I'll give this terrible education an 8; a score given almost entirely on the value of dialogue. In every concept this show is plainly, used, but the stereotypes stay fresh with a stream of static wit. Banter fights back and forth from start to finish. The character palette is too robust to ever stay looking at one color for long. Characters are stably defined, and growth among any of them is highly unlikely. But as they interact, the extreme envelopes them as you get to sit and watch these kids ride toward utter nothingness mislead by a teacher who seems to be skilled in absolutely nothing but responding to any situation, anywhere, instantly and in the worst way possible. I suggest checking it out if dialogue is your thing the British have been doing it a long time. ~Ideophobe
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eselim91751 October 2013If you haven't watched this then give any of the episodes a go. It is just pure entertainment, there is not supposed to be a point to any of it other than to make you laugh, (which it repeatedly succeeds in doing). It is slick, has fresh tight scripts moves along at a pace and you don't really need any prior knowledge of the characters to enjoy each episode fully. Don't expect the main protagonists to develop over time. This isn't one of these get to know the characters and feel empathy with them over a course of a series things. Ultimately comedy is about making you laugh and this one manages to do that with its absurd set-ups and excellent dialogue. Co-written by Jack Whitehall, he deserves credit for creating something which is very enjoyable.
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gibbs-1817212 September 2019A fair to middling comedy which I think will resonate more with the 13-25s
I've never been a massive jack Whitehall fan but my son's were so I watched this and had a few giggles along the way but its the superb cast that provides the laughter. Note I copy and pasted for the t.v. series and film cos it's the same. -
gjovik-0553230 December 2018Great show is very funny, great characters, and a heartfelt ending!
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snipermurph011 January 2015Don't be fooled by the title, Bad Education is everything but bad. The characters (although somewhat cliché) are all lovable and in many ways relate-able. An example would be the flamboyantly eccentric Stephen (or indeed his alter-ego Stephanie). The show takes place in a typical British secondary school filled with dodgy teachers, and even dodgier pupils. All the funny scenarios and wacky situations will make you think "(sigh) if only my school was really this funny"
Although, it may not quite be enough to rival that of the Inbetweeners, this school-based sitcom is British comedy gold. Whether it be with Headteacher Frasers "banter" or with Alfie's embarrassing memories, there's plenty to keep you giggling. -
strike-199514 August 2019Muxh funnier than I thought it was going to be. Don't believe the low score.
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dixiethistle28 April 2020Watching the series for theb2nd time. Lots of cliches and inappropriate stuff but it is extremely funny. The young cast do an outstanding job!
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ashleys-mackenzie7 March 2019Very typical Jack Whitehall so funny. However, the horrible and jarring soundtrack transitions that go from a whispered decibel to screaming in your ear make it difficult to enjoy. 100% NOT recommended if you are using headphones or live in an apartment complex or don't want to experience action-sequence transitions.
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jboothmillard15 October 2017This was one of the last really popular sitcoms to be broadcast on BBC Three before it was shut down and taken online, I was really thankful that it was repeated before I missed out on the opportunity to watch it. Basically the series takes place at the fictional Abbey Grove School, in Watford or Tring, Hertfordshire, and it focuses on posh, newly graduated secondary school history teacher Alfie Wickers (Jack Whitehall, also writing). Alfie is a bigger kid than the kids he is teaching in Class K, his students include teacher's pet Joe Poulter (Ethan Lawrence), tough guy Mitchell Harper (Britain's Got Talent's Charlie Wernham), wheelchair-bound rude boy Leslie "Rem Dogg" Remmington (Jack Binstead), inappropriately flirtatious Chantelle Parsons (Nikki Runeckles), camp Stephen Carmichael (Layton Williams), the studious Jing Hua (Kae Alexander) and outwardly fiery Cleopatra Ofoedo (Weruche Opia). Throughout the series, the mismatched youngsters give him a hard time and take the mick, but often they can relate to them, banter with him, and become his good friends. Also throughout, Alfie is constantly trying to impress his crush, openly bisexual biology teacher Miss Rosie Gulliver (Sarah Solemani), trying to appear "cool", often his efforts turn into embarrassing situations or humiliation for himself, the students or the teaching staff. Alfie also has to contend with the the teaching staff, including eccentric headmaster Shaquille Banter "Simon" Fra$er (Mathew Horne), and meet the expectations of the deputy heads, including demanding dictator Isobel Pickwell (Michelle Gomez), ruthless yet cringe-worthy Professor Celia "Pro Green" Green (Samantha Spiro), and his own father, dramatically inappropriate Martin Wickers (Harry Enfield). Also starring Jack Bence Jack Bence as Grayson, James Fleet as Richard, David Bradley as Ennis, Roger Allam as Maurice Hewston, Lethal Bizzle as Rapper and Colin McFarlane as Politician. Whitehall gives a fantastic performance as "the worst teacher ever to grace the British education system", the supporting cast members, young and old, all do great as well, Whitehall's writing is brilliant, all three series are both cringing and hilarious, it may have had the critics being negative towards it, but I found a very entertaining and funny comedy show. Very good!
