In an interview for the website The Playlist from June 2023, Terry Giliam criticized the show for its "shortage of dwarves" whereas he took pride that on Time Bandits (1981), short actors who usually were hidden inside costumes or relegated to small parts "were out. and they were now action heroes." Gilliam claims that he's "very disconnected" from the production after he lost control of the film's rights when the production company Handmade Films was sold to other companies.
In a May 2024 Instagram post, Charlyne Yi (Judy) alleged that while filming Time Bandits, Yi was "physically assaulted multiple times by an actor, as well as psychologically abused[, and . . .] coerced to quit." Variety reported that Paramount-TV released a statement: "The safety of our cast and crew is very important to us, and we take all concerns that are raised to us very seriously. At the time of the complaint, Paramount Television Studios conducted a full investigation regarding allegations that were brought to our attention. While all investigations are confidential and we cannot comment on specifics, additional steps were taken to address concerns." Yi's character was written out of the show; the critics on National Public Radio's "Pop Culture Happy Hour," though largely positive about the show, noted that the absence was a large flaw in the first season: "I do think it's very awkward. I think even if you did not know about this story . . . I think it's just handled very awkwardly in the show. All of a sudden, this character is gone. And so much of this show is built . . . [on] found family. And I think it's very noticeable that this one character who was introduced as a bandit and, like, part of the core group is suddenly gone, and there are long stretches of episodes where nobody mentions that. It just felt like a very off piece in a show that is doing that, like, 'we're all one big family,' and 'we're, like, learning and growing together' thing."
Shot back to back in 2022 on location in New Zealand with Our Flag Means Death (2022), also produced by (and starring) Taika Waititi
The artwork on the badges that each of the bandits wears on their cap, headband, or scarf is reminiscent of Terry Gilliam's animations for Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969).
It was announced in Sept. 2024 that the series had been cancelled due to low ratings and wouldn't get a second season.