Bad Move (2017–2018) User Reviews

Mildly Amusing

[bob-1135 · 5/10 · 29 October 2017]

To accept this series you have to accept that a reasonably intelligent couple would buy a house for a great wad of cash without getting a survey done, without seeing if there was an internet connection which is pretty important seeing as how the male lead runs an internet business, without checking to see if there was any business for the wife, a landscape gardener, and without telling the incredible rude woman running the local shop to shove it as I'm off to the nearest supermarket!

To be amusing a comedy has to touch base with reality occasionally, otherwise it just turns out silly!

Could have been so much better

[fiona_r_lamb · 5/10 · 4 February 2023]

OK where to start. I noticed all the yellow straight away. Not sure if that was intentional but the kitchen was mostly yellow, the yellow no brand items in the corner shop, etc. So I just kept looking for all the yellow things - distracting but there you are.

So I'm watching this show on PBS in Canada in 2023 - I'd never heard of it before, but I recognized the female lead from Ricky Gervais' Afterlife and I also kinda know who Jack Dee is too. I also love Yorkshire and the countryside in general and then there's the Cliff Richard theme song. What's not to love, right???

Except the indoor scenes are obviously set in a studio somewhere. And I found myself being ever so irritated by the other characters - the too perfect neighbours, the awful woman in the corner shop, repetition. I see what they were trying to do but it just didn't quite work for me. And I don't think Jack Dee can act either. But the female lead is great and she's what keeps me watching. Hannah Waddingham's guest appearance was just bizarre as well. I prefer her in Ted Lasso.

But it's OK, not great, but better than some other sitcoms I could mention. And there's no crappy laugh track which is a huge bonus.

Sadly doesn't work for me

[peter-beaves · 3/10 · 29 October 2017]

I watched the first episode of Bad Move hoping for a Jack Dee vehicle that featured his extreme put-upon miserable long suffering character portrayal that we have come to expect. Unfortunately we get Jack Dee 'lite'- pared back, presumably in the hope of a broader 'family' audience.

Sadly for me it just doesn't work. I have continued watching hoping it would get better but it hasn't. The noticeable lack of adverts in the break is a giveaway that audience numbers are not what was hoped. This is despite an excellent cast including Kerry Godliman and Miles Jupp who do their best with a frankly dull script and predictable 'sitcom' plots. One crass element is the wholesale lifting of the 'Little Britain' unhelpful shopkeeper character who continually shouts questions to an unseen partner. Unfortunately this features in every episode as if it is original and hilarious. It is neither.

The Jack Dee character, Steve, makes an unlikely web designer and since his livelihood depends on internet access the fact there is none when they first move in is ridiculous - they wouldn't have moved there without checking there was fast broadband available. He seems too one dimensional and I expect more venom and angst from Jack Dee than we get here. It's safe family friendly stuff with some good ideas but it's disappointingly thin gruel for comedy fans and whilst everyone has obviously worked very hard on the production I would be surprised if it got another series. Maybe the addition of another writer might spark it into life?

Doc Martin with attitude?

[chrischapman-47545 · 8/10 · 2 October 2017]

ITV rarely produces a good sitcom but, with Bad Move, here is a formula that works. It reminds me of Doc Martin in terms of a grumpy main character with a supporting cast all with their own quirks. Good timing and tight scripts - it's one of those shows that will probably get better as it beds in and character story lines develop.

Good premise very badly executed. A bad move for all concerned.

[jarveyjayes-89231 · 2/10 · 11 November 2018]

The simple fish out of water idea of city people confronting the realities of a rural idyll offers plenty of comedy potential, add to that the tried and tested vehicle of grumpy man in a world that doesn't make sense and there should be plenty to laugh about. The lack of humour is inexplicable. How was a second series commissioned? The great Kerry Godliman deserves better as does the likeable but mediocre Jack Dee.

Brilliant comedy

[comedyhel · 10/10 · 4 November 2018]

This comedy is refreshing and well written. Jack Dee's character is excellent and you really do start to care about the characters. Bizarre and hilarious mix of village folk. All my family loved it, especially as it aired the week my brother moved to a house in the country.

Tired

[dkjj-772-954868 · 2/10 · 22 September 2018]

Predictable situations with only a slight hint of humour makes this second series a real slog. The characters are one-dimensional and the situations contrived. Humour usually thrives amidst the unexpected which is in very short supply here.

Advertisers will like it... TV viewers won't!

[khunkrumark · 1/10 · 19 September 2018]

The networks have abandoned comedy in favour of this family-friendly mush that advertisers will like a lot more than people who watch TV.

It's NOT comedy. There are no funny moments, no funny lines, no funny situations and no funny people. It's computer-generated bland un-TV that has been scientifically created to fill up space on a TV schedule rather than to entertain and delight humans.

