The best TV of 2013: No 7 - Fresh Meat

Not just a series of student stereotypes, Channel 4's comedy drama had moments of real poignancy.

Fresh Meat, series 3, episode 7, review

Until last night, this faintly tired third series of Fresh Meat had plodded. That disappointment, however, was both underlined and fully forgiven by the glorious seventh episode: a madcap installment that reminded us how good Channel 4's erratic student comedy drama ought to be.

Fresh Meat, series 3 episode 6, review

Fresh Meat's cringe comedy was in full flight this week with a campus occupation and a 'legendary' JP, says Charlotte Runcie.

Tonight the university students discover their altruistic side after Oregon meets an attractive Tunisian. JP decides a sit-in is the perfect occasion to regain his "ledge" status, which he helpfully defines as someone "quick of wit, loud of voice, he's always the first person with his arse out". Even more deliciously cringe-worthy is Kingsley's protest song from the perspective of a lonesome drone.

Meanwhile, Josie and Vod endure enforced sit-ins and Howard jumps to conclusions when the new housemate makes him an unsolicited cup of tea.

Vod's mum is coming to stay (JP: "You've got a mum?") and she makes Vod look like Dame Edith Sitwell. For starters, the terrifying Chris (Juliet Cowan, superb) insists on calling her daughter "Milly" - short for "Millstone". Elsewhere, Oregon tracks down her play's sole positive reviewer, and Howard attains Matrix-style enlightenment after reading Candice's feminist tract. Sadly, his well-meaning Google hunt for "ethically sourced free range porn" bears no fruit: "I would very much like to go back and take the blue pill," he sighs.

Fresh Meat, series 3 episode 5, review

Fresh Meat's most bittersweet episode yet brought gallows humour and emotional clout, as Vod's mother visited, says James Lachno.

Just when you're wondering if Fresh Meat is losing its way, you'll notice the relentlessly amusing dialogue, the superb characterisation and the fine performances. And just when you feel like it's back on top form, you'll notice a certain vacuum at its heart; a sense that the writers might be running out of things to do with these characters.

Tonight, Oregon unveils her play - which appears to be a series of thinly veiled character assassinations of her housemates. Meanwhile, Howard gets in a fight and the rest of the gang sign up for a clinical drug trial. It bumbles along perfectly happily. You may not even notice the slight lack of focus while you're snickering at Howard's pre-fight training regime, enjoying Vod's cutting critique of Oregon's writing or marvelling at JP's 'incredibly strong' gap year stories.

But we're hoping Fresh Meat still remembers how to marry humour and drama - a climax that's both comically and emotionally satisfying could be a stretch this year.

Have you been watching ... Fresh Meat?

The campus comedy has graduated to its third series, and with Vod at the fore and Jack Whitehall's obnoxious JP becoming likable, it's top marks all round.

Fresh Meat, series 3, episode 4, review

The writers have finally remembered that Fresh Meat is not all about Jack Whitehall's JP, says Ed Cumming.

With Heather out of the picture, Kingsley and Josie can finally get down to the coupley stuff. First up, it's a camping trip to the country, fuelled by alcohol and lingering social awkwardness. Meanwhile, Vod's cunning (read, idiotic) plan to rid herself of Mexican boyfriend Javier reaches its end stage, though it turns out that abandoning him in Rochdale isn't quite the foolproof solution she envisaged. And the pub quiz provides the setting for the latest skirmish in JP and Howard's increasingly bitter battle over fresher Sam.