Under the Boss review

The setup

Harriet arrives for her first day at a very British office convinced everyone there is gorgeous except her, and that a curvy new hire has no chance with the handsome boss. Vic, his indispensable assistant, has just floated a Thursday dinner for two when he spots Harriet instead. Harriet then botches the introduction, confessing she has admired him before swerving to the company. He says he liked the first version. Vic waves the morning schedule at him; he scraps it to give Harriet the tour personally, with a joke about buried bodies.

Episode 2

Episode 2 cuts between the cupboard and Vic, who is talking herself out of jealousy while a coworker cheerfully makes it worse. Inside, the boss hands Harriet branded shirts and a hoodie, then politely steps out while she tries them on. Harriet asks for black, explains her theory that white adds pounds on camera, and swears at her boss mid-explanation. He tells her it suits her, then clarifies he means both. Her reply is one expletive.

Who's who

• Harriet: the new hire, self-deprecating, quick to blurt, and funnier than she thinks
• The boss: handsome, unhurried, and very pleased with the effect he has on people
• Vic: his assistant, who organizes his whole life and wants a dinner out of it

Verdict: 7.3 out of 10

This is the rare short that would work with the clothes kept on. Harriet's babbling is written with real comic timing, the boss gets two dry lines that do all his seducing, and Vic's jealousy adds a second track most series in this format never bother with. It moves slowly toward anything explicit, which is a choice, not a flaw. If the paid episodes keep this voice, they deserve the curiosity.

Episode guide