Television series

Cucumber

Name: Cucumber
Genre: Drama
Released: 2015
Cast: Vincent Franklin, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Freddie Fox, Fisayo Akinade, Ceallach Spellman

Cucumber is a sharply observed British drama about a long-term gay relationship in crisis. When Henry's infidelity shatters nine years with Lance, the show unfolds across their fractured circle—friends, exes, and newcomers caught in the fallout. It's tender and brutal, funny and devastating, with the texture of real life rather than TV drama.

TVMaze rating

3.5

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It's a Sin2021

Russell T Davies at his most emotionally devastating, following a tight group of friends through the AIDS crisis. Same gift for making you love people quickly and care about their fates with gut-wrenching intensity.

But Much heavier subject matter; the historical tragedy can feel predetermined. Queer British drama that might feel like the obvious next step rather than a discovery.

This Is Us2016

Masters of depicting long relationships—how they fray, how they hold, what gets said and unsaid. Weaves between past and present to show how couples become who they are. Warm without being sentimental.

But Sentimental in ways that will test you; some viewers find the emotional orchestration heavy-handed. Focuses on straight relationships, which shifts the texture considerably.

Togetherness2015

A comedy-drama about a marriage and the people in its orbit, brutally honest about how couples can disappoint each other while still mattering. Intimate, funny, painfully real about monogamy and desire.

But The tone whiplash between comedy and sadness bothers some viewers. Cancelled after two seasons, so no resolution—you're left with ambiguity by design.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Cucumber

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Weekend2011

Both are interested in the emotional architecture of gay relationships—not the crisis, but the quiet ordinary moments that make a relationship real. Both trust you to care about people talking.

A real-time portrait of two men meeting for a weekend in Nottingham—talking, eating, sleeping together, arguing. Builds intimacy through conversation rather than plot. No melodrama, just the daily texture of connection and the fear of losing it.

But Very low-key; essentially a two-hander in ordinary locations. Some find its slowness precious rather than profound. A micro-budget indie rather than a polished production.

Transparent2014

A family drama that excavates secrets, identity and the ways we wound the people closest to us. Ensemble cast where everyone gets their moment; deeply empathetic even when depicting selfish choices.

But Emotionally exhausting; the central secret is handled as tragedy rather than triumph. Some supporting storylines feel indulgent compared to the main narrative.

Looking2014

HBO's San Francisco gay drama about friendship, sex and what you want versus what you can have. Similar tone—messy, unglamorous, interested in the everyday texture of queer life and desire.

But Only two seasons; many felt it ended prematurely. The main character's passivity frustrates some viewers more than it endears.

Fleabag2016

A relationship drama disguised as a comedy, told in short sharp scenes with genuine emotional stakes. Understands how people hurt each other while still being lovable. Formally inventive without showing off.

But The relationship at the centre is dysfunctional in ways that might feel lighter than Cucumber's emotional weight. Comedy-first structure could feel tonal whiplash if you want unbroken drama.

The Split2018

A divorce drama about a marriage ending, told with intelligence and empathy for all sides. Explores how people who loved each other become strangers. Excellent ensemble, each character fully realised.

But Centre on straight relationships; slower-paced than Cucumber, with more legal procedural mixed in. Might feel like a sidestep rather than the natural next thing.

Chewing Gum2015

A chaotic, exuberant comedy-drama about desire, identity and friendship in South London. Different energy from Cucumber but the same fierce investment in how people actually talk and relate to each other.

But Much broader and wilder in tone; the humour and chaos could feel like a shift away from Cucumber's emotional precision. Less introspective, more maximalist.

The Good Wife2009

Both understand that a relationship falling apart isn't a plot—it's a condition you inhabit. Both use the people around the couple to show how betrayal ripples outward.

A legal drama that's actually about a marriage imploding in public while the wife keeps working. Watches a relationship deteriorate with intelligence and without ever simplifying either person. Ensemble as strong as Cucumber's.

But Forty-minute episodes across seven seasons; the legal cases can feel like scaffolding. Heavily straight and institutional, which shifts the whole register from Cucumber's intimacy.