Television series
Alma's Not Normal
A fiercely funny sitcom about Alma, a broke, unqualified Boltonian trying to rebuild after a break-up while navigating her chaotic family: a mum battling addiction, a grandmother in denial, and generations of women crashing through life at full volume. Sharp-edged, warm, and genuinely anarchic—for anyone who loves comedy that doesn't sand down its characters' rough edges.
If you liked this
Fleabag2016
A woman in free fall, narrating her own disaster directly to you while her family implodes around her. Same energy of controlled chaos and emotional truth wrapped in comedy that hurts.
But The tone can feel precious to some, and the fourth-wall break isn't for everyone. Relies heavily on the lead's charisma.
Chewing Gum2015
Tracey's South London chaos and desperate optimism mirror Alma's spirit. Joyfully unhinged, sexually frank, and built on real observation of working-class life and family madness.
But Very raunchy and fast-paced; some find the constant movement exhausting rather than exhilarating. Easy to miss jokes.
Motherland2016
Working-class mum navigating kids, money troubles, and impossible situations while trying not to lose her mind. Balances genuine hardship with laugh-out-loud chaos and real affection.
But More situational comedy than character-driven. Depends on ensemble chemistry; not every story lands equally.
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The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Souvenir2019
Both follow a woman negotiating chaos and power imbalances within her own life, refusing to explain herself to the audience. Alma's comedy is louder, but the core is the same—watching someone survive by her wits.
A young art student's relationship with an older man spirals into emotional toxicity and control. Shot like memory, deliberately oblique. Finds dark comedy in delusion and powerlessness, with no easy answers.
But Deliberately slow and ambiguous; frustrating if you want clarity. Some viewers find the protagonist's passivity unbearable rather than tragic.
More like this (6)
Catastrophe2015
Two damaged people building a life anyway, across messy relationships and family dysfunction. Sharp, unfiltered dialogue and a willingness to be both funny and genuinely painful.
But Very heavy in places—the comedy sits right next to real trauma. Some seasons are weaker than others.
This Way Up2019
Sisters rebuilding after depression and addiction, mixing brutal honesty with absurdist humour. Treats mental health as comedy material without mocking it.
But Tonal shifts between lightness and darkness can feel jarring. Quieter than Alma's Not Normal in places.
Bad Sisters2022
Irish dark comedy about sisters with a chaotic mother figure and generational dysfunction. Funny and vicious in equal measure, with real stakes underneath.
But Mystery structure might feel slow if you want pure comedy. Darker tone than Alma, with genuine violence as backdrop.
Derry Girls2018
Underdogs from nothing, refusing to behave, finding joy and community in chaos. Northern Irish setting, working-class sensibility, characters who love each other despite being disasters.
But Very ensemble-focused; Alma's singular perspective is part of what makes her show distinctive. Nostalgia-heavy.
Getting On2013
Jo Brand's unflinching comedy set in a geriatric ward. Same refusal to soften reality, same gallows humour about struggle and systems that don't care.
But Deeply bleak in places. The BBC version is tamer than the HBO remake; either way, it's relentlessly grim.
Trainspotting1996
Both refuse to sentimentalize poverty and addiction. Both treat these lives as primary, not background. Alma's show is what happens when you point a camera at chaos with affection instead of sociology.
Raw energy, working-class Scottish characters on the edge of collapse, addiction rippling through family and community. Propulsive, shocking, funny in its desperation.
But Very dark, very graphic with drug use. 90s style is dated now. The nihilism can feel relentless; Alma's warmth is absent here.
