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The Letdown
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Letdown is an Australian comedy about what it's like to be a new mom. It uses dark humor to explore the awkwardness and uncertainty of early parenthood. The show goes beyond a surface-level depiction of parenthood, addressing problems ranging from incontinence to the difficulty of rekindling a romantic relationship after giving birth. While The Letdown is consistently funny, it doesn't shy away from the messiness of parenthood and trying to maintain one's sense-of-self in the midst of the disruptive physical, mental and lifestyle changes that parenthood can bring.
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What's the story?
In THE LETDOWN, Audrey (Alison Bell) is raising a newborn with infrequent help from her husband, Jeremy (Duncan Fellows), who is more focused on his career than being a dad. Aubrey feels alienated by her childless friends and confused by all the demands of parenthood. Her mind and body often fail her. Sleep-deprived and insecure, she reluctantly joins a new moms' support group, where she meets a group of women (and one man) who are experiencing similar struggles in their own lives, and slowly, awkwardly, comes to terms with all of the challenges and lifestyle changes of motherhood.
Is it any good?
This series frames itself as an edgy comedy, as new mom Audrey curses, drinks, and forgets her child in various places. Then, slowly, it opens up to show that these are all coping mechanisms of someone who feels overwhelmed. As Audrey negotiates the changes in her life, from sleep-deprivation to "mom brain" to unsympathetic friends, her brash persona is tempered by genuine heart.
Interestingly, The Letdown doesn't focus on Audrey's actual relationship with her newborn daughter at all. Instead, it's about coping with all of the unexpected changes in her adult world, and how they challenge everything she thought she knew. Parents will likely laugh in recognition of all the messy rites of passage that Audrey goes through. For younger viewers that haven't seen or experienced the difficulties of early parenthood, The Letdown could be revelatory.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the challenges of being a parent. What are the physical and mental demands of parenthood? How does someone learn how to be a parent?
Families can talk about friendship and having a support system. How does being a mother effect Audrey's friendships in The Letdown? How does that make her feel? How are the new friendships Audrey makes different from her old friendships?
TV details
- Premiere date: April 21, 2018
- Cast: Alison Bell, Duncan Fellows, Leon Ford
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: NR
- Available on: Streaming
For kids who love dramedy
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.