Extraordinary (TV series)

Extraordinary is a British superhero comedy television series created by Emma Moran.[1] It premiered on the Disney+ Star platform internationally, Star+ in Latin America and Hulu in the United States, on 25 January 2023.[2] The series received generally positive reviews from critics. Extraordinary was renewed for a second season on 23 January 2023, ahead of the series premiere.[3][4]

Extraordinary
Genre
Created byEmma Moran
Starring
ComposerWill Gregory
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Sally Woodward Gentle
  • Lee Morris
  • Charles Dawson
  • Johanna Devereaux
ProducerCharles Palmer
Running time28–33 minutes
Production companySid Gentle Films
Release
Original networkDisney+ (Star)
Original release25 January 2023 (2023-01-25) –
present (present)

Cast

Main
  • Máiréad Tyers as Jen, a 25 year old costume shop worker who doesn't have any super powers and struggles to deal with it.
  • Sofia Oxenham as Carrie, Jen's best friend and flatmate who can channel spirits. She works at a legal firm and is dating Kash.
  • Bilal Hasna as Kash, Carrie's boyfriend and Jen's other flatmate. He can rewind time and has aspirations of being a serious superhero.
  • Luke Rollason as Jizzlord, a shapeshifter who was stuck as a cat for several years. Jen adopted (and named) him before learning what he was but allowed him to stay when it was revealed he had no memory of his previous life.

Supporting
  • Siobhán McSweeney as Mary, Jen's mother who can control technology.
  • Robbie Gee as Ian, Jen's stepdad who can sense emotions in other people.
  • Safia Oakley-Green as Andy, Jen's half sister who is super strong.
  • Ned Porteous as Luke, a guy Jen occasionally dates who has the power of flight.
  • Darcey Porter-Cassidy as Ange, Jen's boss at the costume shop. She's in her 50s but looks like a preteen.
  • Eros Vlahos as Gordon, a guy Jen goes on a date with who has the power to induce orgasms with a touch.
  • Ardal O'Hanlon as Martin, Jen’s deceased father (voice)
  • Sam Haygarth as Seb
  • Chris Lew Kum Hoi as Gregor
  • Shaun Mason as Randall
  • Abraham Popoola as Ade
  • Joshua Leese as PDF Man
  • Patricia Allison as Hannah
  • Reis Daniel as Chauffeur Uber

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [2]
1"Have Nots"Toby MacDonaldEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
In a world where everyone gets a superpower at the age of 18, 25-year-old Jen struggles being the only person she knows who is an ordinary human.
2"Magic Bullets"Toby MacDonaldEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
Jen and her friends try to induce a power in her by subjecting her to various forms of stress. Jen discovers that the stray cat she adopted is actually a shapeshifter who was stuck as a cat for several years.
3"Dead End Jobs"Toby MacDonaldEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
Carrie is asked to channel a dead musician who is less than respectful towards women and she asks for Jen's help. Kash holds auditions for his vigilante team and Jizzlord sits in to relearn how to be human.
4"Pet Project"Toby MacDonaldEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
Jen tries to help Jizzlord regain his memories by taking him on an adventure. Kash gets ready for the debut of his vigilante team, ignoring a sexually charged Carrie, who seeks out another outlet for her urges.
5"The Jen Show"Jennifer SheridanEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
Jen and Carrie revisit their old school, which causes problems when an old classmate who can read people's memories shows Carrie just how awful a friend Jen has been. Jizzlord tries to comfort Kash after his debut as a vigilante failed dramatically.
6"The Real Power Is The Friends We Made"Nadira AmraniEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
Jizzlord tries to heal the rift between Jen and Carrie but Jen has made a new friend who also doesn't have powers. Kash seeks out his fellow vigilantes to apologize.
7"The Merry Monarch"Jennifer SheridanEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
Jen tries to make some quick cash by convincing Jizzlord to enter a cat show and has a surprising realization about his place in her life. Kash blows off date night with Carrie to go crime fighting with his vigilante friends and she responds by embarking on an affair with the spirit of a dead royal.
8"Surprise!"Jennifer SheridanEmma Moran25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
Jen struggles to figure out her new dynamic with Jizzlord following their kiss but the situation is complicated by Luke unexpectedly turning up. Carrie tries to break up with Kash but he keeps turning back time to avoid having the conversation. In a cliffhanger ending, a young boy sees Jizzlord in a grocery and states that Jizzlord looks like his Dad.

