One of my favourite series to be released in 2023 was “Extraordinary”, a British comedy that is set in a world where everyone has a superpower when they become an adult, except for Jen, who Máiréad Tyers play.  The series follows her as she tries to uncover her superpower, and in the second season, she heads to a special Discovery clinic to get treatment to unlock her power.  It’s her that she meets with her new power coach, George, who conducts his therapy sessions in a very different way.

The series doesn’t only follow Jen, as she lives with her best friend, Carris, and her ex-friend, Kash, who are also going through their own subplot of learning to get over one another.  Plus, there is an additional storyline, which was teased as the cliffhanger of the first season, where Jen’s boyfriend, Jizzlord, (yes, that’s his name),  past comes to light, after spending years living as a cat.

This second season is much more focused on the relationships between the friends, since the last season dealt with their origins and introductions.  This second season can just jump straight into it, and while there are storylines spread across the eight episodes, generally, there is a single story for that episode.  One of the things I liked about this second season, is how it reminds me of classic sitcoms, like “Friends” or “Seinfeld”, or most recently, “Derry Girls”, where you feel like your watching real friends doing stupid stuff.

There are plenty of laughs along the way, with the ability of the show to take superpowers in unique and silly directions that you wouldn’t see in more serious superhero shows and films.   Though it’s much more noticeable that superpowers have taken a backseat to the core storylines, often with little jokes going on in the background if you look closely enough.  And some of the superpowers that people have are just so bonkers and it that’s one of the things I love about the show, but I also love the relationship between the friends.

Not every joke lands, and the storylines are a bit weird in places, but I was really entertained and couldn’t wait to binge-watch my way through the show.   We get so few funny comedies nowadays, its refreshing that Disney+ has its own little gem, that I hope more people check out.

“Extraordinary” really showcases why Disney’s strategy to create local content for a global audience can work so well.  This show just wouldn’t be the same had it been made in the United States. I also love how the series embraces being British, it is more rough around the edges, nobody is perfect and even with superpowers, they still have to continue trying to live normal lives. 

I really hope we get some more of this show because it is on a completely different level from everything else being released on Disney+ right now, and I’m hoping the viewing numbers for the second season will get a boost following Disney licensing the first season to ITV for release to a larger audience in the UK, since ironically, there has been more promotion here in the UK for the first season than this new season.

At its core, this is a comedy about a group of friends trying to get by in life, with all the comedy that provides, but with the added bonus of a superhero gimmick that gives it a edge.  One of the subplots of the show I really enjoy, is how Jen has struggled to let go of her late father, because of Carrie’s ability to let the dead control her body (which does have some fun results depending on who is enhabitting her body).  Because let’s be honest, if you could talk to members of your family who have passed away, we’d all take that opportunity. 

Overall:  Unfortunately, the second season of “Extraordinary” isn’t as strong as the first season. There are still lots of laughs along the way and the while some of the storylines are a bit strange, since the world becomes so much weirder when everyone has a superpower, even if its just turning someone’s bum into a 3D printer!   This show is certainly a highlight and it continues to be one of my favourite shows available on Disney+/Hulu. 

Rating – 4 Out Of 5

The first season of “Extraordinary” is available to stream now on Hulu and Hulu On Disney+ in the United States and on Disney+ around the world.  The entire second season will be released on these platforms on Wednesday, 6th March 2024.

Are you looking forward to the return of “Extraordinary”?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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