Sick Note
GenreDark comedy
Created by
  • Nat Saunders
  • James Serafinowicz
Directed byMatt Lipsey
Starring
Theme music composerCarly Paradis
ComposerCarly Paradis
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producerJo Sargent
ProducerSarah Fraser
Running time44 minutes (episode 1); 22–24 minutes (episodes 2–14)
Production companyKing Bert Productions
Original release
NetworkSky One
Release7 November 2017 (2017-11-07) –
16 August 2018 (2018-08-16)

Sick Note is a British black comedy television series starring Rupert Grint and Nick Frost. It was created and written by Nat Saunders and James Serafinowicz and directed by Matt Lipsey. It first aired on 7 November 2017 on Sky One. In April 2017, it was reported that a second series had been commissioned before the first had aired.[1] It became available for streaming on Netflix worldwide from November 2018 to 2023.[2][3][4]

In April 2021, Saunders stated the series was "neither recommissioned or cancelled, just in TV show limbo" when asked on Twitter about its status, adding that a return seemed unlikely.[5] Serafinowicz had previously shared similar thoughts and revealed they "wrote the first 2 episodes of season 3 but nothing ever happened."[6]

Plot

When insurance agent Daniel Glass (Rupert Grint) is misdiagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer due to his incompetent doctor (Nick Frost), he begins to notice that everyone around him treats him better and he decides not to tell. This leads to more lies and secrets which need to be covered up. Daniel and the doctor become allies as each have something to gain by maintaining the façade; however, they attract the attention of a local policeman who believes Daniel may have been involved in a murder case. As more people become involved the web of lies begins to grow and eventually serious crimes are committed.

Cast

Series 1

Series 2

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
167 November 2017 (2017-11-07)12 December 2017 (2017-12-12)
2826 July 2018 (2018-07-26)16 August 2018

Series 1 (2017)

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Queen of Hearts"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz7 November 2017 (2017-11-07)
When Daniel Glass is misdiagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer by oncologist Dr Iain Glennis, he begins to notice how everyone around him treats him better. Suddenly, he has a big decision to make: come clean and go back to his old rubbish life or pretend to be ill. His ex-girlfriend, Becca, takes him back after dumping him. His best friend Ash, who was having an affair with Becca, finds out that Daniel does not have cancer. Daniel discovers their affair and Ash accidentally falls off a ledge of Becca and Daniel's flat and appears to have been killed.
22"Playing Ball"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz14 November 2017 (2017-11-14)
Daniel has to dispose of Ash's body, and the only person he can turn to is bumbling Dr Glennis. They decide to make it look like Ash has been struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run. Glennis puts the body in his car and dumps it at the side of a road. When Ash's body is found, it is discovered that he is alive, and is taken to hospital. Daniel is horrified that Ash is alive.
33"Janina Kolkiewicz"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz21 November 2017 (2017-11-21)
Daniel, Ash, Dr Glennis, as well as Ash's wife, son and mother arrive at the hospital — where Ash is in a coma. Dr Glennis has accidentally swapped phones with Ash and needs to swap them back. Daniel's employer, WeCover insurance, decides to use his cancer in a marketing campaign.
44"The Golden Grain"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz28 November 2017 (2017-11-28)
Daniel starts faking side effects and undergoes fake chemo. Thanks to the idiocy of Dr Glennis, he receives actual chemotherapy and gets legitimately ill. Officer Hayward continues his investigation.
55"Airplane Mode"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz5 December 2017 (2017-12-05)
Ash wakes up from his coma but suffers from locked-in syndrome.
66"Chicken Soup"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz12 December 2017 (2017-12-12)
Ash has died and at his funeral Daniel sees a mysterious figure that continues to stalk him. Daniel suspects Dr. Glennis of finishing Ash off.

Series 2 (2018)

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [9]
71"Frantisek Kotzwara"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz26 July 2018 (2018-07-26)
After unexpectedly arriving from America, Daniel's online gaming friend, Will_5000, creates havoc. Daniel asks Dr. Glennis to steal some security footage.
82"New Balls"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz26 July 2018 (2018-07-26)
Kenny's daughter shakes things up at We Cover. Daniel decides to turn over a new leaf and asks Dr. Glennis to help him "recover" more quickly.
93"Stay Hydrated"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz2 August 2018 (2018-08-02)
To meet Will's demands, Daniel and Dr. Glennis explore a shady deal. Vanessa continues trying to access Ash's phone. Becca makes a move on Will.
104"Braking Bad"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz2 August 2018 (2018-08-02)
With things looking hopeless, Daniel and Dr. Glennis decide to leave the country. Becca makes an unexpected discovery. Vanessa confronts Becca.
115"Constable Polly"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz9 August 2018 (2018-08-09)
Ordered to take a few days off work, Officer Hayward continues his investigation, focusing on the information he's gathered on Daniel and Dr. Glennis.
126"My Two Dads"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz9 August 2018 (2018-08-09)
When Daniel tries to retrieve his belongings from the police, he runs into both Officer Hayward and Katerina — and learns some news about Will.
137"The Loneliness of the Middle Distance Runner"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz16 August 2018 (2018-08-16)
Officer Hayward suspects Dr. Glennis's wife of criminal activity. Katerina asks Daniel to keep his "recovery" quiet. Vanessa learns the truth.
148"Operation Thunderbolt"Matt LipseyNat Saunders & James Serafinowicz16 August 2018 (2018-08-16)
With Dr. Glennis in danger, Daniel tries to retrieve the drug money from his house. While Hayward goes rogue, the police execute Operation Thunderbolt.

