Dreamland

I do not think I will be able to manage a six hundred word review but I will try.

I thought it was funny, very English and had a really good cast.

Freema Agyeman was great to watch in a totally different role to the marvellously well put together Dr Helen Sharpe in New Amsterdam.

Lily Allen has totally turned herself around and was very credible as. Smelly Mel.

The rest of the cast were very good as well. Especially Nanna.

My main criticism is that I felt the story could have gone on a lot further and at least 12 episodes were needed. It was all Uber just as it was getting good. I hope there's a second longer series.

Nothing particularly stands out with this comedy, it's a pleasant watch and makes Margate look quite idyllic. I must admit I got a kick from the nostalgia of many seaside holidays there .

It's not particularly funny nor so many of the main cast gel all that much, with standard EastEnders /soapy plots. .

The cinematography is all over the place though. Lots of lovely shots of the seaside with oversaturated colour and bright vibrant colours give it a pictur postcard look, but the CinemaScope widescreen aspect is totally wasted on everything else. Scenes with characters talking flick between characters and we have full frame closeups instead of wider shots that would look better in the format.

It's clearly filmed for a normal 16:9 aspect and modified in post as the directors just don't take advantage of the format properly .

Dreamland has a fantastic cast! Lily Allen, Freema Agyeman, Frances Barber, Gabby Best, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Shiela Reid, shine through as they depict this dysfunctional family. Great to see Kiell Smith-Bynoe in a more serious role, which he does to perfection.

The first episode can be a bit full on, in places, but as the episodes unfold, we see a calmer, deeper, emotional side of the characters and their vulnerabilities. Dreamland pulls you from some brash humour in the first episode through to an emotional journey and anguish as the episodes unfold. 10/10! Bravo! Love to have a season 2!!

There is definitely a market for this type of ""comedy"" writing. Its just not for me. I mean I tried, 6 episodes in and didnt laugh which is fine because we all have different likes but I couldnt connect with any of the characters either. I didnt like, admire or feel sorry for any of them.

The whole point of this show seems to be who is the angriest and who can blame others the most, even blaming strangers...sigh.... I did expect more due to the names behind the scenes and the names in front of the camera but sadly it did nothing for me... I dont give spoilers so I wont here, just to say that some reviewers have said the characters are like real people.....I genuinely would hate to be around so many angry bitter people who want to blame everyone for any problems in their lives.

Like I said, there is definitely a market for this kind of show. Go on twitter,insta, tiktok etc and you will find lots of angry people trying to blame strangers for something they didnt do or say..those people would love this show... If the makers turned down the contrast, called it a drama and eased off the "messages" then it could be OK. But I struggle with the comedy label...

The usually brilliant Sharon Horgan is attached to this production, but it's clear as day she's not had much involvement in this limp mess. Surely the whole concept was thought up in some Soho House coke-fuelled session? "Babe y'know everyone's moving to Margate now". The whole thing oozes overfunded and under-skilled girlboss energy, much like so much of British television today. The addition of Lily Allen just intensifies the privilege and disconnection on show.

To make up for a lack of script, acting and storyline they've added a lot of Technicolor saturation to at least keep you involved...