[quote Ibake]@pickachew i loved the first season and I've just watched this over the past couple of days. Every single episode made me cry.
I have no reference point in my own life and yet I find it compelling viewing. Yes, there is an element of 'there but for the grace of god' as you ponder how your own life would have looked but that's what I think makes it so compelling. It's taught me so much and I think, but you would know better, that because the writers live this life too that it's authentic?
I find the characters all so brilliantly played, especially the constant exhaustion coupled with fierce mother tiger love shown by Jessica Hynes. I love David Tennant. His quips are so dark and then he delivers a line that just kills me eg our daughter goes to the kind of school that has obit notices. How can anyone, regardless of their own circumstances, not be soccer punched by a line like that? I loved how they develop Ben's character more this time too and the impact on his life.
I also love the sheer joy of the milestones, especially as they always seemed to happen whenever the family was taking a real emotional battering.
I'm glad shows get made like this although I think you might be wrong about it's popularity, it's certainly provoking a lot of media chatter.
The toe curling stuff is managed really well too, especially the well meaning do-gooders. You cringe watching this thinking of all the times you probably got it horribly wrong yourself. I grew up in a time when children like Rosie got sent away to the 'special school'. The only time I ever saw any disabilities was when my brownie pack would put on a show at the school. I know it's made me awkward and clunky despite my best efforts not to be. You're so worried about getting it wrong that you probably over compensate and get it wrong anyway - the pub quiz scene was all too relatable with the girlfriend because she was well meaning but it was painful to watch. That's why shows like this are good.
I hope they make more. I was gutted when I realised I'd watched the last episode!
(Wanted to reply, let you know I loved it and huge apologies if any part of my response was the aforementioned clunkiness!)[/quote]
I agree with everything. Our sadness is that we don't have a Ben jn our family and ds1's face fell when Rosie turned the light on and off, repeatedly because Ds2 does that just to piss him off.
We also can't keep a paper calendar.
School is just school for us (only obit we've had was a teacher) but the stand out thing there was DT's awkwardness while other parents were just getting on with it.
And we've never successfully used pecs at home with Ds2. Doesn't help that DS1 hides it!
Rosie with the Christmas pics is what Ds2 is like with dh when he's trying to wfh. Thankfully. I'm usually on it and not watching TV!