Lucy Mangan is a Guardian TV critic. Twitter: @LucyMangan
February 2025
TV review
Miss Austen review – Keeley Hawes is magnificent in this absolute treat of a period drama
Arguably the greatest act of literary vandalism in history becomes masterly TV, as we see Cassandra Austen destroy thousands of her sister Jane’s letters following her death – out of love
January 2025
TV review
An Update on Our Family review – these influencers’ murky tale makes you long to end the internet
TV review
Brian and Maggie review – it’s a real worry when Margaret Thatcher seems this admirable
TV review
Paradise review – a whodunnit with wit, heart and Sterling K Brown. Who could ask for more?
TV review
Rachel’s Farm review – an 80s star’s eco project gives us all hope of salvation
TV review
High Potential review – joyous, gorgeous, desperately needed trash TV
TV review
Prime Target review – this stylish thriller is like Good Will Hunting meets The Bourne Identity
TV review
The Fear Clinic: Face Your Phobia review – it’s Squid Game but with people terrified by balloons
TV review
Katie Price: Making Babies review – truly repugnant television
TV review
Severance season two review – this weird, wild show is impossibly mesmerising
TV review
The Crow Girl review – a gripping crime drama that fills you with hope for the world’s good people
TV review
Marilyn Manson: Unmasked review – should a tour bus really need the age of consent pinned to the wall?
TV review
Our Tiny Islands review – wonderful proof that it is still possible to live a life of contentment
Digested week
Digested week: Put away the hot wax and don’t eat your Christmas tree
Lucy Mangan
TV review
American Primeval review – this samey western is far less clever than it thinks it is
TV review
Patience review – this clunky depiction of autism just isn’t good enough
TV review
Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action review – a remarkable look at the trashiest TV of all time
TV review
The Amazon Review Killer review – should we really still be watching this evil drivel in 2025?
Digested week
Digested week: through the Christmas perineum and out the other side
Lucy Mangan
TV review
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth review – Colin Firth’s disaster drama is worryingly close to a Casualty episode
