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Must Watch reviews: Long Story Short

Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.

This week, Scott Bryan and Hayley Campbell review ‘Long Story Short’.

It’s an adult animated comedy-drama credited by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, who is the creator of one of Netflix’s most successful animated series of all time: BoJack Horseman.

This new ten parter follows the Schwooper family as the oldest son, Avi, played by Ben Feldman, brings back his girlfriend Jen (Angelique Cabral) to his family home as his brother Yoshi is about to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah.

You’ll recognise a lot of voices throughout this animation, including Abbi Jacobson from Broad City, Max Greenfield from BoJack Horseman and the standup comedian Nicole Byer.

What do the Must Watch reviewers think of ‘Long Story Short’?

Scott Bryan and Hayley Campbell give their views on ‘Long Story Short’.

Naga: “Is this a must watch?”

Hayley: "Yep.. It's the story of one family and they're this completely normal and unexceptional family, but we get to see them from I think it's 1959 to 2022. And each episode is made up of scenes from all across that timeline. So, you get flashbacks and flash forwards, but I don't think in the way that annoys Scott...”

Scott: “Yes, because I get annoyed when there are plots specifically kept away from you, as if you're trying to work out where you are in the timeline, stuff keeps happening and you're not given that information. I find that quite a frustrating thing.”

Courtesy of Netflix

Hayley: “It's not like that, this is different. It's also incredibly Jewish, which I love, and you get to see people age, break up, move, be disappointed about where they've ended up.

It's this melancholy sitcom about a family, but for adults"

“The episodes are only about half an hour long and it crams so much information into a short time and so many jokes. Lots of jokes and little stabs of sadness. It’s funny and melancholy at the same time.

“And because of the timeline leaps, you get to see how much of family life is a repetition of what came before, whether you wanted it to or not. So, it's this melancholy sitcom about a family, but for adults.

“I also want to point out that the design is also by Lisa Hanawalt, who did BoJack Horseman and also Tuca and Bertie. This will be of interest to anyone who's into comics, because while those TV shows had a cult following, when I used to work in a comic shop, if there was a new Lisa Hanawalt book coming out, that was a huge deal.”

Courtesy of Netflix

Naga: “What do you think Scott?”

It will make you think of your own family relations"

Scott: “I really like this too. I don't know how they managed to pull it off in which the jokes and the comedy are super specific looking at this Jewish family for all of their traditions, their culture, the different generations between the two and it being kind of like laser focus, you can tell that it's someone’s story, or a combination of different people’s stories.

Hayley: “It feels like some of this stuff happened to someone…”

Scott: “Yet it somehow manages to be super universal because I think it will make you think of your own family relations. Episode one is about someone’s girlfriend called Jen visiting their family home and she is quite overwhelmed because no matter what she does, she does everything wrong.

“And I think it's a bit like that for any family when someone visits, you’re always trying to not put a foot wrong, and you end up doing so.”

Courtesy of Netflix

Scott: “I think it captures family dynamics well, kind of the politics, the family politics, the family history. So, I think, despite it being super, super laser pointed and lots of references, some that I get, I felt I learned a lot about it through this show as well.

It captures family dynamics well"

“It also feels like a super accessible sort of family related sitcom, which is so hard to do. And I think it also retains a lot about what made BoJack Horseman so beloved in which it feels really rather smart.”

Hayley: “Also, I think it's unusual for an animation to not be stuck in one time period, you know, like The Simpsons, that is constantly one time in their lives, whereas this is all over the place.”

Scott: “And Netflix likes it so much, they've already given it a second season.”

Hayley: “Well, it's not just us then.”

Naga: “And me included.”

Hayley: “Really?”

Courtesy of Netflix

Naga: “Loved it, really loved it. And I watched it quite late in the evening.”

“It reminded me a bit of what Goodness Gracious Me did for the perception of South Asian families and just lifting the lid and, you know, this is how we are, but without reducing it again to the lowest common denomination.

“I would watch that with my family and think they're going to say, “no, this doesn't happen and this is really insulting”. And they loved it because it was actually showing the cultural, you know, a cultural side, which can be laughed at, but laughed along with as well.

“And I thought this was really sharp. I liked it, there were only 10 episodes. This is properly for me, downloadable, watchable when I'm travelling, or if I've just got a half hour and just want to kind of sit back, I will definitely be watching this.”

Courtesy of Netflix

Hayley: “Yeah, and like you say the dialogue is really slick. It felt like everything was boiled down; it wasn't floppy.”

Naga: “There's no space and it doesn't feel relentless because sometimes, you know, a comedy can just feel like it's coming at you, you just think laugh, laugh, laugh.

“No, I don't want to, I just want to sit and enjoy. I didn't feel it was relentless in the slightest. I thought the quick-paced conversations were quick-paced because that is a real reflection of reality and the silences as well or the awkwardness was really well played out as well.

“And I know this is a cartoon, but I completely went in with the characters. One episode, I was in.”

Scott: “I agree with every word.”

All ten episodes of ‘Long Story Short’ are available to watch on Netflix.

But before all that, why not contact Scott and Hayley with the shows you’ve been loving, loathing or lamenting on mustwatch@bbc.co.uk.

This week, the team reviewed ‘King & Conqueror’, Atomic and Hostage.

Must Watch is released as a podcast every Monday evening on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sounds.

As always, we like to include your reviews - on shows you love, loathe or lament.

Message @bbc5live on social media using the hashtag #bbcmustwatch or email mustwatch@bbc.co.uk.

Sinead got in touch with us…

“I was keenly interested in your discussion about subtitles as they are always on when I watch a programme, and I have no hearing impairment.

“I was curious as to why I prefer them on rather than off. They are of course helpful if actors are mumbling, talking fast or have a strong accent, for example ‘The Wire’.”

Matt got in touch with us…

“For a long time, I have thought there is a significant dearth of quality comedies, but then I discovered ‘Such Brave Girls’, which is the best show I've seen in such a long time. Those writers and actors have done an incredible job, and I really hope it continues.

“Also, ‘Here We Go’ is a good return to nice harmless comedies of errors and general family chaos. I don't remember something in that same mold with the quality that exudes from every aspect of that series.”