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Avoidance

2022–2024Ended2 seasons12 episodes~28 min/epMidcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

Jonathan's life revolves around his nine year-old son Spencer, and he's always deferred the big and small decisions to his partner Claire. So when Claire asks him to leave, Jonathan realises he has no home, no friends and no ambition. Except one: to try to preserve his son's happiness in the face of his parents' break-up.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Avoidance?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Avoidance streaming on BritBox.

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Reception

Is Avoidance worth watching?

Avoidance's Midcredits score is the 27th percentile of all shows, from 1.3K ratings across 2 sources. 62% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

27th percentile

Better received than 27% of shows

25th percentile among Comedy31st percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)22nd
Approval (how many liked it)35th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

64 /100

22nd percentile of all shows

22nd percentile among Comedy25th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.6 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

62% liked it

35th percentile of all shows

30th percentile among Comedy40th percentile among 2020s
62% rated it 7–1038% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

60th percentile

1.3K ratings across platforms

44th percentile among Comedy61st percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 24% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The series is a slow-burning dramedy centered on a passive, conflict-avoidant father navigating a breakup.

Fans praised

  • character growth across episodes, slow-burn payoff
  • Romesh's deadpan delivery fits the role
  • heartfelt father-son dynamic with Spencer

Detractors panned

  • one-note repetitive premise
  • unlikeable passive protagonist
  • weak script with few laughs

What stands out

ActingDivisive62

Romesh's deadpan works for fans; detractors find it one-dimensional; child actor Spencer praised

Emotional impactDivisive60

heartfelt moments resonate with fans; detractors feel no emotional connection

CharactersDivisive50

Jonathan seen as endearingly flawed by fans, unlikeably passive by detractors; supporting cast shallow

DialogueDivisive48

dry wit works for some; others find awkward, unfunny lines

PacingDivisive45

too slow for many critics; fans consider it a rewarding slow burn

OriginalityDivisive45

some see fresh take on avoidance; detractors call it formulaic

Plot and storyDivisive44

slow-burn development rewarded by fans; detractors call it directionless and repetitive

HumorDivisive42

amusing dry humor not laugh-out-loud; detractors find almost no comedy

Episodes

2 seasons

Series 2 · 2024 · 6 episodes

  • S2E1

    Episode 1

    Apr 5, 202428 min
  • S2E2

    Episode 2

    Apr 12, 202429 min
  • S2E3

    Episode 3

    Apr 19, 202427 min
  • S2E4

    Episode 4

    Apr 26, 202429 min
  • S2E5

    Episode 5

    May 3, 202429 min
  • S2E6

    Episode 6

    May 3, 202429 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Avoidance like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and charged — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Urban
  • Domestic
  • Institutional

Themes

  • Self-worth
  • Parenthood
  • Family bonds

How it leaves you

  • Feel-good
  • Bittersweet

What it asks of you

  • Slow burn
  • Casual
  • Affecting
  • Resolved

Feelings

  • Cathartic
  • Bittersweet
  • Absurd

Style

  • Wry: Amused and slightly dry about it.
  • Tender

Story

  • Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.
exact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: middleCringe humor
Told as
Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show plays its material straight, blending dry humour with genuine emotional beats, never undercutting the drama.
The rideThe series oscillates between cringe-comedy absurdity and genuinely affecting moments of growth, with the emotional weight peaking mid-run as Jonathan faces his biggest failures.
StructureThe show is a character-driven dramedy told in a straightforward, episodic fashion without prominent narrative devices.
Episode formatEach episode presents a fresh conflict stemming from Jonathan's avoidance (a new 'case'), while seasons build toward his personal growth and family reconciliation.
Season formatEach season focuses on a distinct chapter in Jonathan's life (first season: the initial crisis; second season: the consequences and tentative change), with a clear arc and resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves a warm, hopeful feeling about family and growth, tinged with the sadness of the initial breakup.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7% (this title): Redemption 1% · Healing 3% (this title) · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Healing: Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).

7% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe typical episode follows Jonathan's halting attempts to navigate life after a breakup, focused on his son; the series arc shows him gradually becoming more capable and present.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% (this title) · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

Self-worth · 7% of showsParenthood · 1% of showsFamily bonds
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeJonathan must learn to value himself enough to speak up and be present, motivated by his role as a father and his need to repair fractured family ties.
StanceThe show celebrates the quiet courage of asserting oneself and being present for family, even when it's awkward and messy.

The world

Orchestral classicalJazzSupportive music · original score · Holley Gray, Toby Knowles
Settingcontemporary London, moving between Jonathan's home and his son's school
MusicThe score uses gentle piano and light jazz to underscore both the humour and the tenderness.

Cast and crew

Who is in Avoidance?

Cast

Romesh Ranganathan
as Jonathan
Kieran Logendra
as Spencer
Lisa McGrillis
as Courtney
Jessica Knappett
as Claire
Mandeep Dhillon
as Danielle
Matthew Lewis
as Brett
Aisling Bea
as Megan
Olive Tennant
as Sam
Tony Jayawardena
as Keith
Samantha Baines
as Kirsty

Crew

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TMDB's suggestions for shows like Avoidance include Who's the Boss? (1984), House of Payne (2006) and Son of a Critch (2022).

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