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afaqqwe21 October 2015Jack Whitehall as a school teacher, and a really funny school teacher, that is why it's called "Bad Education" I guess. Jack has this posh accent and he cracks silly funny jokes and the story in every episode is funny. Jack having a crush over Miss Gulliver, who is her colleague. Miss Gulliver is pretty and funny by the way. Students are fun too. Especially the character of Joe, Joe is cute and Joe's chemistry with Jack, will surely make you laugh even more. This show might take you back to the school and you'll miss your school memories and the class fun and you might start wishing your school teachers were Miss Gulliver and Jack. I wished that Miss Gulliver and Jack were my teachers. I wished they created more seasons and more episodes. I wished It was a never ending show. Although non of my wish came true but still I watched this show many times over and over again. And I bet you guys would watch it over and over again too. Jack Whitehall deserves the credit to make shows really fun and he is the co-writer too. this show makes me say "Thank You Jack Whitehall!"
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I finished this series last week, never heard of it anywhere maybe saw a video about India in Facebook and that got be hooked a bit. The show is good not great .. I said good as I liked the jokes; some of them were really funny. The last season was different from the rest and specially the last episode; didn't expect that to be so emotional. Well somehow it reminded me of the last day in my college. Suddenly everyone from your class is gone and you won't see them again. I think that part was the best. Somehow wanted another season from the team but being said that they ended it the series on a great note! Good bye Alfie, you are good person..!!!
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annafarrell16 January 2023I loved all the previous seasons of bad education and gave it an 8. Season 4 is just horrible. Jack Whitehall is not even in it anymore and nothing makes sense. The former students seem to be teachers. It makes no sense, it's not funny, it's just cringe worthy. I couldn't even get through the first episode, what utter drivel! To think I was looking forward to watching this all day, what a downer. I wish I had a character counter so I would know when to stop whinging. Maybe there's an app for that? Aah I see there's a little red counter on top here, that's really appreciated. In short, cringeworthy drivel.
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bradcol5 December 2018Not a single bad episode every one has you laughing out loud, hilarious definitely worth a watch
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Considering Bad Education is 'just' a sitcom and therefore not typically expected to have complex characters and plot lines, I think the writing and casting of the series was and remains fantastic. Not only is there witty and well-delivered dialogue, as mentioned in other reviews, but it touches on sensitive issues in an admirable way. Let me expand on this, because it is debated hotly and largely disputed, especially for this show.
Bad Education is called 'puerile' by a few reviewers online due to its rather rude humour. OK, this is a fair point... but it's well-written humour, even if a lot of it is dirty, and the majority of it is extremely funny. Even the clichéd jokes are delivered and inserted in new ways and the few that aren't still work in the context of the show. If someone was wanting highbrow humour, they shouldn't have chosen a sitcom: the way the humour is written is, yes, 'puerile', but it is funny and it works.
