Motherland Xmas Special!

[SpongepantsSquareBob]

So excited for this!! They need to make another series!

Waste of time. What were the writers thinking. I echo PP, we needed more Anne, and more of the usual slapstick comedy. This was terrible.

But. So. Frustrating.

I loved it. Beautifully written and acted. We laughed and cried.

It was far too close to home. My mother passed away in similar circumstances earlier this year (though not on Christmas Day, obviously). Couldn’t finish watching it. Not for me this year.

Hope you feel ok ish @Catsgivethebestcuddles x

I loved it! Can't believe people are disappointed!

Great observation re Amanda!

Loved it. Really so very true. And my mother is so similar to Amanda's!

Kevin is brilliant isn't he , and a good cook too , Meg in her Robin Hood hat made me
Laugh and I thought perhaps one of Paul's parents would pass as I read a write up that said it all goes horribly sour at Julia's house , wasn't expecting it to be Marion at all.

But...motherland isn't about slapstick comedy and if we are unhappy because it is 'too close to home' that is exactly what it is about.

I can't read this thread till tomorrow as I haven't watched it it but I am soooo looking forward to watching it with a wine and some party food

Father Ted Christmas Special on Channel 4 right now #justsaying

It’s only got 20 mins left but you can catch it on 4+1 too!

Watching Father Ted

Didn't see that coming. Thought the first half was hilarious and the second half really brilliantly done. I loved it

@Womanofthe80s I guess I should just turn off all my emotions about the loss of my mother then, right. It is far too raw still for me to have watched to the end. My DH gently switched off the tv while I cried great ugly sobs.

I wish they hadn't killed off Julia's mother. Marion was an amazing character. I'm not sure why they've done that. Left me with a bit of an empty feeling at the end.

Brilliantly sharp writing and acting, with deeply flawed but loved characters.

But I couldn't help think of so many of us mums out there, looking forward to watching it, who have lost someone at Christmas, have an uneasy relationship with their mother, have had to deal with the first blended family Christmas, unexpectedly hurtful pregnancy announcements, shit husbands, alcoholism... so many themes where the discomfort or just plain old sadness hits harder than the laughter.

Much the same here, it was just too much.

@leccybill I feel like I need therapy after it. I hope the cleaners Christmas episode is better than this. I wish I watched it in the morning. Can't go to be thinking about grief.

That was so sad. Lost my dad at Christmas 10 years ago I’m not dissimilar circumstances so it hit hard .

Lucy Punch is my favourite actress, she’s excellent and Amanda has really grown on me. Her situation is so accurate - men always move on to wife and family no 2. My mum is like her mum a bit so that was a hard watch.

Not nearly enough Anne - can’t believe she had twins!

Loved Meg and the shit hat. So funny!

Liz brilliant as ever but where was Sam Shepherd! “I’d Instagram this…if I was a dick” 😂😂😂

I think the best comedies can also interweave tragedy really well. Marion’s death was scarily accurate even having the wait for the ambulance and panicking about the kids finding her. And Julia’s delayed gears are SO accurate. When my dad died at Christmas I massively went into Organisation Mode at first to the point my DH was worried why I wasn’t immediately upset. The shock does funny things to a person.

Thing is, when you’re in grief and shock normality can help. I find that anyway - when dad died I couldn’t bear the over the top sorrow from others, it made my skin itch, and I was glad or normal glimmers such as ‘shall we watch a film’ or ‘fancy a takeaway’

It was grim. I laughed once.

Yes, Motherland is great at showing real life and humour in dark situations. Thats the issue though- the humour wasn't there. I disagree completely with anyone saying it was hilarious.

It's one thing being "real", but a parent dying in your living room on Christmas Day isn't "normal". Of course it happens occasionally but it's just too much for a comedy special on 23rd.

I also don’t think the BBC or writers have an obligation to make viewers feel better or uplifted. It’s their show they can write however they like

There were definitely hilarious moments.

My granny was Irish and we have an huge family and I thought Anne and her mammy listing family members was hysterical, and very well observed.