Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10633 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-09-23
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 261 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Steven Moffat's second series of Coupling, first broadcast in 2001, is a brilliant consolidation of all those neuroses, small deceits, obsessions and personality tics that struck such a resonant chord when Steve, Susan and their four friends were first unleashed on us. Comparisons with Friends itself are tiresome and lazy: Coupling is an intrinsically British comedy that picks apart the trivial and the mundane in everyday relationships and takes them on surreal journeys, leaving the participants hilariously bemused and rarely any wiser.

Its success is due to the magical combination of Moffat's very funny scripts and the talents of six extremely likable actors, including Jack Davenport (Steve) and Sarah Alexander (Susan). But it's Richard Coyle's Jeff, whose sexual fantasies and putting-your-his-in-it propensities exert a compelling fascination, who really keeps you watching through your fingers as you hold your hands to your face in disbelief.

Breasts, bottoms and pants are the basis for most of the conversational analysis when these friends get together as a group, as couples, as girlfriends or as mates, invariably becoming metaphors for the state of a relationship or situation. Individual viewpoints and terrors are explored through respective memories of the same event and what-if scenarios. Chain reactions inevitably ensue, fuelling comedy that is based almost entirely on misunderstanding.

On the DVD: Coupling, Series 2 on disc is presented in 16:9 anamorphic video aspect ratio, together with a crisp Dolby Digital stereo soundtrack; Mari Wilson's sensuous version of "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" for the theme tune deserves a special mention. Extras include disappointing interviews with writer Steven Moffat and Jack Davenport, which are mainly an excuse to repeat several major scenes from the series in full. The "Behind the scenes" feature is also a let-down: it's just a not very funny record of a cast photo shoot. --Piers Ford

Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo
Interview With Writer Steven Moffat
Interview With Jack Davenport
Behind The Scenes

Synopsis
COUPLING, a kind of British equivalent on FRIENDS, really formed its own identity in its second series. All nine episodes are included here, the highlight being "The Man with Two Legs" in which Jeff (Richard Coyle) has to explain to a girl he likes that he lied about having a wooden leg.

Customer Reviews

The funniest sitcom I've seen this year!
How to describe Coupling, well, it's clever, saucy, hilariously brilliant and the characters are quite believable. Steven Moffat has indeed created a series to be proud of. I originally thought Coupling would be like the diabolically stupid Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, which simply relies on a string of swear words to get laughs but the plots to Coupling are thick with hilarity, rich with original, fresh idea's and sometimes even quite complicated. Series 2 is one of the best series of the show as I think it is the series with the most funny plots and also the series' where the characters really became the own.
There's nervous but good-natured Steve, sensible Susan with her 'bouncy walk', love-magnet Patrick, self0obseesed and even mentally distrubed Jane, the hapless Jeff and the beauty saloon owner Sally.
Here are the episodes, which are spread across 2 discs.
THE MAN WITH TWO LEGS - The series opens on a high with Jeff finally getting lucky with a girl he likes. Except there's a big problem, Jeff has told the girl he has only one leg to gain her sympathy and after she promises him a wild night, he is torn between hacking off his troublesome leg or running. *****
MY DINNER IN HELL - Another fabulous episode! Steve has to have dinner with Susan's parents and of course disaster ensures. Watch out for the end gag of the episode, truely comic gold. One of the funnier moments of the series. *****
HER BEST FRIENDS BOTTOM - Steve accidently sees Sally's behind as she gets out of the shower, dare he tell Susan. Susan, however has other plans, buying new cushions. Hard decisions for everybody in this one. ****
THE MELTY MAN COMMETH - Can things ever be the same again with Sally and Patrick after Patricks gets cold feet and Sally's surprising proposal. Don't miss a classic spoof Star War's sequence which is maybe a bit rude to write down! ****
JANR AND THE TRUTH SNAKE - This whole episode is flawless. I think this is the episdoe where Jane establishes the position of funniest star in the show. Laugh yourself silly as she guides you through Jane the snake, unlabelled drugs and teaffic meditation. *****
GOTCHA! - A very intelligently strucutred episode with some hilarious moments including Steve's ecstasy over duck and steak. Once again the end gag of this episode is extremely funny and unexpected.*****
DRESSED - Jane goes to have dinner with a man she liks but there is one drawback, she has nothing to wear - literally. *****
NAKED - This is a Jeff episode where Jeff really shines and strips. Catastrophy breaks out when Jeff is promised some serious fun. *****
THE END OF THE LINE - The funniest episode of the DVD is also the last one. I nearly cried laughing at the hilarious and somewhat complicated plot. Susan and Steve both give into temptation on the same day. *****
So after reading my review, I hope I've encouraged you to buy Coupling! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Superb British comedy
British comedy seems to have come through a rough patch (Exhibit A - Gimme Gimme Gimme) with a renewed vigour. Coupling is to relationships what The Office is to the workplace. Despite the ridiculous situations the six characters find themselves in, there are some great observations that are so true to life they are painful to watch.

Some of the scenes in this series had me having to mute the telly and watch the subtitles. It was making me cringe to hear the characters digging themselves into deeper and deeper holes. Jeff's "too many legs" episode is a great example.

I'd thoroughly recommend this series, but I don't think it necessarily appeals to everyone. I think that comparisons with Friends are inevitable, but I think that the two are quite different. Coupling is a little more risqué, but very funny with it.

You're shaking the caravan, Jeffrey!
Simply put - comedy. Purely British, English comedy and not dumbed down for anyone. Coupling almost has it's own 'bubble', what with all the theories the group are throwing out about the world and life, and how things work... it's like being inside that bar is being inside a slightly different, much funnier world.
Only poor episode is 'Jane and the truth-snake', which steers too much towards a Friends-style relieance on props to achieve comedy.
Brilliant moments include Captain Subtext, the melty man, the dangerous parts of australia, the cushions, having too many legs, and accidentally telling your girlfriend your name is Dick Darlington.
Series 3 is currently on BBC2, and it seems as though this series will be leading British comedy for a while to come. Very good!