Wilfred - The Original Australian Season One [DVD]
is certainly one of those strange off-the-wall Australian series that are really worth sticking with, rather than discounting after the first episode or two. Adam has started a relationship with Sarah but when he visits her home for the first time, he sees her dog as a man in a dog suit. Everyone else though- apparently- just sees a dog.
And Wilfred turns out to be a hard drinking, drug taking, foul-mouthed dog with just one mission: to get rid of Adam so he can become the centre of attention again with his owner, Sarah.
It is this simple conflict between Adam and Wilfred that drives the entire concept, and to my mind makes it so successful. The concept is of course surreal- but it is written, directed and performed in such a deadpan, ‘realistic’ way, it never once slips into avant-garde craziness, which is quite an accomplishment. And it offers plenty to ponder on; is Adam going mad? Is he really the only person seeing Wilfred as a man in a dog suit? And if so, why?
You are drip fed little teasing snippets of information throughout the episodes to keep you guessing, and I must say very soon into the series, I became hooked. The humour is accomplished without being slapstick or too bizarre and for me personally, the great little one-on-one chats between Adam and Wilfred at the end of each episode- as they sit on the sofa discussing the day, with Wilfred eating [and smoking] things he shouldn’t- are the icing on the cake of a really clever series.
So at first it may seem a bit too bizarre and surreal but like I said, stick with it and you’ll be rewarded. This is a consistent and very accomplished comedy with a twist.
