One of those, for me, was Film Club, the new BBC Three comedy-drama series co-written by and starring Aimee Lou Wood.
For another, it's always a thrill to see new British comedy series come to air, at a time when there are so many unique, funny and vibrant comedies out there (despite what some many would have you believe).
It's therefore a strange feeling to come out of watching all six episodes of Film Club and feel that it hasn't quite made its mark yet, or fulfilled that desire I had. That's not to say it wasn't an enjoyable watch, or that it couldn't achieve that potential in future – just that, right now, there are a few bumps in the road.
Every Friday, as a weekly escape, she and her friends, including best friend Noa (Rizwan), meet up in her mum's garage and celebrate film. There's a different film chosen for each week, decorations are put up to recognise that, costumes are required, phones are banned and a movie-related quiz takes place. It's delightful. There's just one snag.
It's all rather a lot for Evie to deal with, and over the subsequent weeks she goes on a journey of discovery, to reflect on her feelings for Noa, as well as to learn more about herself.
It's crucial to note here, that this is not some hang-out for real, hardcore cinephiles. The films they watch each week are the most classic of classics that everyone will have heard of, and the vast majority of viewers will have seen – think Alien and The Wizard of Oz.
It's telling that this was conceived of during the Covid pandemic, at a time when physical meet-ups were impossible, yet it also feels deeply resonant today.
Even without restrictions, society has still become so much more virtual and isolated. A series preaching about the joys of social interaction, and showing characters simply enjoying each other's presence by being a bit silly, with no fear of judgement, is not only endearing, but also kind of critical.
Wood herself is magnificent as Evie, whose positivity and passion are infectious and whose mannerisms are so fantastically specific and clear. Rizwan's Noa is more straight-laced and, as is commented on at numerous times, formal, but has a habit of breaking out into incredibly bold accents and performances.
Meanwhile, there are excellent supporting turns throughout, including from Liv Hill as Evie's sister Izzie, with that sibling relationship between really well-drawn and observed.
Set up, all great, characters, delightful, intentions, utterly good-natured. So, what are these issues? Well, these come, instead, in the detail of the narrative and in the tone. On the latter, it's key to note that reviewing comedy is hard – it's so subjective and every individual will find different things funny.
Part of the reason for this is that, despite being billed as a comedy-drama, the synonym dramedy might work better, simply because the drama is really the first port of call.
Of course, that concept has a long history in romantic comedies, both in film and on TV, but here it's kind of absurd. Evie doesn't seem to have any particular chemistry with Josh, she and Noa are practically an old married couple from the word go, and even his moving away doesn't feel like enough of an impediment to giving it a go.
Every time there's a roadblock in their journey, it just feels like a slightly forced and mechanical way to drag out the will-they-won't-they storyline.
For instance, Evie's mental health storyline is drawn in the broadest brush strokes, and never really honed in on in any substantial or meaningful way.
Again, this could be an intentional statement on the ways in which we relate to others in times of crisis, and everyone's experiences surrounding the topic will be different.
Purely from a dramatic standpoint, it can be somewhat frustrating, as though the show is keeping us at arm's length. However, on a real-terms level, if this series helps some people who are struggling feel more seen, then that is wonderful, and a real, tangible good.
At times, it feels this is the route the show is going down, and those are arguably some of the best moments of all. One dreamlike sequence involving a spacesuit, inspired by Alien, is fantastic.
Instead, we get what feels like many different versions of this show, with a number of different branches and characters being underserved – Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper in particular is largely wasted as local kid Callum.
It's also not to say that a second season couldn't completely win me round on some of these quibbles. There's so much potential here that I'd love to see a second iteration of this, one where some of the screws are tightened and a really clear theme, story and structure are honed in on.
Film Club begins on Tuesday 7th October at 10pm on BBC Three and iPlayer.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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