The Flatshare
Based on Beth O’Leary’s book of the same name, Paramount Plus’s The Flatshare sees Tiffany (Jessica Brown Findlay), a twenty-something writer for an online magazine, move into a new flat after a bad breakup. Her flatmate is Leon (Anthony Welsh), a hospice worker who’s pulling extra hours to earn more money. Though they share the same bed, the pair’s arrangement is that they’re not allowed to meet. Tiffany has the place at night when Leon’s working, and he gets it in the morning. Post-it notes are their only form of communication and, gradually, the pair begin to get involved in each other’s personal lives.
The first two episodes spend their time laying down the groundwork for this tantalising premise. While the idea of two strangers communicating with each other through notes is nothing new (Your Name shares some similarities, for example), The Flatshare keeps its script grounded firmly in reality. Unlike the anime, the leads’ problems are as ordinary as who’s buying milk alongside their various relationship and work problems. The drama the flatmates are going through is very relatable, and the sincere performances from Finlay and Welsh only strengthen the appeal of these characters.
The bulk of the comedy is derived from the actors’ natural charisma. While not every joke lands as intended, thanks to clunky writing and clunkier attempts at social commentary, watching Tiffany and Leon navigate their chaotic lives is reason enough to stick around to see what happens next, especially after an unexpected event at the end of the second episode looks to take the series in an interesting new direction.
There’s more to The Flatshare than initially meets the eye. Its quirky premise and sleek style is enough to get viewers settled into the flow before being hooked by the developing dramas. However, it’s the array of connecting subplots revolving around the central premise that hints at the series moving on to bigger things. Though it’s too soon to tell exactly where these threads will lead or how successfully they’ll be woven together, the potential is there for this Paramount series to become a hidden gem.
Andrew Murray
The Flatshare is released on 1st December 2022.
Watch the trailer for The Flatshare here:
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