This Way Up
Channel 4 | HULU | Release Date: August 8, 2019
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
81
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
1
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
The GuardianLucy ManganJul 14, 2021
Season 2 Review: Bea and Horgan’s chemistry is as glorious as ever. They overlap and underlap perfectly, giving expansive but controlled performances that never take from each other. It is wonderful – indeed it feels almost a privilege – to watch. Read full review
100
The IndependentIsobel LewisJul 14, 2021
Season 2 Review: Series two somehow manages to be funnier, kinder and more heartbreaking than its predecessor, and is a perfect testament to Bea’s talent. Read full review
100
The GuardianLucy ManganDec 5, 2019
Season 1 Review: Every relationship – or lack thereof – is beautifully drawn. ... In the second episode, it truly begins to take off and by the end, it is soaring. Bea’s uncompromising character and performance become something to love as well as admire. Read full review
91
IndieWireSteve GreeneJul 12, 2021
Season 2 Review: “This Way Up” still finds enough of life’s tiny absurdities to make for the perfect tether. Aine may not always have the right words for every occasion, but somehow “This Way Up” always does. Read full review
90
Boston GlobeDana GerberJul 12, 2021
Season 2 Review: Each character in Aine’s orbit is somehow both deeply scarred and doing just fine, a refreshing balancing act. The show, the performances, and the execution are all an exercise in empathy, and it’s a sight to see. Read full review
80
iRachael SigeeDec 3, 2021
Season 2 Review: It’s the sibling relationship at the heart of the series that really makes it sing, and Bea and Horgan’s free-flowing chatter, rapid tonal switches and moments of unflinching honesty – “Sometimes you talk like you’re the only one who’s ever sad. It’s annoying” – provide the stand-out moments in a show that captures the precarious balance of life’s light and shade. Read full review
80
The TimesCarol MidgleyAug 16, 2021
Season 2 Review: The opening sauna scene went on too long, but it didn't matter because Aisling Bea and Sharon Horgan are oozing with so much talent that you could watch them doing nothing. ... These are expert hands and the observations sharply pertinent. It's worth the long haul. Read full review
80
Under The RadarLily MoayeriJul 12, 2021
Season 2 Review: Even the inclusion factor of This Way Up is natural and believable, and its management of mental health issues is respectful and personal. Six episodes feel like a lifetime with these wonderful people. At the same time, it’s not nearly enough. Read full review
80
The TimesCarol MidgleyJan 7, 2020
Season 1 Review: As a portrait of a person trying to slap a convincing smile on depression it is nuanced, rich, touching and occasionally funny. Not all the time, for that is not the way with the modern "sad-com"; a couple of times it was really quite bleak and flat. ... Bea, who two years ago wrote a beautiful article about her father's suicide when she was three years old, is a talent. To star alongside Horgan, who tends to steal most scenes in comedy, and shine isn't a mean feat. Read full review
80
The IndependentEd CummingJan 3, 2020
Season 1 Review: The writing is sharp and well observed, probing the fault lines between small talk and real problems. Read full review
80
The TelegraphJasper ReesJan 3, 2020
Season 1 Review: This is a comedy about mental health that deftly preys on your fears and pricks your sympathies. At the same time there was a gratifyingly high gag rate. Read full review
80
The AtlanticSophie GilbertAug 22, 2019
Season 1 Review: This Way Up is loosely plotted at best, meaning it relies on Bea’s charisma and presence as a star to keep viewers engaged. Luckily, she has both in abundance. ... Even so, the brightest moments in the show all come from Bea’s interactions with her stellar supporting cast. Read full review
70
Rolling StoneAlan SepinwallAug 20, 2019
Season 1 Review: Fleabag has not only turned out to be the show of 2019, but a very specific one, with only 12 episodes total between its two seasons. So if you fell in love with it, it left a uniquely-shaped hole in your heart that few other shows are built to fill. This Way Up just happens to be one of them. It won’t replace the feeling the other show gave you, but it’ll approximate it more than enough for three hours. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterDaniel FienbergAug 20, 2019
Season 1 Review: The show really is at its best when it's focused on the interactions and relationships between the characters. That means that the first couple episodes stumble around a little introducing us to people and then the second half of the season is really locked in. Read full review
63
New York PostMichael StarrAug 19, 2019
Season 1 Review: The episodes, around 23 minutes apiece, fly by rather quickly. So that’s a plus. Overall, though, there’s nothing too memorable about “This Way Up.” It’s a pleasant diversion if you’re looking for something to binge quickly but, like a summer rain shower, it will be here and gone before you know it. Read full review
58
The PlaylistMarya E. GatesJul 12, 2021
Season 2 Review: While the show balances its many themes and characters well, in the end, it feels a bit rushed. The number of plotlines left hanging after the final episode are ultimately unsatisfying. Read full review
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