Hunderby (2012–2015) User Reviews

Hilarious at times, cringey at others

[nightwishskillet · 6/10 · 28 November 2017]

The show hinges around crude humor and an absurd level of cruelty towards the generally useless protagonist. While often forced and awkward, the show does make use of it's otherwise clunky and unnatural pace to make amusing meta-jokes that let the tempo seem intentional.

If you can handle a show that falls back on displays of melodrama and grossness to launch most of its jokes, (though intermingled with witty one-liners), you'll likely find this hilarious.

Cute Spoof of old favorites

[patricia92243 · 8/10 · 7 October 2020]

I could see shades of Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Tom Jones, Wurthering Heights, and several others. I'm sure there were others that I just haven't read, so could not appreciate the spoof.

Dark, strange humor.. I love it!!

[christinagalloway-19473 · 8/10 · 13 April 2022]

Dark, funny yet strange. I love it! It's unique for sure. Soo many twists I didnt see coming. The drama of it is hilarious. Beautifully done! Brava!! The only annoying thing is Helene's high, pitchy, squeezy voice but I think that is on purpose.

One of the funniest shows ever

[trez1 · 9/10 · 2 September 2014]

If you are a fan of 19th Century Gothic movies (e.g., Rebecca, Jane Eyre) or Jane Austen period dramas you must see this show. Along with great writing and comedic acting, this show combines a wit and satire and love for the genre that is just wonderful. I can't recommend this show more highly. There were moments I laughed so loudly I thought my downstairs neighbor would come up to see if I was OK. Impeccably done with a deadpan humor that is unique and sidesplitting. As an American I am new to Julia Davis' writing AND acting, it is COMEDY GOLD. I also very much appreciate the feminine perspective. Every actor in this show deserves accolades but Rufus Jones' Dr. Foggerty deserves a special mention. The use of classic music in just the right amounts was also brilliant.

wickedly funny

[cjmastermixer · 10/10 · 8 October 2012]

My new guilty pleasure. Love this wicked, funny series. I hope they do a second season!

The characters are delightfully messed up, the writing witty and clever. Julia Davis steals every scene with her devilish smirk and deadpan delivery. The pastor is my next favourite, laugh at loud lines coming from his mouth.

The writers did a good job of building such complex characters in only several episodes. They are so flawed but still likable.

If you are a fan of period pieces and humour, you will love this. Not to be missed.

Endlessly funny

[berlini · 9/10 · 14 September 2022]

Quotably funny, great production values in this lampoon of English village life during peak empire. Brit costume comedy has sometimes been under the spell of Python, but Hunderby is very much its own show, marking out fresh terrain with really accomplished comic performances and writing and direction. Conceits such as 'Bird Raymond' and 'Bubbly Milk' stay with you. The second series is darker, and the tonal shift may appeal more to some than others. Further series would be very welcome and, now that it is some years down the track, there would a new audience to add to the many current fans of the show. The UK continues to produce innovative or thoughtful comedy (Episodes, Fleabag, Defending the Guilty) and Hunderby is an instant classic. The trailer includes some great tasters of the very funny performances, and the Vicar's dance shows the fine comic control the creative team brings to this show.

Brilliant

[ronbell-23984 · 10/10 · 9 June 2020]

Hilarious and often filthy send up of period costume dramas. Very good.

So dry, it's a desert

[altereggo123 · 3/10 · 20 November 2018]

I guess I'm the only here who didn't laugh at this Gothic parody. I found it hard even to smile. There is wit in the writing and the double-entendres, but it's a weird combination of smart and dumb, e.g. archaically phrased poop jokes. The plotting too, has only one note, and is ridiculous without being funny. The heroine's tormentors are just too dour for their cruelty to inspire laughter the way, say, Blackadder's equally absurd but more lighthearted abuse of his butler did in that series. Possibly this works better when read than when performed. I know this show has won awards, but it left me cold.

Brilliantly twisted

[Arweljos · 10/10 · 24 October 2021]

Was gutted that sky didnt renew this for a third series, it's a fantastically twisted comedy from the great Julia Davis, everything she does is superb in my opinion. It's wonderfully witty an expertly written with a very adept cast.

Okay at best, infuriating at worst

[motleygrrrl · 5/10 · 21 March 2019]

While this show had its moments and did occasionally make me laugh, for the most part I found it frustrating and difficult to watch at times. The main female character is helpless and meek and completely unwilling to so much as speak up for herself, allowing herself to be easily influenced and exploited by almost every other character. Almost every single character in the show is completely self-interested and manipulative to an almost obscene level, and many of them have a tendency to cling to others who very clearly do not want them. There was not enough heart in the show to get away with the level of cruelty between characters, most of whom I found either frustrating, annoying, or just unbearably manipulative (oftentimes all three). Julia Davis's character is one of the most despicable television characters I think I've ever seen.

