The first season of BBC’s Cheaters was a breath of fresh air in the rom-com genre last year. Finally, here was a show that balanced realistic bonking, shock twists and convincing performances. Cheaters series one had the silliness of Russell Tovey gem Him & Her from the 2010, combined with the wit and astute observations of a show like Big Boys. And there were lust-worthy interiors to top it all off.
Season two continues the story from where we started: with central characters Josh (Joshua McGuire) and Fola (Susan Wokoma). In season one, an airport meet-cute turned into a fling. And then, in true rom-com fashion, it turned out they were neighbours. And both were in relationships: Josh engaged, and Fola married.
Eight 10-ish minute mini episodes laid out the stakes: would they get together? Would they get caught by their respective partners? And importantly: why were they so damn likeable? Well, spoiler alert: the end of season one saw them get caught. So can season two live up to its predecessor now the game is up?
From the opening scene it’s clear the spark isn’t lost between Fola and Josh. It starts as the pair are going at it in a toilet cubicle, overheard by a stranger (”What?” asks Fola in typically dead-pan form to the woman as she exits). And we learn it’s six months since we last saw the pair, though their witty repartee is the same and Josh is still somehow endearing to Fola (how?), in spite of being a just-about-functioning neurotic.
As for his ex Esther (Callie Cooke), she is just fine actually, because she’s been travelling. We also re-meet her getting it on in a toilet cubicle, this time on a coach (ick, but each to their own) with her new Danish boyfriend. And meanwhile Zack (played by the Fox dynasty’s Jack) has found a way to channel his kink for ‘watching’, as he is now living with an older couple who live-stream their sex life... and he’s allowed to watch from the sidelines of their bed whenever he wants.
Without the cheating premise to propel it forward some of the earlier cliff-hangers to episodes feel a little weak (what can really happen in 10 minutes of basically real-time action?), but by the half-way point you are fully reinvested in Fola and Josh. She is still endearingly relatable for her indecision and commitment issues. Few actors can carry off the come-hither slow flutter of the lashes and the pursing of her lips as she does so convincingly. And Josh, while curmudgeonly at times, makes a great case for the nice guy (even if he is prone to infidelity and very clumsy with his words).
Fola’s sister Tiwa (Olumide Olorunfemi) who is staying with her is a fun addition to the crew, seeing as the cast rarely extends beyond the exes and Josh’s sister Nina and partner Georgia (Andrea Valls and Shiloh Coke). In fact, Tiwa operates as the voice of reason in spite of her younger years (as is shown when she has to literally drive Esther and Josh apart — when they’re getting too amorous — by spraying them with a fire extinguisher).
And for their part Nina and Georgia introduce another way to explore the many complications of 30-something dating in London, as they struggle through a dry spell while deciding whether to have kids.
After another eight bite-sized episodes Cheaters remains a refreshingly smutty, yet sympathetic and nuanced portrait of London’s love lives. The sex feels real (”we can’t have sex on the stairs? Why? Do you want to be rubbing cream on my carpet burns for two weeks?”), and the acting is on-point.
This series lacks as big a twist or reveal, but it explores the aftermath of cheating and the demise of relationships in a way that is both sympathetic and will make you snicker plenty of times. Plus there are declarations which will make you believe in real love in all its messy glory.
Cheaters S2 is streaming now on iPlayer and on BBC One from 9:45pm
