Julia (2022 TV series)

Production

The story of the Julia Child series began in September 2019 when HBO Max ordered a pilot, with Chris Keyser as showrunner and Joan Cusack in talks for the lead role. By March 2020, Cusack had left the project, and Sarah Lancashire took over as Julia. Supporting roles were filled by Tom Hollander, Brittany Bradford, Bebe Neuwirth, and Isabella Rossellini. Filming for the pilot started that same month but was halted just three days in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2020, David Hyde Pierce replaced Hollander, who had departed. The following July, Robert Joy, Erin Neufer, James Cromwell, and Adriane Lenox joined the cast. Production on the pilot resumed in Boston in October 2020. In January 2021, the pilot—written by Daniel Goldfarb and directed by Charles McDougall—was picked up for an eight-episode season, with filming finishing in September 2021. The series launched on March 31, 2022, releasing its first three episodes at once and the rest weekly through May 5. HBO Max renewed it for a second season on May 4, 2022, which premiered on November 16, 2023. Rachel Bloom was reported to have joined the cast for the second season in September 2022. The show was canceled after two seasons, as reported in January 2024.

Reception

The first season of Julia received strong critical approval. On Rotten Tomatoes, it earned a 93% positive rating from 44 critics, with an average score of 8.0 out of 10. The site’s summary praised Sarah Lancashire for bringing Julia Child’s lively spirit to the screen, calling the show an affectionate tribute to the chef. On Metacritic, which calculates a weighted average, the season scored 76 out of 100 from 20 critics, a rating that indicates generally favorable reviews.

The second season performed even better on Rotten Tomatoes, achieving a perfect 100% approval rating from 10 critics, though the average rating dipped slightly to 7.0 out of 10. The critics’ consensus noted that the show understood its strengths and leaned into them, describing the second season as a delightful, light treat. Metacritic again gave it a 76 out of 100, this time based on 7 critics, still indicating generally favorable reviews.

Amy Amatangelo of Paste magazine observed that while the series is marketed as a comedy and includes funny moments—such as people literally lying on the floor to help Julia film her show—it also explores Child’s pioneering role in television production, not just in cooking. Amatangelo emphasized that the show hinges on Lancashire’s transformative performance and thrives through its strong female characters. David Cote of The A.V. Club gave the season a B+, describing each roughly 45-minute episode as balancing sentimental period drama with a high-toned sitcom. He noted that Lancashire carries the season on her sturdy shoulders, though he found the season arc fairly standard. Cote pointed out that the closest the series comes to a villain is Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, played by Tracee Chimo, who criticizes Child at a public television gala for hindering women’s progress. This moment, Cote wrote, shakes Julia and complicates her image as a female liberator.