Home Fires

[Clawdy]

Anyone watch it? Stilted,unreal dialogue and what look like predictable story-lines - some well-known faces though. Seemed more like a day-time drama to me.

[aliasjoey]

I liked it, but in retrospect actually agree with your comments. Probably I watch just because I love the fashion and styles they all have - even the working class women are all made up with groomed hair...

Am now wondering if I could start sleeping in curlers? I dunno, they just all look so neat not a hair out of place, the bombs could start dropping and they'd still have their lippy on.

[WhetherOrNot]

Why did you think the dialogue was 'stilted and unreal' Clawdy?

[Clawdy]

Someone had a line about "alleviating our financial situation" and somebody else talked about "holding great affection" for a family....none of it rang true for me, Whether - all a bit cliche-ridden. But it is early days......

[Rhubarb01]

I didn't think it was as bad as The Radio Times review suggested although there seemed a lot of characters for a six part drama and potentially a lot of storylines which can't be fully explored in the time available. I didn't notice the dialogue too much apart from a couple of the conversations that the Samantha Bond and Ruth Gemmil characters had with Francesca Annis which were a little over the top in terms of their correctness of speech making them sound more like university professors rather than 'ordinary', albeit upper class women of the time.

[chocolatelife]

I dont have much faith in ITV tbh, but surmised that since Downton Abbey is ITV it might be ok,
I went to bed halfway through

[balletnotlacrosse]

I enjoyed it. Nice easy going Sunday night drama with a bit of nostalgia thrown in. Slips into the Downton Abbey/Call the Midwife slot perfectly.

[southeastdweller]

I liked it. Just the kind of undemanding thing I enjoy watching on Sunday's to distract me from the thought of work tomorrow.

[Akire]

It's ok not fabuloys easier to have on in the background of pottering around. Agree is a lot of characters it's hard to keep track , the ill doctor and wife problem, butcher and teenager problem, farm lady with nasty husband, postman, telephone lady, couple ladies from last week. Now handful of men in uniform!! Not to mention two main characters and families.... 6 is big short not sure war wise what can happen in the first 6m of war

[mistymeanour]

Meh - it's Ok - I watched it on catch up one afternoon whilst pottering. Thought it was a bit dull - not really good enough for a big budget Sunday evening show.

[Rhubarb01]

I still think it's OK as fairly easy-going Sunday night telly. In fact I liked it a bit better this week. However, there are still too many characters in my opinion for six episodes. Plus they've four more episodes to go and they've only reached September 1939. Years ago ITV would have made this as a 12 part series like other similar ones I remember, giving them plenty of time to explore and develop characters and stories. I assume they are banking on a second, third or even fourth series instead to do that.The problem is that when they cancel shows like this after one short series you end up thinking what a waste of time it was watching in the first place.

[thegreylady]

I think Pat's husband is one of the most chilling characters I have seen on tv. He gives me goose bumps.

[balletnotlacrosse]

I'm surprised this is getting such lukewarm reviews. I think it's very engaging and the characters are distinctive enough to keep track. The only small problem I have is that the Dr's wife and the butcher's wife are quite similar in looks and manner, but otherwise I think it's easy enough to follow.
I agree 6 episodes is very short given the number of storylines in train. This could definitely run to double that amount plus a second series. But overall, I think it's the most watchable thing on television on these Spartan early Summer evenings.

[Rhubarb01]

I have to agree with you all about Pat's husband (thanks for reminding me of her name). I wonder if he has always been like this or this behaviour has developed out of self-pity and failure at being unable to write a second book. Do you think she deliberately tried to poison him with the pilchards or is that just a little teaser for later in the series? Actually, given the way he is I'm surprised he even lets her go to the WI although perhaps that's just a way of keeping face in the community. He certainly is a fine example of an abusive, controlling personality.

[woodhill]

I quite like this but did every woman have that particular hairstyle in 1939.

Pat's husband is horrible but makes interesting viewing