The End of the F***ing World

The End of the F***ing World is a British black comedy television programme. Based on the 2011–13 minicomics The End of the Fucking World by Charles Forsman, the eight-part first series premiered its first episode on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on 24 October 2017, after which the following episodes were released on All 4. Netflix handled international distribution and released it internationally on 5 January 2018. The programme follows James (Alex Lawther), a 17-year-old who believes himself to be a psychopath, and Alyssa Foley (Jessica Barden), an angry classmate who sees in James a chance to escape from her tumultuous home life. Gemma Whelan, Wunmi Mosaku, Steve Oram, Christine Bottomley, Navin Chowdhry, Barry Ward and Naomi Ackie appear in supporting roles.

Series creator Jonathan Entwistle contacted Forsman about making a film, and a short one was made in 2014. The short film is now considered to be lost, with no way to access the film online. Instead, an eight-part serial was commissioned, with filming beginning in April 2017. It was written by Charlie Covell, and episodes were directed by Entwistle and Lucy Tcherniak. In August 2018, the programme was renewed for a second series, which premiered on Channel 4 on 4 November 2019, after which all eight episodes were released on All 4, and internationally on Netflix the next day. Covell stated before the second series's release that they do not intend to produce a third series for the programme.

The programme has been praised for its writing, execution and subject matter, as well as for Lawther's and Barden's performances. Both the series were nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series, with the second series winning in 2020, as well as receiving a Peabody Award in 2019.

Premise

James is a 17-year-old who believes he is a psychopath. He kills animals as a hobby, but grows bored with the practice and decides he wants to try killing a human. He settles on Alyssa, a mouthy, rebellious 17-year-old classmate with issues of her own. She proposes that they run away together, hoping for an adventure away from her turbulent home-life, and James agrees with the intention of finding an opportunity to kill her. They embark on a road trip across England and begin to develop a relationship after a series of mishaps.

Cast and characters

Main

• Alex Lawther as James, a disturbed 17-year-old who believes he is a psychopath; the love interest of Alyssa
  • Jack Veal portrays a young James
• Jessica Barden as Alyssa, a rebellious teenage girl; James's intended victim
  • Holly Beechey portrays a young Alyssa
• Naomi Ackie as Bonnie, a young woman who sets on a journey to avenge her lover's death (series 2)

Recurring

• Gemma Whelan as Eunice Noon, a detective constable and Darego's partner (series 1)
• Wunmi Mosaku as Teri Darego, a detective constable and Noon's stern partner (series 1)
• Steve Oram as Phil, James's father
• Christine Bottomley as Gwen, Alyssa's mother
• Navin Chowdhry as Tony, Alyssa's abusive stepfather (series 1)
• Jonathan Aris as Clive Koch, an author, professor, serial killer and rapist
• Barry Ward as Leslie Foley, Alyssa's estranged drug-dealing father (series 1)

Guest

• Geoff Bell as Martin, a family man who gives Alyssa and James a ride (series 1)
• Alex Sawyer as Topher, a young man Alyssa meets with whom she tries to have sex (series 1)
• Eileen Davies as Flora, Clive's mother (series 1)
• Leon Annor as Emil, an imposing store security guard whom Alyssa is caught by (series 1)
• Earl Cave as Frodo, a miserable petrol station employee (series 1)
• Felicity Montagu as Jocelyn, the manager of the petrol station (series 1)
• Alex Beckett as Jonno, one of Leslie's buyers (series 1)
• Kierston Wareing as Debbie, Leslie's ex-girlfriend with whom he has a child (series 1)
• Matt King as Eddie Onslow, a detective constable (series 1)
• Kelly Harrison as James's dead mother (series 1)
• Zerina Imsirovic as Alyssa's baby sister (series 1)
• Josh Dylan as Todd, Alyssa's husband (series 2)
• Alexandria Riley as Leigh, Gwen's sister (series 2)
• Florence Bell as Iggy (series 2)
• Tim Key as Gus, a motel owner (series 2)
• Paterson Joseph as Kevan, a chemist (series 2)
• Divian Ladwa as Sid, a police officer (series 2)
• Lynn Hunter as Jerry (series 2)

Episodes

Series 1 (2017)

Series 2 (2019)

Production

Development

"I made a short film of it six years ago with the majority of the people who are still involved — Jonathan Entwistle, who directed the film (and some of the series), and Dominic Buchanan, who’s a producer. At that point, Charlie hadn’t actually finished the comic, so I along with everyone else who was a fan of it, waited for them all to come out."—Jessica Barden, January 2018

The series was based on the work of the same title by Charles Forsman. Originally self-published as a series of mini-comics, the series was published as a graphic novel by Fantagraphics Books in 2013. It was republished in hardback in 2017, in anticipation of the television series.

While Forsman was publishing the mini-comics, Jonathan Entwistle contacted him about adapting it to a visual format – the original idea was to make an American film, and later a web series was considered. A film was pitched to Film4, and Entwistle was given funding for a short. Made in 2014, it featured some cast and crew who continued their roles for the television series. Entwistle directed and Dominic Buchanan was producer; Jessica Barden played Alyssa. However, instead of Alex Lawther, James was played by Craig Roberts.

Though the short was well-received, no production companies wanted to invest in the idea as a full-length film. Entwistle and Buchanan decided to make a television series with Clerkenwell Films, following which Channel 4 and then Netflix became involved. Forsman had no official role in the show's production, wanting to continue working on his comics, though Entwistle would regularly consult him and keep him updated. In August 2018, Channel 4's director of programmes Ian Katz expressed frustration that many people think the programme is a Netflix original, saying that "it's absolutely a Channel 4 show".

The programme's plot differs from that of Forsman's comics. In print, the two kill a satanist serial killer, whose wife was a police officer; instead the television series features police officers Eunice Noon and Teri Darego, and does not show the serial killer to be a satanist. Another major difference is the ending of the graphic novel: the satanist police officer chases after James, and the two begin to attack each other, while police try to break up the fight. There is then a gunshot. In the final scene, Alyssa's mother talks about her daughter being safe from James, while Alyssa is seen carving the name "JAMES" into her arm. Some critics interpreted this to mean that James was dead, but Forsman sees the ending as ambiguous.

Continuation

The first series covered the entirety of the storyline in Forsman's original comics. On 25 January 2018, Jonathan Entwistle spoke of the potential for a second series. He confirmed that "We're exploring and we're seeing what we can do to expand the world and see where we get to." Entwistle then went on to say that Netflix was enthusiastic about a second series of the show if one could be conceived. Writer Charlie Covell said "I think there are a number of stories we could tell" and that she would "love to write more". Actor Alex Lawther stated in an interview that he would be "very excited" about a second series, as it would give Covell "a chance to explore something from her imagination". A second series was announced on 21 August 2018 on the official Channel 4 Twitter account.

Covell stated in October 2019, before the second series' release, that she does not intend to produce a third series for the programme. Covell went on to say "I think, for me, that's it now. Yeah, that's done. I think to try and eke more out would be wrong, I like where we've left it."

Filming

The first series began filming in April 2017 and concluded a few weeks before the show's release in October 2017. Though filmed in England, the programme has an American tone to it; Entwistle was inspired by Twin Peaks and Fargo. Episodes were filmed largely in suburban areas and across Surrey, with locations such as Guildford bus station, The Square shopping centre in Camberley, Woking and Longcross Studios. There was also some scenes in Bracknell in Berkshire. Another filming location was Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey. Entwistle uses mostly close-up shots, particularly in early episodes where most frames feature only one character. He uses this for deadpan humour, by moving from face to face to get shots of characters' reactions.