Critic Reviews

Every relationship – or lack thereof – is beautifully drawn. ... In the second episode, it truly begins to take off and by the end, it is soaring. Bea’s uncompromising character and performance become something to love as well as admire.

Series two somehow manages to be funnier, kinder and more heartbreaking than its predecessor, and is a perfect testament to Bea’s talent.

Bea and Horgan’s chemistry is as glorious as ever. They overlap and underlap perfectly, giving expansive but controlled performances that never take from each other. It is wonderful – indeed it feels almost a privilege – to watch.

“This Way Up” still finds enough of life’s tiny absurdities to make for the perfect tether. Aine may not always have the right words for every occasion, but somehow “This Way Up” always does.

Each character in Aine’s orbit is somehow both deeply scarred and doing just fine, a refreshing balancing act. The show, the performances, and the execution are all an exercise in empathy, and it’s a sight to see.

This Way Up is loosely plotted at best, meaning it relies on Bea’s charisma and presence as a star to keep viewers engaged. Luckily, she has both in abundance. ... Even so, the brightest moments in the show all come from Bea’s interactions with her stellar supporting cast.

This is a comedy about mental health that deftly preys on your fears and pricks your sympathies. At the same time there was a gratifyingly high gag rate.

The writing is sharp and well observed, probing the fault lines between small talk and real problems.

As a portrait of a person trying to slap a convincing smile on depression it is nuanced, rich, touching and occasionally funny. Not all the time, for that is not the way with the modern "sad-com"; a couple of times it was really quite bleak and flat. ... Bea, who two years ago wrote a beautiful article about her father's suicide when she was three years old, is a talent. To star alongside Horgan, who tends to steal most scenes in comedy, and shine isn't a mean feat.

Even the inclusion factor of This Way Up is natural and believable, and its management of mental health issues is respectful and personal. Six episodes feel like a lifetime with these wonderful people. At the same time, it’s not nearly enough.