Gen Z Sitcom 'It Gets Worse' Criticized for Unoriginality and Unlikable Characters
A review pans the Channel 4 comedy for relying on tired tropes and failing to resonate with its target audience.
Channel 4's new Gen Z sitcom, "It Gets Worse," has been met with sharp criticism for its perceived lack of originality and its portrayal of unrelatable characters. Television critic Christopher Stevens, writing for the Daily Mail, described the show as a "mess," arguing that it recycles outdated comedic formulas and fails to offer fresh perspectives.
Stevens points out that the series, written by and starring Leo Reich as the protagonist Ethan, relies on jokes that are "a generation old." He cites an example where Ethan claims to be living off an inheritance from his mother, only to admit she is alive when caught in the lie. This same scenario, Stevens notes, was used in the sitcom "Coupling" over 20 years prior by writer Steven Moffat.
"It Gets Worse" centers on Ethan, who shares a flat with his university friends Abi (Emily Fairn) and Sam (Olive Gray). Each episode is told from one character's perspective, but the opening episodes focused heavily on Abi and Ethan's personal lives, particularly their sexual relationships. Abi is an HR intern at a media startup, while Ethan is depicted as promiscuous, even having a sexual encounter with his therapist, played by Andrew Scott.
The show's premise, according to Stevens, seems to be that Gen Z faces unprecedented struggles, a notion he refutes. He suggests that the series' themes and character dynamics are derivative of other recent comedies, particularly those that have emerged since the success of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's "Fleabag" a decade ago. These shows often feature "shallow, unlikeable, promiscuous characters, estranged from their families and cobbled together as friends," who are perpetually broke and complaining.
Cameos from established actors, including Vicki Pepperdine as Ethan's mother and Lena Dunham as his boss, are deemed insufficient to elevate the material. Novelist Zadie Smith provides a voiceover intended to be satirical, commenting on Ethan's privileged life, but this too is seen by the critic as reflecting a Millennial perspective rather than offering genuine insight.
Ultimately, Stevens concludes that "It Gets Worse" is an "aimless mess with delusions of relevance" that Channel 4 hopes will connect with Gen Z viewers, but which he finds to be a collection of "identikit flop-and-forget products."