So disappointed with Motherland **Thread contains spoilers**

[Fenty1]

I'm the biggest fan of Motherland normally but I feel so let down by the Xmas special! Have been looking forward to it all day but didn't laugh once. Yes it was very sad etc but not what I wanted from a Xmas special at all.

Title edited by MNHQ to add a spoiler alert

I love motherland, and I don't mind a bit of Christmas melancholy, but the balance was out of whack for me. Too many really sad storylines, not enough jokes and not enough happier stuff.

I think we saw Tamara briefly in a previous episode - Amanda was supposed to be meeting them for lunch and saw her in the restaurant. She was definitely younger then I think.

Something else I noticed last night was someone saying 'dress for the job you want, I say', which is exactly what Julia says to the school secretary when she's sent her daughter into school in heels wondered whether that was a deliberate reference, or really lazy writing. Either way I realise I am probably over invested in this..!

Glad it wasn't just me reading things into it then.

Something else I noticed last night was someone saying 'dress for the job you want, I say',

Amanda had said 'Why are they dressed as young Royals?' or words to that effect. I'm not sure why anyone would want that job.

Amanda's mother is a total snob though, so it's probably her ultimate goal!

Yes!

It was very funny, dark, sarcastic - in other words, fab.
But it was also warm, with some interesting character development.
And Marion's death was pretty cool - I think most of us would like to pop our clogs with no pain & no fuss.

Just not long enough, and not enough Anne.

I was so so disappointed, the funny bits weren’t funny and I don’t think they should have made it such a sad episode! Both the death and the Amanda storyline left me feeling completely gloomy. Terrible Christmas episode when you want happiness and laughter!

You’re not wrong at all - Yes he was referring to that.

Kevin references Maui from Moana early in the episode when he says you're welcome. Julia's fil references the Mau Mau in a racist exchange with Meg. And in a separate scene, Meg mentions that one of her daughters has gone to Mali (and the other one to Bali)

@saturnisturning my point was that maybe xmas isn't a time to try and make light of parental death and miscarriage when so many women struggle with the emotion around this at Xmas. I personally found it very hard to watch and a reflection of my year, and so did other women on this thread. I wasn't expecting it from the motherland xmas special, I wanted a laugh.

@biddyboo

Thanks for that! I was so confused what people were talking about!

I was expecting that the mum was actually alive but they all didn't realise. So it did actually end up being very sad which I really wasn't expecting. I also love motherland and was surprised by how it was. I did find some parts quite funny though.

My favourite bits were

Kevin running over to sprinkle zataar on the turkey

The parents dumping all their children's art around the corner from school

Mrs. Lamb having a big sack for all her gifts, and looking as miserable as ever

Julia mentioning that her children eat hummus everyday of their lives, and the look she gives Paul when he says he's never had it

Liz calling the Ibis the Abyss 🤣

Anne and her mam listing all of her irish relatives that she was hosting (I can relate)

I just thought the humour was so sharp and funny. The tragedy was handled really well. Amanda's mother's comment about Amanda's father getting women pregnant into his seventies gives an insight into the type of life they had with him. Hopefully Amanda can break the toxic cycle and end up with someone nice (like Kevin!). It was so heartbreaking that Julia and her mum had planned the same Christmas present for each other.

Oh and I loved how Kevin and Liz rallied round for Julia.

Was really disappointed and surprised when it ended so suddenly. They also all looked a bit too polished. I preferred the monte realistic lightning and dishevelled appearances. Even Julia looked quite glam despite the onsie

Not what I was expecting. Some laughs but I thought the death and the reference to miscarriage were badly judged. Not what a majority female audience want at Xmas. Also - the idiot husband. Isn’t he the ultimate strategically incompetent man? Why doesn’t Julia mumsnet-up and get rid?!

Ah.. thanks @biddyboo for keeping it all straight!

Anne and her mam listing all of her irish relatives that she was hosting (I can relate)

… and Pat! 😂

I got a real heartwarming feeling from the episode, in the absolute darkest of moments good friends rally round. I think it was done perfectly.

Christine had been going there for years and hadn't realised she had built up loads of loyalty points, so she started treating them all.

I also thought Beth would have offered to have Christine for xmas day too, i don't think they'd all have just ignored the fact she was going to be alone

Agree.

I laughed at her earlier comment about being a mum to school aged children so humous always being on the menu!

I can understand disappointment if you just wanted a straight comic episode, but that was brilliantly written, and brilliantly performed.

Quite. I think that's what she meant.

I know about the points I just wondered if she'd picked up the lost wallet or something from it. It was very much out of character for her - a Christmas miracle! (also the final text from her daughter). I think Beth and Eric were going to their son's for Christmas and having a nut roast which she turned her nose up at the idea of.