Things You Should Have Done series two review – the Bafta-winning comedy shows flashes of brilliance

BBC Three's 'Things You Should Have Done' Returns with More Laughs than Tears in Series Two Review

The dry and quirky comedy about Chi, a recently bereaved "stay at home daughter" from middle England, is back for series two, and it's more of the same. The premise remains bleak - an inept young girl navigates life without her parents who left behind a list of tasks for her to complete before she turns 30. However, the show's tone has shifted slightly, with Chi receiving therapy suggestions from her therapist Ruth, played by Bridget Christie.

While series one worked on the narrative conceit of the list, in series two it feels almost nonexistent. The show now takes a more fragmented approach, with each episode focusing on a different task for Chi to complete. Despite this change, the show still manages to deliver plenty of laughs, thanks to the return of Sarah Kendall as Sarah Gilbeaux and Juliet Cowan as Claudia, Dave's unstable sister.

Chi, played by Lucia Keskin, remains endearingly gormless throughout the series, often seeking advice from miniature versions of her heroes. However, without Karen, one of the show's most catty characters, Things You Should Have Done feels like a different show altogether. The loss of Karen means that some of the show's best scenes are now missing.

The show still delivers flashes of brilliance, particularly in its writing and performances. Keskin shines as Chi, delivering excellent lines such as "My dead auntie is inside this Drift-max cordless IZ900!" The supporting cast also excels, with Christie bringing a new level of energy to the role of Ruth.

While series two doesn't quite live up to the first series in terms of emotional impact, it remains an enjoyable and hilarious comedy. If you enjoyed the first series, you'll likely enjoy this one, even if it feels slightly different without Karen's scheming antics. With plenty of laughs and memorable performances, Things You Should Have Done is a show worth watching - just don't expect to be too emotionally invested in Chi's journey.
 
[Image of a middle-aged woman staring blankly at her laptop, with a faint expression of boredom on her face 😴]

[ GIF of a person trying to adult, but everything going wrong 🤦‍♀️]

[Image of a task list with a sad face on it, surrounded by broken toys and dirty laundry 📝💔]

[Meme of Chi giving a confused look, while Ruth gives a enthusiastic thumbs up 👀👍]

[ GIF of a person trying to find the humor in life's mundane tasks, but failing miserably 😂]
 
I dunno if the show has lost its edge since series one 🤔. I mean, it's still pretty funny, especially with Sarah Kendall and Juliet Cowan back as Sarah Gilbeaux and Claudia 😂. But, like, without Karen's sassy presence, it feels a bit flat? Chi's still super gormless in the best way possible, but Ruth bringing some new energy to the show is nice 🤗. The writing and performances are solid too, especially Lucia Keskin's delivery of those funny lines 📝. Still, I'm not sure if series two will give me the same emotional kick as the first one 🤷‍♀️. Overall, it's still a fun watch, but maybe don't expect too much depth? 😊
 
I'm so stoked that 'Things You Should Have Done' is back with more laughs than tears! I mean, who doesn't love a good dry comedy every now and then? 😊 The addition of therapy sessions with Bridget Christie's character Ruth is a great idea, it adds a new layer to Chi's story. And Sarah Kendall and Juliet Cowan are still killing it as their characters. It's like, the show might not be as emotionally heavy as the first series, but that's okay! Sometimes you just need a good belly laugh 🤣. Plus, Chi is still so relatable and lovable, even when she's being gormless. I'm all about that positive vibe 💖. The only thing that could make it better is if they brought back Karen's scheming antics 🤪. But overall, I'm excited to see what the future holds for this show! 👍
 
im not surprised they had to tone down the list thingy, Chi's got enough on her plate with the whole grieving thing 🤷‍♀️ still, brings back some funny moments, but it feels like they're trying way too hard to make it "emotional" now 🙄 lucia keskin is still cute as chi tho 💁‍♀️ and i'm glad bridget christie is on board as her therapist, that's a highlight for me 😂 but yeah, karen's absence does kinda suck the fun out of it a bit 😔
 
I'm glad 'Things You Should Have Done' is back for series two 🤗, but I gotta say, the tone feels kinda watered down this time around 😔. They're trying out a new approach with each episode focusing on a different task, which is interesting, but it makes me miss Karen's crazy antics she had in season one 🙅‍♀️. Chi still shines as always, and Bridget Christie brings some great energy to her role 💁‍♀️. The writing and performances are top-notch too 👏. But yeah, without Karen, the show just doesn't feel the same 😐. Still, if you enjoyed season one, this one's worth checking out for the laughs alone 🤣. Just don't expect me to be totally invested in Chi's journey...
 
I'm not sure why the BBC thinks they can just rebrand 'Things You Should Have Done' as more of the same and we'll still flock to it. I mean, what's the message here? We're conditioned to settle for 'good enough'? The show's loss of Karen was a significant blow – it's like they took out the best part of the puzzle and expected us to still be satisfied with the remaining pieces.

And don't even get me started on the fragmented approach. It feels like they're trying to create more of an ' anthology series' vibe, but what's the end goal? Is Chi just supposed to keep moving forward without any real resolution or purpose? It's a bit unsettling, if you ask me 🤔
 
I loved series one of Things You Should Have Done, but I have to admit that series two felt like it was missing some of the magic 🤔. The new approach with each episode focusing on a different task for Chi to complete worked for me, but I kinda miss seeing Karen's catty antics 😂. The writing and performances are still top-notch, especially Lucia Keskin as Chi - she's so endearingly gormless 💁‍♀️! But yeah, without Karen, it feels like the show is missing a piece of its puzzle 🤷‍♀️. Still, if you enjoyed series one, I'd definitely recommend checking out series two 👍
 
🤣 I'm loving how the show has adapted its format for series two! While it's not as impactful as the first series, it's still so much fun to watch Chi navigate these silly tasks. The addition of Ruth's therapy sessions is a nice touch and adds some extra depth to the character 🤔. But omg, I'm totally missing Karen already 😂 her sass was the best part! The cast does an amazing job, especially Lucia Keskin as Chi - she's just so lovable and quirky 💕. Overall, it's still a hilarious show that'll keep you giggling from start to finish 🎉
 
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