Ladhood (2019–2022) User Reviews

Very Sophisticated Comedy

[martimusross · 8/10 · 27 November 2019]

Ladhood

Liam Williams again launches some very clever comedy reviewing the human condition. Despite the insertion of characters and some spoken narrative it really is a stream of thought ruminating over one simple topic each show.

Here Liam is a fly on the wall observing his formative moments that defined his future behaviours.

What I particularly like is the variety of comedy employed, from irony, through self-deprecation to farce.

My casual observation is this show is for a very sophisticated viewer and not many of those will be found watching on BBC 3

Series 2

Liam carried on examining his formative years to see if that would improve his present. It really was a brilliant script and the acting all round was great.

Series 3 was a great wrapping up of the series as the lads started to go their separate ways, I really enjoyed this whole series it had a really tight insightful script that was genuinely funny throughout

I shouldn't make comparisons but the style of humour is a little like Ricky Gervais and that is the highest of compliments, I can't wait to see was Liam will do next.

Garforth and multiply.

[southdavid · 8/10 · 15 September 2022]

I've written reviews for each season of "Ladhood" and posted them on the final episodes of each run but I thought I'd put something here on the shows page too.

Liam Williams criminally underappreciated autobiographical sitcom "Ladhood" arrives at its bittersweet conclusion. I was turned on to the show by the second season being included in the Guardian's top 50 TV shows of 2021 list.

Liam (Liam Williams) is an adult struggling to understand why he is the way he is. Directionless and angry, he explores his childhood in Garforth, for clues as to his mental state. He grew up with three close friends, Adnan (Aqib Khan), Ralph (Samuel Bottomley) and Tom (Shaun Thomas) in the lower middle-class Northern town, where boredom, hormones and existential angst threaten to overwhelm them.

The scenes set in the 90's, evocative of the time, with the Playstation 2's, dial up internet and burgeoning R&B scene could, in the wrong hands, have felt like a milder retread of "The Inbetweeners". What elevates this though is that adult Liam comes with us on these flashbacks, and narrates the storylines, undercutting the rougher moments with 21st century commentary and apologies. It's having its cake and eating it too, a bit - but it's often a very funny aspect of the show. The longer the series runs, the more it plays with its concepts too, as adult Liam is blindsided by forgotten memories, or the truth of a romanticised situation and it may feed back into what's happening in his adult life.

So, it's excellent, but I do agree it's the right time to bring the show to an end, both before the younger cast age out of playing teenagers and the show is forced to start repeating itself. But it's a poignant and funny time and I look forward to seeing what Liam Williams writes next.

Funnier when the writer was avoiding his wokeist tendencies

[TimeFox881 · 6/10 · 26 June 2021]

There were a few times one could sense Williams really wanted to let his woke flag fly...apologizing for being a man, all women are great, obsession with inherent traits like skin color/gender.

But when he stopped doing that, and instead observed simple humanity, the show shined.

Brilliant

[production-195 · 15 December 2019]

Great writing, directing and editing and simply stunning acting performances from the young cast. Funny, touching and brilliantly observed.

Based on all 3 seasons.

[danielleshaffi · 7/10 · 3 April 2024]

This got suggested to me by someone and I wasn't 100% keen but I gave it a go anyway. At first the narration of the main character kind of annoyed me. He always stayed the same note and it was like he was reading in class infront of everyone, also his acting wasn't the best either. He did however become a lot better by season 2, the character just seemed to have more layers to him.

By the end of season 1 I absolutely loved it.. it the nostalgia for me. I'm a kid of the 90s and went to high school in the 00s and I can tell you things didn't change much. It stupidity was just on point for me with how the group was with each other. Just reminded me and my group of friends at school.

I was a bit confused at first by the narrator and his younger self was acting the way the ways sometimes because it never really explained it. I was actually expecting some sort of trauma story but in season 3 it does sort of give an insight as to why he behaves that way.

I was actually disappointed when I realised there was only 3 seasons and then it got cancelled but its still worth the watch.

Really enjoyed it..

[luke-mori1986 · 9/10 · 4 December 2019]

I stumbled across this on iPlayer not knowing what it was and was pleasantly surprised. Not only is it funny but it's also quite gritty, particularly when he's reflecting on his younger days. The acting is good and doesn't have a cheesy comedy feel to it. I can relate to a lot of stuff in this and it would be good to get a second series.

