Alex is a talent agent suffering all the pain and sadness of divorce. In the office across from him is Helen a talent agent suffering all the pain and sadness of bereavement. They're perfect for each other, according to Alex. According to Helen, he has got to be bloody joking. There's no way she's having sex with Alex... again. Not after the last two times they had sex. Absolutely not...

Free Agents is a six-part romantic comedy from the production team behind Spaced and Black Books. It stars Stephen Mangan and Sharon Horgan as Alex and Helen, co-workers at a talent agency who are both going through an emotional period in their lives and end up sleeping together. The show also stars Anthony Head as the managing director of the agency where the two work.

Alex, an agent for bit part actors, is going through a messy divorce, while Helen, a literary agent, is coming to terms with the fact that her fiance recently died of a heart attack. After sleeping together after one too many drinks the pair, with nothing in common, end up slowly forming a friendship - with Helen trying to get Alex a date through an online dating agency. But it soon becomes obvious that not only are they in denial about their current messy lives, but also the mutual attraction that they feel for each other.

Anthony Head, as the perverted boss stephen, steals the limelight in every scene he's in. Those used to seeing Head playing refined, quiet characters will be in for a bit of a shock. There are also some great smaller roles. Matthew Holness (who is more famous for playing Garth Marenghi in Garth Marenghi's Dark Place) plays cocky agent Dan and Sara Pascoe plays Emma, the disrespectful office assistant.

Through these six episodes Alex has to come to terms with the fact that his wife has found a new man, and that his kids actually like him; find somewhere else to sleep (he's already tried his car, the office and briefly stayed as Stephen's as a lodger). Helen also has to get to grips with the fact that her husband is dead, as well as toying over whether she is a suitable god mother for her dead boyfriend's sister's new baby. And Stephen may have found the perfect woman for him.

Extras include audio commentary with the cast and crew (although I nearly missed this as it was listed under the "set-up" menu and not "extras"; Making of Documentary (18 min, 31 sec); Out-takes (7 min, 05 sec); Featurettes (12 min, 30 sec collection of spoof featurettes that see Emma snooping around the office, actors (in character) talking about what it's like to be an agent, Dan and Emma try online dating, Dan and Emma reveal what "chapter 7" is all about, and Alex gets the guided tour of Steven's place).

Free Agents is an interesting comedy and well worth checking out.

9

Nick Smithson