Production

Emma Moran developed Extraordinary while completing her Master of Arts in Screenwriting at the University of Manchester, from which she graduated in 2020.[5] Alongside Wedding Season, Extraordinary was on the first slate of UK productions to be commissioned by Disney+ under the Star brand, as announced in April 2021. Sally Woodward Gentle, Lee Morris, and Charles Dawson of Sid Gentle Films as well as Johanna Devereaux of Disney+ executive produced the series.[6] Charlie Palmer served as producer.

The cast were announced in December 2021, with Máiréad Tyers set to lead the series alongside Sofia Oxenham, Bilal Hasna, and Luke Rollason. Also joining the cast were Siobhán McSweeney, Safia Oakley-Green, and Robbie Gee. At the 2023 Edinburgh Television Festival, it was announced Julian Barratt, Rosa Robson, and Kwaku Mills had joined the cast of Extraordinary for its second season. Derek Jacobi would also make a voice cameo.[7]

Principal photography took place in London.[8]

Release

First look images of the television series were released in November 2022.[9][10] It was later followed by a trailer in December.[11][12] The first season consists of eight episodes.[13][14]

Season 2 is expected to debut in early 2024.[7]

Reception

Critical response

For the first season, Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 100% based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 7.10/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Amiable and cleverly constructed, Extraordinary grounds the fantastical and makes it all the more accessible and thrilling as a result."[15] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 based on 8 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[16]

Judy Berman of Time called Extraordinary an "instant classic among superhero comedies," writing, "True to its title, Extraordinary combines and tweaks familiar tropes into something genuinely unique."[17] Keith Watson of Metro gave Extraordinary a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, saying, "Every once in a while there’s a superpower show that promises to breathe fresh life into the over-exploited arena and Emma Moran’s fresh comedy Extraordinary, which slyly exploits the genre in much the manner of The Boys (with way less budget), stands out from the crowd."[18] Polly Conway of Common Sense Media gave Extraordinary a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "amusing teen comedy."[19]

Accolades

Extraordinary won Best Comedy Programme at the 2023 Broadcast Digital Awards.[20][21]

References
  1. Dickinson, Kelsie (January 27, 2023). "Extraordinary: Jen struggles to find her power in Hulu series". HITC. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  2. Echebiri, Makuochi (15 December 2022). "'Extraordinary' Trailer Shows an Ordinary Peeps in a World Full of Superpowers". Collider. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  3. Steven, Goldberg (January 26, 2023). "Disney+ Greenlights Second Season Of Superhero Series 'Extraordinary' From 'Killing Eve' Producer Sid Gentle". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  4. Perine, Aaron (January 25, 2023). "Disney+ Renews New Superhero Series Extraordinary Before First Season Premiere". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  5. "Screenwriting Graduate's comedy show 'Extraordinary' greenlit for Disney+". University of Manchester. May 18, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  6. Richardson, Jay (April 15, 2021). "Disney+ orders superhero comedy Extraordinary". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  7. Keslassy, Elsa (23 August 2023). "'Extraordinary' Season 2 Adds Julian Barratt, Rosa Robson, Kwaku Mills and Derek Jacobi (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  8. "Disney+ announce casting as production begins on UK original comedy series 'Extraordinary'". Disney UK Press. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  9. Hibbs, James (November 1, 2022). "Disney Plus releases first look at UK superhero comedy Extraordinary". Radio Times. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  10. Devibar, Ira (November 1, 2022). "Killing Eve team share first look at new Disney+ superhero series". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  11. Goldbart, Max (14 December 2022). "Disney+ Unveils Trailer For 'Extraordinary' From 'Killing Eve' Producer Sid Gentle". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  12. Warrier, Vishnu (January 23, 2023). "Extraordinary release date and time on Hulu". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  13. Echebiri, Makuochi (December 15, 2022). "'Extraordinary' Trailer Shows an Ordinary Woman in a World Full of Superpowers". Collider. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  14. Draper, Joe (January 25, 202). "Extraordinary – how to watch Derry Girls star's new show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  15. "Extraordinary". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  16. "Extraordinary". Metacritic.
  17. Berman, Judy (January 25, 2023). "'Extraordinary' Is an Instant Classic Superhero Comedy". Time. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  18. Watson, Keith (January 25, 2023). "Extraordinary review: It stands out from the crowd compared to other shows". Metro. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  19. Conway, Polly. "Extraordinary TV Review | Common Sense Media". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  20. McHugh, Marian (July 5, 2023). "Dave, Yeti and Channel 4 win big at Broadcast Digital Awards". Broadcast. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  21. Guide, British Comedy (July 6, 2023). "Extraordinary wins at Broadcast Digital Awards". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
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