Time Bandits

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7 / 10
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Overview

Eleven-year-old Kevin's passion for history is put to the test when he joins a ragtag group of time-traveling thieves on a high-stakes and hilarious adventure.

Media

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Time Bandits — Official Trailer | Apple TV

Cast

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Rachel House
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Tadhg Murphy
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Lisa Kudrow
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Kal-El Tuck

Review

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  1. Insomniacs Reviews
    7 Based on 1 Votes
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    ⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10 THE SUMMARY The 2024 Apple TV+ adaptation that finally answered the question: "What if the Monty Python energy got a massive Hollywood budget and a Lisa Kudrow upgrade?" Created by the comedic power trio of Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, and Iain Morris, this version follows 11-year-old history nerd Kevin (Kal-El Tuck) who joins a ragtag group of time-traveling thieves led by the confident-yet-clueless Penelope (Lisa Kudrow). By April 2026, the show is a bittersweet entry in the archive; despite favorable reviews and a cult following, Apple TV+ officially pulled the plug in September 2024, leaving it as a one-season wonder. THE PROS Lisa Kudrow is a 100% authentic win, delivering her funniest performance in years with a rhythmic, off-kilter delivery that fits perfectly into the show's "gentle absurdity." The production value is a genuine highlight; the series utilized practical miniatures, oil-painted matte paintings, and creature suits to capture the visceral, "Heath Robinson" feel of Terry Gilliam’s original vision. It’s a gripping "family-friendly" romp that actually respects the intelligence of its audience, sneaking in sincere educational tidbits about biological warfare and Stonehenge between the gags. THE CONS It hits a 7/10 because it loses a bit of steam in the final episodes, shifting its focus away from the colorful historical hops and toward a more "languid" plot about Kevin’s personal quest. For some, the transition from the dark, idiosyncratic grit of the 1981 film to this smoother, "slicker" TV version was a bit of a head-scratcher. It misses a higher mark because of its cancellation status, which left several dangling plot threads—and the awkward mid-season disappearance of the character Judy—feeling like a bit of a damp squib for those who wanted a complete journey. THE VERDICT A 7/10. It is a genuine, hilarious triumph of comedic world-building that managed to bridge the gap between generations. It’s a bit of a let-down that we won't see a Season 2 as of April 2026, but as a 10-episode burst of high-fantasy fun, it’s a crown jewel of the Apple TV+ archive. It remains the "Go To" for anyone who likes their history served with a side of Taika Waititi’s deadpan "Supreme Being" energy. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA * Practical Magic: To maintain 100% authenticity to the original film, the show used miniature effects for the Mayan pyramids and Fortress of Darkness, rather than relying solely on green screens. * Casting Controversy: One of the most talked-about "behind-the-scenes" facts in the archive involves Charlyne Yi (Judy), who left the series mid-production following allegations of on-set abuse, leading to their character’s conspicuous disappearance after Episode 5. * Musical Pedigree: The score was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO, which explains the witty, synth-heavy vibe that perfectly matches the time-hopping chaos. * Python Approval: While Terry Gilliam wasn't directly involved, the series was co-created by Iain Morris, who previously worked on *The Inbetweeners*, bringing a sincere British bite to the humor. * Filming Secrets: Much of the series was filmed in Wellington, New Zealand, which was cleverly dressed to look like everything from 1920s New York to the Ice Age. THE VIBE Like tripping through a history book that someone has doodled hilarious jokes all over. It smells of old parchment, cold cave air, and the faint, electrical ozone of a portal opening in your bedroom wardrobe.

Creator:
Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, Taika Waititi
Fist Air Date:
2024-07-23
Episode Runtime:
undefinedm
Production Companies:
Anonymous Content, MRC, Handmade Films, Waka Atea, Waititi, Paramount Television Studios
Genres:
Action & Adventure Comedy Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Keywords:
based on movie burlesque time travel
More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.2/10

Vote Count: 127 Votes

Show Popularity: 7.2331

Show Status: Canceled

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

TV Show Poster

Season 1

10 Episodes

Air Date: 2024-07-22

Videos

Time Bandits — Official Trailer | Apple TV

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Time Bandits

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  1. Insomniacs Reviews

    ⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10

    THE SUMMARY

    The 2024 Apple TV+ adaptation that finally answered the question: “What if the Monty Python energy got a massive Hollywood budget and a Lisa Kudrow upgrade?” Created by the comedic power trio of Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, and Iain Morris, this version follows 11-year-old history nerd Kevin (Kal-El Tuck) who joins a ragtag group of time-traveling thieves led by the confident-yet-clueless Penelope (Lisa Kudrow). By April 2026, the show is a bittersweet entry in the archive; despite favorable reviews and a cult following, Apple TV+ officially pulled the plug in September 2024, leaving it as a one-season wonder.

    THE PROS

    Lisa Kudrow is a 100% authentic win, delivering her funniest performance in years with a rhythmic, off-kilter delivery that fits perfectly into the show’s “gentle absurdity.” The production value is a genuine highlight; the series utilized practical miniatures, oil-painted matte paintings, and creature suits to capture the visceral, “Heath Robinson” feel of Terry Gilliam’s original vision. It’s a gripping “family-friendly” romp that actually respects the intelligence of its audience, sneaking in sincere educational tidbits about biological warfare and Stonehenge between the gags.

    THE CONS

    It hits a 7/10 because it loses a bit of steam in the final episodes, shifting its focus away from the colorful historical hops and toward a more “languid” plot about Kevin’s personal quest. For some, the transition from the dark, idiosyncratic grit of the 1981 film to this smoother, “slicker” TV version was a bit of a head-scratcher. It misses a higher mark because of its cancellation status, which left several dangling plot threads—and the awkward mid-season disappearance of the character Judy—feeling like a bit of a damp squib for those who wanted a complete journey.

    THE VERDICT

    A 7/10. It is a genuine, hilarious triumph of comedic world-building that managed to bridge the gap between generations. It’s a bit of a let-down that we won’t see a Season 2 as of April 2026, but as a 10-episode burst of high-fantasy fun, it’s a crown jewel of the Apple TV+ archive. It remains the “Go To” for anyone who likes their history served with a side of Taika Waititi’s deadpan “Supreme Being” energy.

    INSOMNIAC TRIVIA

    * Practical Magic: To maintain 100% authenticity to the original film, the show used miniature effects for the Mayan pyramids and Fortress of Darkness, rather than relying solely on green screens.

    * Casting Controversy: One of the most talked-about “behind-the-scenes” facts in the archive involves Charlyne Yi (Judy), who left the series mid-production following allegations of on-set abuse, leading to their character’s conspicuous disappearance after Episode 5.

    * Musical Pedigree: The score was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO, which explains the witty, synth-heavy vibe that perfectly matches the time-hopping chaos.

    * Python Approval: While Terry Gilliam wasn’t directly involved, the series was co-created by Iain Morris, who previously worked on *The Inbetweeners*, bringing a sincere British bite to the humor.

    * Filming Secrets: Much of the series was filmed in Wellington, New Zealand, which was cleverly dressed to look like everything from 1920s New York to the Ice Age.

    THE VIBE

    Like tripping through a history book that someone has doodled hilarious jokes all over. It smells of old parchment, cold cave air, and the faint, electrical ozone of a portal opening in your bedroom wardrobe.

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