--- title: "Big Boys: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/big-boys/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/big-boys" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Big Boys (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are unanimous in their warmth. Most critics describe Jack Rooke’s semi-autobiographical sitcom as tender, funny and unusually careful with its material, taking grief, sexuality and young men’s mental health seriously without lecturing. The praise clusters on the writing and on the central friendship between a shy, closeted student and his laddish best mate, with Jon Pointing’s performance as Danny singled out more than once and Dylan Llewellyn’s move into a leading role noted approvingly. The spread is narrow: nothing lower than a solid pass, and the reservations amount to mildness rather than complaint. The Times is the coolest of the seven, finding it tender and poignant but stopping short of the enthusiasm elsewhere. The second series draws the strongest notices, with The Independent and The i Paper both crediting it with a portrait of working-class and LGBT+ lives that avoids cliché. Nobody dissents; the only argument is how much to admire it. ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 January 2024. The critic praises the second season of the semi-autobiographical Channel 4 sitcom as a sweet, sensitive portrait of misfit university students navigating grief, sexuality, mental health and relationships. It stands out for its non-didactic take on LGBT+ lives and working-class experiences, with strong performances especially from Jon Pointing as Danny. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/big-boys-review-jon-pointing-jack-rooke-b2477769.html) ## The i Paper — Rachael Healy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2024. The critic calls the return of the semi-autobiographical series bright, tender and really funny, highlighting Jack Rooke’s writing and Jon Pointing’s performance for capturing the complexities of laddish masculinity and men’s mental health with authenticity. It blends humour and emotion seamlessly while exploring working-class characters without cliché. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/big-boys-series-2-review-2851268) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2022. The series is a warm, tender and witty sitcom about grief and the uplifting friendship between a shy, closeted gay student and his straight, laddy best mate. It treats young people's problems seriously while piercing the heart with unexpected emotional moments. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/26/big-boys-review-this-warm-tender-comedy-will-pierce-your-heart) ## Radio Times Rating 4/5. 26 May 2022. The critic finds the series warm, funny and full of personality, holding its own after Derry Girls with relentless gags and a distinctly British tone. It is praised for blending humour with grief and showing that tomorrow is a new day. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/big-boys-channel-4-review/) ## Evening Standard — Joe Bromley Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2022. This heart-warming comedy explores the laughs and lows of a closeted teen's coming of age, grief and young men's mental health struggles with wry humour and an unlikely friendship at its core. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/big-boys-review-channel-4-jack-rooke-dylan-llewellyn-jon-pointing-b1002127.html) ## The Telegraph — Anita Singh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2022. This bubbly coming-of-age comedy blends laughs and life lessons with sensitively handled friendship and loss, elevating Dylan Llewellyn to a starring role as the sweet, vulnerable protagonist. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/big-boys-review-coming-of-age-comedy-blends-laughs-life-lessons/) ## The Times — Carol Midgley Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2022. The autobiographical comedy offers a tender, poignant tale of troubled teenage years following a father's death and university freshers' experiences. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/big-boys-review-a-tender-poignant-tale-of-troubled-teenage-years-6ncj9zpjc) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/big-boys.md