This week’s episode of Yonderland had me in such stitches over a few of its more grown-up oriented gags and references, and I’m certain that were I myself a parent, there would have been plenty my hypothetical sprogs would have laughed along to as well.
Tasked this time first with intrducing coffee to the Elders (and Elf, who takes to it with reckless abandon), and then rescuing Yonderland’s greatest scientist, Debbie’s mission sends her directly into Imperatrix’s territory, the UPRR – which is staffed by Kraftwerk circa their seminal LP, Die Mensch-Maschine.
It’s nice to see Martha Howe-Douglas getting in on some of the show’s epic costume action, which is typically precluded by her duties as the rather less outlandishly-dressed Debbie. This time, the Chosen One must go undercover, donning a shawl and ridiculous pointy nose under the guidance of Yonderland’s seasoned crone, played with splendidly mad glee by Jim Howick.
Kids (and 30-something adults like this reviewer) who remember a bit of their Horrible Histories lessons will see the parallels in this episode to the French Resistance of World War II; in Yonderland, however, the resistance are considerably less active than their real-world counterparts, preferring to drink their contraband wine without incident.
Through Debbie’s valiant efforts at saving Professor Hirsch from what he seemed to think was a mystery science vacation, however, most of the Resistance learn the importance of actually, you know, actively resisting. Debbie dashes back home to bed just in time to wake up, and poor Pete’s marbles are seriously threatening to get lost.
While Debbie is off being Crone James Bond, Negatus and his crew of demons go on a team building exercise, which seems to have a positive impact on the demons, in spite of Negatus’ best efforts at derailing the workshop in order to seduce the lovely, quadruple-nostrilled instructor. Maybe she’s just not feeling the power-mullet, dude.
If I could defy the laws of journalistic mathematics and give this six stars out of five, I would.
Aired at 8pm on Monday 10 August 2015 on Sky1.
> Buy Season 1 on DVD on Amazon.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Let us know below…