Colin from Accounts (Season 2)

Available on BBC iPlayer

If you loved the first season of Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall’s hit series as much as I did, then you’d be forgiven for approaching its long-awaited return with an equal amount of excitement and trepidation. The ‘difficult second album’ is a curse that has befallen many shows over the years, and it’s therefore only natural to fear that a similar fate might befall Colin from Accounts.

Thankfully, Dyer and Brammall deftly navigate any potential pitfalls and deliver a sophomore season that is, at the very least, equally as impressive as its predecessor. While Gordon (Brammall) and Ashley (Dyer) are every bit as neurotic as they were previously, this season sees their relationship evolve as it transitions from the choppy waters of the so-called ‘honeymoon phase’ to some of life’s more profound milestones.

Once again, the strength of Colin from Accounts lies in its appreciation of the complexity of human relationships, be they romantic, platonic, familial, or human-canine. There are moments in this second season which are almost shockingly heartrending - particularly those that focus on grief - and there are others, such as Kevin Bacon’s unexpected cameo, that are side-splittingly funny, a juxtaposition which neatly demonstrate the show’s understanding of the absurdity of life. 

With another expertly delivered cliffhanger ending in the bag, it would seem that there is plenty of life left in this most unexpected of televisual triumphs and, on this evidence, there’ll be no need for nerves next time around.