Time Bandits

Kevin Haddock is eleven and obsessed with history, but his bedroom lectures haven't prepared him for when a ragtag band of time-traveling thieves shows up and whisks him out of the ordinary. Thrown into a series of wild heists across different eras, he teams with eccentric, often infuriating adults who mix danger and slapstick. Among them are the sharp-tongued Penelope and a clutch of oddly named misfits, all of whom challenge Kevin's assumptions. His knack for obscure facts proves useful, yet the team's improvisational chaos forces him to adapt fast. The show balances action and comedy as his curiosity bumps against moral choices about changing the past, and his relationships with the gang change from suspicion to loyalty.

Released in 2024, Time Bandits was created by Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi and Iain Morris. The ensemble includes Lisa Kudrow, Kal-El Tuck, Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva and Rune Temte, blending comic talent with genre instincts for television and comedy.

As of its 2024 release, the series hasn't accumulated major awards or Emmy nominations. It has drawn attention because of its creators and cast, but formal industry recognition remains limited. It's early in the awards cycle and the show may be considered in future seasons.

Early on the show inspired online chatter thanks to its tongue-in-cheek tone and era-jumping visuals, and viewers have been sharing fan art. With Waititi and Clement involved, it quickly became a talking point among fans of sci-fi comedy. There are signs of cosplay and meme sharing of its eccentric looks.

Critical and audience reactions are mixed to favorable, the series holding roughly a 6.153/10 average from 118 votes. Reviewers praise the quirky chemistry and set-piece inventiveness, while some note uneven pacing. The show looks at childhood wonder, the consequences of changing history, and makes found-family jokes that land often.