“Extraordinary,” a superhero-themed comedy on Disney+ (launching this Wednesday), boasts a remarkable performance from Máiréad Tyers, a talented actor from County Cork in Ireland. Is that all it has to offer, though? In the second series, Tyers shines as Jen, an Irish woman living in London and dealing with the realities of being in her twenties – unpleasant flatmates, a stressful job, and an unstable relationship with her boyfriend.
Additionally, Jen must grapple with the reality of not having developed a superpower, a significant setback in a world where everyone acquires a unique ability from comic books when they turn 18. A coworker of her flatmate can multiply himself; Jen’s therapist (Julian Barratt from “The Mighty Boosh”) can literally jump into Jen’s thoughts; her best friend’s ex can tamper with time, and so on.
However, these Marvel-type enhancements are not necessarily beneficial in life-threatening Avengers-style crises. Regardless, it’s given Jen severe self-confidence issues, since she lacks the superhero-like abilities everyone else has. How can you feel unique when you’re the sole person without any special abilities?
That’s the basic concept of season one. In season two, the emphasis on the fantastical has considerably lessened, to the point where it’s almost an afterthought. What remains is a dramedy about millennials in relationships, with some clumsy superhero elements awkwardly inserted here and there, sometimes at the comic moments’ expense.
The comedy is a gamble, sometimes landing, sometimes not. Tyers’ performance is what truly elevates “Extraordinary” – a project spearheaded by Emma Moran, a writer from County Fermanagh. Tyers brilliantly portrays the fraught period of being in one’s mid-20s, where financial constraints prevent full transition into adulthood while leaving behind the guise of a perpetual student feels too premature – a powerful showing of Tyers’s acting prowess.
Equally noteworthy is the underused Siobhán McSweeney as Jen’s mother, Mary, who uses a passive-aggressive approach. Jen’s father, played by Ardal O’Hanlon, has a minor role. Despite his death a few years prior, his superpowers enable him to keep in touch – calling from the afterlife (indeed, superior to your deceased father contacting you on TikTok).
The weak point of the series is the frequent immature humour and excessive profanity. It’s not that a well-timed curse word cannot effectively lighten an atmosphere. Unfortunately, Extraordinary is heavily biased towards such language, almost stretching it to absurdity. Moreover, the chemistry between Jen and her boyfriend, formerly a cat now a human character played by Luke Rollason, leaves much to be desired. His past also introduces another layer of complexity, as it reveals a twisted history with the glamorous social media personality, Nora portrayed by Rosa Robson.
Details of this history are uncovered as Nora possesses the ability to telepathically convey her thoughts directly into her adversary’s mind. In doing so, she ensures that her intentions to wage a war against Jen are unmistakably clear, while preserving a sugary facade for the world to see.
The programme, Extraordinary, barely manages to hold its ground. However, it does give an overriding impression, specifically in its second season, of a comedy that’s starting to lose its spark. Tyers is doing her utmost but one wonders – does she warrant something superior?
Furthermore, make sure to check the March streaming guide for 10 of the best new programmes to view.