Still Up Review: Because of its non-happy-go-lucky attitude, “Still Up” is distinctive in romantic comedies. Danny (Craig Roberts) and Lisa (Antonia Thomas) are insomniacs. They generally do things at night when most people are asleep. Agoraphobia worsens Danny’s issues. This ailment was initially a secret, but the eight-episode series reveals more. Their relationship is one of whispered talks and closeness brought forth by necessity rather than love.
This soft take on the “friends-to-lovers” story is unique by setting the romance against a dark atmosphere. Even though they rarely see each other, the primary characters are charming and seem to get along. Danny stays in his flat, while Lisa goes out at night due to store and bus hours. In the first few episodes, they joke, recount anecdotes about well-meaning friends who offered them stupid advice (“Wear a hat full of lavender”), and think about Lisa’s sleep clinic visit. They enter online dating by creating Danny’s profile. We hear about Danny’s struggle to break up with Chloe three years ago as the plot thickens. Lisa and Danny have a 91% compatibility percentage on Danny’s dating profile, which suggests they may be made for each other.
Without Roberts and Thomas, “Still Up” might not be as good. The story’s threads slowly merge from the first four or five episodes, requiring patience. The series’ first section may need to be more robust and developed. It has typical themes like Danny’s strange neighbor across the hall. Cat parties and weird speech are Rich Fulcher’s specialty. Danny must have increasingly wild adventures to dodge this peculiar character’s unnatural deeds. Luke Fetherston plays Adam, the next-door neighbora good-hearted but too simplistic individual. Blake Harrison portrays Lisa’s unreliable partner, Veggie. Veggie reads “The History of Bricks” to put his niece to sleep. Some of the show’s comedy comes from someone saying, “You’re [verb]ing, aren’t you?” and the other laughing. Unfortunately, some portions are confusing. Danny trying to play music with a candlestick on his head is unreasonable even for him.
In the second season, quality improves. Amy, Danny’s trainer, played by Lois Chimimba, returns as a potential love interest. Her charisma improves Episode 3, making it extremely good. The emotional complexity deepens, the story accelerates, and the ancillary characters eventually have meaningful arcs beyond their background roles. Growth replaced the slow, aimless feeling. Investors in the series get their due.
Given the potential hinted at at the end of the first season, a second season may start from a higher location, skipping the gradual climb to the story’s pinnacle. Any romantic film about insomniacs shouldn’t make viewers sleepy.
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Our Reader’s Queries
How do Lisa and Danny know each other in Still Up?
Lisa and Danny formed an unlikely friendship after crossing paths as wedding guests. Despite their shared struggle with insomnia and other sleep issues, they have stayed connected through frequent phone calls. Both being night owls, they have developed a routine of keeping each other company during their restless nights.
How many episodes of still up will there be?
Still Awake
Language: English
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 8
Production: 11 additional rows
What is the comedy about insomniacs?
Still Up is a romantic comedy, but it doesn’t have the usual wild and exciting feel that the genre typically does. Danny (played by Craig Roberts) and Lisa (played by Antonia Thomas) are both insomniacs who struggle to sleep and spend most of their time talking on the phone, late at night or early in the morning when everyone else is asleep.
Where is still up streaming?
“Still Up,” starring Craig Roberts and Antonia Thomas, is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+.
