Lucy Punch delivers a brilliant performance as Amanda Hughes, the delusional and narcissistic lead of Amandaland, now in its second series. Joanna Lumley is magnetic as her mother, Felicity, adding a Sloane Ranger edge reminiscent of Ab Fab’s Patsy. While the show lacks the spiky bite of its predecessor Motherland, its comforting vibes make it worth watching.
Amanda, a single mum recently downsized from Chiswick to Harlesden, obsesses over becoming a successful influencer for her bland lifestyle brand Senuous. She slots into a lineage of British comedy icons like Alan Partridge and David Brent, but gets an easier ride. Originally Motherland’s antagonist, she has become more pitiful and sympathetic in her own show, fruitlessly pursuing social media fame through desperate collabs and stunts.
The series shifts focus from school drop-offs to football training sidelines, with returning characters Anne (Philippa Dunne), Fi (Rochenda Sandall), and Della (Siobhán McSweeney). New additions include Abs (Harriet Webb), Ned’s no-nonsense mum. However, the social dynamics feel forced at times, and the show leans into predictable sitcom artifice.
Despite clichéd subplots—like Fi’s dog-walking business turning her into a white-van man—the series excels in moments like Anne’s inadvertent Instagram fame. Punch’s mesmerising portrayal and Lumley’s magnetic presence, alongside Dunne’s bravura performance, elevate the comedy. Amandaland may not be as sharp as Motherland, but its comforting familiarity and strong cast make it a worthy watch.
