Although there's nothing too original with the basic storyline of 'Whites' - the self-absorbed, ignorant lead, the sniveling assistant, the brazen smart-ass, the sassy female lead - it is none the less fun. When dissected, it's very much styled in the pattern of "The Office" (minus the interviews) but the actors put their own lovable quirkiness to their own characters. There's a bakers' dozen of laughs to be found - maybe not in the first episode - but as you get to know the characters, the more enjoyable the series becomes. Its good, consistent writing and you empathize with the them as good scripts should allow you to. Alan Davies is as annoying and fun as David Brent and Michael Scott. 'Whites' is an agreeable flavor of a sitcom as they come.
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encyes8 October 2012
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jane_concannon15 October 2010This is a quirky, witty and quite often laugh-out-load funny comedy about the goings on in the kitchen of a posh restaurant. I really like this series and can't understand why it has received such mixed reviews; It has great characters played by a great cast, is very current in its subject matter (in these days where TV seems obsessed with posh cooking) and is actually funny. Alan Davis plays the main character - a chef called Roland White (hence the name of the program), whom I gather is based on a celebrity chef with the same surname but in French. I find Mr Davis a very likable actor to watch as well as being funny. By the way, it was mainly filmed at Thornbury Castle near Bristol.
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mikeiskorn15 May 2023This was a great show! Randomly popped up on YouTube and decided to go with it. There were moments of pure cringe and sometimes the characters were uncomfortable and unnecessarily mean spirited towards other characters which was slightly jarring. Other than that, the premise of the program was great with some funny highlights. I think It really needed a second series to grow more. Such a shame that the BBC has programs like this but won't give them the chance they need to develop. If you're a fan of Alan Davis I think you'll enjoy this. If you've ever worked in kitchen I think you might find some parts not portrayed accurately.
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gryzz197614 March 2012Whites is laugh out loud (excuse the cliché) and intelligent comedy. I keep finding that European comedies are replacing all my previous favorites. Intelligent mixed with silly and sometimes the down right absurd. Whites is no exception with Kiki providing the absurd. I am disappointed that this was so short lived and would beg BBC and the producers to bring it back. There is a depth to the characters and an engaging storyline that is now incomplete and deserving of much more. I would prefer it stay strictly British though. Few comedies of this caliber rarely translates well into an American production (The Office excluded). Please bring Whites back or produce more of the same for us Americans who are intelligent and love humor both.
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rhrufa1 August 2013Enjoyed this British comedy a great deal and have come to appreciate in particular the comedic talents of Katherine Parkinson, who has appeared in several imports I've liked. I don't understand why Whites only lasted six episodes. The snappy, dry wit is classic, the ability to make small things funny uncanny. Who would think to make a joke out of an eggless omelet? Since I do my viewing on Hulu, I'm able to add them again to my queue and go through them more than once. Whites is good enough to watch more than once -- and unfortunately there aren't that many domestic sitcoms I can say that about. Also unfortunate -- there are only the six episodes.
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geeboy376 August 2018It's so bittersweet when you find a show this good but know its been cancelled so all you are going to get is one season. If only tv stations/corporations valued content more than profit shows like this would get renewed but from what I read the biggest reason this was cancelled was an effort to try and cut costs. These types of comedies are so well done since its nothing like a typical sitcom and takes a somewhat intelligent and sharp mind to be able to catch all the subtle jokes. I think this kind of comedy all started with BBC The Office so hope to see more like it in the future.
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Stellar writing, a perfect cast, and excellent all-round production that should have lasted way beyond it's single season.
I just discovered this gem via a clip off of Reddit (eggless omelette) and watched all six episodes in a row.
It's full of clever situations, characters that are layered and sympathetic along with laugh-out-loud scenes that were perfectly executed. I can't believe this show didn't get the chance it deserved. Would figure that the BBC dishonorably cut it just because of budget restraints.
Do yourself a favor and watch this intelligently-written, superbly acted treasure.
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ardenphillips1 December 2019"2010-" what a tease--I wish there was a possibility of this series coming back for more episodes. Bright, witty, and endearing. Alan Davies is always good but the entire cast is wonderful (can't get enough of Darren Boyd or Katherine Parkinson). Don't know how the Brits decide what continues. But I think their television is more fluid then in the US, so maybe Whites will be back. Hope so.
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obiwayne4 September 2013I spent the last 2 weeks watching the first (and only) season of Whites. While I enjoyed it, I kept wishing for it to be more. More of what, I don't know.
To me, Alan Davies' Roland just became a less likable David Brent. I kept waiting for a redeeming moment and don't feel like I was ever given it. The attraction between Roland and Caroline was so muted that when it became more overt I found myself asking "Oh, are they supposed to be attracted to each other?"
Darren Boyd did a wonderful job as Bib and I would have liked more of an exploration into the relationship he had with Roland outside of just being his sous chef. I feel like Isy Suttie's Kiki was funny but a cliché and Matt King's Melvin was somewhat superfluous. My least favorite character had to be Skoose. The last episode began a path to his possible redemption in my eyes, but the prior five just set him up to be an unapologetic bully with no charm.
Overall, it was a good six episode diversion and showed promise towards the end at what season two might bring, I just wish that promise had been revealed earlier in the series. -
Siddhartha1410 October 2020A hidden gem of a series. Terrible there's only one season of it. I hope they make more!! A lot of British comedies put me off (seem too silly) but not this one. It's hilarious!
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hcdearmore23 July 2018This is one of the rare comedies that are actually funny! This one had me in stitches several times, and laughing often. A great cast of characters -- what a shame there's only one season!
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fizziecal11 July 2021Normally I only ever give our 9 at max, and it must be spectacular to get a 9. Here I am, with a 10.
Brilliantly classical tit gypsy humour.
Love it. -
acertainblue-8533416 February 2021I'm talking tears-rolling-down-face-with laughter funny. The show oozes with chemistry on every level. The writing is brilliant. The ability to sort of dance around politically incorrect material in a way that leaves all unharmed is another plus. The show's timing - at a peak in public interest re: celebrity chefs/reality cooking challenge shows, etc., would seem to have made this a keeper. But... it didn't. So: The only thing I dislike about this show is that there are only six 30-minute episodes :(
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remmerdeb23 June 2019Unfortunately this is not funny, despite being listed as comedy, Whites, in it's single season, is not comedy at all and. I've seen plenty of comedy in my years but after waiting through 6 episodes, I was still wondering when the show would show that it had any humor in it at all. It doesn't, not dry humor, black humor or any other type of humor, it's just full, tense and Boring. I don't know what the reviewers who gave it a high rating were watching but it wasn't Whites.
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kevinoreilly-472814 April 2019I turned this off because the sous chef Darren Boyd was trying to rip off John Cleese and it made me want to puke. Not the hectic John Cleese but the subtle John Cleese, and if you can't see that go back and watch flying circus and pay attention this time. This is not the age of the copy cat. Might I add he was failing at his attempt, but an attempt it was and there's no hiding that sort of thing from me so pox on you, hisssssssss.
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australianlimousineclub9 February 2023A lot of time and effort watching, but really is that all there is? What do you think of British food? Does the food contain well known actors? Katherine Parkinson is horrible to work with. Whites more or less nails the typical theatrical stereotype of the average British person (the actors) attempting to make a joke whilst more importantly being desperate to safely make it into the grave without ever experiencing embarrassment. As usual Alan Davies is OK and any person who is still trying to figure him out (or put a finger on him), grow up. Re-watch ability is low, the goof count is high, and for me, Whites is another politely simmering UK comedy let down. 4.