Things I have attempted to watch today.

[lyssie]

I think I must be in a really picky mood. Nothing has managed to grab me (aside from Pan Am, and I really hope it gets renewed).

Behaving Badly. It has Judi Dench in it. Ten minutes in, you really couldn't tell it was about her character, as gossiping old ladies and her ex-husband had more lines.

Upstairs, Downstairs. The original. I lasted 15 minutes before boredom sent me back to the list of things to watch.

Downton Abbey. Do the women ever actually do anything? They seem to mostly stand around saying little (or talking about men) while the men have the bulk of the conversations and narrative. I lasted almost half an hour before boredom finally drove me away.

Land Girls. Netflix tells me I lasted 19 minutes before giving up in annoyance. (oh, look, the uppercrust girl will fall into some cowpies! Again! When it's happened four times, it's gone beyond "she's clumsy" to "lol, women thinking they can do anything but pop out babies and cook for men")

idk. I think Pan Am, Bomb Girls and Call the Midwife spoiled me.

Comments

[mfirefly10.livejournal.com]

Ooh...tell me more about 'Call the Midwife'.

Alas, I think Pan Am is done for unless that new GCB show does REALLY poorly. Yes, the network brass say they love the show but the ratings are pretty terrible from what I've heard and everyone mostly considers it dead already :(

[lyssie.livejournal.com]

I hope it isn't, but I fear you're probably right.

Call the Midwife is set during the 50's in London's East End. It's based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a midwife who worked there. She's stationed with a group of nuns, and it's entertaining (if a bit predictable at the heart-strings tugging). Pretty much 99% of the conversations, narrative and actions are done by women.

[mfirefly10.livejournal.com]

That sounds like it could be awesome. I sense another weekend marathon coming up...:)

[tnhand1022.livejournal.com]

I recommend giving Downton Abbey another try! Granted, it's a reflection of the time in which it's set, but the roles and storylines of the women expand considerably. All three daughters change drastically over the years - and many years pass by the end of the first season. Violet (Maggie Smith) has a deliciously sharp wit and a quick tongue, and her one-liners are hysterical. By the time the second season rolls around, they're in the thick of the first World War, which brings about drastic change to Downton.

I think the show itself is a chronicle of change in the social order due to rapid advances in technology and the upheaval of war. But I'm biased. I'm in love with the series!