If you’ve lived through the ’90s, you would certainly have fond memories of a certain sitcom named “Mr Bean”. Long before streaming platforms were popular, Rowan Atkinson’s comical antics kept many in stitches, and continue to do so until today.
Well, good news for Atkinson fans: the rubber-faced British actor now plays Trevor Bingley, a hapless first-time housesitter, in Netflix’s “Man vs Bee”. With a title like that, one can expect nothing less than chaos.
If you don’t wish to be spoiled, read no further!
The series opens with an intriguing scene: Bingley has been found guilty in court on 14 counts of “dangerous driving, destruction of priceless artwork, criminal damage, and arson”. To which, he apologises and replies remorsefully: “You see, there was this bee…”
Cue flashback. Bingley is tasked with looking after Glenmore House, a luxurious property owned by haughty couple Christian and Nina Kolstad-Bergenbattens (Julian Rhind-Tutt and Jing Lusi), who are heading off for a holiday.
The house is equipped with all kinds of high-tech equipment, and Bingley, out of his depth, is left with only an instruction manual – which, surprise surprise, he ends up accidentally setting on fire.
But the real complication actually began when Bingley stepped into the house and was tailed by the titular bumblebee. Mishap and mayhem ensue as Bingley finds himself growing increasingly annoyed by his little Apidae buddy – to breaking point.
In his quest to rid himself of his unwanted visitor, Bingley proceeds to wreak havoc on the various artworks and artefacts around the home. Even the couple’s cherished canine Cupcake – played by a talented pooch named Pixel – is not spared!
As the “plot” – such as it is – unfolds over nine episodes, one can’t help but think this is classic Mr Bean repackaged as Trevor Bingley – only older, divorced… and with more dialogue.
Sweet or savoury?
Two key elements make this series an easy binge – firstly, the simple storyline that largely revolves around Bingley’s misadventures with his bee-F-F. (Fun fact: Atkinson’s winged co-star was created through a blend of CGI and little bee puppets!)
Then there’s Atkinson himself, clearly in his element in a masterful display of physical comedy and earnestness that reminds viewers, once again, of why he is just so goshdurn entertaining and loveable.
Bingley displays a curious – shall we say – “creativity” when it comes to cleaning up his messes, whether it’s using ketchup to mend a painting, or moving a vase two inches to hide a large stain.
Then there’s his pure obliviousness, demonstrated most keenly by his complete ignorance of a trio of burglars who have broken in. Oy vey.
But amidst this lunacy is a groundedness that comes in the form of Bingley’s relationship with his ex-wife Jess (Claudia Blakely) and teenage daughter Maddy (India Fowler); the former with whom he is still at odds, the latter with whom he has a warm and loving relationship.
And as simple as the narrative is, it does have a profound message: don’t sweat the small stuff. What a peaceful time Bingley would’ve had, had he not let a little creature get the better of him!
“Man vs Bee” was directed by David Kerr of “Johnny English Strikes Again” fame, and created by Atkinson and William Davies, who was also the writer of the “Johnny English” franchise.
Of note is the score by Scottish composer Lorne Balfe. The theme is catchy and comically dramatic, capturing the essence of the series wonderfully with its “buzzing” strings motif that, in and of itself, makes the full soundtrack (available on Spotify) worth listening to.
Apart from the first episode that has a 20-minute runtime, each subsequent instalment is only about 10 minutes long, which makes it an easy watch with plenty of breathing room between episodes.
This is a good thing because, as fun as the series is as a whole, the singular storyline does become predictable after a while.
There is only so much of Bingley’s escapades one can take before wondering, “Why haven’t you learnt your lesson, mate?” – and only so much suspension of disbelief one can muster as Bingley teeters on the brink of madness. All. Because. Of. A. Bee.
Still, “Man vs Bee” is perfect for those who are looking for something mindlessly entertaining after a long, hard day. And with a twist in the final episode, viewers are assured of a satisfying ending and a honey-sweet good time.
‘Man vs Bee’ is streaming on Netflix. Check out its complete soundtrack on Spotify.