Motherland (I) (2016–2022)
6/10
Kids play
11 September 2016
Anna Maxwell Martin plays a frazzled mother working in corporate events and trying to achieve a work/life balance. It is not going well she brings her kids to school during the school holidays and instead of telling the truth she tells the teacher some lies about her kids being bullied which leads to embarrassment.

The writers, which include Graham Linehan and Sharon Horgan got one thing right. Maxwell's front seat of the car was filthy. A kind of seat that only exists if you have kids. The interior reminded me of my wife's car.

Lucy Punch plays the insincere even manipulative Alpha mum, leader of a clique that is rich and judgmental. Yet people want to be in her group of suburban mums including the sole stay at home dad we see looking after the kids.

Martin needs people to look after her kids, her mother is refusing to any more free baby sitting. She meets Diana Morgan, working class but cool under pressure like when she chops off her finger.

This pilot started of shakily as Martin spins lies about coming to school during the term time holiday rather than admit she forgot it was the holidays but it improves as it goes along and Morgan was the star of the show. Motherland really did manage to mix slapstick, comedy of manners, frustrated pent up humour and even visual gags.
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