a desire for the show to slow down, allowing for a more engaging and immersive experience. By giving the viewers the opportunity to fully absorb the story, "Flatch" could offer a more satisfying adaptation that resonates with its audience.
I'm american
nufasn198718 March 2022
I'm American and I love British movies and shows. I absolutely loved This Country and Home. So when I heard they were making an American version of this country I was excited. Finally it comes out after seeing the trailer which I admit looked pretty good. I couldn't get through the first 10 min of the pilot, it's that bad. The only remake we did that was good is the office which is one of my all time favorites. The American this country is missing the very essence of what makes the British version special. Watch it and see for yourself but I won't be giving it another chance. It's nothing like the original. The trailer I got excited for because the female lead looked like Kerry until I watched the actual show 😤.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
