As the opening episode of Daddy Issues begins, Gemma (Aimee Lou Wood) and Ben (Tom Stourton) get ready to have sex only to realize they don’t have a condom. They decide to do it anyway on the plane. They exchange names first though. Two months later, Gemma greets Rita (Sarah Hadland) when she arrives nearly an hour late. Gemma tells Rita that his name is Liam and he’s a painter. She’s not going to see him again because he wears the same deodorant as her father. Rita asks Winnie (Chris Kerry) if she’s seen Gemma’s father, Malcolm (David Morrissey). Gemma tells Rita again that she’s not Malcolm’s type.

She hasn’t been around to her dad’s new place yet. Malcolm greets Gemma when she stops by. He argues he shouldn’t even be there since he wasn’t having an affair. Gemma learns he’s been weeing in a jam jar because he doesn’t want to use the facilities around there. Derek (David Fynn) yells that he wants to die. Malcolm explains he was married for 12 years. Now, his wife won’t let him see the kids. Derek comes in seconds later and is introduced to Gemma. He asks her if she’d be interested in dinner tomorrow night. Gemma says she’s working. Derek gets upset and curses her. When Malcolm doesn’t take up for her, Gemma decides to storm out. At a pub, Danny (Al Weaver) enters and asks Gemma if they’re showing the match there. They end up making out.

Gemma takes Danny back to her place where she finds it’s been burgled. Gemma ends up throwing up. She tells Danny she’s not going anywhere near his privates tonight. Gemma contacts Keeley (Alexandra Mardell) to ask if she locked up properly. Once Keeley returns, Danny thinks he should leave. Gemma leaves they haven’t been burgled. Instead, Keeley is moving out because she’s going to be a mother with Sancho. Keeley admits she has concerns, but she knew she wanted it in the end. The next day, Gemma takes multiple pregnancy tests and confirms she’s pregnant. She visits Doctor Rush (Margaret Cabourn-Smith) who tells her she should think about whether she wants to continue with the pregnancy. She’s booked Gemma an appointment with a midwife.

Gemma returns to her father and asks if he finds the flat depressing. Malcolm claims he’s enjoying his independence. Since he doesn’t have any food and refuses to take a taxi, Gemma agrees to drive him to the market one night. Gemma gets in touch with her mother, Davina (Susan Lynch), who asks if her father has died. Davina reveals she’s in Montreal. She hangs up the call before Gemma can tell her anything. Gemma goes to the prison to speak to her sister, Catherine (Sharon Rooney). They talk about their parents and Catherine paying someone to push Gary off the fire escape. Catherine says cashing out on Gary’s life insurance was the best way to keep the sandwich shop solvent.

Gemma stands up to tell her she’s pregnant, but that sets off an alarm. The security guard accuses her of having heroin. The prison guard (Kylie Butler) wants to check her backside. Gemma tries to buy coffee only to find that her card is missing. Xander (Arian Nik) steps in to pay. Malcolm speaks to Derek and Andy about the bathroom. They laugh at him and take his stuff. Gemma tries to find a new roommate. None of the candidates work out. Gemma tells her dad she won’t be able to afford the rent without a roommate. At the market,  Gemma soon learns that Malcolm doesn’t know much. She yells that she’s pregnant and about to be pregnant. Malcolm reminds her that she has him. Before long, they decide to live together.

Malcolm gives her a gift and asks her to leave the door open since Derek is coming with the duvet. When Derek comes over later, he says he’s trying hard to enjoy the company of women. Malcolm offers him a brew. They end up hanging out and watching RoboCop together. Derek goes to the bathroom. Malcolm tells his daughter that everything will be alright.

 

Daddy Issues Review

The opening episode of Daddy Issues quickly set up the main story while showing off its comical style. Gemma has sex with a man on a plane and nearly has sex with a random stranger at a pub. Before long, she finds out she’s pregnant and her roommate is moving out.

As for her father Malcolm, he’s down on his luck after his wife Davina took his money and kicked him out. It only makes sense for the couple to move in together. There are also side stories such as Gemma’s sister Catherine being in prison and an obvious relationship with Xander at some point.

The humorous lines are clever and well thought out although they may not hit the target for everyone. Personally, I didn’t laugh once during the episode but I didn’t hate it either. It’s a bit more cringe humor and forced humor. The modern tropes are already exhausting though and create a sense of predictability.

We’ve seen it all before and it really makes Gemma very unlikable. She’s got herself into a mess and she’s ready for another just because some random guy paid for her coffee. I guess we can already see where that’s going since it’s the only normal character in the whole episode. Give me a break.

With that being said, the series has the potential to deliver some strong emotional moments with Gemma and her father. That’ll be where the series will shine if viewers can get past the crude humor and the regurgitated clichés. The episode scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of Daddy Issues can be found on Reel Mockery here.

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