December 26th 2024.
The Outnumbered family has come together once again for a special Christmas episode, but not all viewers were satisfied with the chosen storyline. In this festive installment of the beloved BBC sitcom, we catch up with the Brockman family at a different stage in their lives.
When the series first aired in 2007, Sue and Pete were busy raising their three young and unique children. However, in this special, Jake, Ben, and Karen are all grown up, presenting their parents with a new set of challenges as they navigate the roles of parenting adults and becoming grandparents.
Written and directed by the creators Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, the episode follows Sue and Pete as they try to gather their children for a traditional family Christmas. Along with the usual chaos and humor of the Brockman family, they also have to deal with an unwanted guest, Jane, and a new addition to the family.
But amidst all the laughter and mishaps, there is a more serious storyline as Pete reveals he has been diagnosed with treatable prostate cancer. After putting off telling his children, he and Sue finally sit down with them and share the news. However, Ben is not there in person due to travel issues, and he finds out through a video call, leading to some comical moments as he struggles to hear the conversation.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Pete and Sue handle it with warmth, love, and their trademark humor. As Pete later says to his wife, "We'll know they're okay when they start taking the p**s." By the end of the episode, the family is back to their usual joking and teasing, providing comfort to Pete.
According to Guy, the decision to include a cancer storyline was to show how "very, very normal" it is and how the Brockmans deal with it with warmth, love, and humor. He also hoped that it would bring reassurance and comfort to those going through something similar.
While some viewers were taken aback by the serious storyline, others felt that it added depth and realism to the episode. However, there were also criticisms from those who felt the episode was too depressing for a Christmas special or not as funny as previous episodes.
In addition to Pete's health, the episode also delves into the individual issues of each child. Jake is struggling with parenting his daughter, Karen has recently split from her girlfriend and is considering changing her name, and Ben is facing travel issues and being arrested at a protest.
Through it all, Pete and Sue are there to guide their children, reminding us that parents are still needed even as their children grow older. The creators wanted viewers to feel less alone by showing how families face challenges together.
However, not all viewers were pleased with the episode, with some feeling that the children being older took away from the improvised moments that were a feature in previous episodes. Others were also disappointed that the family's usual filming location had changed.
But despite any criticisms, it is clear that the Outnumbered family has a special place in the hearts of viewers and that this Christmas reunion was a chance to catch up with old friends. The episode is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, so if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check it out and catch up with the Brockmans.
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