Motherland - anyone watching?!

[MakemineaGandT]

Wonder how much research they did on here?!

[Walnutwhiplash]

Dear God it was utter bilge. But then I thought Catastrophe post series 1 was dire too so maybe I'm not the target audience.

[whiskyowl]

I LOVE IT!! Laughed so hard.

Amanda is like my mental idea of many of the more right-wing Mumsnetters, absolutely spot on! Lucy Punch is a brilliant comedian. Lovely to see Diane Morgan with a central role too.

[notagiraffe]

The actress who played Amanda absolutely nailed the Alpha Mummy facial expressions and tone of voice. Perfect.

[derxa]

I thought it was hilarious and I have taken my children to school on a holiday

[BIWI]

I realise that's true. But here it just felt like the characters were being mocked. As well as being rather cliched.

But it's obviously horses for courses. Look at all those people who think Mrs Brown's Boys is funny!

[southeastdweller]

Pretty much every comedy show I can think of contains heightened and exaggerated characters and situations - it's partly what makes the comedy funny, that and there being some truth in what we're seeing (as evidenced by many comments on this thread).

[Helmetbymidnight]

Oh I didn't feel the stereotypes were negative at all. I thought the main character and Philomena Cunk were really likeable!

And the main character IS a full-time worker.

I didn't find it 'hilarious', but I did really enjoy it.

[bakeoffcake]

Most comedy is funny because of the stereotypes.

[Ladywholunches3]

Dull
How scout more normal mums?
Round here we're all full time workers with jobs, friendly, enjoy drinks
None of this over the top cliche stuff
Show real women with characters

[BabyGanoush]

It was funny, bit close to the bone at times

[Howaboutthisone]

I loved it and tried to set it for series link too.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

That's the point though, they were exaggerated characteristics but there was no balance, it was all negative stereotyping. Nothing even remotely funny about it.

[Panicmode1]

Totally agree with you, BIWI. I didn't find it remotely funny - it was almost like a tick box exercise from a writing group: Queen Bee - check, group of her hangers on - check, harassed working mother - check, single dad - check, outcast single mum - check.

Lazy, stereotypical (and unfunny!) nonsense.

[BIWI]

I agree to a certain extent. But these stereotypes were also patronising and making fun of the characters. Shallow and insulting, I thought.

[Helmetbymidnight]

I don't see it like that.

Most comedy exaggerates characteristics. It wouldn't be funny otherwise. It would be 'drama'.

I feel there aren't nearly enough comedies centered around women - clearly if women are not to be exaggerated then that would stay the same.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I agree BIWI, I cringed all the way through it.

[BIWI]

It's totally patronising in the way it exaggerates the women in it too.

Poking fun at women.

[Panicmode1]

I watched after all of the rave reviews and was bitterly disappointed - I agree wholeheartedly with those who said it was stereotyped. I think I vaguely sniggered once and thought it was awful.

[Hygellig]

I thought it was quite funny if a bit over the top. It did remind me of Mumsnet rather than reflecting my experience so far of having children.

I liked Julia's mum hiding, and Julia preferring to invent a story about bullying rather than admit she'd forgotten it was half term. Then Amanda's comments on loving her children too much to be able to work.

I hope it gets commissioned for a series.

[BIWI]

I thought it was dreadful. A total pisstake and so massively stereotypical.

After all the rave reviews I was really disappointed.

[penguinpie]

I didn't get why everyone was hanging out at the same cafe during half term..is that something that happens?

[drigon]

Quite good. I enjoyed the main character and Queen Bitch. Frantic Mum was well played by Anna Maxwell-Martin (hope I got name right.)

[Mumstudentbum]

Me and Dp just watched this on Iplayer and we loved it! We were both gutted to learn it was a one off and would've defo watched a series if available. Not many good comedies on tv these days so I hope it gets commissioned for a series :)

[Wayfarersonbaby]

It was quite enjoyable but all a bit too "North London circa 2003" for me - seemed like the writers were people who'd had primary-age kids a decade or so ago, before that kind of lifestyle got way too expensive!

These days no-one I know in the south east with primary school kids can afford to live in places like that, it's more 2-bed flat in Lewisham even for the very high earners. You'd need to be living off a seriously banker-tastic salary in 2016 to have a London house like that and be a sahm hanging out in cafes like Amanda.

[Lules]

I watched 5 minutes of it and had to turn it off it irritated me so much. I loved Catastrophe so maybe it's just because i don't have school aged children yet?