本劇集是BBC 2臺(tái)2000年正式推出的以青年人為題和對(duì)象的系列情景劇，創(chuàng)意和編劇均Steven Moffat一人擔(dān)當(dāng)。三男三女的主要人構(gòu)成很容易使人聯(lián)到當(dāng)時(shí)正走紅（其已經(jīng)在走下坡路）《Friends》，因此很有不少根沒(méi)看過(guò)本劇的媒體士和評(píng)論家想當(dāng)然將本劇稱(chēng)作英國(guó)版《Friends》，而在那些有幸欣過(guò)本劇的觀(guān)眾們看，《Coupling》在情節(jié)設(shè)定、人物表演、喜劇元素設(shè)計(jì)和表現(xiàn)等諸多面所達(dá)到的水平，比《Friends》高幾個(gè)檔次。相之下，《Friends》只能說(shuō)是一部“業(yè)余”水平的好品而已。當(dāng)然總體說(shuō)，英劇的水準(zhǔn)本就高于美劇，這和劇注意保持創(chuàng)意、劇一體化是分不開(kāi)，美劇的創(chuàng)意一般就為最初幾集編劇以后主要的編劇工都是由其它編劇根最初的角色設(shè)定來(lái)由發(fā)揮，編劇隊(duì)伍構(gòu)成也是不斷變化老的走新的來(lái)，造美劇情節(jié)連貫性差至前后矛盾，故事往缺乏深度，人物格平面化，缺少發(fā)。這都是題外話(huà)了《Coupling》的主要人物包括柔寡斷、性格不成的帥哥Steve，Steve的莫逆之交、舉止語(yǔ)言古怪總也找不到女友的Jeff，頭腦簡(jiǎn)單、外表性感的“donkey” Patrick三位對(duì)Porn、特別是lesbian porn非常熱中的男士，以Steve的前女友、神神叨叨、擅用感作武器的Jane，Steve的繼任女友、Jeff的同事、曾經(jīng)非常“不”（包括和Jeff還有Patrick）過(guò)的Susan，Susan的莫逆、對(duì)衰老和肥胖極度感的美容師Sally三位女士。在第一集中，Steve決定“再次”和女友Jane分手，結(jié)果卻被Jane三言?xún)烧Z(yǔ)引誘到洗手間親熱Patrick想把和Susan的關(guān)系再進(jìn)一步，卻被告根本不存在什么“系”； Susan在洗手間碰到匆忙來(lái)買(mǎi)Durex的Steve，向他表示好感，兩人訂下約以后Steve鉆進(jìn)隔間繼續(xù)……。本的主線(xiàn)包括Steve和 Susan之間逐漸正式起來(lái)的系，Jeff尋找艷遇過(guò)程中的種種意以及后來(lái)和上司發(fā)出來(lái)的一段關(guān)系，Patrick和Sally之間若有若無(wú)到若即若離再到情難舍的感情發(fā)展，有Jane在事業(yè)和異性關(guān)系中的各種事，等等。本劇在節(jié)設(shè)計(jì)中所達(dá)到的致和完美程度讓人為觀(guān)止，而六位當(dāng)并不算大明星的青演員的所展現(xiàn)精湛技更是具有頂尖演的水平，無(wú)怪乎播之后立刻走紅大洋岸，在IMDB、AMAZON和BBC網(wǎng)站可以領(lǐng)略到其歡迎的程度。2002年底，第3季播畢，故事情節(jié)基本告段落。美國(guó)NBC看到這部“英國(guó)版《Friends》”在英美兩地均廣受歡，覺(jué)得正好可以搬做2004年終于要關(guān)張的《Friends》的接班人，于是2003年大張旗鼓地決定翻拍美版Coupling》。美國(guó)的fans本來(lái)以為這是件好事沒(méi)想到NBC的翻拍愚蠢地采用了全臺(tái)照搬的方法，雖然人沒(méi)看過(guò)，不過(guò)也以想象到有多惡心結(jié)果只播出一集Pilot就因?yàn)榱R聲太大而整個(gè)計(jì)英山擱淺這點(diǎn)上美國(guó)佬是值學(xué)習(xí)的，不象中國(guó)些搞影視的罵聲越越要上）。在這里以看到這個(gè)計(jì)劃的體，還有一些徹底了味兒的劇照。2003年底，本劇獲得英國(guó)喜劇獎(jiǎng)（BCA）最佳電視喜劇獎(jiǎng)BBC已經(jīng)在2004年正式開(kāi)拍并播出第4季，不過(guò)Jeff這個(gè)人物將不再出現(xiàn)，而代之以新角——經(jīng)營(yíng)Sci-Fi書(shū)店的Oliver，由Richard Mylan扮演。從已經(jīng)播出的幾來(lái)看，應(yīng)該說(shuō)在更主要角色之一的背下，基本保持了前3季的水準(zhǔn)，但是同也流露出對(duì)前3季中成功情節(jié)進(jìn)行拷貝跡象，希望這僅僅偶然。Twos company, threes a crowd... so what do you do with six? On average, men and women think about sex every six seconds. Shorten that to every second, and youve got Coupling. Its more than just a one night stand!When a couple gets together, its never just the two of them - they also bring baggage - and Susan (Sarah Alexander) and Steve (Jack Davenport) are no exception. Their baggage is a crowd of best friends and exes who talk about all aspects of sex and relationships on their never-ending quest to find true love. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...Susan Walker is a beautiful go-getter with an uninhibited attitude who used to date Patrick Maitland (Ben Miles), the sextets charismatic, cocky player, Londons king of conquests - a guy whos just too cool to worry about being smart. Attractive Sally Harper (Kate Isitt) is a beauty therapist who is Susans unashamedly vain best friend, who aggressively battles aging with heavy doses of moisturizer and men - including Patrick.Meanwhile, Steve Taylor, while getting together with Susan, cant seem to shake loose from his vivacious and slightly vacuous ex-girlfriend Jane Christie (Gina Bellman), a woman supremely confident in her ability to seduce anyone of either sex, and who refuses to be dumped unless shes the one doing the dumping. Jeff Murdoch (Richard Coyle) is Steves "porn buddy" who is, in equal parts, obsessed and bewildered by actual sex; charming in his way, but with an uncanny ability to say the wrong thing at the worst possible time. He works in the same office as Susan, with whom he had a disastrous and unsuccessful one-night fling.Coupling has been honoured with the prestigious Silver Rose of Montreux, Best TV Comedy Award, and is recent winner at the 2003 British Comedy Awards.With a new guy on the scene, a baby on the way, commitment in the air, and love on the horizon, the dynamics of the six friends are definitely changing.At the end of last season Susan and Steve discovered they were pregnant (well, mostly Susan), confirmed bachelor Patrick and Sally finally admitted their true feelings for each other, and poor Jane was left on her own, once again.But its not all doom and gloom for Jane. As the new season opens, things are looking up. Theres this guy called Oliver, who has his eye on her. Is it possible that lifetime loser in love Oliver might just get somewhere with lifetime loser in love Jane? Trouble is, his apartment is a little "un-edited" and his living room has lost the battle with magazine nudity...Susan and Steve are now well and truly an item. So why is he dreaming about being executed by a fetus with an axe?Meanwhile Sally and Patrick are settling into their new relationship. But since the dawn of time, men and women have been falling in love - and men have been trying to get home straight afterwards. Can fallen playboy Patrick ever find his way back from the enchanted glade of his one true love and get a decent nights sleep?
