Still Up is a delightful comedy for insomniacs and non-insomniacs. It is set in the alive and buzzing town of London in the United Kingdom. In a fun way, it depicts our modern lifestyle.
These two insomniac characters live in one of the most densely populated cosmopolitan metropolis of the world, with a population of nearly 10 million folk, yet they are lonely.
Synopsis [official] of the Still Up (S1/2023) Series
It is a comedy about an impulsive and free-spirited aspiring illustrator Lisa (Antonia Thomas) whose questions over her daughter’s future start keeping her up at night, and the socially anxious yet gifted journalist Danny (Craig Roberts). So, bonded by insomnia, best friends Lisa and Danny stay connected late into the night and find their way through a world of wonderfully weird surprises as their relationship deepens.
This new comedy series is about two people who are not sleeping together (or at all).
Spoiler Free Review of the Still Up (S1/2023) Series
Introduction
In this comedy show, these two lonely birds, Lisa and Danny are surrounded by so many people, yet they find a friendship bond and late-hours connections in each other’s company. As most of our FM team members are insomniacs, we could identify with its subject matter and the unusual way of modern lifestyle.
So, what is the central theme of this romantic comedy?
Lisa and Danny are good friends. And both find it difficult to sleep at night. So, they usually connect over video calls. Quite often, they end up discussing their personal lives with each other. Also, they overcome all kinds of hilarious circumstances and absurd situations in this series. As a result, their bonds and relations grow stronger with each night’s video calls.
What did we not like in this romantic comedy?
Do Lisa and Danny become more than good friends in the end? Yes definitely.
But, with so much late-night chatting and so much screen time sharing, they still tiptoe. So, we did not like the fact that both Lisa and Danny continued to hide their romantic feelings towards each other, in the major portion of the story. However, we all know that their mutual love is definitely on. Yet, the romantic spark is missing. Also, we do not know the fate of their relationship. Moreover, season one ended without giving us a definite – simple yes and no answer.
What did we like in this romantic comedy?
Its creators Steven Burge and Natalie Walter have written a fairly engaging, heartening and entertaining script. Still, we think this British comedy is fresh and quite unusual. It has a goofy sense of humour that we like. Then there are a bunch of funny but awkward characters in the show. We liked most of its quirky characters – an agoraphobic journalist, a nonconformist woman, a man named Veggie, a wacky mother, a cat man, a dog man, etc.
Rather interestingly, both Lisa and Danny rarely share the physical space in the show. Both of them use modern video-call technology to good use to share screen space at the same time in this contemporary show. Even then, the on-screen chemistry of Lisa (Antonia Thomas) and Danny (Craig Roberts) is just too cute.
The conclusion
In the post-pandemic world, the sense of alienation in the modern world is all too apparent. In a way, its two protagonists allude to the same. Even in crowded London, the people are so lonely. The mental connection and the human touch are missing somehow. Perhaps, this is the truth of our contemporary tech.-driven world. But, then Lisa and Danny involved us in their adorable and pleasant romantic story, and we enjoyed that zany warm feeling.
Ratings of this 2023 British Comedy about two insomniacs
| FM’s rating | 3.75/5 |
| FM’s short comments | The world of this Still Up series is full of quirky and lovable characters. Moreover, it is a less of romance and more of a comedy. And we liked it. |
Spoilers Alert – the 2023 British Comedy about two insomniacs
A peek into the Eight episodes of this romantic comedy series
The Pharmacy (Episode 1)
While Danny (Craig Roberts) invents new ways to avoid a neighbour, Lisa (Antonia Thomas) gets creative on a midnight medical mission.
The Dress (Episode 2)
Lisa’s bus ride takes an unexpected turn; Danny aims to impress a dating app match and makes a not-so-charming mistake.
The Date (Episode 3)
Danny hosts a special guest for the evening; Lisa attempts to help from afar as she battles a bad case of boredom.
The Sleep Clinic (Episode 4)
Eager for change, Lisa agrees to a sleep study; Danny prepares for a pivotal interview while looking after an overly sensitive dog.
Vegie Vegie Bong Bong (Episode 5)
Lisa embarks on a complicated camping trip with Veggie‘s (Blake Harrison) family; Danny endures an endless bathroom repair.
The Road Trip (Episode 6)
When Lisa gets tipsy and lost during a ladies’ night, Danny goes all out to help her get home.
The Horse (Episode 7)
Distance weighs on Lisa; Danny gets a second chance; Veggie starts to spiral.
The Wedding (Episode 8)
As Lisa and Danny reminisce about the night they met, a candid revelation shakes everything up.
Poster of this 2023 British Comedy about two insomniacs
Key Details of this 2023 British Comedy about two insomniacs
| Genre | Comedy, Romance |
| Original language | English (UK) |
| Released | September to October, 2023 |
| Creators | Steven Burge & Natalie Walter |
| Writers | Steven Burge, Bryce Hart & Natalie Walter |
| Director | John Addis |
| Cast | Antonia Thomas (Lisa), Craig Roberts (Danny), Blake Harrison (Veggie), Lois Chimimba (Amy), Luke Fetherston (Adam), Rich Fulcher (Cat Man), Samantha Spiro (Christine), etc. |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
Trailer of this 2023 British Comedy about two insomniacs
Featured Image & Poster of the Still Up (S1/2023) Series | Pic. Credit:- Apple TV+