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Katy Byrne and Katherine Ryan in ‘The Duchess’.
Photo: Simon Ridgway / Netflix
OUR RATING
4/5 stars
WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
Katherine is a single mother juggling her career, her teenage daughter, her relationship with her boyfriend, and thinking about getting pregnant with her ex.
WHAT WE THINK:
Raising a child isn’t easy, especially when you’re raising him with a lunatic, anti-establishment former boy band star. That is the general premise of The Duchess, a new raunchy comedy created by its lead star Katherine Ryan. I was unfamiliar with his work before watching his new series, but now I just want to dive headlong into his crazy hilarious thoughts on off-brand feminism, dating, and kids. The fictional Katherine is an unfiltered hot mess that says everything you might have wanted to say to your ex, nosy school mom, or anyone who thinks they can judge your life.
On screen, Katherine leads a successful class in positive body pottery while raising her daughter Olive and balancing a “casual” relationship with a charming dentist that she maintains at a distance. She and her daughter decide they want another child, but Katherine is determined to do it on her own terms without the attachment of another dad.
While you might think it is a strange story that is very far from reality, the world is actually a really strange place with strange people in it. Katherine is like any father who tries to do the right thing with her son with what life has given her. She has flaws and is wrong many times, very, very badly, but she remains true to herself in her quest to raise a young woman who is confident and secure in her own self-esteem. The biggest lesson that can be learned from this show is the way you treat your ex in front of your daughter. They both pretend they care for each other, saying nothing bad about the other parent while covering up their mistakes. In truth, they hate each other with a hatred that can burn the sun, but they never let that poison seep into their daughter.
The writing is simply fun, with a style of humor similar to that of the award-winning Fleabag (not so good, but almost), albeit with blind confidence and quirky wardrobe I wish every woman had. Ryan is not trying to hide or defend Katherine’s fictitious flaws, he is simply exposing it for the audience to take whatever they want. As an actor, I’m not quite sure how much of Ryan is actually written into the character, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s actually just a tabloid version of herself.
The rest of the cast is just as superb: her best friend and business partner is ready to jump on her at any moment and vice versa; the near-perfect boyfriend you always hope it works out for and the mess that is her ex, played by a really hot Irish actor who radiates strong boy band energy. Then there’s the great little actor who plays Olive, prim and proper, with perhaps a warped worldview cultivated by her eccentric father and mother. The actors are not well known, which adds to the appeal and freshness of the show.
I liked The Duchess and its sheer mischief, and while I don’t think it’s going to win any awards, the short episodes make for an easy weekend binge with some friends or wine for when you want to chill. It’s hilarious, raw, and weirdly relatable, and I hope to see a second season soon.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
WATCH IT NOW ON NETFLIX
