It is a chain of events that epitomizes the story of middle-class maternity experiences and trauma over time. The series deals with this view of the competitive and non-spiritual side of parenting for periods and periods. It does not embrace the idea of looking at the generous and acceptable general face of motherhood.
The writers (Sharon Horgan, Graham Linehan, Holly Walsh and Helen Linehan) observe with exquisite, excruciating intensity the petty (in all senses) gradations and snobberies of the various substrata of the British class system.
Thank God, thank God, thank God for Motherland, which has returned for a full series following on from the pilot last year, and is not just in command of its comedy chops but creates a world that feels true.
This isn't belly-laugh comedy, it goes deeper than that. In an age when motherhood has been sanctified and rhapsodised it is refreshing to see it kicked off its pedestal and bathed in hard truth.
The best comedy takes reality and stretches it just enough to be funny but still believable. Every mother (and for that matter, father) will find plenty to relate to in Motherland. They'll find even more to laugh their heads off at. Riotous.
Though the writing in this season-opener was as sharp as ever, most of the set-ups and gags were squirm-inducing rather than truly amusing, while the troupe of supercilious alpha-mums were almost cartoonish in their social shallowness.
