Hard Cell (2022) User Reviews

If you turned it off ......

[OfficialCoachDanny · 7/10 · 12 April 2022]

You missed out Can't give anything away but I enjoyed the story, I laughed and stuck with it and the pay off .... Well, you know if you saw it Love Catherine Tate and this didn't disappoint me.

Bad reviewers, oh dear, Unlucky.

I think people missed the point of this show.

[katefrichardson · 6/10 · 12 April 2022]

First of all... it's British humor. If you don't "get it" or don't like it, then you don't understand it.

This is the show I needed. As a woman, troubled times are a given... whether it be behind bars or not. I found this show to be very funny and refreshing, with a quick pace, and told in a hilarious yet delicate way. Wrapped up in an easy afternoon binge, this one (IMHO) is a winner.

Really enjoyed it

[MrJamesMoore · 7/10 · 14 April 2022]

Not sure why all the negative reviews. It's not the funniest thing I've ever seen for sure. But it's a fresh take on The Office that's clever and has plenty of laughs.

What a Tate Gallery!!!!

[royb-5-108797 · 19 April 2022]

I've been a big fan of Catherine Tate ever since she was Donna in Doctor Who, alongside David Tennant. Her new show Hard Cell came along with the barest minimum of promotion on Netflix, which is a real shame because this really is a superb show.

When I started watching Hard Cell, I was unaware that Tate plays a multitude of characters, and not all female either. All six episodes are very funny, excellently acted and filmed. The big twist at the end of the last episode literally had me sat with my head in my hands in disbelief. What a finish.

Never mind what the critics say... this show deserves a lot of praise.

Well done indeed, Catherine Tate.

Coordinated Bad Reviews?

[matukonyc1 · 6/10 · 12 April 2022]

It's not a great show, but it's a good and reasonably amusing show. I can't help but think that the Daily Mail comments section decided to post one-star reviews for some reason other than the quality of the show. Did Catherine Tate make the Tory Brexiters angry?

Watch till the end

[Somdra · 10/10 · 14 April 2022]

A lot of you have rated it based on first episode appearance. But you need to carry on watching it until the end before you make a final judgment.

I don't want to spoil it for you but those closing last few mins, wow. Just wow. I knew it was coming but it made sense. The pieces of the puzzle fitted together.

So Netflix please bring us a season 2.

Worth a watch but weak in parts

[cathyannemoore-66196 · 6/10 · 24 December 2022]

I miss Wentworth channel 5's Australian prison drama. Sometimes this Catherine Tate production felt like a parody of Wentworth sometimes it felt like it wasn't a comedy at all because some scenes were poignant or hard hitting. Catherine Tate is very talented and plays several characters. The most likeable being the Prison Governor. I didn't think much of the first couple of episodes but persevered with it and only around episode 4 did I begin to get it and understand the characters. There is a shock at the end, and it is a shock! Don't really know if comedy is the correct genre to put this series in as a consequence. Worth a watch overall but some episodes a little weak.

Turned off after one episode

[darylsharpe · 2/10 · 12 April 2022]

I liked the look of this, and enjoyed the first few mins. However, I didn't realise Catherine Tate was playing the majority of the characters, which is very 'been there, done that' and doesn't really work. I found it really off-putting and cringe worthy, and ended up turning off after one episode and removing from my watch list. The show could have worked had they actually got more actors involved. However, I don't recommend in its current format.

I've got a new business!

[fandomfatale · 10/10 · 16 April 2022]

I have a lot of good things to say about this series. Most importantly, I thought it was entertaining and funny and above all refreshing. I would have enjoyed having more episodes (though I'm sure this was more than enough to wear out Catherine Tate) and I am excited for a potential second season. It's been a while since I enjoyed a comedy or a Netflix show this much. I am certain I will watch it again at some point.

I have mixed feelings about the ending but not enough to lower my rating. It would have been a good ending for a show that had been more serious all along but one thing I really liked about this series up to that point was that it never took itself seriously. There are a lot of good dramas out there, and a lot of good dramedies, but there are not a lot of good comedies that are pure laughs without intermixed serious moments so I was disappointed. But I still loved it overall and it certainly didn't ruin anything, especially not my anticipation for another season.

I also wanted to say that this series is a masterwork in elegance. No, hear me out. It has everything today's Hollywood loves - racial diversity, female main character leading a mainly female cast with lots of female friendship and females supporting females, social justice awareness, etc. - but is never annoying or preachy about it. It has heartbreaking moments, it has heartwarming moments, it deals with ugly truths, but it manages to be funny and entertaining and largely goofy throughout. I found it quite moving at times.

It's worth watching

[Chloebythesea · 7/10 · 16 April 2022]

Not Catherine Tate's best but I still had a good time binging season 1. The 1st episode is not much but I'm very glad I did not give up. It gets better.

Falls flat

[eve_dolluk · 5/10 · 12 April 2022]

It tries to be The Office set in a womans prison. There are some decent moments but most of it falls flat and at times into the ridiculously unfunny.

Too many of Catherine Tates characters look too similar for it to work effectively.

The male guard she plays is the exception that stands out and is a decent character the rest are just fluff and a bit pointless.

A lot of the humour is dated with a few forced exceptions.

The majority of the prisoners seem to be there as childish background entertainment and for overall mockery.

The Ex Eastenders star there to produce an in prison version of West Side story is again more fodder for silly and cheap humour.

Its about 20 years too late and even then it would be average at best.

You know things are getting desperate when you need to use a lot of toilet humour.

If your bored and want a few cheap chuckles give it a go but I was expecting better from Catherine Tate if Im honest.

5/10 at a push.

