Sure, I would probably not have watched it if it hadn't been for Philip Glenister. But I found it to be solid, warm hearted entertainment. They could well have went over the top with stereotypes and culture clash, but managed not to most of the time. Though sometimes forseeable it offers some nice twists and turns and most of all a great cast. I'm really looking forward to the second season.
33 Reviews
Funny, entertaining and interesting premise
bievenue-1502927 July 2021
I cannot review the whole series because I have only watched 4 episodes. As a southern American, I cringe at the the over-the-top redneck accents. But that is part of the entertainment value of the show. Who doesn't love making fun of people, especially us southern Americans. I love British humor and watch as many shows as I can, and adding in the American aspect makes it even more fun. I don't think I have ever wanted to stay in any RV park in Florida, and this makes the prospect even less appealing! But I recommend the show, it's really funny. Americans just try not to be offended and just laugh.
Very funny comedy
lucienm-603212 June 2021
Feel good TV
rainyrixon226 April 2018
A very pleasant change.
carolwilliamson121 April 2018
Where is this show filmed?
mpc-3162118 August 2022
The Brits may not know that Kissimmee, Florida is not on a river or near the seashore but you can't fool us Yankees with the area where this show is filmed. We know that Kissimmee/Orlando is inland and no river is in the area, Otherwise I like the show.
As Florida residents we found this series very enjoyable.
good-luck-chuck28 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Admittedly, a large measure of our enjoyment is because the story's (alleged) location is just a couple hours drive north from our actual home.
Now for our take on the show as "locals":
1. As depicted in the series, the Florida locations are very much spot on. Florida's real R.V. (caravan) parks do vary from extremely up-scale which appeal mostly to owners of coaches selling for near half million dollars or more, to the much less ostentatious more run-of-the-mill parks akin to the one purchased by the Pembertons.
2. The Florida characters (Yanks ?) are also accurately depicted in their wide range of personalities and often quirky behaviors, which do vary from the high-brow, self-aggrandizing elitists, to the salt-of-the-earth types.
3. The depicted "cultural clash" also appears to be fairly accurate based on my own experience while working as a museum visitor services associate and interacting with numerous visitors from England.
4. Yes, we actually do have 'gators, dolphins, otters, manatees, and more that swim in the canal in our backyard. In addition, there are bears, snakes, coyotes, armadillos, wild hogs, deer, and more which occasionally roam through our neighborhoods. My daughters, who live in the northern U.S., claim that we live in the "Wild Kingdom"; but we tell them that it's just all part of living in paradise.
In all we probably enjoy this series more than viewers in GB because of the localization, but we are very much hoping for at least one more season of production.
1. As depicted in the series, the Florida locations are very much spot on. Florida's real R.V. (caravan) parks do vary from extremely up-scale which appeal mostly to owners of coaches selling for near half million dollars or more, to the much less ostentatious more run-of-the-mill parks akin to the one purchased by the Pembertons.
2. The Florida characters (Yanks ?) are also accurately depicted in their wide range of personalities and often quirky behaviors, which do vary from the high-brow, self-aggrandizing elitists, to the salt-of-the-earth types.
3. The depicted "cultural clash" also appears to be fairly accurate based on my own experience while working as a museum visitor services associate and interacting with numerous visitors from England.
4. Yes, we actually do have 'gators, dolphins, otters, manatees, and more that swim in the canal in our backyard. In addition, there are bears, snakes, coyotes, armadillos, wild hogs, deer, and more which occasionally roam through our neighborhoods. My daughters, who live in the northern U.S., claim that we live in the "Wild Kingdom"; but we tell them that it's just all part of living in paradise.
In all we probably enjoy this series more than viewers in GB because of the localization, but we are very much hoping for at least one more season of production.
I Tried To Like It Too
wabby-3028124 January 2019
I love British shows and humour. I watch more of them than from any other source. I also lived in Florida for 20 years. So, this is the show for me, right? It is awful. I only wish I had given up after 30 minutes, as someone else did, instead of waiting until now.
