My friend Laura is a huge fan of comedian Rob Delaney, and three years ago, we went to see him perform at the Bowery Ballroom (you can watch that special on Netflix - perhaps you'll spot the back of our heads in the audience). It was an extremely personal and hilarious set, full of ridiculously filthy and intelligent humor. Now, Delaney has teamed up with Irish comedienne Sharon Horgan, and together, the two of them have created Catastrophe, a deeply filthy, deeply funny, and deeply romantic sitcom.
Delaney and Horgan star as Rob and Sharon, two people who meet in a London pub and have an instant lust connection. After a one-week stand, Rob returns to Boston (he was only in town for a business trip) and they amicably part ways. However, a month later, he gets a call from Sharon. She's pregnant, and she's keeping the baby. He immediately decides he's moving to London and uproots his whole life to go back and support her. While it's a classic sitcom or romcom setup, what is not classic is the ensuing courtship and romance between these two incredibly wonderful people. They are not irresponsible college kids; they are emphatically adults who have made a grown-up decision and are now going to do what it takes to ensure that their lives are in order before they become parents. Of course there are moments of incompetence and ridiculousness, but ultimately this is a show that is grounded in love and good common sense.
Written by Delaney and Horgan, each of the six episodes (unfortunately this was done for British television with its cruelly short seasons) is brimming with jokes you will want to repeat to your friends and romantic declarations you'll watch again and again. The supporting characters are equally funny and bizarre, creating a wonderful little microcosm of humanity for the two leads to interact with. Both actors' perspectives are given equal time so while you get the trademark Delaney scatological humor, Horgan ensures her voice shines through as well, giving us the crucial female perspective on how exactly one deals with all this change and upheaval and how sometimes, a woman just needs her space. The two of them are dancing a delicious tango with both their actions and words; while the show is devastatingly funny, it also has moments of genuine gut-wrenching drama that remind you of the high stakes that are involved and that adult life isn't just a charming hapless romcom.
Depending on your location, you can watch Catastrophe on Channel 4 On Demand or Amazon. It is a short time commitment that will pay high dividends so hole yourself up in your room and just indulge. This is one of the best shows you could watch this summer and you'll be aching for season 2 before you're through.
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