Man Vs Child. (L to R) Rowan Atkinson as Trevor Bingley, Child Jesus, in Man Vs Child. Cr. Courtesy of Ana Blumenkron/Netflix © 2025
It’s important to return three years, when Rowan Atkinson first teamed up with Netflix for its Man vs. Bee collection. That collection was introduced to not be returning for a second season, which appeared to imply we wouldn’t be getting any extra Trevor Bingley. It’s a Christmas miracle, then, that the character is again this 12 months for a four-episode mini-series, going through a brand new set of troubles.
The Christmas season is right here, and Trevor Bingley has lengthy since left his position as a housekeeper, now working at a main faculty because the caretaker and odd-job man. He isn’t having the most effective time, with cash tight and his household having moved on with new companions and new challenges. The prospect of spending Christmas alone this 12 months feels very actual.
After being instructed he’s been let go from the varsity, Bingley is obtainable an sudden likelihood to return to his former position as a housekeeper for a rich oligarch household in a lavish central London penthouse over the Christmas interval. He reluctantly agrees, however not earlier than he’s saddled with the unknown child who had a starring position within the nativity play, who threatens to derail his potential to do the job correctly and doubtlessly get him fired earlier than he’s even employed. He tries his finest handy him over to the authorities early on (and certainly all through the present), however given the time of 12 months, discovering somebody to come back accumulate him, and even keep as soon as they arrive contemplating Bingley retains shedding the kid, turns into a process of its personal.
Bingley ultimately will get the job and rapidly falls into a number of days of disasters, trying essentially the most trivial duties whereas making an attempt to keep watch over the child, who behaves like a runaway chattering-teeth toy that can not be contained for lengthy. Different points past the child largely contain Bingley getting tied up in messy issues of his personal making as soon as once more, with the stickiness of his predicaments usually cascading to the purpose of pure chaos. Most points are plausible, however just a few will depart you questioning how he manages to tie his personal sneakers and performance in society, not to mention attain the purpose of getting kids of his personal.
The collection runs at a a lot shorter episode depend, with solely 4 in comparison with the 9 within the first season, however that completely works in its favor. It’s a a lot leaner present and advantages considerably from the tighter construction. The stakes aren’t fairly as excessive as the unique, which doesn’t create the urgency the creators hoped for.
Whereas some gags are repeated, they by no means really feel drawn out the way in which they often did in season one. Actually, one recurring gag turns into funnier every time it seems. With out giving something away, it entails a bag of one thing and an elevator, and the facial reactions from Trevor and whoever occurs to be driving with him are priceless. It’s the sort of bodily comedy Atkinson constructed a profession on, and whereas it’s not fairly as on present right here as his prior works, there’s nonetheless sufficient to get a kick out of it.
Cr. Courtesy of Ana Blumenkron/Netflix © 2025
The assortment of aspect characters is generally additive and creates enjoyable dynamics with Bingley. The one subplot that feels completely implausible and cringeworthy is the younger household squatting within the constructing’s basement, but it surely isn’t price overanalyzing. You’ll additionally have to droop disbelief over the concept so many strangers, particularly since they’re British, would conform to an impromptu Christmas dinner with out discovering an excuse to flee. Nonetheless, by the top, each subplot is tied up sweetly sufficient that nothing feels left hanging.
Child Jesus, because the child is dubbed after his starring position within the faculty play early within the collection, is a unbelievable on-screen presence and proves to be a much more efficient ache within the bottom and eventual buddy for Bingley than the bee within the first season.
Watch Man vs. Child If You Like
- Man vs. Bee
- Mr. Bean
- Fawlty Towers
MVP of Man vs Child
Rowan Atkinson as Trevor Bingley
After many years on our screens, Atkinson stays a pressure of nature. This position might by no means attain the enduring heights of Blackadder, Johnny English, or Mr. Bean, however his presence elevates any challenge he touches, and that’s true of this collection as properly.
Leaner and extra polished than Man vs. Bee, that is simply Netflix’s strongest Christmas providing in 2025 for anybody who isn’t drawn to romantic comedies. Is it higher than Man vs. Bee? Opinions will fluctuate, after all, however I feel it completely is. The 4 episodes fly by, and though there are moments which will make your eyes roll to the again of your head, the collection stays innocent, humorous, and a welcome throwback to a method of comedy that isn’t extinct but, however is turning into more and more uncommon.
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