Oh, British television. How I love my British TV, from comedies to cop dramas.
So many cop dramas.
But Miranda is not one of them. Nope, Miranda — a sitcom written by and featuring the hilarious Miranda Hart — encompasses so much of what I love about British television.
Let’s start with the writer-driven material. Very little of what we have on television here comes from the minds of the people who star in it, and while Hart didn’t completely produce the show herself, it feels like she might have. Which only adds to the sense that the Miranda on the show would genuinely be a friend if only she didn’t only exist for half-hour bursts. When actors create their own characters, it leads to a different kind of depth.
And a different kind of performer on TV.
Here, all nearly all actors, but particularly women, must be smoothed to a near-Photoshop perfection, whether on or off-camera. Women must conform to certain standards, unless cast specifically because they don’t, making that a vital aspect of the character.
Here, the fear of deviating from established beauty norms radiates from the screen. Often casting makes female characters intended to reject beauty norms laughable, such as the young Hayden Panettiere as a nerd on Malcolm in the Middle.
But not in the UK. No one but Miranda Hart could have brought the character of Miranda to life. And there, she was given the freedom to do it.
Yet this show isn’t a statement, it’s thirty minutes of laugh-out-loud moments where we can recognize ourselves, our own human awkwardness, the funny side of how we relate to others and the world around us. Miranda is a cozy blanket of humor, kind and inclusive; it’s that warm glow from a window on the street, coming from a room where we’re all invited.
All seasons of Miranda are available to to stream on Hulu. But I warn you, take it slowly. You’ll miss her when it’s over.
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A Bit to Read 
I love MIRANDA. perhaps my favorite show of all time. never has a show made me burst out loud with laughter like this one. A total delight.
On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 10:42 AM, A Bit to Read wrote:
> I.L. Wolf posted: “Oh, British television. How I love my British TV, from > comedies to cop dramas. So many cop dramas. But Miranda is not one of them. > Nope, Miranda — a sitcom written by and featuring the hilarious Miranda > Hart — encompasses so much of what I love ab” >
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ME TOO! And you can completely rewatch it over and over again…I’m convinced that Miranda Hart and I would be instant best friends. The character is just so entirely human.
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the show is over right? i haven’t seen any recent ones. i saw my first show on PBS and then netflix. she’s amazing!
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There was a fourth and final season of two longish episodes…it’s on Hulu if you haven’t seen them 🙂
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just saw this. i’ll try to see if i’ve viewed these yet. think i’ll order the dvds.
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It’s a good idea, since you can always rewatch it! I’d love to get the complete series.
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Great show ☺ Not many British sitcoms are actually funny these days, but this one is hilarious!
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Yes, a lot of them, while still brilliant, are pretty depressing. But this one is like a mini-vacation.
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