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Pandemonium is a one-off sitcom episode in a lockdown setting… and no doubt, if it’s a hit, it’ll return for a full series.
However, as the family is filmed, from January 2020 onwards, beginning with booking a summer holiday to California – and we know it’s all going to go wrong before long.
Fast-forward to October, and California has been replaced by Margate, via Reculver Towers at Herne Bay. Beyond that, there’s flashbacks to other times during the year, and all the ‘action’ is filmed off-the-cuff by youngest son, Sam (Jack Christou).
There’s a few minor laughs, such as when Sue (Alison Steadman – Life) comments she doesn’t clap for the NHS because they’ve cancelled her hip operation so, instead, they boo.
However, with no belly laughs, there’s also the usual expected tropes, such as cringe comedy where reference is made to Robin (Tom Basden – also the writer of this limp effort) and Cherry’s (Tori Allen-Martin) impending nuptuals, before Rachel (Katherine Parkinson) advises NEVER to get married young because you’ll only regret it… causing Paul (Jim Howick – Ghosts) to chip in, unwittingly gleefully, about how he and Rachel married young, because he didn’t catch the full conversation.
In addition, no-one is social distancing in this, though, so did they all isolate for two weeks prior to filming so they could all be in close proximity? That’s what I’m presuming… as it’s the only answer.
Overall, the script is as rushed as the title, and rushing to the TV is one thing I won’t be doing when further episodes are announced… IF they’re announced.
Pandemonium isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, you can watch it on the BBC iPlayer.
Score: 3/10
Director: Ella Jones
Producer: Tom Jordan
Writer: Tom Basden
Cast:
Rachel Jessop: Katherine Parkinson
Paul Jessop: Jim Howick
Sue Jessop: Alison Steadman
Amy Jessop: Freya Parks
Robin Hankey: Tom Basden
Cherry Lee-Dixon: Tori Allen-Martin
Maya Hughes: Mica Ricketts
Sam Jessop: Jack Christou
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.