Friday Night Dinner (TV Series) The Au Pair (2020) User Reviews

I don't get the hate for this episode

[jcrawley-12178 · 7/10 · 21 March 2022]

I will just start by saying that this episode is perfectly fine. But looking at the reviews, and the score, for this episode, I can see this one didn't sit well with the fans.

Is it a rehash of an earlier episodes? Well yes, it is a bit. It does have quite a lot of similarities to "The Other Jackie" in that it features a crazy Jim love interest, but we are in series 6 now. There are only so many plots you can do with a family eating dinner on a Friday Night. And I feel this episode's plot was just different enough to not feel like a total rehash.

This episode wasn't super amazing, but it sure had its moments. The scene where Jim is rambling on about a "very round marble" had me in fits, and Jim's dance in order to entice Gibi out of the bathroom in the cream tea place was also another shining moment.

This episode wasn't one of the best by any means, but it's far from the worst. It didn't do anything really wrong, and I don't see why this of all episodes is the least favourite amongst the fans. 7/10.

A poorer episode

[crastall92 · 5/10 · 14 April 2020]

This episode was poor compared to the very best but it isn't as bad as some reviews say. That said it felt tired and forced at points. The au pair character wasn't great but it was the over reliance on Jim to provide humour that was the issue in my view. I find Jim hilarious in bursts but borderline annoying in this episode. The au pair herself was poorly conceived, signaling perhaps a lack of ideas. There were funny points to this episode however, but not as consistent as it should be. I only hope next week's episode is better

Not the best but not the worst

[callumlewis-63412 · 6/10 · 24 April 2020]

I've seen better and worse episodes 100% definitely think (The Plastic Bag) is the worst of the series so far!

Horrendous episode

[darren2676 · 2 July 2020]

Enjoyed the whole show and then Boom! This God awful episode got made, and worst of all it actually got released. How?

Definitely not the best but not as bad as it's rated.

[bbeni · 6/10 · 4 January 2023]

This is the lowest rated episode of Friday Night Dinner, as of January 2023, at 6.1 out of 10. A big fall from the second worst rated episode, which sits at 7.5. I can definitely see why this episode would irritate many viewers as it becomes pretty outlandish and absurd at certain moments. In particular, the Jim and Gibby scenes are pretty silly, honestly.

But, despite that, I still think this episode deserves a good 6.5-7, purely for how the main cast, especially Johnny and Adam respond to the annoying Gibby. I find their usual dry responses to her very broken English highly amusing. E.g, regarding the use of "the facilities" and "the memory of you hasn't vanished". And another highlight is when Jackie tells her to sit down in the living room, "on the own".

Of course, if broken English doesn't tickle your funny bone, then yes, this episode will leave you rather underwhelmed and probably irritated, but if not, this episode doesn't deserve quite as much flack as it's received. A full 1.4 points less than all the other episodes seems slightly harsh, especially considering how irritating and awkward the 2nd worst rated episode, "The Girlfriend", is.

Edit May 2023: just watched this episode again and Gibby is beginning to irritate me a bit more. I still find Johnnys reactions to Gibby fairly amusing but it isn't enough to counteract the OTT cartoonish quality of Gibby and Jim in this episode. Especially in comparison to the first series when everything was much more subtle and subdued.

Cream Teas Anyone?

[antonydwhitehead · 9/10 · 15 April 2020]

This 3rd Episode of S6's Friday Night Dinner was called the Au Pair and featured the typically quirky and mischievous Sally Philips as Gibby - a returning au pair who loves English Cream Teas. The craziness goes up a notch when Jim becomes infatuated with her. This Ep was hilariously funny with great comic ensemble playing by the talented cast with lots of iconic moments to remember. Say what you like about FND but it reliably tickles the funny bone and continues C4's successful delivery of marvellous sitcoms.

Worst episode I've seen

[muamba_eats_toast · 1/10 · 11 April 2020]

The new character was nothing short of the most annoying person I've ever seen and everything felt remarkably forced compared to previous series also. Felt like hours!

Don't get the bad reviews

[jafonzo · 10/10 · 11 April 2020]

I really don't get the negativity? If you like silliness, which this programme is in abundance, then this episode is a perfectly silly. Jim is back to being utilised to perfection, yes he's extra silly (and almost child like) this series but the episode had me crying with laughter. A fantastic return to form for the show after a slight dip last series.

Contender for the WORST episode ever!

[scfcbateman · 1/10 · 10 April 2020]

This was a complete and utter shambles of an episode. A contender for the worst one produced. Cringy, tasteless comedy with an annoying extra character. Not impressed, and I'm sure many others won't be either! 👎👎👎

Best episode yet

[hcharleshobbs · 10/10 · 10 April 2020]

Season 6 hasn't been the best, but this episode was an instant classic for me.

