Netflix adds 'binge-worthy' sitcom 'almost as dark and sharp as Peep Show'

Netflix has quietly dropped a hidden gem for comedy fans, especially those who can't get enough of Peep Show.

The series debuted in 2017 and features the comedic synergy of David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Simon Blackwell, famed for his outstanding contributions to Peep Show, Veep, Four Lions, and The Thick of It, is the brains behind this creation.

In Back, we meet Stephen (played by David Mitchell), who is about to inherit the John Barleycorn pub in Stroud after his father's demise. However, the plot thickens with the unexpected appearance of Andrew (Robert Webb), a one-time foster child of Stephen's parents, who yearns to reconnect with the family.

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Stephen isn't exactly thrilled by Andrew's sudden reappearance, seeing him as a menace to his aspirations, family, and very existence.

Critics have showered the show with applause, giving it a stellar 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's earned hefty approval from fans and critics on social media, reports .

Viewers are raving about Back, labelling it "engaging" and a "must-watch," even dubbing it perfectly "binge-worthy."

Meanwhile, The Sunday Times relayed its praises, stating: "Ah, what a comfort it is to have David Mitchell and Robert Webb back, in Back, a comedy shaping up to be almost as pin-sharp and cheerfully dark as Peep Show."

An enthusiastic review from The Hollywood Reporter highlighted: "It's Blackwell's intelligent and searing writing - which also has quite a bit of emotional nuance - that makes Back much more than mere joke creation for its own sake. And it's Mitchell and Webb who make it all come to life."

"Anyone missing the biting humour of Peep Show, or anyone who's simply looking to delve into a quick comedy that deals with an odd power struggle should be pleasantly surprised by Back," CinemaBlend penned.

When Back hit the screens in 2021, David opened up about his collaboration with Andrew and how they felt their partnership just "worked."

"We first started doing stuff together when we were students, and we just thought 'Well, this seems to click'. I think we just felt like it worked, and it's difficult enough to make it on comedy, so we'd be fools to throw this away," he expressed.

"We've been working together for over 20 years, and in that time, it's gone through phases when it's all been tremendous fun and phases when we've felt bleak and hopeless. There have been phases where we've been doing stuff that we're excited to do, but we're utterly sick of the sight of each other."

Back is available to stream on Netflix