Fantastic

[ad-3245 · 10/10 · 11 January 2020]

Compelling, accurate and funny depiction of life growing up in the North of England in the late 90s/early noughties. Brought back memories of a misspent youth and made me laugh out loud.

Anyone saying this is a poor inbetweeners is completely missing the point. I couldn't recommend this more.

Superb and scarily accurate

[joshcheetham · 9/10 · 4 December 2020]

This is the first show I've watched that absolutely nails my adolescent years in the early/mid noughties. This show is literally a biography of me and my friends when we were kids. Skins was something about young people that I could never relate to, the Inbetweeners (as funny as it was) was only relatable on a sexual level (in the sense that as a teenager I had none or very little) but Ladhood is something entirely different. Not only is it hilarious, it accurately sums up the attitudes and culture of that era and how it has morphed an entire generation into who we are today.

One of the funniest shows I've watched on a very long time. Very highly recommend.

I did not grow up in the north of England but

[andrewdavidhead-381-884228 · 10/10 · 13 February 2020]

I did not grow up in the north of England, but this show captures a moment in time that I think will bring back memories for anyone in their 30s or 40s.

Looks like he has got a second season so looking forward to more craziness from the lads from Leeds !

Ladhood had potential...

[viper777-1 · 5/10 · 13 October 2021]

... But it was weighed down by the main adult actor, Liam Williams. The reflective adult part I get, to an extent (it is sometimes overdone and drags). However, what ruins the show is the second part of his character... going from apparent working class teenage lad to a snobby super woke man in his 30's, where "ladhood" takes a back seat to his views on ethnic diversity, transgenderism, political identity, femism and climate awareness. It just doesn't add up.

The story of how working class teens spoke, dressed and acted around each other during the early-mid 2000's is accurate and certainly reminiscent of that time in my life. There are some funny scenes, but the comedy is likely to draw more laughter for someone who can relate to such times e.g. Anyone in their late 20's, or in their 30's or 40's.

Fantastic!

[theleedslads · 10/10 · 29 November 2019]

Brilliant show, very funny, and has a nostalgic feel to it, brings great memories back for me. Well written and a joy able through the whole series.

Hidden gem

[Arweljos · 9/10 · 14 February 2020]

Stumbled upon this by accident and love it, its not meant to be a rip off of the inbetweeners as one reviewer suggested, this is a witty clever nostalgic comedy with great acting allround and it deserves a second season

Great Deception of Teenage Northern Life

[howie_07 · 9/10 · 24 January 2020]

Was recommended this by a friend and ended up binging it all in one night. It's not the perfect show by a long means but if you're around your 30s now and grew up in the north it will surely hit a lot of nostalgic notes with you.

It's the funniest show I've watched in a while, each episode has at least one laugh out loud moment. Really hope they make a second series, I am told it is based on a radio show, so the material is there.

Ladhood's right on target.

[rossgary · 10/10 · 7 January 2020]

Brilliant, well written & a theme i can relate to & Oscar Kennedy was his usual brilliant self.

Good first series rotten second

[chris_rowe-881-168820 · 4/10 · 25 August 2021]

First series was really good, but fresh and different and the narrator felt aloof and witty and it was all put together well, thought 3/4 young lads were good, thought addys character was quite poor and never really fit in with the group, they all felt natural where he felt forced in almost like the fashion in this day and age to cover different ethnicities.the other three all had more dialogue, characters linked to them and more defined roles.

The second season felt forced, the situations more ludicrous, jokes far to set up and obnoxious awful behaviour being overlooked inexplicably when any sane adult would've just told him to do one, not only that he became way more obnoxious, lazy and hypocritical, aware of his issues but avoiding working on himself despite supposedly wanting his gf back, unsure what he was going for. His narration seemed way more irritating, his voice began to grate, he set up more time in the adult world in stupid situations for example the ghost episode.

I just don't think the second series worked, felt too unnatural and forced, I binged all 6 and became increasingly annoyed by his stupidity, hypocrisy and immaturity, the running jokes like kicking the bin or 10kms wore thin. Plus the obligatory trans character felt really forced in, the point he's so unaware he doesn't notice a man is now a woman is frankly ridiculous and even if it isn't it's ridiculous that the woman would accept it so easily because it's how Liam is.

Feel it was leading to a third but think they should call it quits, you don't like him, can't root for him and frankly it's just a bit too ridiculous, I'm sure it's trying to do something with mental health awareness but the fact he knows he's got problems yet continually still tries to theorise about ways to deal with life is frustrating, needed more character growth this season. Instead of doing what it did well it tried to be too woke and too arrogant.

