You, Me and the Apocalypse

Each of the main pairings could hold a lesser show aloft; that Holland attempts to juggle and then connect them, while also exploring the divine and mundane events that draw people together, is impressive. That he pulls it off with wit and wonder is simply amazing.

Odd, inventive and sometimes shockingly dark, this British-American co-production has all the benefits you’d expect from a show able to draw upon both country’s talent pools.

The thrilling and comedic drama packed with intriguing mysteries isn't exactly a bold new foray for television--the motivations and complexities are complex for broadcast, but not cable or streaming services--but it is a uniquely appealing show on its own.

Although the early chapters aren’t rip-roaring laugh riots, that only means the funny stuff--Jamie’s mother doing some zero-hour remodeling; Rhonda displaying her lack of criminal bona fides mid-looting--leaves a deeper impact.

The scattered storylines initially baffles, but mounting revelations and charming crazy will turn your bewildered "What the heck is going on?" into curious and invested "Where the hell is this going?" [29 Jan/5 Feb 2016, p.103]

An unpredictably enjoyable ride.

It's all happening at a manic pace, but the five episodes I've seen--of a 10-episode season--are smartly written, heartfelt, and frequently funny.

Despite the subject material, this is a very funny show. Amusing at times; laugh-out-loud hilarious at others.

YM&TA is actually a charmer--smart, original, oddball, and probably the best show on NBC's current roster.

You, Me and the Apocalypse is a genuine treat. No subliminal persuasion needed. The 10-episode series is wacky, likable, unique, and, at moments, effectively dramatic.

Wacky is probably the best word for You, Me and the Apocalypse, created by Iain Hollands. But give the series credit, each episode keeps upping the weirdness, comedy and, surprisingly, the dramatic ante. It’s unexpectedly good.

In You, Me and the Apocalypse the destruction of the world and all life in it is imminent thanks to a comet set unalterably on a collision course with Earth. It’s a measure of the strengths of this strikingly sharp-witted comedy-drama that it’s hard to keep that looming threat of world-wide annihilation in mind, so vivid are the preoccupations of the characters racing around, fending off their private disasters.

The world is ending. How funny is that? Pretty darn funny, at least as depicted in You, Me and the Apocalypse, a British import making its U.S. debut.

Quirky, uneven oddball that will appeal to a few. Best to wait for all episodes to stream and go ahead and binge.

As end-of-the-world tales go, it’s watchable, fairly unpredictable and garnished with a palpable subplot that in some ways is more intriguing than whatever the end game might be.

You’ll probably buy into some story lines more than others, but that’s completely intended. Rhonda is the central focus of the American subplot, while Jamie occupies that position in the British half of the show. Together, the two halves of the story make for a mad, mad, mad, mad world’s end.

The good news is that most of it is swiftly and creatively entertaining and imaginative--which it deserves more credit for but won’t get because of its obscure heritage and hourlong, sometimes dark approach to comedy. If you’re looking for something different, though, give the end of the world a chance.

It’s got the makings of a cult following, if not a terribly long run in this country.

This experimental extended series takes its time before making any sense. Dive in, and marvel at the fact that at least it’s different.

A fun but slow-going experiment in end-of-the-world gallows humor.

The early episodes, moreover, are too chaotic and scattered (the Wachowskis’ Netflix series “Sense8” comes to mind), even with the framing device of the month-long countdown to impact. Stick with it, though, and the series begins to throw in some peculiar twists.

By the time You, Me and the Apocalypse” starts making sense, you’ve either abandoned it or forgotten to watch it.

You, Me and the Apocalypse is a character-driven piece that's awkwardly shoehorned into a plot-driven piece, and that means neither side entirely works.

The 10-part series is the kind of layered sequential story that British comedy excels at, but is a bit too drawn-out and American to feel truly brilliant.

Mixing melancholy and humor—even black humor—requires a delicate touch that’s lacking in You, Me and the Apocalypse. Not to mention that too many of the jokes don’t quite rise to the level of black humor. More like beige.

There may not have ever been a good show buried in all these misfiring elements, but even so, Hollands has picked a poor way to tell his story. As his characters trip and stumble toward an obvious conclusion, what should be an epic event series feels like a chore.