• Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 11, 2020
Metascore
35

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Negative: 3 out of 7
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Critic Reviews

  1. Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Sep 11, 2020
    60
    When these situations are clearly forced for comedy reasons, we start to turn away from a show. However, Ryan has created a show for herself that fits her quite well, so as things go along her character might ease up into someone we’ll actually like.
  2. Reviewed by: Lucy Mangan
    Sep 11, 2020
    60
    Katherine herself too often steps across the line from bitch to simple sociopath. ... A little more light and shade would work wonders and still not take it anywhere near Motherland territory, or lead it to be mistaken for any of the other assorted other “mums-go-mad!” offerings that make you wish for Joan Crawford to be reborn and show us all how it should be done.
  3. Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Sep 18, 2020
    40
    The idea of a brash, bawdy lady making overly polite Brits uncomfortable has potential. And occasionally, Ryan realizes that potential. I did find her funny on occasion, and suspect I might appreciate her and this material more in a stand-up context. But in the form of a series, it’s pushy and exhausting.
  4. Reviewed by: Michael Hogan
    Sep 11, 2020
    40
    One of many frustrations with The Duchess is that you feel there’s a far better sitcom inside it, fighting to get out. It has intermittent killer lines but lacks coherence and heart. There are fleeting glimpses of a War of the Roses-style divorce farce or a sweet mother-and-daughter comedy, albeit one with a less dysfunctional dynamic. Instead what we’re left is a loud, mildly amusing mess.
  5. Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Sep 14, 2020
    30
    There's some inspired crude in here, to be sure, but you have to bust through a lot of gravelly stupidity to get to it.
  6. Reviewed by: Robyn Bahr
    Sep 10, 2020
    20
    At its worst, The Duchess is a disastrous Catastrophe copycat. At its best, it's a deranged mother-daughter love story. But nothing can erase the stink lines radiating off this alleyway dumpster.
  7. Reviewed by: Daniel D'Addario
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Ryan represents her onscreen avatar as a badass rebel doing things her own way — vainly missing the point that an antihero is supposed to, you know, be something other than a hero. Everything about her character is carefully calibrated to scandalize. ... I hope that, even if she’s never handed a megaphone as massive as Netflix’s, she grows up to do more than create art as devoid of purpose, humanity, or worth as “The Duchess.”
User Score
4.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 6
  2. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. Sep 13, 2020
    2
    I like Katherine Ryan's stuff normally so i tried to like this but by the end none of the characters are enjoyable to watch and have almost noI like Katherine Ryan's stuff normally so i tried to like this but by the end none of the characters are enjoyable to watch and have almost no good features, The 6 episodes had maybe 1 moment which i found even remotely funny. Full Review »
  2. Sep 18, 2020
    6
    It is funny at times and definitely isnt everyone's cup of tea but it deserves a watch