Review: How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) – Unrivaled Comic High Points on TV

Once again, Alan Partridge faces turmoil! Yet, who isn’t struggling nowadays? In his last TV appearance, Alan suffered a public collapse while hosting the light magazine show This Time, wrapping up with him excluded of the BBC. As his latest self-made endeavor begins, the light documentary How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), the broadcaster reveals he’s encountered further difficulties by collapsing onto a woman during an interview at a corporate event for Norfolk agribusiness stalwarts. Hard moments, but such characters rebound: connect struggles with societal themes and see if you can get a series out of it.

Exploring the Epidemic of Anxiety

How Are You? showcases the beloved persona in roving factual mode, looking into an epidemic of anxiety, stress and loneliness that he feels is worsening: “In old-fashioned language, it’s gone crazy!” The journey will see him experiment with religion, revive old school ties, and take a lot of restorative country walks, while dealing with his past. Episode one builds towards a hostile but cathartic reunion with “Sidekick” Simon Denton (Tim Key), Alan’s former colleague on This Time and North Norfolk Digital radio, and as this new series goes on, hidden moments from his career emerge.

Alongside his co-writers and directors, How Are You? marks a change of pace. While the previous show explored new ground, How Are You? sometimes rehashes past ideas: along with bringing back former styles, the series echoes past satirical documentaries of the last decade. And, as Alan’s private life bleeds into his investigations, viewers will think of his podcast work.

Contrasting Alans

It creates a slight challenge. The character has two facets: Triumphant Alan (in prime roles) and Struggling Alan (without work), and despite Wilderness Alan leading the beloved show I’m Alan Partridge back in 1997, a reflective version has emerged lately in books and audio projects. How Are You? situates us in his world and includes Kelly in the role of Katrina, his highly inappropriate love interest from the podcast. Yet this heartbreaking narrative – he refuses to accept her betrayal with an acquaintance and entrepreneur – might have worked best in audio form, enabling mental imagery to amplify laughs. Without visuals, he seems more free: modern TV excels at pressuring the successful Alan and seeing his downfall, as in past series.

Comedy Through Flaws

Still, these are minor points compared to a major truth: in any format, he is the top humorous character in Britain, and temporary versions still offer huge comedy than other TV programs. How Are You? is produced and directed by Alan, as well as starring him, which opens up his genius for sloppy errors and poor editorial decisions. If he thinks Britain’s mental health problems are best illustrated by an aggressively edited montage of exploding fruit, that’s what we’re getting, and there’s nobody to tell him that he’s accidentally used the word “tastistics” or the phrase “mental bealth henefits” in his voiceover. The brief pained expression he makes exiting aware that the segment was a failure consistently amuses, and likewise for his interlude creations, highlighted by his awkward, caring expressions while gulping down a brew.

Visual and Emotional Highlights

Can anything top his skip-side groans? Absolutely not. He is also a visual treat, with a poorly chosen hair shade, and his clothing showcasing loud pants, black-and-white pundit pumps, an arsenal of body warmers and excited response to fashion trends.

Plus, the subject matter here allows for the glimpses into Alan’s soul that have been there ever since the Gibbons brothers took over co-writing duties. Several times, it delivers poignant moments, where Alan’s lack of self-awareness reveals a sadness that almost has us crying tears of emotion, then the comedy returns and laughter resumes. That can happen because we’ve loved him for so long: any version of Alan Partridge is always welcome back.