Juice (TV series)
| Juice | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Mawaan Rizwan |
| Based on | Juice by Mawaan Rizwan (2018 Edinburgh Fringe show) |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Production company | Various Artists Limited |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Three |
| Release | 18 September – 2 October 2023 |
Juice is a British surreal comedy series created by and starring Mawaan Rizwan for BBC Three.[1] The series is based on Rizwan's 2018 Edinburgh Fringe show[2] and began airing in September 2023.[1] It follows Rizwan's character, Jamma, as he navigates work life and relationships with his family and boyfriend. Juice is based partially upon Rizwan's real life,[3][4] though Rizwan has stated the show is "definitely fictional",[5] and features his real-life mother and brother as his family in the show.[6] Juice's notable features include its practical effects and "distinctive trippy visuals", as well as how it "explore[s] adult themes in a childlike way".[2]
Cast and characters
Main
- Mawaan Rizwan as Jamal "Jamma" Jamshidi, a young gay man who works at a marketing company and vies for attention amongst his family
- Russell Tovey as Guy, Jamal's older, therapist boyfriend
- Nabhaan Rizwan as Isaac, Jamma's younger brother
- Shahnaz Rizwan as Farida, Jamma's mother and head of the Megacentre
- Jeff Mirza as Saif, Jamma's father and finance manager for the Megacentre
Recurring
- Emily Lloyd-Saini as Winnie
- Hugh Coles as Pat
- Nathalie Armin as The Boss
- Raheem Payne as Raheem the Everything
Premise
Juice follows Jamma, a young gay man who is navigating commitment issues in his relationship with his boyfriend, Guy, and attention issues in his relationship with his family. Guy contrasts with Jamma's high octane personality; he is a calmer, older man with an established career as a therapist and a desire for his relationship with Jamma to become more concrete. Jamma's mother, Farida, is a former movie star who now manages the Megacentre, a community center for underprivileged people of all ages. Both Farida and Jamma's younger brother, Isaac, often upstage and outshine him, much to Jamma's dismay.
Production and Release
The title of the show was inspired by Rizwan's mother, who used to say "If life gives you mangoes, make mango juice."[7]
Rizwan has cited Boots Riley, Bong Joon-Ho, and Buster Keaton as sources of influence.[8] Having attended École Philippe Gaulier, Rizwan sought to incorporate elements of clowning into the show.[9][2]
Juice was commissioned in 2022 following a successful pilot created the previous autumn.[10] All of Juice was released for streaming on BBC iPlayer on 18 September 2023, and BBC Three aired two episodes of the show a week on Mondays.[1]
Although the show has not yet been renewed for a second series, Rizwan has expressed interest in creating one.[11]
Episodes
| No. in season | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Cake" | Mawaan Rizwan | 18 September 2023 | |
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In an attempt to impress his boss, Jamma sneakily uses his brother for market research at work, but his plan backfires. Meanwhile, mum's fixation with divorcing dad shifts Jamma's attention to saving their marriage, and Guy makes a surprising confession. | ||||
| 2 | "Helluva View" | Mawaan Rizwan | 18 September 2023 | |
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Now that Jamma's in a committed relationship, everyone starts to fancy him. However, instead of focusing on his own issues, he ends up playing therapist to his parents. At work he attempts to bond with Isaac to land the next big project. | ||||
| 3 | "The Jamma Show" | Mawaan Rizwan | 18 September 2023 | |
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Guy is eager to meet Jamma's parents, but Jamma faces a challenge in getting his mum to agree to the introduction. He gets theatrical to try and uncover the truth behind Farida's actions - but is he prepared for what he'll discover? | ||||
| 4 | "A Saif Space" | Mawaan Rizwan and Emily Lloyd-Saini | 18 September 2023 | |
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Jamma struggles to balance work, family, friends and Guy. He's bitten off more than he can chew, and he finds himself preoccupied by something lurking beneath the floorboards. | ||||
| 5 | "Lights, Camera, Escape" | Mawaan Rizwan | 18 September 2023 | |
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Jamma and his colleagues embark on an escape room adventure to foster team bonding after a disastrous pitch. Jamma tries to keep Winnie and Guy from talking to each other in hopes of covering up his lie, but instead finds himself entering a gateway into the past. | ||||
| 6 | "Home" | Mawaan Rizwan | 18 September 2023 | |
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Jamma finally tackles his shaking boxes, while also trying to save the Megacentre and his relationship. Is he a changed man, or will he revert to his child self? | ||||
Reception
Juice was well received, garnering 3- and 4-star reviews from The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, and Chortle.[12][6][13] It has received praise for its "eye-popping visual style" and exploration of family relationships.[10][6][13] Other sources of acclaim include Juice's childlike playfulness and "slapstick comedy".[6][13] However, Juice has faced criticism for its lack of cohesion between scenes and how it "never quite reach[es] laugh-out-loud funny".[12]
References
- ^ a b c Guide, British Comedy. "Juice - BBC3 Sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ a b c Levine, Nick (2023-08-24). "How Mawaan Rizwan made the year's best new British sitcom". NME. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ "Juice star learnt "everything" about writing from Sex Education creator". Radio Times. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ Mawaan Rizwan and Nabhaan Rizwan React To Their Mum Starring In Juice, retrieved 2023-10-10
- ^ Amin, Meghna (2023-09-18). "Mawaan Rizwan: 'I was forbidden from making eye-contact with Halle Berry'". The Metro. ISSN 1469-6215. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b c d D'Souza, Shaad (2023-09-18). "Juice review – a raucous, eye-popping millennial queer comedy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ "Funny Parts on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ "Juice cast and creator, Mawaan Rizwan, on the "trippy joyride" comedy". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ "The surreal comedy cosmos of Mawaan Rizwan". GAY TIMES. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ a b Bennett, Steve. "BBC orders Juice from Mawaan Rizwan : News 2022 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ "Mawaan and Nabhaan Rizwan on Juice: "I can't believe we pulled it off"". Radio Times. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ a b Wilson, Benji (2023-09-18). "Juice, review: Mawaan Rizwan's BBC Three sitcom careers through genres with have-a-go glee". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ a b c Bennett, Steve. "Juice : Reviews 2023 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-26.