Treading the line between the lightest and darkest moments of life can be a difficult trick to pull off, but one the new Prime Video dramedy Mammals expertly leans into.
The six-episode series opens with a feeling of giddy excitement as we watch Michelin star chef Jamie Buckingham (played by James Corden) and his pregnant wife Amandine (played by Melia Kreiling) arrive at an idyllic oceanfront cabin where they waste no time jumping fully clothed into the hot tub.
Their romantic getaway then takes a startling turn the next day when Jamie, who is excitedly shouting at his wife that there’s a “f**king whale" splashing about in front of their holiday spot, is frantically called back to the house by his panicked wife who has suffered an emergency with her pregnancy.
Take a look at the trailer for Mammals on Prime Video. Post continues below.
From here, the darkly comedic drama, written by English playwright and film director Jez Butterworth, delves into the true complexities of marriage, grief, and parenthood, telling a story that seems refreshingly new, all with a sharp script and a compelling cast.
Armed with some unfortunate information he accidentally uncovered on his wife's phone, Jamie sets off on a mission to uncover a series of secrets that will forever change his home life and marriage.