In addition to this, the characters each start stereotypically clichéd: this is another point reviewers touch upon in a negative light. But, again, in the context of the sitcom, they are lovable and well-written and consistent, which makes the show. And, even though they START stereotypically (eg. camp gay boy, clever Asian girl, class clown, etc.) they develop throughout the course of the show and develop personalities and hobbies and show sides that you wouldn't expect (eg. the tough bully turns out to be gay) and stereotypes are merged in new ways (eg. class clown turns emo/Gothic). On top of this, it is never explicitly mentioned, but it is implied that we, the audience, are seeing these kids through Mr Wickers' eyes and therefore are accompanying them on the journey of HIM seeing them develop from just cardboard cutout characters in a class he's got to control into real people who respect him and whom he respects. In episode 1 in the parents' meeting, he mentions their talents as aspects of them that nobody else notices, showing he notices and respects them as people - not just learners - and this is reflected in the last scene in season 3.
Other good points include the facts that: -Parents match up to their children, psychologically, in appearance, and are (except for the movie... sorry Mrs. Poulter) kept consistent even when in the background. I am especially impressed with the psychological accuracy in the portrayal of the parents and their children. Examples include Stephen Carmichael's ability to be confident and open, matched up to Mr and Mrs Carmichael and their acceptance of their son's personality and sexuality, and also Frank Grayson's mother, whose neglectful and abusive relationship with her son versus the pampering of her dog explains the constant need for her son to assert dominance alongside his need to hide his soft side and 'true self'.
-The morals are admirable and repeated: even though the humour is dirty and Wickers himself does not shy away from doing ridiculous and immoral things to reach his end goals, morals consistently include 'be yourself: you will be richly rewarded' (such as in Grayson's transformation from bully to confident and proud boyfriend of Stephen), 'people are people not just stereotypes' (each character is complex and respected and liked by the end of the series by every other character), 'things are illegal for a reason', 'sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of' and 'immaturity can be overcome'.
-Scenes are reflected subtly to show growth throughout the series, one particular example being (credit to the Tumblr user who brought this up) the first and last lines of each character being meaningful and summing up the character in question. Grayson's first and last lines towards Stephen are 'Hi ugly' and 'You look amazing'.
-Plus, representation is very inclusive: there are main characters who are disabled, from a large section of ethnicities, strong female characters meeting the Bechdel test (Gulliver and Pickwell talk to each other quite a lot about various issues), and there are multiple and complex queer plot lines which are not trivialised or made into a joke and get their own happy endings... mostly.
So, yes. Bad Education could be called 'immature' and 'puerile'... but it really isn't... -
rohanumpleby1 June 2021Positives
Likeable characters
Great sence of humour
Good emotional episodes sometimes
Teenagers act really well, and stupid and think there cool like most teenagers with the odd one out of course
Great chemistry between the cast
Negatives
Some of the stories can be a little weak I. E. boring
Overall
8/10. -
amiratootoonchi20 May 2020Just started watching a few episodes, and so far it's got me laughing non stop. The swimming gala episode especially had me laughing so hard I was crying.
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yashwanth_g2 September 2019British comedy at its finest. The setting is funny.
To be honest, I'm a sucker for British shows and I liked Bad Education.
I would suggest it for anyone looking for easy going show with a general setting. It falls right into the HIMYM, Big Bang theory setting except that its not a sitcom.
I loved it!! -
iainmcleod_80023 January 2023First three seasons were great, really funny, eight out of ten probably.
Fourth season just ruined it. Literally zero points. So i have given 2 because of the first three seasons.
The new characters are just not funny. Like terrible. And neither are the two returning main characters. Shame as they were funny in the first three seasons. Particularly Steven, just not funny. Rude. But not funny rude. Just arrogant rude.
I don't understand how something can go so rubbish. Attempting to tick boxes and end up with rubbish non funny nonsense that pleases nobody. Well except people that have low intelligence. -
roffles-263-1844895 November 2021Bad Education follows Alfie Wickers, an infantile young teacher who deserves, and gets, very little respect from those around him. He has a class of assorted children, mostly more confident and adult than he is. Banter ensues. The end.
Fundamentally humor is subjective so you may not agree, but I found Bad Education hilarious. Great pace of jokes, funny situations and characters, just worked really well for me.
