For those seeking a post-Motherland parenting comedy fix, look no further than ‘s “hilarious, relatable” gem ‘The Letdown.
The Australian show features new mum Audrey (played by co-creator Alison Bell) and her overstretched husband Jeremy as they navigate the trials of raising their baby in a middle-class Sydney suburb.
With an eclectic group of new ‘mum friends’ and even a local drug dealer being drawn into her chaotic world, Audrey struggles with sleep deprivation while juggling the needs of baby Stevie and striving to give time to Jeremy.
Since its first season premiere in 2017, followed by a second in 2019, the series has delighted viewers and scored a flawless 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics have lauded its sharp writing and acting. Lucy Hunter Johnston from the Standard articulated, “Whether you see The Letdown as horror or hilarious is likely to depend on how near you are to the baby-making stage of life. Either way, it’s addictive viewing.”
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There’s a parenting sitcom with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes (Image: ABC/Netflix)
Meanwhile, The Age’s Debi Enker offered high praise, commenting: “Written with humour, heart and truth by Bell and Sarah Scheller and perfectly paced…it offers many pleasures, including Noni Hazlehurst as the seen-it-all-before maternal health nurse and Patrick Brammall, hilarious as a local drug dealer.”
Lauren Carroll Harris penned her thoughts in The Guardian on the nuanced humour of ‘The Letdown,’ commenting: “Grounded in that reality, the comedic tone is murky-funny: not connecting with your mothers’ group, shifting your identity, losing your friends, negotiating your relationship — these aren’t always easy laughs,” reports .
Fellow Guardian writer Luke Buckmaster contributed his analysis: “Tighter stories, with sharper intersecting plotlines would have given The Letdown a snappier rhythm. When the comedy is a little lacking, however, the drama has its back – and vice versa. The result overall is slight, but utterly endearing.”
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The Letdown is similar to British shows such as Motherland and its spinoff Amandaland (Image: BBC)
Praise continued to roll in from viewers; one fan lauded: “Fantastic series that presents an honest and hilarious take on new motherhood.” An additional viewer acknowledged its realism: “Very accurate depiction of being a new mom.”
Another audience member admired Alison Bell’s dual role in the show, remarking: “Alison Bell serves us a refreshing Australian-comedy with a hint of awkward parent energy,” and describing The Letdown as capturing the imperfect aspects of parenting, they said: “The Letdown perfectly depicts the lives of those others whom aren’t quite on top of things. This piece definitely gave me some good laughs. And a taste of parenthood. It’s a must watch!”
Alison Bell stars as Audrey in The Letdown. She also co-wrote the show (Image: ABC/Netflix)
On , fans continued their admiration with one declaring: “The Letdown was the show I watched straight after Motherhood. It was a hidden treasure on and I loved it!”
Shizuku shared their enthusiasm on X, stating: “The Letdown is one of my fav shows on . The fact that Allison Bell is both writer and actor tells me a lot about its authenticity. I just love its honesty and how it portrays motherhood ambivalence.”
Karl Quinn of The Age has given a glowing recommendation for viewers to tune into ‘The Letdown’, assuring them with a clever play on words: “If you haven’t yet caught The Letdown, make sure you do. You won’t be. Let down, that is.”
The Letdown is available to watch on