I was a big fan of Sarah Kendall's darkly intricate biographical comedy monologues - so the idea of her getting a series seemed a pretty interesting one. She plays a recently widowed wealthy housewife returning to her hometown in Australia with her kids in tow. There's baggage all over the shop, both figuratively and literally. Hers is a bleak comedy world bristling with dark secrets - the characters are strong and help keep the thing afloat alongside some familiar Brit comedy faces.
Kendall's Sammy Cooper is easily the strongest and most rounded character here and she has a great deadpan presence (and amazing hair) but the generally compelling ensemble cast can go whole episodes without getting a look in. Tonally it shifts and stumbles often, frequently missing just as many emotional landings as it sticks - the sudden existential twists and turns can give you serious dramatic whiplash. Not a great series but an interesting one, certainly.
Kendall's Sammy Cooper is easily the strongest and most rounded character here and she has a great deadpan presence (and amazing hair) but the generally compelling ensemble cast can go whole episodes without getting a look in. Tonally it shifts and stumbles often, frequently missing just as many emotional landings as it sticks - the sudden existential twists and turns can give you serious dramatic whiplash. Not a great series but an interesting one, certainly.