Totally Brillaint

[jjay0307 · 10/10 · 14 April 2022]

I must admit I was a little apprehensive about this show, but it was awesome, it was so funny and the characters and cast was picked perfectly. Plus the ending I didn't see coming, I'm hoping for a season 2. But knowing netflix I ain't getting my hopes up. It felt like an old fashioned comedy, it was serious at times. But I think catherine tate should be proud of this.

Stick with it until the end!

[markdotsevers · 7/10 · 17 April 2022]

It's not a normal sketch show, similar but it does have a half decent linear story. It's not the funniest or deepest thing on tv, but it is worth the watch. Particularly to the end, the last episode had me on the edge of my seat and really drew me in.

Binged the entire first series in one go

[kipfkq · 13 April 2022]

Knowing her as Donna Noble from Doctor Who and possibly more known to Americans as Nellie Bertram from the US Office I was excited to see her when watching the trailer. And not knowing she plays multiple characters it was quite fun to realise such.

Her wide variety of characters played and others might be typical prison cliches but who cares. It was cleverly written, made me laugh, and astonishing the ability to act five or six different characters an episode of is well rather amazing.

I am not sure why there's such a large amount of low votes as it seems it's either ones or tens. Much like Yelp reviews. This isn't a serious documentary about a strong willed and independent prison governor. Though not to brush it off because the premise is still lovely, but what I can say is the best analogy to describe Laura is that she's Michael Scott from the US Office. Perhaps being on it influenced Ms Tate in how she performed the character but even then it just added a funny dimension.

The #2 innuendos surprisingly didn't get old. The chemistry betwixt everyone I felt was well done which made you care for these women that have made terrible life mistakes.

Which makes the shocking conclusion jaw dropping. I really hope the show runners and Netflix aren't discouraged by several morons that didn't get the show.

I hope there is a second series because I need to see these women again. They are more than criminals. They are still human which in itself perhaps whilst being a comedy there still was a statement to be said. If not, I still had a good laugh for 2½ hours as I blew through the episodes, all while trying with all my might not to laugh too hard lest my full bladder fails.

Quite good

[film-freak10 · 7/10 · 4 May 2022]

It takes a while to pick up, but especially the last 3 episodes are just fantastic. I dont know why people are hating on it - it wasn't a master piece, yes, but it was a good time.

Wow !!

[jennfinn · 10/10 · 12 April 2022]

I didn't realize how incredibly talented Catherine Tate was as I think I've only ever seen her in the US version of The Office. She plays 6 different characters in Hard Cell and each of them were funny as hell. The ending absolutely blew me away and I still can't believe it as I write this review. It was consistently funny throughout the six episodes and some parts were quite sad but I totally did not see that ending coming.

Surprisingly decent.

[welambert01 · 7/10 · 22 May 2022]

I nearly gave up on the show. Think of it as The Office in a prison setting. The series got better as it progressed, to the point you begin to care about the characters. I have a strange relationship with Catherine Tate: I don't consider her particularly talented; yet I'm always caught up in her performances. A must watch? No. You could do far worse, if a fan of British comedies? You will enjoy.

Disappointing

[ash3305 · 2/10 · 13 April 2022]

I love Catherine Tate and had been looking forward to watching Hard Cell since I first heard it was in production but it's such a disappointment. I couldn't get past the first episode.

Worth it for that shock ending!

[dmhnkrmbv · 10/10 · 13 April 2022]

Ending just goes to show that people aren't always what they show on the outside across all the characters. Amazing story! Another gem from Catherine Tate.

Easy Watch nothing special moderately funny

[karenbeach-52495 · 6/10 · 13 April 2022]

If you want to switch off and have this on in the background while you're doing other things it's ok. It's easy to watch and follow. Nothing spectacular. I'm not a fan at all of Catherine Tate, (let's be fair it could it been worse, it could of had Miranda in it) I just don't find CT funny at all, but there are a few laughs if u like the stereotypical character laughs. But the acting is a bit "trying too hard" to be funny, and really tried to squeeze out the jokes for the most part. My 10 year old found it really funny, take from that what you will.

Don't waste your time.

[a_naismith · 1/10 · 12 April 2022]

I think they must have thought this one up during the dark days of the pandemic with the sole purpose in mind of giving the film crews something to do. What utter garbage. Not even slightly amusing.

A great comedy because of the empathy

[susiewtsn · 9/10 · 12 April 2022]

Describing this as simply a mockumentary belies the great heart of this show. I will never again think a comedy is good if it can't show tear-jerking empathy, too. This one really delivers. Looking forward to season 2.

Great drama, but comedy doesn't land

[BenW1999 · 6/10 · 17 April 2022]

Remove the comedy elements, and this is some fantastically written stuff. The only comedy part that even slightly got me amused was the whole Heather / Cheryl name.

Enjoyable but really below what it could be

[gogg-05075 · 5/10 · 25 April 2022]

The first episode is really and and the storylines are cringe. Feels like it's trying far too hard. I wanted to enjoy it more but after the final episode which contained the majority of the storyline it felt like it was rushed and is utilising really mundane sterilised comedic vehicles instead of being funny it comes across as weak humour.

A lot of the jokes just seem to be that of a penguin biscuit and as a result it tries not to offend when in reality it needs to either focus more on the comedic aspect or the drama instead of trying to merge the two themes.

Love Tate, but..

[kimajackson · 6/10 · 17 April 2022]

I really wanted to love this. Catherine you are so talented but you are going to look and regret this. Cringey, and massively taking the piss (poorly) out of everyone who has an accent, is not good tv. You can do so much better! Stick to what you know best x.