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Motherland inconsistencies

152 replies

BikeRunSki · 07/06/2021 16:28

I am watching the first two seasons again, having just finished the third one and I’ve noticed a couple of inconsistencies. I am happy to be corrected though.

1- in the first series Kevin says that his mother lives near Andover (I think it’s Andover, but the actual location doesn’t matter). In the third series he says that she died when he was 8.

2- in the first series Anne says she’d had an early menopause, so how did she get pregnant again in the second series (which I assume is Baby Niamh who she has had by the third series). Was there some kind of mistake/realisation that I missed?

OP posts:
IrishBloodLondonHeart · 18/06/2021 13:06

I loved the joke with Anne and imagine there are so many women that resonate. I wasn’t a SAHM but after having kids I couldn’t be arsed to climb the greasy pole so if you didn’t know - or in Amanda’s case, never bothered to ask - you’d think pre-kids I might not have had a successful career.

queenofarles · 18/06/2021 13:15

Also I believe that Amanda, because she herself worked in a ski resort , thinks anyone who is not a Meg must have worked in hospitality or retail.
And of course it’s classic Amanda to always think low of anyone Grin,

TheVolturi · 18/06/2021 13:37

I am only on series 2 but I am loving it so much! Julia is my fave after seeing her as Carmichael in Line of Duty, she is a brilliant actress!

Turquoisesol · 18/06/2021 13:55

Yes exactly. Anne would never think herself above Amanda (or anyone in fact as she is a nice person) but in fact she would have more reason to as she had achieved so much already in comparison. Whereas for amanda everything she does is about putting in a show to impress others

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 18/06/2021 13:56

I started this last night. It’s excruciating but brilliant. I just want to shake Julia.

Bibidy · 18/06/2021 13:58

@Turquoisesol

Yes exactly. Anne would never think herself above Amanda (or anyone in fact as she is a nice person) but in fact she would have more reason to as she had achieved so much already in comparison. Whereas for amanda everything she does is about putting in a show to impress others
Yes!

I also feel like part of the joke is that Anne actually has so much she could brag about but she's such a people-pleaser that she never would.

Pumpkinpops · 18/06/2021 14:14

I loved the Anne joke about her job at GSK. I have a technical job but was an absolute mess on mat leave both times. I also resonate as I'm a people pleaser too! I can see her being involved in an R&D type role, can't remember what the exact job title she said was. Agree there are lots of inconsistencies but I don't care, absolutely love the show.

I love the joke about Nick Clegg's swimming shorts and how he's a "great casual dresser" in the swimming episode.

Also Paul is hot!

Pumpkinpops · 18/06/2021 14:20

I meant relate not resonate... not much sleep has been had recently Blush

TheVolturi · 18/06/2021 16:33

@Pumpkinpops

I loved the Anne joke about her job at GSK. I have a technical job but was an absolute mess on mat leave both times. I also resonate as I'm a people pleaser too! I can see her being involved in an R&D type role, can't remember what the exact job title she said was. Agree there are lots of inconsistencies but I don't care, absolutely love the show.

I love the joke about Nick Clegg's swimming shorts and how he's a "great casual dresser" in the swimming episode.

Also Paul is hot!

Who is Paul?
Turquoisesol · 18/06/2021 17:07

Paul is Julias husband

Crockof · 18/06/2021 17:19

@Turquoisesol

Paul is Julias husband
Paul is a complete dick.
TheVolturi · 18/06/2021 18:57

Oh yes of course!!

CassandraTrotter · 18/06/2021 19:09

And in a very very early episode (maybe even the pilot) Kevin says Amanda's mother flies home from Portugal once a month or something to look after her grandchildren.
I just assumed Amanda told people her mum does this because she was embarrassed by with how disintetested her mother actually is. Like when she lied to save face about the house sale. It would fit her character.

MinnieJackson · 18/06/2021 19:56

Did Liz drive Kevin and the kids to the air bnb house? I remember him asking her to help him get the pig off the roof, but I don't think he'd passed his test yet.
I also thought in the first episode Kevin said his girls were twins. I need to check now 😊

Thirtyrock39 · 19/06/2021 09:43

'Who is Paul?' I think says it all re Julia's marriage!!
I do wish we could see Jill at least once

MrsMcTats · 19/06/2021 10:15

Absolutely love Motherland - so well observed. Julia is my favourite. But yes I've noticed a few inconsistencies, which seems a bit lazy by the writers. Surely if you're talking about dates and ages, you'd do a quick check back at old scripts to get everything to line up. In one episode Kevin asks if someone is broody and their age is said to be 36/37. Kevin says 'ah yes, I was so broody at that age' as if it was a while ago, but if he was 8 in '91 he would only be 38 now.

queenofarles · 19/06/2021 10:49

Maybe Jill is modelled on Maris Crane form Frasier? She was a big part of Frasier without ever appearing.

mammmamia · 19/06/2021 10:51

We have a real life Jill at our school, high powered job, dad does all the school runs, kids are in year 6 now and NOBODY HAS EVER MET HER

mayjuneapril · 19/06/2021 20:51

You do get that in comedies, elusive characters that you only hear lots about but never see them, Lucy (smithys girlfriend) in Gavin and Stacey is another example. It almost becomes an essential part of the character that they’re never shown and the humour is through the other characters conversations about them.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 20/06/2021 14:10

So... are we supposed to really dislike Julia and Meg or am I just not getting them?

Turquoisesol · 20/06/2021 14:56

I think Julia’s character is supposed to be unlikeable
Meg is more likeable in the third series I find

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 20/06/2021 15:07

@Turquoisesol

I think Julia’s character is supposed to be unlikeable Meg is more likeable in the third series I find
Phew!
Labradooodle · 20/06/2021 15:09

@Nancylovesthecock

I thought that Anne thought she had gone through early menopause but she was in fact pregnant? Being a bit away with the fairies like she is?
That was my understanding. She thought it was menopause.
Bibidy · 21/06/2021 16:24

@Turquoisesol

I think Julia’s character is supposed to be unlikeable Meg is more likeable in the third series I find
I don't think Julia is meant to be unlikeable, just completely harried and with no support at all. Underneath it I think she's meant to be a decent person.

I do like Meg too but feel like she's an obvious strong black woman stereotype when she could have been a more rounded character like the rest of them.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 21/06/2021 18:45

Disagree, think Julia isn’t meant to be likeable, she is quite selfish and not that great a friend, but she has moments of self awareness when she realises this!