Beverley and Sean sit down for the first table read of "Pucks" and it's not as horrific as they predicted. But Matt and Beverley continue their sexually fraught banter over a plot point. And Matt lets Sean drive his sports car before taking him on a jolly to Vegas. Greig and Mangan are wonderful but it stops short of ever being truly clever. There are so many good performances but, overall, Episodes does gently insult your intelligence with its desperation to include too broad an audience.

Curb your enthusiasm

It's a pity the English actors in Episodes have had their craziness toned down.

Three episodes in, and this comedy about how American studios set about adapting British TV series isn't getting any better. Matt LeBlanc is actually rather charming as an exaggerated version of himself, although unlike Steve Coogan in The Trip or the brilliantly excruciating guest cameos in Extras, he hasn't been asked to venture very near the knuckle when sending himself up. However, the main problem is that Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig, who play the two British scriptwriters out of their depth in Hollywood, are just plain annoying. All their jokes at the expense of the vain, insincere Americans fall flat because their smug reserve is equally unlikeable. Tonight, LeBlanc and Sean (Mangan) try to bond in Las Vegas.

Episodes raises a few laughs, but seems self assured

After much teasing in the series opener the second instalment of Episodes finally sees the arrival of ace in the deck Matt Le Blanc.

Episodes episode 2 review

Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig's comedy series really hits its stride in episode two. Here's Ryan's review...

In Episodes, the gap between Britain and America is explored from the perspective of married TV comedy writers Beverly and Sean (Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan), whose hit show is taken up by a US network and Americanised beyond all recognition. After last week's opener I aired some reservations about the rhythms of the comedic banter, but hoped that it would get better when Matt LeBlanc (playing a souped-up version of himself) joined in the fun, and last night, with several very good gags both verbal and visual, it did.

Episodes raises a few laughs

After much teasing in the series opener the second instalment of Episodes finally sees the arrival of ace in the deck Matt LeBlanc.

Episodes episode 2 review

Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig's comedy series really hits its stride in episode two.

Episodes 1.2 review

A marginal improvement on the terrible premiere, but this was still a rather lethargic half-hour, only enlivened by a few funny scenes.

The second episode of the US/UK development-hell sitcom in which Matt LeBlanc is cast as the star against show creators Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan's will. This time the two Brits meet LeBlanc at a dinner party at the home of their obnoxiously equivocating network boss Merc, managing to offend their new star, as he tries to convince them of his ability to un-Joey himself.