One funny show
agalagher14 April 2018
If you enjoy British comedy or just good fun tv shows, this is one of them. I watched Living the Dream in one sitting as I enjoyed it so much. There's no swearing or smut, just good clean fun. My Mum loved it as did everyone who saw it after me. Only someone who has no sense of humour or who doesn't understand British comedy would rate this low. I gave it 10 out of 10.
First series was great
davenportemily14 July 2020
The change in cast for the second series was a mistake. Without Kevin Nash and Kim Fields, there was definitely something missing. The direction was less folksy and caring. It was very exciting to see a program dealing with Brit ex-pats in the Central Florida area.
Very well written and funny.
yiggy867126 January 2020
I really miss this series because it was very well written and very funny. The storyline was well constructed, and each character was acted superbly. A great cast of actors, and I enjoyed watching the series unfold.
In the first series you see the family move to their newly acquired RV Park and we meet the rather eccentric characters. Just about everyone living there has a great story to tell. Lots of twists start to unravel as the story unfolds until the climax is reached and justice is served but I won't say anymore because I don't like to give spoilers. You will have to watch the series to find out more.
In the first series you see the family move to their newly acquired RV Park and we meet the rather eccentric characters. Just about everyone living there has a great story to tell. Lots of twists start to unravel as the story unfolds until the climax is reached and justice is served but I won't say anymore because I don't like to give spoilers. You will have to watch the series to find out more.
Love this Show!!!!!!
abondgirl18 April 2021
I have to admit - when I first watched the first or second episode, I didn't really care for this show. However, I kept watching and it really grew on me. I especially loved Troy in the first season. The Character was larger than life (literally and figuratively) with a heart of gold under a rough exterior. I really miss him in Season 2. Kim Field was also wonderful in Season 1. Love Leslie Jordan (Aiden). He is great in everything he plays. He has brought a lot of humor and light to the show. Honestly, he really makes the show for me. Leslie Sharp and Philip Glenister are great actors - Mal and Jen have good chemistry and the characters are believable and funny. I was worried I wouldn't find anything to replace the show "Benidorm" after it ended - I loved the show so much. However, Living the Dream, to me, is just as funny. It is lighthearted and I feel good just watching it. Love love love. The Southern accents seem a little overdone some times, but that is my only critique. It is my new favorite show.
Great series in great setting
steve-cook24524 November 2017
Great series with a great setting, I find it entertaining, relaxing and wishing I was brave enough to give something like that a go. Look forward to future series. It is very interesting to compare the lifestyles here and in Florida, although I do wonder if the house and cars will be sustainable in the long run. Troy is a great character I think he will end up a friend not enemy!
About as funny as toothache
peterrichboy6 December 2017
We all have dreams of upping sticks and moving to Florida to take over a rundown ram shackled trailer park right? Of course we have and that is the plot for Sky Ones dreadfully unfunny new series Living The Dream. I can only hope that Philip Glenister and Lesley Sharpe were well paid as I can think of no other reason two of the countries finest acting talents would be involved in something so bad. Whilst the production quality is high the same can not be said of the script which just goes from insulting one American stereotype to another. From red neck American trailer trash to rich white god faring Christians no one is safe from a cheap insult. The half baked stories go from stupid to utterly ridiculous one can only hope this series is missed by our American friends, as it could do more damage to Anglo American relations since we burnt the White House down in 1812.
fantastic
chunky157 April 2019
We downloaded this for something to watch on our 8 hour flight to Gran Canary's and back, we absolutely loved it, loved all the characters, ok it's not spectacular, but the acting is good and it is all good clean fun, leslie jordon is fantastic to watch, he can make you laugh without even saying anything lol, Lesley and Philip are superb actors, and so are Rosie and Brenock, it must have been difficult to cast a young star that could actually sing and play instruments to suit the character. And with the addition of Paula as the mother in law was genius.The trouble is we are now left wondering if and when there is going to be a 3rd series? and with the same characters? here's hoping.
Tried so hard but had to give up
richard-ives-17 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Really wanted to like this and tried hard but had to give up after 30 minutes.
