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Television review: Flatbush Misdemeanors

It's a comedy drama that's not all that funny, and not very dramatic....Josh Howie tries to categorise a tale of Brooklyn life.

August 18, 2021 10:17
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Zayna deals with a rumor she had sex with her teenage crush while Kevin deals with delivering on his first freelance painting job. Dan excitedly prepares to attend Jess’s birthday party. But their worlds collide when Drew’s demands impact all their lives.
2 min read

How many laughs are prerequisite to classifying a TV show as comedy? Despite its home on Sky Comedy, I’d politely suggest more than in Flatbush Misdemeanors. But then that’s what the term ‘comedy drama’ was invented for. Even if the definition of drama is also being stretched here. Which isn’t to say, laughs or not, drama or not, this series still isn’t enjoyable, because it is.

Comparisons have been made to Broad City; two struggling friends in New York, flitting about from one mishap to the next. And despite the sex of their respective leads, there are certainly other connections. You’re got co-stars with stand-up comedy backgrounds, co-creating and co-writing, remaking their work from what was originally a web-series. You’ve also got the Semitic influence, or at least half of it here, with Dan Perlman playing Dan Joseph. Yet it’s in how they’re different, that you can best decide if this show is for you.

First is the manner by which the protagonists handle what life throws at them. In Broad City the Jewish lionesses fight back, they go on the attack, they wrestle with and even instigate their trials. And they do it with relish and joy, the results being properly laugh out loud funny. They’re broads dominating their city. Whereas, in Flatbush, childhood friends Dan and Kev, played by Kevin Iso, are more the victims of the area’s misdemeanours.

As Dan teaches grown teens in the public education system, and Kevin delivers food while waiting for his big break as a fine artist, they both mumble and grumble and stumble along, burdened by their circumstances, half-heartedly fighting back in the misguided hope the worst won’t happen. The comedy that ensues is more grounded, dry and subtle, generating wry smiles rather than laughter.

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