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Ideal

2005 – 2011Show7 seasons52 episodes

Comedy
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2

A melancholic, bleak comedy series about everyday modern life and crime, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, scares or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

7 seasons · 52 episodes · best: S4E2 "The Past" 8.5

Episodes

7.4
7.7
7.9
8.0
7.5
7.5
6.6

Story

Sitcom about a small-time dope dealer and his strange collection of acquaintances.

Feels like

  • Criminal Underworld Comedy
  • Existential Dread
  • Sharp British Satire
  • Anti-Hero Protagonist
  • Melancholic Humor
  • Gritty Realism
  • Psychological Complexity
  • Subversive Narrative

Cast

24 of 67 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Dan Zeff, Ben Wheatley, Ben Gosling Fuller
Written by
Graham Duff, Tony Burgess
Produced by
Gill Isles, Ted Dowd, Jane Berthoud

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 11, 2005 · June 30, 2011 · Ended

First aired
January 11, 2005
Last aired
June 30, 2011
Status
Ended
Length
7 seasons · 52 episodes
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Sexual Content
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Available in
3 countries

Tropes

Alliterative Name, Balloon Belly, British Brevity +9

  • Alliterative Name
  • Balloon Belly
  • British Brevity
  • The Cameo
  • Catch Phrase
  • Dirty Cop
  • The Ditz
  • Eye Scream
  • Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"
  • The Faceless
  • Surprisingly Sudden Death
  • You ALL Look Familiar

12 of 24 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Ideal?"

Questions about Ideal

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Ideal?

It streams in 1 other country, but not in the United States.

Is Ideal worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 8.2).

Which season of Ideal is best?

Season 4, with an IMDb average of 8.0. Season 7 is the weakest at 6.6. The highest-rated episode is The Past (season 4, episode 2) at 8.5, and the lowest is The Red King (season 7, episode 6) at 5.6.

How long does it take to watch Ideal?

26 h

About 26 hours: 52 episodes in 7 seasons of about 30 minutes each, aired from 2005 to 2011.

Will Ideal make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and dark humor (9 of 10).

Is Ideal plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Ideal use?

Alliterative NameBalloon BellyBritish BrevityThe CameoCatch PhraseDirty CopThe DitzEye ScreamEveryone Calls Him "Barkeep"The FacelessSurprisingly Sudden DeathYou ALL Look Familiarand 12 more

TV Tropes lists 24 tropes for it, including Alliterative Name, Balloon Belly, and British Brevity.