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Season 1 – Family Tree

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Family Tree 2013 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Jobless and unattached, 30-year-old Tom Chadwick has lost his sense of self. But a mysterious box of curios might hold the answers -- however strange -- to the person Tom really is. The box, bequeathed to him by a great aunt he never met, inspires Tom to start investigating his lineage, and the clues lead to a world of unusual stories and characters in both England and the United States. The single-camera, documentary-style series is written by Christopher Guest and Jim Piddock and presented in the same manner as Guest's feature films, like "Best in Show " and "A Mighty Wind."

Where to Watch

Family Tree — Season 1

Family Tree — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Family Tree starts slow, but eventually this mockumentary adds heart to the slapstick.

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Critics Reviews

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Gerard O'Donovan Daily Telegraph (UK) A sad, under-motivated nobody pointlessly - and not very credibly - indulging his random curiosity? It just didn't work. Rated: 2/5 Jun 14, 2018 Full Review Claire Winter Time Out It's difficult not to draw comparisons to the creator's previous comedy ventures: while some of the gags are groaningly predictable, the very best jokes in the series are the deadpan, subtle 'did I just hear that' variety. Jun 14, 2018 Full Review Alison Willmore IndieWire Family Tree may not measure up to the provocative or large scale fare crowding HBO's schedule - in fact, it feels deliberately homey and small - but its warmly pleasant to spend time with these characters. Jun 14, 2018 Full Review Emma Clark-Dow The Post NZ Family Tree was devastatingly cancelled after just one season, but it is still worth the watch, particularly if you are a fan of the loveable and funny O’Dowd. May 3, 2022 Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Although only a few episodes have aired, Family Tree looks promising. Feb 28, 2021 Full Review Leigh Clark CineVue Family Tree is brilliantly improvised, unpredictable, and has the power to branch out and showcase the cream of international comedic talent along the way. Rated: 5/5 Mar 5, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Briliant. Far away from mainstream. One is inclined to laugh, but it's to...hmm...difficult to find the right word....sad in a sort of way...sort of awkward...little bit depressing. Unfortunately only one season, but that's the price of non-mainstream, I'm afraid. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved this show! It's classic Christopher Guest, and features many of the actors from his films. So sad it wasn't picked up for a second season. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Disgusted that this wasn't renewed. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Sad that there's not another season. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I actually really enjoyed this series. Maybe it's the awkward humour or simply that Chris O'Dowd plays this type of character so well, but I truly enjoyed every episode. The droning on was not dull to me, but rather quite amusing as it poked fun at the quirks and mundanities of a typical person looking into their family history. Perfectly imperfect. Worth some good laughs. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review ken k Christopher Guest is truly a comic genius. Witnessing the subtle, insightful human comedy he writes and directs makes one realize the emptiness of 90% of American, bang you over the head, smut filled attempt at comedy is less reality than unplanned real life. Casting is another of his strengths. The ability to use some of the same people over and over again and yet breath new life into imaginative, hilarious new characters to fit his everyday life scripts. Family Tree is a must see right bedside the likes of Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in show and For your consideration, not to mention A Mighty wind , one of my all time favorites. Seek Family Tree out by all means. It is a treasure to be enjoyed time and time again each time discovering new, subtle bits of crazy , real everyday life. Ken K Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/14 Full Review Read all reviews
Family Tree — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Christopher Guest

Creator

Jim Piddock

Creator

Chris O'Dowd

Tom Chadwick

Tom Bennett

Pete Stupples

Nina Conti

Bea Chadwick

Carrie Aizley

Kitty Chadwick

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 12, 2013 The Box Tom is bequeathed an old chest of curios; Tom seeks information about a black-and-white photo found in the chest. Details Episode 2 Aired May 19, 2013 Treading the Boards Tom and Pete learn about Harry's life from men at a regional theater. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 2, 2013 The Austerity Games Bea and Monk audition to perform at a birthday party; Tom seeks information about the life of his grandfather, William; Pete accepts a challenge. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 9, 2013 Country Life Tom has a job interview; Tom plans to learn more about the Derbyshire branch of his family tree; Pete must perform a procedure on an alpaca at the zoo; Tom is determined to learn about a family secret. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 16, 2013 Welcome to America Tom arrives in Los Angeles to stay with his American cousins; Tom hopes to discover why his great-great-grandfather went to England; Al plans a family barbecue. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 23, 2013 Civil War Tom's cousin Rick helps him find out more about his great-great-grandfather; Tom is invited to participate in a Civil War re-enactment; Tom meets an aspiring writer. Details Episode 7 Aired Jun 30, 2013 Indians Tom discovers that his great-great-grandmother may have been Native American; a phone call from London reveals Tom's DNA results. Details Episode 8 Aired Jul 7, 2013 Cowboys Bea, Monk and Pete go to the beach; Tom meets a distant cousin whose grandfather was a silent film star; Monk goes missing; Al and Kitty throw Tom a farewell party. Details

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Family Tree — Season 1

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Season Info

Creator
Christopher Guest, Jim Piddock
Screenwriter
Christopher Guest, Jim Piddock
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 12, 2013