Roger and Val have Just Got In is a curious bit of programming. The BBC2 sitcom stars two extremely high-calibre talents in Dawn French (Val) and, Doc Ock himself, Alfred Molina (Roger, obviously).
Two of the best and most likeable players in British TV and cinema, French and Molina need to be on top form for a show which is not much more than 30 minutes of real-time bickering, chattering and homely inanity. They are mostly up to the challenge.
Roger and Val is an impeccably observed slice of coupledom, nailing a particular and peculiar moment in a household, but part of the problem with the show lies in the devilishness of the detail.
The Stevenson's verbal jousting around the minutia of domestic life is sporadically funny- you will recognise the serious discussion of the most trivial insignificances- but despite some delightful writing and impeccable acting, it does tip regularly into plain banality. Roger and Val simply cannot sustain its premise and remain interesting for a full 30 minutes.
The half-hour runtime is a real stretch; the show loses focus and struggles with pacing issues. Unable to maintain its credible observation of routine and mundanity, the writing detours into areas of whimsy which, despite the best efforts of the twin leads, seem awkward and just not believable.
Having meticulously blown a fine glass bubble of reality, with authentically cluttered sets, contrivedly wobbly cameras, and an unadorned soundtrack, these ill-advised forays into fancy create intolerable cracks in the facade. Unfortunately, real, real-life reality- which is what we seem to be shooting for here- is a bit boring and the makers of the show have felt it necessary to gild their wilting lily.
Roger and Val would benefit from being shorter-say ten to fifteen minutes- like Rob Brydon’s career-making Marion And Geoff
I would also say that the viewing experience is significantly ameliorated when watching the repeat at 7.30pm on a Monday when, like the protagonists, you have just got in from work.
Roger and Val demands your attention and concentration; the jokes are subtle, much of the funny is in the delivery. For example, Molina does comedy wonders with the apparently unremarkable line, “I’m up a ladder”, which without the colour of context and characterisation would mean nothing. In this case it was one of half a dozen gentle laughs in the episode.
The Friday night at 10pm slot, when you really just want a bit of loud obnoxious fun to accompany your weekend booze and chatter, is not the appropriate venue for Roger And Val Have Just Got In
I’m really torn; there is a part of me that feels like I should like this show, that it is unusual and interesting. That must be a good thing. Unfortunately, so far, I’ve mostly been disappointed and underwhelmed, wanting more, and a bit very bored.
Our Rating: 
Roger and Val is beautifully written and acted. At first I didn’t understand what, if anything was happenning but I felt like I had to watch and find out why it was so dull yet tense. And a few episodes in you realise that Roger and Val are coping, or not, with tragedy. Dawn French and Alfred Molina are amazing, the subtlety of their performance has me in tears just by the hint of the pain they are going through. It is certainly one you have to persevere with to appreciate fully