yet another mediocre outing for a show that once had so much to offer (The Royle Family - The New Sofa (DVD))

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	The Royle Family - The New Sofa (DVD)
Date:	13/01/09 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: dave's dad

Disadvantages: the forced jokes

'The New Sofa' is the 2008 Christmas special episode of TV's much loved 'The Royle Family'. It's been two years since the last special 'The Queen of Sheba', and this time it's a festive special.

The secret of a come-back special is that is has to retain all the quality of the original, but add something new to the mix as well. In this episode, there are two new elements; the episode centres around Dave and Denise cooking Christmas lunch for Jim and Barbara, as well as the never before seen parents of Dave.
Long term fans of the show will know that this is a recipe for disaster - not only is Denise off her bum, but Jim has to leave his own house too, and that signals a lot of trouble.

The episode has some very good points and some very bad points, but overall I have to say I wasn't that impressed. Like the last special, the jokes are forced and unnatural, which is totally out of place in a show that was so funny because of its subtlety.

Secondly, we are missing too many key characters for it to feel 'right'. Where is Anthony, Joe, Mary, Cheryl? Of course, Norma's dead, but she's missed too. Only having the bare bones of the cast makes it more unsettled when we meet Dave's parents, who now make up 1/3 of the cast, and offset the delicate equilibrium of different personalities so well perfected in series one and two.

Now don't get me wrong: there are a couple of very funny moments in this episode, and Dave's dad (in particular) is a well presented character who fits right in as the odd-ball he is. There are trademark moments of subtle comedy at times too, but over all it's just too obvious and forced for it to be anywhere near as good as the old episodes. I think it's time for Aherne and co to stop flogging the dead horse and leave it to rest in peace.

Summary: not very good