★★★★
There is always an understandable apprehension when a popular TV programme gains a spin-off show, but it is safe to say that with BBC’s Amandaland, we can rest easy. Taking Motherland’s most insufferable character and focusing on her life as a single mother with teenagers encompasses both the humour of its predecessor and its warm-hearted relatability.
The series begins, with Amanda (Lucy Punch) having just moved from Chiswick to South Harlesden which she affectionately calls ‘SoHa’—presumably to save face from having to downsize and take her children out of private school after her divorce. In the final series of Motherland the audience started to get a feel for the vulnerability of Amanda that she perpetually disguises behind her perfect blow-out and glossy exterior. This series showcases Amanda’s trademark competitive desperation that causes viewers to bear the awkwardness with gritted teeth while also feeling sorry for her. A good example of this is when Amanda needs a real income as her new interior design business “Senuous” isn’t taking off. She goes to an interview to work at a kitchen showroom and she refers to her boss as her co-lab partner. A joke that runs throughout the series is Amanda trying to hide the fact that she works in retail. The lengths she will go to are cringe-worthy but ultimately encourage our sympathies.
Sadly, for Motherland fans there are no cameos of Julia, Kevin, or Liz, but Anne (Phillippa Dunne) is back and better than ever. Anne seems to have had a real makeover in this series; she is more fashion-forward and has an established group of parent pals at the football club. Amanda, originally loathing the idea of a football club run by her “annoying” yet attractive neighbour Mal (Samuel Anderson), joins to get in with the hip lesbian couple Della and Fi. Amanda goes to toe-curling lengths to get in with Della (Siobhan McSweeney), who owns a posh new swanky restaurant. Amanda’s mother Felicity (Joanna Lumley) appears in this series and the pair seemed to have reconciled their previous fractured relationship. Felicity often stays with Amanda and is a very active grandparent while Amanda works and tries her hand at dating.
Amandaland certainly does not fall short of the humour of Motherland and Anne is probably the biggest comedic player in this series. Anne’s infectious excitability at having her bestie back is accompanied with the stress of having a teenager. Anne’s funniest moment is when she sets up a maths camp to help the kids with their homework but ends up tearing her hair out at their inability to understand algebra. Also hilarious are the lengths to which she will go to spy on her teenage son as he starts dating and she is terrified of letting her baby go. This show has its comedic moments while also encompassing the real and uncomfortable parts of life. This show incorporates everything we loved about Motherland: the chaotic display of motherhood, friendship, and relationships but with a fresh new setting, new characters and a new outlook on our overbearing yet loveable Amanda.