Breeders: Season Three

This new season of Breeders is the third instalment of the bittersweet comedy drama about modern parenting. Following the trials and tribulations of a couple as they navigate parenthood, the latest release takes the characters through the teen years, with the relatable series pairing dark humour with a sensitive portrayal of fragile family dynamics.

This ten-part series, created by Martin Freeman, Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell, stars Daisy Haggard (as Ally) and Freeman as her husband, Paul. Season two concluded when their teenage son, Luke (Alex Eastwood) punched his dad Paul in an outburst of anger. So, when the narrative moves forward in this season, we see Paul forced into a bizarre part-time living arrangement, alone at Ally’s mum Leah’s (Stella Gonet) house whilst making tentative moves to return into the fold.  

Both Haggard and Freeman are skilfully authentic in their roles, forming once again this brilliant and convincing onscreen partnership. Haggard, having always played the more relaxed parent, is now facing her own issues: an absent husband, uncertainty in her job, the onset of early menopause and her daughter Ava’s (Eve Prenelle) first period. This brings an entire shift to the story arc with the previous focus always landing on anger issues from Paul and the anxiety and panic attacks attached to Luke.

With their family life in chaos, it’s hugely interesting to see another side to Paul and also his daughter Ava. His short-term freedom brings to the screen previously unseen moments of calm and carefree abandonment, which are heightened by his casual friendship with the neighbour Gabby, (played charmingly by fellow British actress, Sally Phillips), whilst Ava is starting to step out of the shadows and shine a light on her often ignored adolescence. This fresh approach side-steps the previous season’s sitcom-style format and gives the series much more depth and scope to extend these storylines.

This season of Breeders feels like a grownup version of the previous two, with heart-wrenching storylines and moments like Ally declaring, “I’m not a bad mother; I’m a good mother at the end of her rope”. The writers have made the issues feel bigger, more real and less comedic than before, and it’s all beautifully executed by a brilliant cast.

Ezelle Alblas

Breeders: Season Three is released on Sky Comedy on 13^th July 2022.

Watch the trailer for Breeders: Season Three here: