Main

• Alex Lawther as James, a disturbed 17-year-old who believes he is a psychopath; the love interest of Alyssa^[1]
  • Jack Veal portrays a young James^[2]
• Jessica Barden as Alyssa, a rebellious teenage girl; James's intended victim^[1]
  • 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)

Series 1 (2017)

Series 2 (2019)

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^[4][5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7] Made in 2014,^[8] it featured some cast and crew who continued their roles for the television series. Entwistle directed and Dominic Buchanan was producer;^[4] Jessica Barden played Alyssa. However, instead of Alex Lawther, James was played by Craig Roberts.^[9]

Though the short was well-received, no production companies wanted to invest in the idea as a full-length film.^[7] 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.^[10] 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".^[11]

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.^[12] 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,^[12] but Forsman sees the ending as ambiguous.^[10]

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.^[7] Another filming location was Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey.^[18] 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.^[7]

The series is set in the present day, but Entwistle aimed to make it feel like it could have been set "any time from 1988 to 2006". Additionally, diners have a 1970s-style design, and the soundtrack features songs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, along with original music from Graham Coxon, the founding member of Blur. Entwistle describes Coxon's scores as "guitar-based suburban noir", and notes that more of his music is used in later episodes for the police officers.^[7]

The second series began filming in March 2019.^[19] Production for the second season moved to southern Wales and the greater Bristol area. The woodland café was constructed within the Forest of Dean. Key locations in Wales were Port Talbot, Swansea, the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Afan Forest Park.

Critical response

The End of the F***ing World has an overall approval rating of 93% on review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.^[22] The first series has an approval rating of 96% based on 51 reviews, with an average rating of 8.38/10. The site's consensus states, "Misanthropy and humor blend perfectly in this romantically nihilistic show that proves that falling in love can feel like The End of the F***ing World."^[23] The second series has an approval rating of 91% based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 7.64/10. The site's consensus states, "What The End of the F***ing World's second season lacks in urgency it makes up for in character development, diving deep into the darkest creases of the leading pair's memories to emerge a darkly funny meditation on love and trauma."^[24]

On Metacritic, the series has an overall score of 77 out of 100, based on reviews from 21 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".^[25] The first series has a score of 81 out of 100, based on reviews from 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[26] The second series has a score of 71 out of 100, based on reviews from 9 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".^[27]

Reviewer Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter lauded the programme's writing, characters, and soundtrack, as well as praising the performances of Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden, calling it a "pitch-black, eight-episode comedy gem of a UK import".^[28] Kelly Lawler of USA Today called it "batty fun", also praising Lawther and Barden's performances while praising the programme's surreal concept and execution.^[29]

Accolades