Young Offenders
New ReleaseA comedy about two fools from Cork who learn about life through mistakes, thefts, and endless attempts to pretend that everything is under control.
BBC Three launched the Irish comedy "Young Offenders" in the fall of 2016, which became a cult classic of British humor over its 4 seasons. The premiere on September 16 introduces viewers to Conor and Jock — two high school students from Cork who hate school and constantly get into misadventures to escape reality.
The series works on the contrast between the poverty of Irish suburbs and the endless optimism of the characters. The tone is grotesque comedy with heart: the heroes steal bicycles, sell fish without a license, and try to buy drugs (to "test for quality" for a school project), but they do it with such naivety that it's impossible not to empathize. The format of 30 episodes (2016-2020) allowed the characters to evolve from delinquents to young people facing the consequences of their actions.
If you watched "Youth" and appreciated the absurd logic of actions there, or "Derry Girls" for its Irish flavor — "Young Offenders" will offer a similar tone of politically incorrect humor. For comparison with other comedies about poverty, see "The Stag" or "The Job."
Four seasons totaling 30 episodes.
No, the series concluded in 2020.
Yes, but with a caveat of politically incorrect humor and drug references, age restriction 16+.
"Young Offenders" is a legal term for young criminals in Ireland and the UK.
With a caveat about the language — the series is full of Irish slang and crude jokes.