This Crowded House

RTE player, until November 30, season 1, episode 1 The idea of adult children living at home with their parents is ripe material for any sitcom, but the reality, of course, is far less amusing. And increasingly common. In July, the CSO revealed that almost 23pc Irish adults over 25 are still living in the family home.

Physical overcrowding aside, there’s a lack of emotional space and distance, plus various frustrations and irritations — for parents and children. In a four-part series, Brendan Courtney (left) looks at the realities behind the statistics, and aims to help a variety of young people get some kind of foot on the housing ladder.

First up, two brothers in their 20s who are back in their childhood bunk-beds, and a couple contemplating living in a cabin in the back garden of a family home. The stories are funny, but also poignant. The many and considerable difficulties young people must face before gaining adult independence, are well captured. The End Of The **** ing World Channel4.com, season 1, episodes 1-8 Described as ‘an **** ing triumph,’ this is a dark comedy about two teenagers — James and Alyssa — who start up an unlikely romance, and head off on a road trip together in order to escape unhappy home lives. The only thing is, James (played by Goodbye Christopher Robins’s Alex Lawther) is pretty certain he’s a psychopath. He’s done the killing animals phase, and is now ready to graduate to murder.

Alyssa, foul-mouthed and angry, with a leery stepfather and distant mother, is to be his first victim. Except that it is she who accosts him (“I’ve seen you skating. You’re pretty shit”) because she is drawn to his monosyllabic, disengaged demeanour. And instead of wanting to kill her, he finds himself intrigued. The series is adapted from Charles Forsman’s graphic novel and takes turns with narrative points-of-view so that we get to see both perspectives.