We Might Regret This Review: A Brilliant Disabled-Led Comedy Continues to Skewer Its Targets
Filmed last summer amidst government efforts to cut disability benefits, the groundbreaking BBC comedy We Might Regret This returns with its second series, delivering laugh-out-loud humor while sharply critiquing societal attitudes. This show, centered on a disabled artist and her best friend turned personal assistant, lands in a cultural and political climate where debates over disability rights are intensifying.
A Politically Charged Premise
The writers are acutely aware of the context. The first episode opens with Freya, played by co-creator Kyla Harris, filming a public information advert for the Department for Work and Pensions. In a supermarket, with a prop baby over her shoulder and staring up from her wheelchair, Freya struggles to convey the right expression. When the director suggests using her "lived experience," the scene hilariously exposes the superficiality often embedded in such campaigns.
This is where We Might Regret This excels. It is not merely a show about disability; instead, it explores messy friendships and absurd scenarios, like sex with men dressed as Smurfs, while fearlessly skewering ableist tropes when necessary. In an era where such critique is urgently needed, the series stands out for its boldness and wit.
Character Dynamics and Humor
When we last saw Freya, she had discovered that her friend Jo had been sleeping with her partner's son, Levi, ending the first series on a cliffhanger with Jo running away mid-shift. Now, Freya and Abe are engaged, Jo is missing, and Levi, dealing with depression, fears she has been kidnapped or fallen down a well.
Ty, Freya's delightfully chaotic PA, played by Aasiya Shah, steals scenes with quick quips and laugh-out-loud delivery. The humor often subverts expectations: instead of the wheelchair-user being portrayed as incompetent or needy, it is her personal assistant who embodies chaos. This clever inversion challenges stereotypes head-on.
Guest Stars and Social Commentary
The series boasts an enviable roster of guest stars. Lolly Adefope returns as Susan, an ex-army PA trainer who shouldn't be training anyone, and Sally Phillips reprises her role as Abe's ever-present ex-wife, now writing a book on monogamy and gibbons. British comedy veteran Sophie Thompson joins as Bean, an eccentric wedding dress designer offering Freya unconventional options.
Freya's agents, the Olivias, played by Emma Sidi and Hanako Footman, add another layer of satire. As PR experts eager to profit from brands' superficial interest in diversity, they excitedly pitch Freya as a "legit disabled bride" for collaborations, highlighting the commodification of disability in modern media.
Reunions and Reflections
Amidst the chaos, Freya can't help but think of her wayward best friend, Jo. Surrounded by her fiance, PA, future son-in-law, and ex-wife discussing weddings and content creation, she decides to search for Jo. Without spoiling the series, their reunion involves self-appointed mediator Ty, blending humor with heartfelt moments.
In a world where news often highlights the worst, We Might Regret This offers a refreshing alternative. For 27 minutes, it imagines a space where those in power value disabled lives, and media works to subvert rather than reinforce negative expectations. This brilliant disabled-led comedy continues to entertain and provoke, making it a must-watch in today's television landscape.