And while the ending of the first season was more or less satisfying, I found the second season beyond aggravating and completely unnecessary. The final two episodes should never have been made, and I cannot even express in words how much I absolutely HATED how the show ended. I wish it was possible to just erase the entire second season from my memory. All in all, I found the show to be far more frustrating than funny.

Excellent writing!

[movieed1 · 9/10 · 4 June 2023]

Oh my! Fell into this by accident and could not stop laughing! Anyone, ANYONE familiar with Elizabethan, Gothic writings will appreciate the antics which ensue. Excellent writing and directing. Where this gem came from I don't know, however the entertainment value is high as this sort of drama is usually heavy and dry.

The character development is superb, the cinematography and set design immaculate to the period. The actors are at the top of the game.

Upon initial viewing I thought the story to be a serious one reminiscent of "Moll Flanders"... very cruel etc. However once realizing it was comedy, relaxed a bit as the sight gags and use of language grew increasingly ridiculous and fun.

Am savoring each episode once discovering there is but one season.

Julia Davis does "Rebecca" proud in her writings and personification of Elizabethan era dialogue and characters.

Thanks HULU.

the best kind of dirty and demented

[viverito · 10/10 · 18 November 2017]

This show is so twisted and hilarious. I started watching it thinking it was a traditional period piece only to find it was a demented twist of the whole romantic genre. Double entendre galore. I can't believe this show was created by a woman. Julia Davis must be a hoot in person. She not only created and wrote the show but also plays the part of Dorothy the sadistic housekeeper.

Deliciously wicked and satirical!

[qui_j · 9/10 · 16 June 2021]

This satirical look at 19th century life and novels showcases the dry British type humor. If you are not a fan of this genre, then most of it would be lost on you. The first season was the best, the follow up season not great, but still funny. It's not difficult to understand why some of the reviews are so negative. Given the "woke" world of today, this type of humor is just not a fit for Political Correctness and the constant pandering to everyone in an effort to displease none!

Very, very funny

[TimeFox881 · 9/10 · 21 July 2021]

Absurd, raunchy, fearless and hilarious. Hunderby is another hilarious romp through the twisted inner workings of Julia Davis' mind.

No one does catty, undermining b---- quite like Davis and she does it again here.

I laughed pretty much from start to finish.

Goes off the rails quickly

[jimbenben · 5/10 · 20 June 2021]

I laughed a lot during the first episode. It's a witty and audacious comedy with actors willing to commit to the outrageous premise. But the joke tires quickly, and by the time we reach the two episodes of the second season, it is downright embarrassing. One of the problems is that the show's writer, Julia Davis, promoted herself from supporting to lead during the run of the show and she and/or her character grow tiresome. I'll rate this a 5, as an average score based on the hilarious early episodes and awful final ones.

So so so so so so so so so so so so underrated

[KatieBakedBeanz · 10/10 · 15 January 2024]

I cannot state how much I enjoyed both series at the time. I recently dug the dvd out of my dvd chest and rewatched it and was in tears laughing at Julia Davis' almost psychopathic and devious characters.

Hester is a character I can't help but love. Absolutely hilarious.

Please watch this as - well, I know it's too late at this point - let me dream!!!

But a FULL second series would be a fine and glorious thing (there are only two episodes... Maybe there were only ever meant to be two episodes...)

I can't help but hate how many of Julia's shows get cut down in their prime. It makes me sad. And she makes me very very very happy!!

Boring

[tinabugvi · 2/10 · 9 March 2021]

I watched two episodes & gave up. I found no redeeming qualities.

I would write a review...

[kristinbauer1 · 2/10 · 14 August 2021]

....if I had any idea what I just saw. I watched 3 episodes trying to ascertain what I was witnessing. I think I'll have to just walk away now and take a hot bath? How puzzling!!!

Not funny at all

[jlundeen-01216 · 1/10 · 9 January 2022]

I didn't find anything about this show even the least bit amusing... watched the first two episodes and called it quits.

No redeeming qualities except for scenery and costumes.

Astoundingly racist rubbish.

[sosorted · 1/10 · 18 June 2020]

This show is painful to watch. I persisted with it as long as I could but it is really appalling. The racism here is not clever or ironic. It is simply disgusting.