Netflix’s ‘Man vs. Baby’ Is Giving Viewers Major Nostalgia

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Rowan Atkinson’s new comedy series, Man vs. Baby, has quickly become a hit on Netflix around the world. It’s a sequel to his previous show, Man vs. Bee, and feels like a modern take on his classic character, Mr. Bean. The show is full of even more physical comedy and silly situations as Atkinson attempts to look after a baby during the holidays.

Rowan Atkinson is back in a new four-episode comedy series, playing the character Trevor Bingley. This marks his first starring role in a live-action TV comedy in three years. Before this, Atkinson was famous for his roles in films like Johnny English, Rat Race, The Lion King, and Love Actually, and TV shows including Blackadder and the iconic Mr. Bean.

Rowan Atkinson Channels Mr. Bean


ITV

Following the hilarious disaster of Man vs. Bee, Trevor is hoping for a calmer life as a school caretaker. But chaos strikes again when he ends up looking after a baby – accidentally left behind after the school’s nativity play – in a fancy house over the holidays. The next four episodes are filled with increasingly wild mishaps, funny misunderstandings, and close calls, as Trevor tries to figure out how to be a parent, deal with a smart home, and just generally use some common sense.

Rowan Atkinson’s hilarious and clumsy performance as Trevor drives the show. You can see hints of characters he’s played before – the annoyed Blackadder, the overconfident Johnny English – but it’s his famous Mr. Bean that really shines through. British audiences first fell in love with the accident-prone, childlike antics of Mr. Bean back in 1990, and Atkinson quickly became a national icon thanks to that role.

Although Trevor Bingley and Mr. Bean aren’t officially connected, many viewers who grew up with both characters find it hard not to compare them. Both are famous for Rowan Atkinson’s incredible physical comedy, relying more on actions than words. Neither character says much, so Atkinson uses hilarious facial expressions, clumsy movements, and well-timed falls to show everything from happiness to disaster, similar to silent film stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. What makes both Trevor and Mr. Bean so enjoyable is that they’re a funny mix of chaos and likability – even when things go terribly wrong, there’s a warmth that makes you want them to succeed.

The World Can’t Get Enough of Rowan Atkinson’s Holiday Hijinks


Netflix

Mr. Bean’s creator, Rowan Atkinson, brings his signature slapstick humor to a new generation with Man vs. Baby. The show hilariously combines the frustrations of modern parenting – think malfunctioning gadgets and lost baby monitors – with his classic physical comedy. Longtime fans will appreciate the familiar expressive movements and perfect timing they loved in Bean, while new viewers will enjoy the show’s energetic and silly fun.

The show has clearly been a hit, quickly becoming the most-watched series in many countries and reaching the top spot on Netflix’s global charts. This is particularly noteworthy because comedies don’t often achieve this level of success – usually, it’s dramas, thrillers, or true crime shows that dominate. It’s even more impressive considering the tough competition from popular releases like the latest season of Stranger Things, The Beast in Me, and the recently released Diddy documentary, Sean Combs: The Reckoning.

Currently, only two other original comedy series – Nobody Wants This and Ginny & Georgia – have reached the top spot on Netflix globally since the latter half of 2025. However, those shows blend comedy with drama, unlike Man vs. Baby, which is purely slapstick. It remains to be seen how long Man vs. Baby will stay at number one, but reaching the top is a remarkable achievement and proves Rowan Atkinson is still a comedic force.

The show Man vs. Baby is a big hit with both viewers and critics. It currently has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and reviewers are celebrating it as a successful comeback for Rowan Atkinson. The show is praised for its ability to find humor in everyday objects and create chaotic, funny situations. By updating the classic Mr. Bean formula with a festive, modern twist, Netflix may have created the ideal family show for the Christmas season.

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2025-12-15 00:35