Television series

Yonderland

Name: Yonderland
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Released: 2013
Cast: Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Jim Howick

Parody
Portal fantasy
Light-hearted

A 33-year-old mum stumbles through a portal into a chaotic fantasy world full of incompetent heroes, talking puppets, and ridiculous prophecies. Made by the Horrible Histories team, it's absurdist British comedy that works in 31-minute bursts—clever wordplay, silly voices, and a brilliant performance from Martha Howe-Douglas as someone bewildered by the sheer nonsense she's trapped in. Perfect for anyone who loves intelligent silliness without the cynicism.

TVMaze rating

3.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love daft fantasy spoofs where the heroics are botched by characters who are gleefully bad at their jobs, and a frazzled everywoman is the sanest person in the room.

Skip it if you want sleek production values or a slowly built emotional arc, since the humour is loud, broad and deliberately low-budget in feel.

What it asks of you: Roughly half-hour episodes across three seasons and a steady stream of gags, so it rewards a quick, undemanding sitting rather than close attention to plot.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Horrible Histories2009

Same creative team, same DNA. If you loved Yonderland's blend of sketch comedy, character work, and genuine jokes hidden in the chaos, this is where that sensibility came from. Educational without being tedious.

But It's anthology-based rather than serialised, so there's less narrative momentum. Some sketches land better than others; you might find yourself skipping around.

The Midnight Gospel2020

A show about a person trapped in a very strange world alongside an enthusiastic guide, navigating absurd situations that occasionally turn profound. Similarly weird in tone, similarly excellent at sneaking genuine heart under the goofiness.

But It's animated and notably darker—Yonderland's anarchic but fundamentally kind. Some find its late-episode emotional turns jarring after the comedy setup.

Inside No. 92014

British sketch-comedy brilliance with actual narrative architecture. Each episode is a complete story rather than sketch-soup, with the same love of character, wordplay, and the unexpected that makes Yonderland so rewatchable.

But It's grimmer and more cynical—there's real darkness lurking in these stories. If you want comedy that stays buoyant, this trades some warmth for edge.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Yonderland

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Labyrinth1986

Both are worlds of brilliant puppetry and production design where the strangeness is played completely seriously. Yonderland is what Labyrinth would look like as a comedy sketch show.

Jim Henson's maze-world fantasy where puppets and practical effects create genuine weirdness—exactly the aesthetic that Yonderland channels. A young woman trapped in a mad world full of ridiculous characters with impeccable logic. The DNA is right here.

But It's a 1986 film, so pacing is slower and more deliberately dreamy. Some of the effects look dated; it's not trying to be funny in the same rapid-fire way.

Futurama1999

Same structure: ordinary person in extraordinary world, befriending a strange enthusiastic sidekick, navigating absurd logic and bad guys. Smart jokes, genuine affection for its characters, and it never forgets that absurdity is funniest when characters treat it seriously.

But Animation style is older and feels quite different. The early seasons can be uneven, and it takes a few episodes to find its footing.

Community2009

Ragtag group of misfits on a mission, constantly wrong-footed by circumstance, saved by their ability to improvise. Endlessly inventive, loves a weird genre detour, and genuinely affectionate about its characters despite the chaos.

But American pace and sensibility—more rapid-fire gags, less character warmth. Later seasons lose focus; the best is the first three, but they're brilliant.

The League of Gentlemen1999

Dark British sketch comedy with character obsession and running gags that accumulate meaning. If you love weirdness played completely straight and the comfort of returning to strange recurring characters, this is essential.

But It's genuinely dark—abusive, grotesque, cruel. Yonderland is anarchic but kind; this is neither. Not for anyone wanting warmth.

Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake2023

Boy and magical creature in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world. Starts as goofy adventure-comedy and quietly deepens into something genuinely moving. Similar mix of genuine silliness and unexpected emotional stakes.

But It's a massive commitment—ten seasons—and the early stuff is much looser in quality. Animation is stylised in a way some find aggressively cute.

Our Flag Means Death2022

Both centre on watching a sensible person navigate a world where nobody else is sensible and somehow it works anyway. Character-driven fantasy-comedy about people doing their best in impossible circumstances.

A complete mismatch of person and situation—a gentleman pirate with no business being a pirate, learning to lead a crew of incompetent sailors. Same gentle absurdism, same delight in characters being fundamentally unsuited to their jobs. Warmth and silliness in equal measure.

But It's a romantic comedy at heart—the story matters, relationships deepen. If you want pure anarchic sketch-energy without narrative pull, this subverts that.

What We Do in the Shadows2014

Both understand that fantasy comedy works best when characters treat the weirdness as normal and just get on with it. Same deadpan energy, same commitment to character over concept.

Vampires living together in Wellington, played completely straight despite the absurdity. Deadpan British mockumentary style (though it's New Zealand), same love of character detail, same understanding that the funniest thing is watching people cope with ridiculous situations without irony.

But It's a film, not a series, so different pacing. The mockumentary format means no music, no spectacle—it's very grounded despite the subject matter. Some find it too dry.