User reviews

After two episodes, I have warmed to the premise of this show. It offers an amusing and fairly convincing glimpse into the experiences of childbirth and early-parenting, and it seems to hit its targets more often than it misses.

Audrey is the new mother at the center of the story. Much is made of her feelings of inadequacy and inferiority, especially when surrounded by mothers for whom it seems to come all too easily. The first episode rolled out an admittedly predictable roster of clichéd mother-types to stand as Audrey's peers - the ambitious career-mother, the perfect angel-mother, the airhead hippy-mother - but to its credit, the show seems willing to push beyond these thin characterizations, allowing us to see the insecurities that prompt mothers to produce confident and overachieving facades. As Audrey learns this, she herself emerges as more capable and self-assured. It is a positive portrayal of motherhood and parenthood, and I hope that The Letdown continues to pursue this message through its run.

I will also watch in hope that the show does not eventually succumb to lazy stereotypes with some of its characters. So far, only brief glimpses have been offered of a young Asian mother and a non-gender binary parent (who prompts a not-very-tolerant eye-roll from other characters). As the show develops, it may give sharper focus to these characters - it would be a shame if they faded into the background.

Of course, a show like this is compulsory viewing for anyone who is recently a parent, but I think its message remains true for anyone, as it is one of those rare programs that succeeds in making our failings and frailties sharply entertaining. I will be watching with interest to see where it goes from here.

I'm two months after giving birth and really needed a show like this that feels true Very funny

That part of the world. Films or tv are effortless and so damn funny, for me it has workin moms vibe without the arrogance. Really enjoyable fun tv that passes time 😊

The series doesn't shy away from the hard things about being a freshly minted parent.

About your needs being subservient to your child, about not equal load of expectations and responsibility in the household, about money being much more pressing issue.

It views the parenthood as a pressing need to make compromises, to let go of your life expectations from before. But through that you get to live another one.

It is so finely written and acted that it cannot be recommended enough.

I like the show, love the grandmother, but find the main character hard work, annoying, unlikable and unsympathetic. Usually if I can't get on board with the main character I'll ditch the show, but I really enjoy everyone else. I generally enjoy Australian shows.

Found this on netflix. Am sorry there are only six episodes. This had me laughing, but also made me think. Such talented writing, so accurate, the acting is excellent too. The Mother, just like mine made me grind my teeth in sympathy. I do hope they make more episodes it is just so good. The Australian production is so far ahead of our sad attempt with the BBC to cover this subject.

The show will try and pass off the man hating and the uber women ideology behind the script as jokes but they are deadly serious.

Still if you can look past the extremist indoctrination there is much in this show worth watching. The characters are great, the dialogue is believable and enjoyable. The stories fun and light-hearted.

Worth a watch, just come prepared for the leftwing PSA

It was a nice show, but every time I started watching a new episode I kind of felt sad and depressed. Particularly Audrey seemed to be a bit too clumsy and overwhelmed, as if overdone. The rest of the moms were somehow more relatable. One point which I certainly didn't appreciate was that the fathers/husbands were portrayed as almost spineless. Whatever happened, they were always so calm and cooperative, which is nice, but not realistic. They seemed more as a background and always agreed with their wives, a bit silly.

There were good points of course, but in the attempt to seem realistic, it kind of didn't.

And I'm a new mom so the experience for me is still very fresh.

My kids are teenagers and though I started watching Bc a friend recommended it, I thought I would be over it, not so! Every parent, even person, can relate to the truths of life's greatest gifts, moments, etc, not feeling like a great all the time! This is done very cleverly, with tons of heart, and just the right mixture of humor and reality. I suggest u try the first episode and watch how quickly you start bingeing it and counting the days for the next season!

This is just a string of poorly thought through comedy skits. If this is what passes as award winning comedy in Australia, no wonder their shows struggle on the world stage.

I have just finished watching The Letdown Season 1. It is a hilarious Australian sitcom that depicts the awkwardness of parenthood. The show follows the adventures of Audrey, a new mum struggling to adjust to motherhood while navigating an oddball mothers' group. The show features excellent writing, powerful storylines, and a strong sense of authenticity which bring a nuanced approach to parenthood. Some have called The Letdown the most realistic depiction of motherhood on TV. The show vividly captures the twilight zone period of new parenthood, where life is turned upside down. The Letdown puts a comedic spin on motherhood, making it an affecting portrait of motherhood with spoonfuls of comedy. While the show has its moments of brilliance, it falls short in some areas, making it a mixed bag of emotions. Overall, though, The Letdown Season 1 is a solid show that is worth watching.

I get it... Parenting is hard... But doesn't it disturb ANYONE at all that there isn't a single episode in which she actually enjoys motherhood or enjoys a magic moment with her baby???! Yes, parenting is exhausting, but also SO worth it. This show only shows all the BAD... Makes parenting seem depressing... Was hoping for a more optimistic fun view... Only great moment was the SAHM performance in "Career Day"! Now that was a good one!

Up until the last episode it tracked well with real life situations. The final episode was very formulaic. Like "how do we end the show?" With cliches. The age old problem of "we have enough good material for a season and half but not enough for two full seasons."

The acting is very good. Alison Bell does a great job acting; her voice, delivery and her expressions are very comedic. Often times I would laugh at loud from something she said and the way she said it.

I'd love to see Alison Bell featured in another show.

I love this show so much!! I'm American and put on the subtitles so I wouldn't miss anything as the accents and slang are different. But the problems of new parents are pretty much the same as thirty years ago when I had my own babies. The writing is clever and acting exceptional. Thank you!

I wouldn't usually write a review but this show is just so good. Most series and movies make things unrealistically perfect, I enjoyed how raw and honest this show is, relatable and real. It is refreshing to come across something like this, nothing is dolled up, it speaks to the human in us all. And it helps us to accept ourselves in our imperfect and messy lives. It shows us that it is okay, and I feel this is needed in the world we live in. Where there are unrealistic expectations created for ourselves to be a certain way because of what we see in mainstream television. The negative impact it has on us it not given enough attention to.

I loved Audrey's character. She made me laugh a lot. The humour in this series is brilliant! I wish there were more series like this out there.

I watched the first season before I became a mom and still thought it was hilarious. It was only after I became a mom and watched the second season that I got the pun with the title. Haha. This show is so much better than Working Moms. Worth a watch, regardless of whether or not you're a mom.

I loved this series so much, as a FTM to a 1 year old, I found it so relatable. I love that it goes through the struggles us mums have in such a raw but funny way. The writers and actors have done so well depicting this side of motherhood. It shows that mums can come in all different shapes and sizes and we do mess it up sometimes but we are trying our best! After I had finished this series on Netflix, I did watch "Working Moms" which seemed to be Canada's try on a similar story line, but compared to "The Let Down" they really missed the mark on theirs. 110% would (and have already) recommend!

When it's funny it's good. Of course it has a tendency to veer heavily into truly angry savage man hating

I watch the first two episodes with my husband last night and we laughed so much. It is very serious too. I think parents will think its funny but others may not understand the humor since they have not gone through it. It is refreshing to see something so open to the challenges of parenthood. I am excited to see how far they take it. I hope they make new episodes

I'm not sure ive ever witnessed a truer account of daily struggles of motherhood from all perspectives! Almost felt like I was watching from the inside out! Beautifully written and orchestrated and humorous yet achingly deep! Honesty is the best policy!

It's hilarious - showing real humor when talking about the unanticipated realities of parenting a new baby.

This show is brilliant, very funny and relatable. I could relate to every episode in some way or form. The one consistent thing is no sleep for mum or dad and the constant advice from strangers to your parents!