Absolute garbage

[joellivesley · 1/10 · 10 April 2020]

If I started watching the show based on that episode I wouldn't watch it

Worst one I've seen

[sandycochrane-97758 · 1/10 · 12 April 2020]

The character Gibby and the whole storyline was absolute rubbish and there wasn't a funny moment at all. Worst one I've seen to date, which Is a shame. Just awful

Worst episode

[xentrix667 · 3/10 · 23 November 2021]

I hate to jump on the train of everyone else who's disappointed, because I really love this show. This episode, though, was just not good. I'm ok with Jim in very small doses, but an episode with a lot of Jim and another character who might be even more annoying than Jim, is too much for me. I can see the last three episodes have a significant improvement in ratings, thankfully, because it would be awful if this incredible show was marred by a sub par final season.

If I could give this episode 0, I would

[poor_ginger · 1/10 · 12 April 2020]

Dreadful - predictable and boring. The new character was annoying to the point that it was cringeworthy.

Stories revolving predominantly around a family around a dinner table obviously only have so much plot to give. This has led to more airtime for Jim, once a device for short silly relief in earlier seasons. Now he's being given more and more screen time, Jim has become a babyish, unrealistic annoyance.

This show has ran its course and I won't be bothering with the rest of this series.

Just a really unfunny episode

[jrg-colthouse · 1/10 · 15 April 2020]

Friday night dinner is one of those really easy to watch programmes that actually feels realistic to watch, and I've enjoyed it for the first 5 series. This series started okay with the first ep, the second wasn't great but had its moments, but this episode was some of the worst TV I've seen in years. There isn't 1 funny moment, it's become increasingly unrealistic, the new character introduced wasn't funny, wasn't likeable, the only actually 2 gags she had was she needed the toilet a lot and liked cream teas? Where's the humour in either of those things? I hope the writers pick it up or this has to be the last season, truly dreadful attempt at an episode which I can't quite believe made it to air.

Oh dear, that's a real clunker.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 2/10 · 6 February 2021]

There's a surprise waiting for the boys, when their au pair arrives to say hello, it's been a while, and the boys don't remember her.

I shouldn't have read the reviews before watching this, so I knew full well that it wasn't going to be good, sadly it wasn't even half decent, this is the only episode I'd say is a real stinker.

Sally Phillips is shocking as Gibby, she's normally such a good actress, but in this she's dismal.

The scene where Martin encounters his former school friend wasn't good.

I would have locked Jim and Gibby in the boot, and abandoned the car miles away, the pair weren't funny, they just got on my nerves.

The only time I've been desperate for it to end. 2/10.

oh okay

[kurokoteiii · 3/10 · 11 April 2020]

Only funny where jim falls off the sofa and crashes into the table. gibby was very annoying too.

Dismal

[christiancull · 1/10 · 10 April 2020]

Dismal beyond all belief. In a series that is often a collection of talented actors struggling with unbelievably thin material has now plummeted into something that is excruciating to the point of being unwatchable.

What happened?

[chris-989-967067 · 2/10 · 10 April 2020]

Really enjoyed the first episode of the series but episode 2 and 3 have been poor and this one was very difficult to find the humour. It seems to have lost everything that made it funny and great to watch. Shame as it's a great show

The DOWNFALL of Friday Night Dinner

[jamespidgeon · 1/10 · 10 April 2020]

Friday Night dinner has been one of my favourite tv sitcoms since it first aired in 2012. With relatable yet extreme characters we as the British audience have grown very close to the series being in some ways one of funniest sitcoms we have seen in a long time. Season 6 however and this episode in particular 'The Au Pair' the writers have spoiled what was once an ingenious tv show. The show has now turned into a cringeworthy experience with childish and poor gags that i would expect from mediocre (at best) so called 'comedy' shows like friends, big bang theory and other dismal comedies. The only thing now setting what was one an amazing show from these poor excuses for funny sitcoms is the laughter track. Friday nights dinner has been butchered i only dread whats coming next. The first episode of the new 2020 season opened with a mediocre episode but with optimism i gave it another chance. The second episode revolving around a plastic bag in a tree was far worse with the reputation of the show slipping and now with the airing of this episode with poor jokes, the downfall of a show we once cried with laughter too is inevitable. Having just watched the episode as it aired i am disappointed to what it has become with this episode being a sorry excuse for an episode. The writers are treating the fanbase like schmucks and have obviously lost their passion for the show. With thin material the show has plummeted to something i would expect from ammeter screen writers. A show that had a place in our hearts is now unwatchable.

Every brilliant series needs that one terrible let down episode

[Jo-Ropke · 4/10 · 14 August 2022]

Every brilliant series needs that one terrible let down episode to remind us how fantastic the rest of the series actually is. Just a small step back to make a giant leap forward, ending in a magnificent finale!

Clearly running low on ideas..

[Adnaarm · 2/10 · 21 April 2020]

This show used to be written where the clueless people had some wit about them and now they're just clueless. May aswell put in canned laughter now.