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Back

2017–2021Ended2 seasons12 episodes~24 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

Estranged foster-brothers Stephen and Andrew vie to take over the family business following the death of their father.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Back?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Back to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Back?

Back earns 2 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Men.

Reception

Is Back worth watching?

Back's Midcredits score is the 66th percentile of all shows, from 4.5K ratings across 2 sources. 79% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

66th percentile

Better received than 66% of shows

64th percentile among Comedy64th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)59th
Approval (how many liked it)70th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

72 /100

59th percentile of all shows

59th percentile among Comedy57th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.4 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

79% liked it

70th percentile of all shows

65th percentile among Comedy68th percentile among 2010s
79% rated it 7–1021% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

72nd percentile

4.5K ratings across platforms

57th percentile among Comedy74th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 23% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

It's a dark, dramatic sitcom starring Mitchell and Webb in familiar roles, distinct from Peep Show.

Fans praised

  • Dark, cringe comedy with sharp writing
  • Mitchell and Webb's natural chemistry and performances
  • Intriguing, dramatic story arc and character dynamics

Detractors panned

  • Slow, plotless, and boring with no coherent story
  • One-dimensional characters and predictable humor
  • Depressing tone and weak supporting cast

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Mitchell and Webb's chemistry praised; Webb's performance divisive; supporting cast mixed

DialogueDivisive70

Witty, dark lines from Blackwell; some jokes called predictable or clunky

HumorDivisive60

Dark, dry, cringe comedy; fans love it, detractors find it unfunny and bleak

CharactersDivisive55

Protagonists feel familiar to Peep Show; side characters often called one-note or grating

Emotional impactDivisive55

Dramatic moments land for fans; detractors find it depressing

Plot and storyDivisive50

Intriguing dramatic arc praised by fans; detractors call it aimless and incoherent

Originality45

Too similar to Peep Show; distinct tone but derivative character types

PacingDivisive45

Slow start; runs out of steam; season 2 called uneven

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 16 points higher than women.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Series 2 · 2021 · 6 episodes

  • S2E1

    Episode 1

    Jan 21, 202124 min
  • S2E2

    Episode 2

    Jan 28, 202124 min
  • S2E3

    Episode 3

    Feb 4, 202124 min
  • S2E4

    Episode 4

    Feb 11, 202124 min
  • S2E5

    Episode 5

    Feb 18, 202124 min
  • S2E6

    Episode 6

    Feb 25, 202124 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Back like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Wry, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you wistful.

Style

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

Themes

  • Family bonds
  • Identity

How it leaves you

  • Wistful
  • Thought-provoking

Story

  • Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.

What it asks of you

  • Even-paced
  • Engaged
  • Affecting
  • Open-ended

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Domestic
  • Institutional
  • Rural

Feelings

  • Bittersweet
  • Warm
  • Contemplative
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: late
Told as
Case of the week plus an arcOne continuous story
ToneThe series plays its awkward family dynamics and cringe-inducing social situations straight, with a dry, knowing distance that invites the audience to wince and laugh.
The rideThe show balances laugh-out-loud awkward moments with a melancholic undercurrent of family loss and yearning, culminating in a poignant final season.
StructureThe series unfolds in chronological order across typical sitcom episodes.
Episode formatEpisodes feature self-contained family gatherings and comedic set-pieces, but these are threaded with the ongoing arc of Andrew's integration and Stephen's simmering resentment.
Season formatThe story follows the same family conflict and relationship dynamics across the season, building to a climax rather than resetting to a status quo.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves a lingering sense of melancholy about family bonds and memory, prompting reflection on how we rewrite our pasts.
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% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2% (this title)
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of manners: Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).

12% of shows fit this archetype

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

Why this archetypeIn a typical episode, Stephen and Andrew's foster-brother rivalry drives the comedy, with Stephen trying to expose Andrew as a rascal while Andrew deflects with charm.

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% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · 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%

Bonds

Family bondsIdentity
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores the dynamics of a strained family, particularly the rivalry between biological son Stephen and the interloping foster brother Andrew, while Stephen's own sense of self and worth is challenged.
StanceThe show observes the siblings' rivalry and family dynamics with a sharp, sympathetic eye, neither celebrating nor fully condemning either brother.

The world

FolkSupportive music · original score
SettingA family home and country pub in the English countryside

Content guide

Is Back okay for kids?

TV-MA

Back is rated TV-MA. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (0/100), sexual content at moderate (42/100), language at severe (80/100), drug and alcohol content at severe (87/100) and frightening material at minimal (8/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA15+
  • Germany16
  • France18
  • Ireland15
  • Austria16
  • FinlandK12
  • Spain18
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Severe
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (4 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (26 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Back have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Back?

Cast

David Mitchell
as Stephen
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Robert Webb
as Andrew
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Louise Brealey
as Cass
Penny Downie
as Ellen
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Jessica Gunning
as Jan
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Oliver Maltman
as Mike
Geoffrey McGivern
as Geoff
Olivia Poulet
as Alison
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
John Macmillan
as Julian
Caius Luckyn-Malone
as Young Andrew

Crew

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What are shows like Back?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Back include Shameless (2004), F Is for Family (2015) and Divorce (2016).

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What other shows share a tag with Back?

402 other shows share the rarest tag below, relationship: rivals. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.