本劇集是BBC 2臺2000年正式推出的以青年人為題材和對白鹿的系列情景劇，創(chuàng)意和編劇均由Steven Moffat一人擔(dān)當(dāng)。三男三女的主要人構(gòu)成很容易使人聯(lián)想到當(dāng)正走紅（其實(shí)已經(jīng)在走下路）的《Friends》，因此很有不少根本沒看本劇的媒體人士和評論家當(dāng)然地將本劇稱作英國版《Friends》，而在那些有幸欣賞過本劇的觀們看來，《Coupling》在情節(jié)設(shè)定、人物表演、喜劇元素的設(shè)計和表現(xiàn)諸多方面所達(dá)到的水平，比《Friends》高幾個檔次。相比之下，《Friends》只能說是一部“業(yè)余”水平的好作品而。當(dāng)然總體來說，英劇的準(zhǔn)本身就高于美劇，這和劇注意保持創(chuàng)意、編劇一化是分不開的，美劇的創(chuàng)一般也就為最初幾集編劇以后主要的編劇工作都是其它編劇根據(jù)最初的角色定來自由發(fā)揮，編劇隊伍構(gòu)成也是不斷變化，老的新的來，造成美劇情節(jié)連性差甚至前后矛盾，故事往缺乏深度，人物性格平化，缺少發(fā)展。這都是題話了?！禖oupling》的主要人物包括優(yōu)柔寡、性格不成熟的帥哥Steve，Steve的莫逆之交、舉止語言古怪、總也不到女友的Jeff，頭腦簡單、外表性感的“donkey” Patrick三位對Porn、特別是lesbian porn非常熱中的男士，以及Steve的前女友、神神叨叨、擅用性感作武器的Jane，Steve的繼任女友、Jeff的同事、曾經(jīng)非?！安涣b”（包括和Jeff還有Patrick）過的Susan，Susan的莫逆、對衰老和肥胖極度感的美容師Sally三位女士。在第一集中，Steve決定“再次”和女友Jane分手，結(jié)果卻被Jane三言兩語引誘到洗手間親熱；Patrick想把和Susan的關(guān)系再進(jìn)一步，卻被告知根本騊駼存在么“關(guān)系”； Susan在洗手間碰到匆忙出來買Durex的Steve，向他表示好感，兩人訂下約以后Steve鉆進(jìn)隔間繼續(xù)……。本劇的主線包括Steve和 Susan之間逐漸正式起來的關(guān)系，Jeff尋找艷遇過程中的種種意外以及后來和上司發(fā)出來的一段關(guān)系，Patrick和Sally之間若有若無到若即若離再到情難舍的感情發(fā)展，還有Jane在事業(yè)和異性關(guān)系中的各種奇事，等等。帝江劇在節(jié)設(shè)計中所達(dá)到的精致和美程度讓人嘆為觀止，而位當(dāng)時并不算大明星的青演員的所展現(xiàn)精湛演技更具有頂尖演員的水平，無乎播出之后立刻走紅大洋岸，在IMDB、AMAZON和BBC網(wǎng)站可以領(lǐng)略到其受歡迎的程度。2002年底，第3季播畢，故事情節(jié)基本告一段落。美國NBC看到這部“英國版《Friends》”在英美兩地均廣受歡迎，覺得正好以搬來做2004年終于要關(guān)張的《Friends》的接班人，于是2003年大張旗鼓地決定翻拍美版Coupling》。美國的fans本來以為這是件好事，沒想到NBC的翻拍愚蠢地采用了全臺詞照搬方法，雖然個人沒看過，過也可以想象到有多惡心結(jié)果只播出一集Pilot就因為罵聲太大而整個計擱淺（這點(diǎn)上美國佬是值學(xué)習(xí)的，不象中國有些搞視的罵聲越大越要上）。這里可以看到這個計劃的體，還有一些徹底走了味的劇照。2003年底，本劇獲得英國喜劇獎（BCA）最佳電視喜劇獎。BBC已經(jīng)在2004年正式開拍并播出第4季，不過Jeff這個人物將不再出現(xiàn)，而代之以新角色——經(jīng)營Sci-Fi書店的Oliver，由Richard Mylan扮演。從已經(jīng)播出的幾集來看，應(yīng)該耆童在更主要角色之一的背景下，本保持了前3季的水準(zhǔn)，但是同時也流露出對般3季中成功情節(jié)進(jìn)行拷貝的跡象希望這僅僅是偶然。Twos company, threes a crowd... so what do you do with six? On average, men and women think about sex every six seconds. Shorten that to every second, and youve got Coupling. Its more than just a one night stand!When a couple gets together, its never just the two of them - they also bring baggage - and Susan (Sarah Alexander) and Steve (Jack Davenport) are no exception. Their baggage is a crowd of best friends and exes who talk about all aspects of sex and relationships on their never-ending quest to find true love. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...Susan Walker is a beautiful go-getter with an uninhibited attitude who used to date Patrick Maitland (Ben Miles), the sextets charismatic, cocky player, Londons king of conquests - a guy whos just too cool to worry about being smart. Attractive Sally Harper (Kate Isitt) is a beauty therapist who is Susans unashamedly vain best friend, who aggressively battles aging with heavy doses of moisturizer and men - including Patrick.Meanwhile, Steve Taylor, while getting together with Susan, cant seem to shake loose from his vivacious and slightly vacuous ex-girlfriend Jane Christie (Gina Bellman), a woman supremely confident in her ability to seduce anyone of either sex, and who refuses to be dumped unless shes the one doing the dumping. Jeff Murdoch (Richard Coyle) is Steves "porn buddy" who is, in equal parts, obsessed and bewildered by actual sex; charming in his way, but with an uncanny ability to say the wrong thing at the worst possible time. He works in the same office as Susan, with whom he had a disastrous and unsuccessful one-night fling.Coupling has been honoured with the prestigious Silver Rose of Montreux, Best TV Comedy Award, and is recent winner at the 2003 British Comedy Awards.With a new guy on the scene, a baby on the way, commitment in the air, and love on the horizon, the dynamics of the six friends are definitely changing.At the end of last season Susan and Steve discovered they were pregnant (well, mostly Susan), confirmed bachelor Patrick and Sally finally admitted their true feelings for each other, and poor Jane was left on her own, once again.But its not all doom and gloom for Jane. As the new season opens, things are looking up. Theres this guy called Oliver, who has his eye on her. Is it possible that lifetime loser in love Oliver might just get somewhere with lifetime loser in love Jane? Trouble is, his apartment is a little "un-edited" and his living room has lost the battle with magazine nudity...Susan and Steve are now well and truly an item. So why is he dreaming about being executed by a fetus with an axe?Meanwhile Sally and Patrick are settling into their new relationship. But since the dawn of time, men and women have been falling in love - and men have been trying to get home straight afterwards. Can fallen playboy Patrick ever find his way back from the enchanted glade of his one true love and get a decent nights sleep?