Although obviously the characters and situations are exaggerated I think the writing really captured a lot of 'truth' in the writing, and various characters and situations really reminded me of people I knew at school and things that really happened (if turned up to 11).
It's a shame how few episodes there are and I wish we got a bit more time to get to know some of the kids a bit better, but then the brevity does mean that it never outstayed its welcome. Seasons 1 and 2 are my favourite, with the pacing and style changing a little bit on season 3 - still entertaining but just didn't work quite as well for me.
You'll probably be able to tell whether you'll enjoy this series about half way through the first episode. If you're enjoying it then you'll probably enjoy all the other episodes too. If not then it's probably not worth watching any further. -
MotherOfCats919 August 2020I recently discovered this series on Netflix and found myself laughing out loud and therefore hooked by the first episode which isn't always the case with comedy series. When I was watching it I realized how similar it is to the American comedy series A.P. Bio (which came after Bad Education) but funnier; so if you're a fan of A.P. and comedy series in general you should try Bad Education.
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giljade-2306825 June 2016OK, its crass, juvenile, and has spectacularly non-PC dialogue. But it is pure genius IMHO. Banter level indeed reaches stratospheric levels, and it is recommended to download subtitles to follow all slang spoken at breakneck speed. I have recently re-viewed some episodes and was rolling on the floor laughing. Here is a one-liner quote, one of a thousand of the surreal dialogue. When asked to ask a question during a visit to the "Petting Zoo and Ink museum" here is what Joe comes with: "Would you rather be a boy with a dog's head or a dog with a boys head?" following Rem-dogs rather non-PC one: "How come you can call dogs bitches, but not bitches bitches?" And BTW I'm no dumb teenager myself having recently entered my sixth decade. I think this has not enough cult following as it should ...
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etann-3670720 February 2024Although it wasn't a perfect 3 season run it had some of the funniest bits that are uniquely Jack Whitehall and he pulls them off really the only way he can. The adult who refuses to mature is a classic archetype and from his standup it really seams like this is his genuine personality and it's fun but like the show illustrated it's largely perceived as pitiful behavior by one's peers and his self aware comedy style just adds layers to this type of character. I was really eager to watch the remaining seasons and couldn't find them so I subbed to Britbox and I felt like I wasted my money because this show was the reason I signed up and boy was the fourth season a letdown. Not only did Jack Whitehall not follow through with the rest of the series but the format just wasn't even close to what the former show was. It originally was quite central to one character and the rest of the cast went along for the ride. These new episodes should have just been spin-offs by a different name as they didn't feel anything like the initial concept. It was far more "brutal" as in there was no one to lift the mood. It was divided into two separate personalities of which neither felt like they had any comedic anchor. Just the head master who was the butt of the jokes, who offered no levity just scowling and reprimand. Just relentless and not enjoyable to watch. The heartfelt ending of the third season should have been the closed door on this series. If they wanted to spin off, just do it that way, this wasn't "Bad Education" it was just "Bad, Really Really Bad". I won't even include the 4th and 5th seasons in my rating as they just don't feel like the same show.
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deanylovett1 March 20222nd time around of watching it kinda made the cringe parts easier for me to handle and I must say that most people love the cringe parts anyway, I just personally struggle a bit.
That said the mix of the chaotic scenes and music along with the contrast awkward scenes is genius!
The way the kids rip each other doesn't get boring and that Jack is more of there mate also doesn't get old
Shame it ended but maybe good to end before becoming exhausting. -
nicklea-1339216 January 2023I won't bother repeating all the good things everyone else has already said about the first three seasons. If this were just a review of those seasons then I would easily give it a 7 or 8.
However, Season 4 is totally different with a totally different cast. Season 4 bears absolutely no resemblance to the previous seasons and is, essentially, an entirely different show but just trying to piggy-back on the IP.
The new characters are.reduced to a politically correct tickbox exercise of ensuring a correct diversity mix that one would expect in an inner London comprehensive.
The first three seasons were written by Jack Whitehall (I believe) but this season is written by an assortment of different young writers with little experience (at least, according to the review in The Guardian) and I think this difference really does show.