Am I supposed to hate Julia? (Motherland)

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I'm about 4 episodes in (season one), and honestly - I find her and, more specifically, her husband, so fucking annoying that I may just have to throw the towel in.

I get that she is supposed to be a harangued mother, feckless dad, etc, but she is just so incredibly unlikeable.

She berates her mother, so cruelly, for stepping back on childcare (creating a gap the wanker dad should be helping to fill), sometimes in front of her mothers friends.

She only ever does stuff with or for her kids because other people have basically played on her massive insecurities. But it's at caricature point now, where its losing any humour.

I'm just not finding the comedy at all with her. I'm wondering if the fact that there isn't even a drop of niceness written into her character means we are supposed to dislike her?

I'm only still watching for Anne and Liz. Even Kevin - they made him a bit funny at the start but it's going a bit slapstick (the wearing all the coats scene?)

I want to get it, and I want to like it, and there bits I like. But it just feels so over over the top. Like they've ramped up any potential for a bit of comedy to just levels of ridiculousness.

Or maybe I just have a different type of sense of humour.

She's who I might be if I don't take care. My worst self, but with a nicer house

I was trying to find the words but read the thread and this. This exactly.

I love motherland. I agree with a PP about the nits episode- best pandemic related comedy I've seen

She’s supposed to be a mum on the edge. How we feel on our worst days of parenting isn’t she? I think she gets more human and likable through the series.

I love Motherland. I love it as it’s such fun and so cleverly written.
I’ve rewatched the 3 series a few times and it’s fucking brilliant. I LOVE it when they go out on the town with Meg.. best episode ever …. “ No Mum left behind … 😂

Me too!!

'Y’know, the one with all the hobbies and stag dos and urgent work events. I swear the whole premise of the show is based on characters from this forum 😆'

It could well be, Graham Linehan posts on FWR occasionally I think?

I warmed to her as things went on. The most recent series (3??) showed her softer side and there were some very funny moments, i loved the christmas party episode. Her facial expressions are brilliant. I relate to her but equally can see that she's a bit of a dick. But can't we all be, when under stress with very little support?

Spoiler alert for S3…

I think that Julia’s mother comes good twice. Once in the Christmas Eve episode, where she (I suspect) tells her son-in-law to pull his finger out and get things ready for Christmas Day (she probably helps, and ropes in Julia’s PiLs too). Also, I think that she warned Julia’s husband about her obsession with the other guy and advised him to set about saving his marriage - hence his surprise change of behaviour.

I love her too ❤️ she's always desperately trying and trying and is supposed to be a working FT married mum of two on your very worst day.

I like the Julia character, though she's a spolit entitled brat to her mother and is breathtakingly awful to her . I really would like her to leave the husband or at least there be some acknowledgement he's horrible and feckless. At least there's a nod to Kevin's wife being acknowledged as unpleasant.

Also like Meg so I see I'm totally on a different page to all.

They are all characters if tropes aren't they? I mean things like Anne being The Cautious Mammy is ramped up to ridiculous in the Halloween episode.

Would agree Anne is only a push over because she's actually happy in herself and life. She's nothing to prove or has no fight to feel supported. Love it when she just flip our at Amanda when she's exhausted and Amanda is being an ungrateful pain.

I've found my people! I wish I could watch it as the other characters are great. But I find Julia unwatchable. To the extent that I can't watch anything with that actor in anymore.

I really wanted the plumber to have an affair with Julia.

That woman desperately needs some fun and non parenting related relationships & time.

Of course it was never going to happen / we just had to endure all the cringe.

Her H reminds me of so many threads on Relationships. In fact I think the whole series is written from MN.

Yes!!

AIBU is definitely a source for the writers, no doubt of that

I am sure I saw an interview with Anna Maxwell Martin where the interview had a theory that her character in Line of Duty (DCS Carmichael) and Julia were actually the same person i.e. she gives so much at work she has nothing left for home. If I am remembering this right Anna replied that they might be on to something

I like Julia because she says the things that most people think, but aren't brave enough to say. She actually lacks confidence and is rather vulnerable, which comes out more in series 3. And she even manages to tolerate (thru gritted teeth) her awful in-laws!

I can see that!

DS Carmichael was so stern though,

It's not real.

I agree. I also feel like she pretends not to be middle class which annoys me. Plus I agree with everything you've said.
However I know many 'Julia's'. Desperate for their booze and acting like it's just one of those parenting things. Puts in little time with kids, offended gets little back.

You aren't supposed to hate her though, she's the loveable relatable one for the demographic they're aiming for

Julia develops into better person as the series go on. The thing that’s likeable about her is she doesn’t behave badly because it’s personal. She isn’t mean, she’s desperately trying to cope. Her mum has done all the childcare for years and then suddenly pulls away the support. Julia is left flapping around, trying to learn all the school/ party/ child rearing rules that up until now she’s left to her mum. Motherland is one of my favourite things to watch. It’s funny and at times heartfelt.

She represents the modern working frazzled mum, desperately juggling lack of childcare with an important job and useless husband. I really relate to her and I think she is unpleasant because of the high stress of every mundane life. She does have a few glimmers of a softer side that’s absolutely worth watching - it usually comes out in the last episode of every season.

I watch Motherland for the secondary characters. Liz in particular is brilliant.

And I actually like that we have unlikable mums on TV. Much better than your Sue’s from outnumbered who are placid and smiley and never do anything more offensive than a little frown. Real women aren’t like that - give me a real, raw Julia any day of the week than a simpering Sue.

Anne is my favourite, was so happy when she told Amanda to do one after treating her like a slave. Was rather sad she u turned.
I would love for her to say, I'm happy in my life, I don't need to tolerate being treated like this. Her husband shows no concern for Anne's welfare. I would like to think if I were being treated like that at all but especially both post partum and pregnant he'd be doing whatever he could to stop it. I think Anne has probably suffered so abuse/ trauma and feels she still needs it in her life.
Annoys me a little Liz is a token working class person and how that is stereotyped.

I really don't know why I watch it

Hate would be a very strong reaction, but she is a disorganised whiny user.

I find it painfully unwatchable. Like I was watching a comedy about someone with special needs and the special needs are the joke a la Ricky Gervais.

And so all discussions on fictional television characters and plot are out ? Does that also apply to books? Better let edexcel know.