Post 12: Mise en Scène in Him & Her

Him & Her is a BBC comedy/drama, set within the flat of a working-class couple, aimed at being brutally honest about their lives and intimacy. It never exits the flat in all episodes but the last, and not only do the couple (Steve and Becky), but also their friends and family. I am looking at costume and make-up in episode 4 of season 1: The Football.

Steve:

Steve appears almost half-dressed. He wears shorts, socks, and an orange t-shirt; this ensemble looks as though it could be worn as pyjamas, implying that he is only wearing what he is wearing to be comfortable. It could also hint at the fact the he hasn't dressed up for the people that are visiting and that he clearly has not planned to go outside of their flat all day. His shirt is only half tucked in too, falling out at the back of his shorts, emphasising his carelessness and laziness in regards to his appearance - especially in his own home.

Becky:

Becky's outfit in this episode is very similar to her outfits in other episodes. She has put more effort into what she is wearing than Steve has, but it is not dressy in any way. She looks like she dresses thinking of comfort, as she wears casual clothes, but has evidently also thought of appearance, and like she could go outside their flat. Her hair is not untidy, which it can be in other episodes, where it looks as though she has put it up last minute, or simply left it. However, in this episode it is not so, implying that she knew that others would be around their flat, and that she is conscious of how she looks around most people, but not Steve.

Laura:

This is the first episode since Laura has had her hair cut into a different style, and she has clearly dressed to impress so to fit with her new hair. The clips along the side of it match with the colour of her shirt, and she is wearing larger, more noticeable jewellery than usual.

Her phone is also shown in this episode, and it is very different from her sister's. Becky's phone is black and plain, whilst Laura's is pink, and she has attached an accessory to it. This shows how she likes to customise things, and makes things suit her personality and own personal aesthetic.

Paul:

Paul is not wearing his own put-together outfit in this episode, he is in his work clothes. There is not too much that can be inferred about his character from this, but it does show that he came to the flat directly after her found out he was adopted or before he had a row with his mother and did not wish to get changed, but go and tell Laura straight away.

Dan:

Dan is in this episode very little, and does not come to the door and intrude when not wanted like usual. Instead, at the end he turns out to have been in Steve and Becky's shower room for the whole time. He appears with comically steamed up glasses from the shower, wearing Steve's dressing gown, and from what we can see, little else. The fact that he is wearing Steve's dressing gown goes with the theme of him helping himself to things throughout the house, and not asking about whether things are alright to do. Steve's dressing gown in just another thing he has helped himself to, and apparently also the use of their shower, despite them being uncomfortable around him. Dan's hair through all the episodes is long and accompanied by a beard and moustache. His hair appears unkept and connects to his appearance of not leaving the flats often. His glasses make him appear more stereotypically nerdy and awkward - having to push them up his nose often in a twitchy and nervous manner.