The Final Fron... • A Look at SPACED

Over the years American television networks have tried to capitalize on hit shows started in other countries.

The results have been mixed at best (Awesome- Sanford and Son, The Office...Not Awesome- Coupling, Life on Mars, Red Dwarf...I could go on).

Last week someone on this website posted a video from the pilot for the failed Americanized version of the show Spaced.



This short video made me want to throw up in terror and thank whatever god it is I worship that this was not green-lit by the (surprisingly) wise network execs at Fox...wow did I just call the cats at Fox wise? After mopping up all of that terror vomit off of my Screeching Weasel Shirt, I decided there is no better show to pimp than the original British version of Spaced.



Spaced was a Channel 4 show starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes (who together co-created and wrote the show) with supporting turns from Nick Frost, Julia Deakin and Mark Heap all under the watchful eye of series director Edgar Wright.

If you said to yourself out loud “Hey jerk, I know who Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright are, they did Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz” well than congratulations not only should you already be sold on this show, but you also went ahead and hurt my feelings.

Spaced is the story of Tim and Daisy, two twenty-something singles (and virtual strangers to each other) who pretend to be a dating in order to secure a flat that was designated as being for “professional couples only”.

Tim Bisley (Simon Pegg)

Tim is an aspiring comic book artist (his only success is creating album covers for his cousin’s band) who is left a shell of a man after being dumped by his long time girlfriend Sarah.

This mad dumpage leads to his faking a relationship with Daisy so they could both avoid living in the squalor of a makeshift shanty-town (well that’s my assumption at least).

He works at the comic book store “Fantasy Bazaar” under manager Bilbo Bagshot (the sublime Bill Bailey) and has a somewhat unhealthy obsession with Star Wars (after episode one he abandoned George Lucas and gave his memorabilia a Viking funeral) and playing videogames.

Daisy Steiner (Jessica Hynes)

Daisy is a struggling writer, who perfected the fine art of procrastination in order to avoid ever having to put ink to paper.

In order to keep adding food-to-mouth, Daisy takes a series of low paying jobs which turns her usual cheery disposition into a foul mouthed rage of a human being. Her job in the kitchen of a restaurant turns into a detailed homage of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest complete with a juicy fruit finish (one of the many wonderfully shot film references that peppers the series).

Mike Watt (Nick Frost)

Mike is Tim’s military obsessed best friend, who can never join the army because a tree jumping accident (Spurred by Tim’s insistence) damaged his eyesight.

To soothe the pain of his inability to be a true military man, Mike joins the Territorial Army but is discharged because he stole a tank and tried to invade Paris (he was caught in Euro Disney trying to ride Space Mountain). Tim and Mike’s friendship is constantly being portrayed as that of an old, married couple.

Marsha Klein (Julia Deakin)

Marsha is Tim and Dawn’s heavy drinking, chain-smoking landlady who falls for the elaborate ruse that is their relationship.

Marsha has her own stormy, expletive-filled relationship with her daughter Amber (who is only heard, never seen) and sometimes it is implied that she allows Brian to stay in his flat in return for sexual favours (in lieu of rent I suppose).


Brian Topp (Mark Heap)

Brian is the living embodiment of the “tortured artist” cliché, and Tim and Daisy’s downstairs neighbour.

He paints “anger, pain, fear and aggression” but all of this emotion is seemingly driven by his implied sex life with Marsha. Once he starts a somewhat healthy relationship with Daisy’s friend Twist, he loses his mojo and his ability to paint.

He needs the disturbing sex (so, very, very disturbing) with Marsha in order to rouse the demons within himself and express them creatively.


Fans of pop culture will be delighted by the consistent references, and aping of specific movie and television genres. Those of you who count themselves as fans of the Wright/Pegg/Frost triumvirate will not be disappointed by this series, as you can see flashes of cinematic brilliance.


Wright shoots the shit out of this show (interesting angles, tracking shots...stuff not seen much in regular television) making every episode seem more like a mini genre film. Like in all of my other columns I will not delve too deeply into the plot, instead I will allow you to watch this relatively unspoiled. Both seasons are available on DVD, so by all means drop whatever you are doing (leave work if you have to) and grab this at your local film and television emporium.

On a side note, if you think there is anything I should “See the shit out of” let a brother know, and I’ll get on it. I’m always looking for new things to lend an eye to.



The remainder of the series is available on Hulu. Click HERE to watch.