America has been doing this successfully for decades, churning out forgettable rubbish for the advertisers and sponsors and now the British are doing the same.

The commercial networks are terrified of offending even one single person and in that regard, this is a winner. In every other aspect it's total garbage.

Love this

[annamshevchenko · 10/10 · 16 October 2018]

Despite bad reviews it's a witty and entertaining show that creates cozy village atmosphere looked at with the eyes of totally urban people.

A sitcom return for Jack Dee

[studioAT · 3/10 · 21 September 2017]

Having proved his skill in a sitcom before in the form of 'Lead Balloon', which ran for four successful series, it's a surprise to see Jack Dee returning to the genre again.

This new show isn't quite as funny (based on the first episode) as 'Balloon' was, with the supporting cast's characters not being half as entertaining/endearing as those that Dee's Rick Spleen had to deal with.

It has potential, but it'll be interesting to see what Dee does with the 'city folk move to the country' set up that 'The Good Life' and 'The Green Green Grass' didn't do previously.

A Refreshing Change

[noikz · 10/10 · 23 September 2017]

In an era where the public raves over complete and utter garbage such as Mrs Brown's Boys, programmes like Bad Move are a nice refreshing throwback to the proper sitcom.

After watching just the first episode it comes across as a watered down Lead Balloon set in the country, which is not a bad thing at all.

Hopefully ITV will give it a chance to grow and it could develop in to a nice comfortable series despite the odd pessimism of the modern viewer.

Oh dear Oh dear.

[theusualsuspectno · 1/10 · 9 August 2018]

Very poor, badly done. The so called acting and directing is very sad.

Lame

[gavinsugden · 2/10 · 5 September 2018]

It's just very lame. What more can I say? Not funny. Predictable. Don't go near it

Brilliant

[loversofmovies · 8/10 · 16 September 2018]

Absolutely brilliant. If you have a dry humour you would absolutely love the show. It's so funny. I believe the show is based on Jack Dees own experience of living in the country. Watching the show makes me realise just what a dump London actually is. I can't wait for Season2 coming on Wednesday.

A turkey of Christmas magnitude...

[graham-705-127874 · 1/10 · 18 October 2018]

I was shocked to learn that this hackneyed drivel came from the pen of the great Jack Dee himself. Poorly drawn characters in lazy and predictable "comic" situations.

Unfunny and a torture to watch.

Fun to watch for the family

[rxkisrplays · 10/10 · 26 October 2017]

Seeing as there is no swearing or inappropriate scenes this makes an ideal watch for the family. Always makes us laugh and we look for for every Wednesday for the next episode. Overall a great show with colourful characters and a great story line. It also helps that actors such as Jack Dee, Kerry Godliman and Miles Jupp are included for a entertaining experience.

No wonder ITV stopped making sitcoms

[glenn-aylett · 1/10 · 2 January 2021]

ITV has never had a good track record with sitcoms compared with the BBC and only a handful of their comedies have ever succeeded. Bad Move is the last of a long line of ITV sitcoms, since the broadcaster has announced it has no more new comedies planned, and I can see why after seeing two episodes of Bad Move. Like the worst of their eighties sitcoms, this is completely unfunny and while the idea of a middle class couple moving from London to the country sounded promising, there were almost no jokes in the two episodes I saw. Even the much maligned Green Green Grass with a similar concept did have some funny moments.

It does seem with Bad Move being axed after two series, this could be the end of ITV comedy, as Ant and Dec are far more profitable and amuse millions more than Bad Move's very lame humour. A shame as this could have been a good comedy show with good characters, but seemed to consist of Jack Dee growling and scowling like he usually does and the rural characters being like stereotypes.

British Comedy at its finest

[vfswan · 10/10 · 6 November 2018]

Takes a lot to hold my attention for long with new comedy programs, brought up in the 60's kinda spoilt it for the newer stuff, but this is top drawer, I must admit i was never a Jack Dee fan, I could take him or leave him, but this series has totally changed my opinion, mans a comedy genius, best series since Early doors

ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT - BRILLIANT!

[newbeginning-78496 · 10/10 · 27 April 2020]

I stumbled across this series on Netflix and thought I'd give it a whirl because I like Jack Dee. I'm so glad I did!!

I'm really surprised by the negative reviews - it's brilliant!

So, I was sad to learn the next series wasn't on Netflix. Thankfully, it was on Amazon. The second series was hilarious.

I don't write reviews, this is my first. The reason I'm writing it, is because I loved it so much. I really hope they'll make a third series!

Love all the characters: Steve, Nicky, Grizzo, Mat & Minna, even Sharon and the old lady!

It's a great comedy, and so nice that it's set in the country.

PLEASE make a third series!!!