Dated or Delightful: Coupling

Seeing as February is the month for cherubs and hearts, I thought the return of our Dated or Delightful series should take a look back at something romance-based. And what British series has delved into this area more than BBC’s Coupling?

Making its debut in May of 2000, Coupling centered around a group of six chums and their complicated sex lives. It ran for four series and (I will only mention this once) drew quite a few comparisons to the American mega-hit, Friends. I mean I get it; three men, three women, all the various and fluctuating relationship statuses plus an abundance of awkward, embarrassing situations.

That being said, Coupling was a far more adult and edgy series. It would certainly have been broadcast post-watershed (the hour past which programs are permitted to be less family friendly) due to its candid handling of topics such as impotence, masturbation, pornography and lesbianism.

Written by the eventual Sherlock and Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat and co-produced by his wife Sue Vertue, it has oft been reported that Coupling was based very loosely on the pair’s early relationship. Moffat’s characters were well developed and represented proficiency in romantic relationships which ranged from cool confidence to constant trepidation.

Allow me to reaquaint you with the gang and the actors who brought them to life.

Steve Taylor – Played by Pirates of the Caribbean and Smash star Jack Davenport, Steve is the everyman of the group. Hapless, indecisive and with a fear of commitment, he has problems extricating himself from bad relationships and staying in good ones. He also shows himself to be a fair student of gender differences when he goes on one of his hilarious rants.