Time Bandits - First Episode

Just when eleven year old Kevin Haddock thinks he knows all there is to know about history, he stumbles upon a time portal in his bedroom and discovers there is a lot more to learn than what is in the history books. Sometimes something happens that makes you feel quite a bit younger. Today was one of those days, as I learned this show is based on a popular movie that I had never even heard of. A movie from 1981, so before my time. The first episodes are a letdown compared to the original, according to random people on the internet. I will take their word for it.

For those like me who are new to the whole thing, the first episode is decent enough, though not mind-blowing. The show kicks off with Kevin Haddock’s eleventh birthday. Kevin (Kal-El Tuck, Andy and the Band) is a young history enthusiast who knows pretty much everything there is to know about world history. For his birthday, he decides to visit Woodhenge. This is much to the dismay of his parents, who are not even remotely as interested in history as Kevin is. The first part of the episode focuses on the comedic dynamics of Kevin's dysfunctional family.

But then, when Kevin accidentally stumbles upon a time portal in his closet, the show takes a turn. Through this time portal, he meets a group of bandits who attempt to steal valuables throughout history. Emphasis on ‘attempt’, because they are not even remotely good at it. The rest of the episode follows Kevin and the bandits as they tumble through time, visiting various historical periods and significant events.

The best acting performance in this show comes from young Tuck

Interestingly, the best acting performance in this show comes from young Tuck, who plays Kevin very well. The bandits, on the other hand, have been a bit of a letdown so far. We haven't seen much of them except for their leader, Penelope, played by Lisa Kudrow (Friends). Kudrow's performance feels stiff and out of place in this role.

The series tries to go for a humorous and absurd atmosphere, clearly influenced by producer Taika Waititi, known for Our Flag Means Death and other comedies. Unfortunately, not all the jokes landed for me — some were too predictable and bland — but overall, I was amused by the end of the first episode. Once again, however, Kudrow's comedic timing and delivery were disappointing.

We will have to see where this goes in the coming episodes. I hope the rest of the bandits get a bit more fleshed out in the future. They were quite one-dimensional, mostly due to their limited screen time. I also hope Penelope either becomes less central to the story or Kudrow grows into the role. Yet, despite its flaws, the first episode was interesting enough to make me want to watch more.