It felt like the actors were trying hard with a weak plot and poor script and in most cases they were trying too hard. The US characters were ridiculous UK stereotypes of Americans - appearing as dodgy lawyers, over-enthusiastic neighbours or southern-state trailer- trash.
But the premise that annoyed us the most was the fact someone would allow her husband to uproot the entire family from Todmorden to Florida without knowing any details of where they were going to live, what business they were buying, how much of the business they were going to own etc. And then she chastises him when they get to Florida when it becomes apparent that he's an idiot! Very hard to find any empathy with any of the characters.
Wanted desperately to find something to like but it just failed on far too many levels...actually on pretty much every level. For any drama/ comedy to work it has to believable and this just wasn't.
It felt like the actors were trying hard with a weak plot and poor script and in most cases they were trying too hard. The US characters were ridiculous UK stereotypes of Americans - appearing as dodgy lawyers, over-enthusiastic neighbours or southern-state trailer- trash.
But the premise that annoyed us the most was the fact someone would allow her husband to uproot the entire family from Todmorden to Florida without knowing any details of where they were going to live, what business they were buying, how much of the business they were going to own etc. And then she chastises him when they get to Florida when it becomes apparent that he's an idiot! Very hard to find any empathy with any of the characters.
Wanted desperately to find something to like but it just failed on far too many levels...actually on pretty much every level. For any drama/ comedy to work it has to believable and this just wasn't.
Only season one😢
avacuppa16 June 2019
Fun to Watch
brenstockton16 May 2019
I love the take on Americans in an RV park in the south. To me, the Americans are spot on. And I especially love that the Brits don't take any guff, stand up for themselves, and make themselves right at home. I've only seen three episodes but anticipate much pleasure watching this short series. What I hope to see in future episodes: the Americans learn from the Brits, the Brits find success and happiness, and everyone ends up being just as quirky as possible. Leslie Jordan shines among the Americans cast. Although I'm not as familar with the British cast members, I've added them to my list of actors to look for when checking out Acorn and BritBox.
Relatively Brilliant!
annemariestoll16 January 2021
I was actually captivated until I felt cheated by the rather shoddy shift off: it seemed like wings were clipped, that what could have really soared never got to fly.
Too bad, that.
Maybe if the Florida they were addressing actually got experienced embraced &/or loved they might have realized their objective? How fun would it be to see their uncircumscribed go at that?
10 for the Brits & Leslie Jordan
galuwatra18 April 2021
I wanted to love this show, because I adore Leslie Jordan, Philip Glenister & Lesley Sharp. The writing reminds me of any Tyler Perry TV show, unrealistic and beyond silly. The neighbors are all over the top stereotypes, of southerners with horrible accents. The Brits are much better, at the southern accent than the yanks. There are funny moments but I just had higher expectations.
The Last Frontier of Permissible Insult
bpolhemus7 May 2021
You cannot parody or even accurately caricature any person of color, no Asians, no Pacific Islanders or Latin American or anyone whose distant ancestors may at any time been "colonized."
But White Southern Americans? Pull out all the stops, man! Go exploit every cliche, parody every affectation, dress them up like Daisy and the Duke boys all you like.
They deserve it. A bunch of 'em voted for Trump!
But White Southern Americans? Pull out all the stops, man! Go exploit every cliche, parody every affectation, dress them up like Daisy and the Duke boys all you like.
They deserve it. A bunch of 'em voted for Trump!
Quit now while there's a budget left.
soulcritique16 February 2019
Truly dreadful. Terrible mismatch between Glenister and Sharp. Badly written, awful one liners and so dated. Anyone who has travelled through Florida will cringe.
Obviously a cash in on the Benidorme hit, Dream fails on every front. The US support cast is woeful, although the scripts ruin any talent they have.
Lesley Sharp looks wholly uncomfortable with Glrnister's timing and general lack of interest.
I would love to see the true ratings. A real stinker folks.
I would love to see the true ratings. A real stinker folks.
love the series!
burtlin9 February 2019
Loved it!
dparky09122 June 2019
Good British Comedy in the USA
ty-sharpe15 May 2019
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