Kevin’s quest to save his parents from coal-shaped oblivion continues through medieval England and Prohibition era Harlem.

It’s been a grim week in the UK, with far right ‘protestors’ tearing up the streets of Northern towns, amplified by social media and misinformation. Personally I don’t believe that the country is anywhere as divided as some would have us believe, and that good-heartedness, inclusiveness, generosity and unity will prevail, but it is casting a nasty shadow over the summer nonetheless.

Against that backdrop, thank the Apple+ gods for Taika Waititi’s joyful reinvention of Terry Gilliam’s fantasy masterpiece Time Bandits. It isn’t just a laugh-out-loud televisual tonic in the face of those who want to feed on hatred and division, the series tells the story of Kevin (the comically gifted Kal-El Tuck) and his chums bumbling through the Medieval England and the violence of Prohibition New York, and amiably taking the wind out of the horror and division that define so much of our history.

The gag writing is superb, and chief bandit Penelope (Lisa Kudrow) is a peerless comedy foil for the whole gang, especially Roger Jean Nsengiyumva’s befuddled Widgit, struggling to make head or tail of the time portal map.

Aside from the quality sitcom ensemble vibes, the series arc is developing nicely. Kevin’s sister Saffron (a brilliantly unfazed-by-anything Kiera Thompson) has set off through time in pursuit of her brother, while my concerns about the apparent airbrushing of dwarf actors from the story have been completely quashed with the appearance of two pitch perfect short-stature crime scene investigators (Francesca Mills and Imaan Hadchiti) sent by the Supreme Being to investigate the havoc left by Pure Evil’s demon, Fianna (Rachel House).

And there’s Con O’Neill having a ball as a dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham into the bargain.

Verdict: Time Bandits continues to enchant – even when the story telling gets a little lost… but who cares. Everything about this show is so lovingly crafted I defy you to watch this and not feel better about the world. 9/10

Martin Jameson

www.ninjamarmoset.com