Home media

The first season was released on DVD on 21 October 2019.[10] The second season was released on 17 February 2020.[11]

Reception

Sick Note received mixed reviews from critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a 50% approval rating based on 6 reviews.[12] Rupert Hawksley of The Daily Telegraph stated the premise "is not a bad one at all" but ultimately finds that the "cast is wasted" due to the writing, claiming that the "jokes landed with all the grace of an injured pheasant."[13] Brad Newsome of the Sydney Morning Herald described the series by saying, "Rupert Grint, Nick Frost and Don Johnson are all very naughty boys in this dark but agreeably untaxing British comedy series."[14] Barbara Ellen of The Guardian considered the "performances are great and there are plenty of laughs in the escalating twists of surrealist failure."[15] In an article by James Rampton for The Independent, it is characterized as "dark, but silly as well. It's Breaking Bad meets Fawlty Towers," and "cleverly fuses light and shade."[16]

In a review for Paste Magazine, LaToya Ferguson also writes that Sick Note has a "pretty solid premise" but the series is "wildly uneven," it "has a singular narrative and aesthetic vision, and it never once veers from that, no matter what", continuing that the addition of Lohan to the second season "doesn't read as an attempt to course-correct, it probably should've been," although her character "meshes much better with the story as a whole. Especially, as she almost, sort of, but not quite solves the show's woman problem."[17]

Accolades

Year Award Category Result
2018 British Screenwriters’ Awards Best Comedy Writing on Television[18] Nominated

References

  1. ^ Richardson, Jay (11 April 2017). "Rupert Grint's Sky Atlantic comedy Sick Note gets a second series". Chortle.
  2. ^ Cohn, Gabe (23 November 2018). "What's on TV: 'Sick Note' and 'Vice'". New York Times.
  3. ^ "Sick Note". Netflix. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
  4. ^ Moore, Kasey (25 October 2023). "Rupert Grint Netflix Series 'Sick Note' Leaving In November 2023". What's on Netflix. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. ^ Saunders, Nat [@ratbanjos] (15 April 2021). "thank you! Alas, it's neither recomissioned or cancelled, just in TV show limbo. I'm gonna take a wild guess and say it's most likely not coming back!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 12 August 2021 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Serafinowicz, James [@flidby] (29 June 2020). "We wrote the first 2 episodes of season 3 but nothing ever happened with them. I don't even know if they were read" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 12 August 2021 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ a b c Barraclough, Leo (31 May 2017). "Rupert Grint, Nick Frost, Don Johnson Join Comedy 'Sick Note'". Variety.
  8. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (12 June 2017). "Lindsay Lohan Joins Sky's 'Sick Note' For Season 2 With Rupert Grint, Nick Frost". Deadline.
  9. ^ "Sick Note - Episodes". Premiere Date. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Sick Note Series One starring Rupert Grint and Nick Frost [DVD] [2019]". Amazon. 21 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Sick Note Series 2 (starring Nick Frost & Rupert Grint) [DVD] [2019]". Amazon. 17 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Sick Note: Series 1". Rotten Tomatoes. 22 September 2018.
  13. ^ Hawksley, Rupert (7 November 2017). "Sick Note is already showing signs of heart failure – review". The Daily Telegraph.
  14. ^ Newsome, Brad (6 December 2018). "Tracy Morgan is a man on a mission in new comedy The Last O.G." Sydney Morning Herald.
  15. ^ Ellen, Barbara (26 November 2017). "The week in TV: Would I Lie to You?; She's Gotta Have It; The Search for a Miracle Cure and more". The Guardian.
  16. ^ Ellen, Barbara (6 November 2017). "Sick Note's Rupert Grint: After Harry Potter, I want the chance to show that I can do different things". The Independent.
  17. ^ Ferguson, LaToya (21 November 2018). "Netflix's Sick Note Is Dead on Arrival". Paste Magazine.
  18. ^ "Comedies nominated in British Screenwriters' Awards". British Comedy Guide. 18 July 2018.

External links

Sky One, Sky Comedy and Sky Max original programming
Categories