After what feels like an eternity, Motherland spinoff Amandaland has finally dropped on iPlayer and I don't know how to feel.
To say Motherland was a hit would be an understatement. So, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a teeny, tiny bit nervous for its spinoff. Especially considering Amandaland naturally centres around Motherland's most disliked and irritating characters in the entire three series of Motherland - Amanda (played by the genius that is Lucy Punch).
We last saw Amanda rather miserable, with the divorce from Jonny having just come through, her shop (store) Hygge Tygge failing (pivoting online) and her relationship with her Mother (Played by Joanna Lumley) strained.
Years later and with her children Georgie (played by Millie Lock) and Mannus (Alexander Shaw) now in high school, Amanda's moved away from Chissick and has relocated to South Harlesden (or as she likes to call it, Soha). She's taken the kids out of private school, or rather Jonny has stopped paying the school fees, and with Jonny threatening to cut Amanda off for good, we can't help but feel sorry for Amanda. Amandaland offers us a greater insight into Amanda's parenting than we ever saw on Motherland. And, we have to hand it to her, Amanda is a great Mum.
By the end of Epsiode One, she's reunited with gal pal Anne (played by Phillippa Dunne), whose eldest Darius (Jack Veal) happens to be at the same school. Just like the old days? Not exactly. Whilst Amanda is still the pretentious Amanda we all know and love, she is at least a bit more subtly down to earth these days.
Amanda drives round in her all electric car which constantly runs low on battery, acting as a symbol for her financial circumstances - all show and no substance. This is of course before Jonny stops paying for her car and it gets towed away.
Towards the end of Episode One and after Amanda and Georgie attend a house party at the infamous chef's Della Fries house (played by Siobhan McSweeney) in an attempt to 'find their people,' the battery on Amanda's car dies and she's left no choice but to slum it with Anne and her new neighbour, the charming Mal (played by Samuel Anderson) - albeit in his work van. Whether Amanda realises it or not, she's found her people.
Ever the entrepreneur, Amanda starts her own lifestyle brand, Senuous (no, we don't know what it means either). Failing rather quickly, she's forced to get a job at a kitchen and bathrooms showroom. Ever in complete denial, she insists on calling her job a 'collab.' A far cry from spending her days at fannying around Little Pigs and Hygge Tygge.
By Episode 4, Amanda is back on the dating scene after South-African hunk Yohannes (played by Peter Serafinowicz) slides into her DMs. Rich hunk, we should add. Leaving the kids with trusty GanGan, she off on her first date with Yohannes, who by the way is godman awful and as pretencious as her. By all accounts, she's smitten. Ring finger checked and no indent in sight, it quickly becomes official.
He buys Amanda her dream car and even offers Amanda and the kids the chance to move into his bachaelor pad. Only issue is, it's the other side of London. There's also the issue of the numerous red flags (anti-snoring nasal strips included) but we can ignore that for now. What? He's filthy rich.
Will she uproot the kids again and move away from South Harlesden? Or will she finally swap out the canapes for the sausage rolls?
Amandaland exceeded expectations and as spin off's go, this was a total hit. It offers us an insight to Amanda that we simply weren't able to see in Motherland. We learn more about her as a mum, daughter, friend and even partner. Her character is intrinsically flawed, but Amandaland offers her the chance to grow and become a better version of the Amanda we all know and love. We're introduced to new characters and greeted by some friendly faces, too. It's lovely to see her relationship with her mum and Anne evolve and grow stronger.
Has Amanda finally changed? I doubt it. But, I'm intrigued to see what'll happen next for her and her life in Soha - here's to Series 2!
Comments