The second series of Amandaland is here, and while it may lack the sharp bite of its predecessor Motherland, it offers comforting vibes and a mesmerising performance from Lucy Punch as the delusional, narcissistic Amanda Hughes. The show, which originally spun off from the modern classic sitcom, sees Amanda now living in a Harlesden maisonette, working in sales, and desperately trying to become an influencer for her bland lifestyle brand Senuous.
Punch’s portrayal slots Amanda into a lineage of British comedy icons alongside Alan Partridge and David Brent, but with a more sympathetic twist. In this series, Amanda is even more pitiful and relatable, fruitlessly pursuing social media fame through desperate collabs and stunts. Joanna Lumley is magnetic as her judgmental mother Felicity, a Sloanier version of Patsy from Ab Fab, while Philippa Dunne delivers a bravura performance as Amanda’s former acolyte Anne.
The show shifts focus from school drop-offs to the sidelines of teenagers’ football training, with a cast including Rochenda Sandall, Siobhán McSweeney, Samuel Anderson, and Harriet Webb. While some secondary storylines feel predictable—such as a battle over building a shed—the series excels in its character work and satisfying moments, like Anne becoming an inadvertent Instagram phenomenon.
Written by Holly Walsh and Laurence Rickard, Amandaland is steeped in soothing sitcom artifice, but Punch’s mesmerising portrayal and the show’s comforting vibes make it a worthy watch for fans of British comedy.
