The Robinsons is a 2005 BBC comedy series featuring Martin Freeman as Ed Robinson, a man who's stuck in a rut – he hates his job, his wife left him just weeks after their wedding, and his Dysfunctional Family seem determined to thwart him at every turn.
Also in the cast are Hugh Bonneville as Ed's brother George, Abigail Cruttenden as his sister Vicky, Anna Massey and Richard Johnson as their parents Pam and Hector, and Amanda Root as George's wife Maggie.
This show provides examples of:
- Abhorrent Admirer: Connie, who has sported a one-sided crush on Ed since childhood.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: As well as his close family, Ed often recounts tales of Robinsons past, who were known for their bizarre exploits or dark secrets.
- British Brevity: Ran for one series of six episodes.
- Brutal Honesty: Gynecologist Mungo is attracted to Vicky's tendency to be completely blunt, but eventually becomes quite hurt when she ridicules his performance in bed.
- Camp Gay: Alfonso, Leo's Hispanic boyfriend, who is willing to let the newly bisexual Leo sleep with Vicky if it means he won't kill himself. This doesn't stop Vicky from using him as a sperm donor when she is finally out of options.
- Embarrassing Nickname: George was known by school bullies as "Knobinson."
- It's All About Me: Vicky , who seems to think that the world revolves around her. She is horrified when her boyfriend (who she has been trying to dump for ages) drops her,but only because she had the right to do it first.
- Lousy Lovers Are Losers: Vicky manages to attract a gynecologist because her Brutal Honesty demeanor is a turn-on for him. She is excited at the protest of sleeping with him on the idea that a gynecologist would know his way around a woman's body and be amazing an amazing lay, but he turns out to be a really lousy one instead. Suddenly he finds her honesty not-so-attractive when she's ridiculing his bedroom performance.
- May–December Romance: In episode four, Vicky dates Marshall, an older man who she actually seems to have some affection for, but is constantly put off because his age reminds her of her father.
- No Accounting for Taste: There seems to be no logical explanation as to why Hector and Pam got together. The spark reunites when Ed begins dating Zara, and they apparently begin having passionate sex. Ed does not wish to know this.
- Only Sane Woman: George's wife Maggie lacks the neuroses of the family she has married into, and tends to act as a friendly ear for Ed.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: In the final episode Ed seems to ignore everyone else in order to moon over his latest crush, and when George puts himself out to get him a job, Ed makes no effort and is (rightfully) fired.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Despite having a well-paid job he enjoys, a loving wife and son, George feels that he is nothing but a failure in his father's eyes.
- This almost damages his relationship with his own son, who he pushes to become involved in sport in the same way Hector had done to him.
- In one episode he manages to become a "Well Done, Dad!" Guy as well, when son Albert talks continuously about another parent and calls him his hero.
