Each episode had the guys working their personalities to the extreme while dealing with the less than everyday occurrences that surrounded them. Rick constantly looks for acceptance while Neil only wants to be noticed so badly that his desperation often has him contemplating suicide. Vyvyan's only purpose if life is to confuse and cause problems, while Mike's pursuit (or appearance of) of the ladies is almost single-minded at times. Not only do they face the popular college challenge of laundry, finding food and earning money that also have to deal with terrorists invading the house, a nuclear bomb in the basement and insane landlord.

Episode Guide:

Demolition: The pilot episode opens with all the elements in place, but things aren't as smooth as they would eventually be. The characters are extreme caricatures and the sets aren't quite developed and will be replaced in the next episode. The surreal begins quickly with a group of talking rats hanging about. Music by Nine Below Zero.

Oil: The guys move into their new house after the old one is destroyed. Vyvyan finding oil in the basement is likely the most normal idea in an episode that features Mike finding Buddy Holly still alive, hanging from the roof on a parachute. He attempts to record Buddy Holly's new song—about eating crickets and spiders—only to have him fall through the floor to his death. Also look for Neil with six arms and a talking sunflower. Music by Radical Posture.

Boring: Things get really strange when the group declares their boredom all while being visited by terrorists, fairies, and Hell. The rats playing poker are back, along with a roller-skating carrot and stick of butter. Things continue being boring as terrorists invade the house and the gang watches obliviously as the whole thing plays out on the television. Look for the street made famous by the Beatles during the music by Madness as the group goes to the pub and Vyv finds his mother.

Bomb: The first new opening starts the episode when a bomb drops through the roof. Neil is the first to unwittingly discover the hole, when he falls through the floor. After discovering the bomb, the gang tries to auction it to the highest bidder. Meanwhile Neil is bummed by the teakettle's suicide and the TV license man (cable guy) comes calling. Music by Dexys' Midnight Runners.

Interesting: It's time for a party at the house and you won't believe the guests. Vyv predates Tim Allen's comedy when he arrives with a vacuum with a car motor on it and the guests start to arrive. Things again take a surreal turn when the rotten food in the fridge talks and the singing tomato sings about ketchup. The party guests start to arrive and they include Santa Claus, Cinderella, and the Four Horseman. Look for Jennifer Saunders (of Absolutely Fabulous) as a party guest. Music by Rip, and Panic.

Flood: Again a few new scenes are added to the opening credits and things open in medieval times. Things seem weird until Neil hits himself in the head with a pan and we learn that it's all in the garden. Rick imagines himself as a hero called the People's Poet. Things finish and get weirder when the landlord turns into an Ax Wielding Maniac and Vyv winds up in Narnia while trying to hide.

Bambi: Season 2 starts off with what's easily the best and most popular episode. New credits open this episode as Neil arrives with great news. The gang gets to play on University Challenge as representatives for Scumbag College but before they go, it's time to do the laundry, which seems to have a mind of its own. Vyv literally loses his head on the train ride to the game show and Motorhead is the musical guest playing Ace of Spades.

Cash: A poltergeist is in the house as things keep disappearing and the gang has run out of money. That means there is only one thing to do and that means go visit the neighbors. With none of their ideas working, it's time to get a job. Not wanting to work, Vyv announces to the gang that he's pregnant and Neil if forced to join the police force.

Nasty: This episode sports a great set of opening credits, presenting the show as if it were a horror movie. The gang carries a coffin to the graveyard and they get their first VCR. Things get twisted when Rick's Teddy Bear's are caught in the act and Neil falls out the window after his bath. When the postman delivers a strange package from Transylvania that turns out to be a vampire and the VCR finally starts to work. The vampire turns out to be South African and is vanquished by pop music from the band The Damned.

Time: Another set of credits open the show with a take-off of Dallas. Things seem to be upside down as Neil wakes up from his dream and Rick finds himself in bed with a girl. Trying to get everyone to take notice, Rick learns once again how unimportant he is. Add an appearance by the Easter Bunny, in June, and the rest of the guys just don't know how to act around the girl. She doesn't seem to remember him and contradicts Rick's story. She's also hiding a secret and will the guys discover it before it's too late. Music is by Amazulu.

Sick: Things around the house get pretty gross when everyone comes down with horrible colds. Things kick into high gear when they are taken hostage by a murderer and Neil gets planted in the garden. Neil's parents show up in this episode and there's a riot in the street. Madness shows up once again as the musical guest.

Summer Holiday: School's out and it's a typical school's out situation. Once again there's nothing to do and no money, so it's time to explore the backyard. You'll finally learn just what Mike has been doing, or hasn't been doing, at school and Neil has seemingly had enough. One of the strangest lines of the entire series comes when a young boy is told to stop sticking his ear and he responds with, "but I only wanted to see what his brains tasted like." After a botched attempt to get money, Rick hijacks a bus and the guys meet a strange fate as they discuss what the future holds.

It's hard to describe the show—as is often the case with British comedy—because it makes absolutely no sense most of the time. Things happen when they want to and nothing connects unless it's convenient, but it's all part of the charm and appeal of the show.

Video: Typical of BBC releases, the video is as poor looking as it was when it originally aired. That's not to say that it's bad, but it's dull and drab looking. The video is presented in its original full screen and it looks good enough.

Audio: The stereo track is clean and audible. Compared to the video, the audio has aged quite well. All the vocals and bands sound good. There are a few bright spots when some of the loudest sound effects go off.

Extras: With a whole disc devoted to extras, there are quite a few nice features. A documentary details the origins of The Young Ones. It's a great look into what when into making the show and the actual amount of preparation and improvisation that went into each episode. Another short shows where the Young Ones fit into the 80's scene. Comprised of more interviews with the people from the documentary, it's details the punk background that influenced the show. Performers who were influenced by the show are also interviewed. It works as a nice companion to the other documentary.

Another short shows Rik Mayall doing an early stand-up routine. He seems to be in character of Rick from the show. It's funny stuff, but doesn't play as well without the rest of the guys around. Also included are talent files for al the key players, guest stars (look for Robbie Coltrane, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, and more). Talent files for all the guest bands are included as well.

Two episodes of other comedies starring the players from The Young Ones are included on the disc as well. Filthy Rich and Catflap is the less interesting of the two. More absurd than even the Young Ones, it centers on the trio as they deal with the show business world. Bottom features an older looking Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonson as roommates. The two obviously have a knack for working together and it shows quite well in this pairing. It's a different pair of characters from the ones portrayed in the Young Ones and Catflap and they still make it interesting. Both shows are quite different from American sitcoms. They rely mainly on the key players. There are little to no guests and the sets are quite confined. It's a sign of their talent and they way things are done overseas.

Overall: They Young Ones in a great set of the short-lived comedy. Many may be familiar with the show, Comedy Central and MTV both aired edited episodes. It's nice to have the complete set and the extras add a nice look behind the scenes.