Coupling, the witty, instantly addictive British series (that could have been called Chaps or Squelchy in the City) charts the tangled sex lives of a close-knit group comprising "exes and best friends": womanizer Jack; hapless nice guy Steve; "strange and disturbing" Jeff; uninhibited Susan; neurotic Sally; and manipulative Jane. An American remake is in the works, but Coupling may already inspire feelings of deja-view, since its obvious frame of reference is Friends (Steve and Susan are the Ross-Rachel equivalent); although the series also echoes Seinfeld in its coinage of catch-phrases (even if it's doubtful that "the boyfriend zone" will replace "master of your domain") and plotlines (in episode one, Steve tries to dump Jane, who refuses to accept it). Still, this Anglo import has its own fresh and provocative take on relationships: at one point, Susan discovers that a former beau not only had a videotape of the couple having sex, but that he also taped over her (how's that for a which-makes-me-angrier dilemma?). With only six episodes on the disc, audiences will be anxiously awaiting the second series. Best to catch it now before NBC mucks it up. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)
Coupling
BBC, 174 min., not rated, DVD: $24.98 Volume 18, Issue 2
Coupling
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