Friday Night Binge: I Watched The Duchess – Here’s the Verdict

It’s Friday night, one child is at her dad’s, and my youngest is still recovering from this mystery virus tearing through the UK. So, I did what any responsible adult would do – I binged the entire series of The Duchess. Wine? Gone. Snacks? Devoured. Emotional stability? Questionable.

So, was it worth it? Let’s discuss.

The Duchess: A Rollercoaster of Bad Decisions & Brutal Honesty

Katherine Ryan plays a single mum, Katherine (yes, she named her own character after herself, and honestly, that’s a power move). She’s bold, unapologetic, and always teetering between fierce independence and absolute chaos. Her wardrobe? Impeccable. Her life choices? Debatable at best.

The entire premise revolves around Katherine deciding whether or not to have another baby – with her terrible ex, Shep, a washed-up boyband member who looks like he still smells of stale aftershave and questionable life choices. Because obviously, that’s the best way to add stability to an already unhinged existence.

Moments That Had Me Screaming (In A Good Way)

• Episode One – The Opening Scene: Within five minutes, we meet Katherine dropping savage one-liners, casually discussing artificial insemination, and making it clear she’s not here to be a “mumsy mum.” Instantly, I knew this wasn’t going to be a sweet and sentimental journey. This is motherhood, but make it savage.
• Shep’s Whole Existence: This man is an absolute disaster, yet somehow still manages to be weirdly likeable? The tension between him and Katherine is pure ‘I hate you, but maybe I’ll kiss you’ energy, which is both entertaining and infuriating.
• The Parent-Teacher Conference: Katherine, in an elegant fur coat, sitting across from teachers who just don’t get it, delivering a monologue on why her daughter is clearly superior to the other children. I felt seen.
• The Proposal Scene (But Not That Kind): The moment Katherine pitches the idea of having another baby with Shep, and he reacts exactly how you’d expect a man-child with frosted tips to react – like an overwhelmed goldfish. And yet, somehow, the idea isn’t entirely dismissed.
• The Art Show Meltdown: No spoilers, but let’s just say it involves a very public display of emotions, some chaotic decision-making, and an outfit I’d like to own immediately.

Love It or Hate It?

Honestly? It’s a mood watch. If you love Katherine Ryan’s comedy, you’ll enjoy the unapologetic boldness of it all. If you struggle with second-hand embarrassment and characters who make increasingly bad choices, you might find yourself hate-watching. Either way, you’ll be entertained.

Would I Recommend It?

For a Friday night where you want something easy, funny, and just a little bit outrageous? Absolutely. Will I watch it again? Probably not. But did I enjoy the ride? 100%.

What do you think? Loved it? Hated it? Let’s discuss.