A++++

[nextlevel · 10/10 · 14 December 2019]

Awesome. Watch series one for free on BBC Iplayer

Great cast and great acting

Brilliant transition from radio to TV...

[DanAlsop · 9/10 · 10 May 2020]

This show previously ran two series on Radio 4, and series 1, focusing on high school/college shone the brighter of the two (the second focused on life at university).

If anything, the concept has considerably prospered in its visual format. It's less of a rehash and more an an expansion on the radio show, and the writing and acting play it just right. No cheese. No overdramatics. Episode 5 gets a bit dark, but overall I can't wait for the next series, and hopefully a continuation of this set of characters, who have surely got at least another series before university kicks in.

Hillarious, heartwarming and unique

[stecoyne · 10/10 · 23 August 2021]

One of the best things I've watched in years. Funny and clever and reminds me so much of my own life that it's quite scary.

Genius

[dfbqvkyy · 10/10 · 9 September 2022]

Emotionally and intellectually, provocative and satisfying.

Watch this if you enjoy great television.

Acting is SUPERB throughout - to the point where you don't notice the acting at all, I was just 100% bought-in to the characters.

Liam is both a genius and a good person, with the heart of a lion - feels good to see him win, and feels equally relatable to see him trip. It's balanced perfectly so you empathise when he makes a tit of himself and feel elated when he comes out on top. And you know the untold ending - that he made this great piece of TV! Which is the ultimate masterstroke - you get to enjoy the silver lining in all his trials, you know the underdog wins in the end.

Moving, funny, inspiring, heart-wrenching, challenging, entertaining... loved it.

Contemptible idiocy treats boys and men like morons.

[sogoodlooking · 1/10 · 10 January 2022]

Extraordinarily tame, weak, unimaginative drivel, where boys are imbeciles and men are barely more than boys. A series that treated girls like this would generate blanket outrage---but of course, given this was put together by the BBC, you'll have to pay for the insult as well.

Born 1985 - 1995 Male, You will Love It!

[malikrob · 9/10 · 26 September 2022]

Great three series to date! It really brings back the memories of the school and growing up era. Wel written, with dry humour and entertaining stores. The reflecetion back from todays age onto the younger life experince is well structured, with some real funny momements.

The four younger guys really stand out with their acting abaility, expecially as the episodes process, as their roles really do vary with each story line.

Worth the time if you want an easy funny show, and it really does bring back the memories from the younger era.

The three serices interlink very well, and the storyline progresss great!

Really good

[pikachuefie · 9/10 · 5 April 2024]

If you like shows likes g'wed, the inbetweeners and bad education then you'll probably like this. Its about this guy with like really bad anger issues and he has moments in his adult life where he thinks back to when he was a teenager living in Leeds but now he's dead posh and a bir annoying to be honest but the young version of him is alright. The best bit is probably his pals and his relationship with them. I wish there was a reunion of them all at the end but the finale was good anyway. Liked it buttttt the old version of liams voice is so so annoying other than that dead good and I would recommend.

Tunes and memories that encapsulated ladhood in the 00's

[alexanderlfisk · 10/10 · 11 July 2022]

It seems none of us lived that unique of a life if you were born in the 90's as a lower 'middle class' lad in working class parts of the UK. Perfectly summarises the angsty teenage years: getting in fights, hooking up for the first time, 'picking up' for the first time, growing apart from friends as you mature and discover different perspectives and people - all executed so bang on and interwoven with comments on the knock-on effect, esepcially on depression and anxiety prone millenials as they try and balance the challenges of our late 20's and early 30's and reckon with our younger years.

I'd be forgiven for thinking the crew followed me from childhood for inspiration, but I know how many of us endured and enjoyed those years so similarly.

Great tunes to match up also. The Streets will always be the background song playing when I think back to my teen years.

Was decent until...

[derrirp9 · 1/10 · 22 August 2021]

The first season looked like it had some potential for originality and observation. However the second season started to drag a little, running out of ideas.

And the final few episodes were used as propaganda to normalize "trans" ideology.

Poor version of The Inbetweeners

[richardbrookes-53809 · 2/10 · 8 December 2019]

Cringeworthy attempt at making something along the lines of The Inbetweeners but without the comedy. Watched the first episode then deleted the rest.