Before the 2004 box office hit, Shaun of the Dead came along, Simon Pegg and his film friends Nick Frost and Edgar Wright were already making audiences laugh. Along with Jessica Stevenson (now Jessica Hynes) – who also had a cameo in Shaun of the Dead – Simon Pegg penned the sci-fi comedy spoof television series, Spaced, now available as a 3-disc DVD box set, comprising seasons 1 and 2, as well as a ton of bonus material.
The Premise of Spaced
Tim Bisley (Simon Pegg) and Daisy Steiner (Jessica Stevenson) meet in a coffee shop one day when they realize that they are both flat broke and looking for a flat to rent. They discover that the cheapest flat in town is for “professional couples only,” and decide to pose as young lovers in order to snap it up. Along the way, Tim and Daisy become closer and closer; they befriend their landlord and their housemate, and they even adopt a dog named Colin.
The Characters
- Tim Bisley is a down-on-his-luck comic artist who has recently broken up with his girlfriend, Sarah, and cannot support himself on his artwork alone. He works in a comic store while trying to find his big break, and he often lets his imagination take over his world.
- Daisy Steiner is a self-proclaimed journalist, who, according to others, never gets a thing done. She is a dreamer and a social butterfly, and she is the perfect match for Tim, as she lets his imagination carry both of them away.
- Mike Watt (Nick Frost) is Tim’s best mate. He is part of an obscure chapter of the British Forces, and is obsessed with guns, stealth, and war.
- Twist Morgan (Katy Carmichael) is Daisy’s best mate. She works in fashion (i.e. at a dry cleaner) and is obsessed with three things: looks, herself, and the gay scene.
- Brian Topp (Mark Heap) lives downstairs from Tim and Daisy. He is an eccentric painter who works with pain, anger, and fear. He often hangs around with Tim and Daisy, and quickly falls in love with Twist, Daisy’s best mate. He has a fear of dancing, and cannot paint unless he is in pain. He enjoys listening to the sound effects of despair.
- Marsha Klein (Julia Deakin) is Tim and Daisy’s quirky landlady. She is often found snooping around the house, or arguing with her ever-elusive teenage daughter. She is seemingly in love with Brian Topp, and is never seen without at least one glass of wine in her hands.
The Verdict
Spaced is everything you love about Shaun of the Dead with fewer zombies and a lot more heart. As the audience, you quickly fall in love with Tim and Daisy, and sympathize with their unemployment and their desire to maintain creative careers. Their housemates are absolutely hilarious, and in typical Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright fashion, you can expect to see countless references to sci-fi and horror films throughout.
The relationship between Daisy and Tim is an uncommon one – they are platonic friends of the opposite sex. At times, bouts of jealousy rear their ugly heads, but in the end, Daisy and Tim are just genuinely best mates.
The Downsides
The only thing about Spaced that may trip up audiences is the fact that it switches frequently from seemingly realistic and naturalistic to completely fantastical. It takes a while to grow accustomed to this, and at times it does seem to have no rhyme or reason.
The only other downside? It only lasted for two seasons! Spaced will definitely leave you wanting more (and wishing that you, too, could be friends with Tim and Daisy).
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