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Original poster

Happy Valley. I don’t get it

258 replies

BillyNighysWife · 05/02/2023 14:48

It seems everyone thinks Happy Valley is the best thing ever. I started watching series 1 recently to find out what all the fuss was about. I found it quite watchable but I really don’t think it’s great. It seems to be full of cliches about people. Despite its dark subject matter there is a cloying, mediocre English cosiness about it. Sarah Lancashire is good and as an older woman myself it’s great to see older women as main characters in big narratives. But there have been great, strong women in soaps for decades. What is special about her character and what she does in HV? I don’t get it.

It seems to be very similar to Mare of Easttown, except that was better.

Does anyone agree with me or am I on own with my strange opinion?

OP posts:
DerekFaker · 06/02/2023 18:19

Funny, Mare of Eastown bored the shit out of me.

And the British Office was supposed to be cringy.

Anyway isn't it great that we can all like different things?

JaneJeffer · 06/02/2023 18:22

And the British Office was supposed to be cringy.
You don't say

SideboardOfLove · 06/02/2023 18:37

PurplePansy05 · 05/02/2023 15:10

American The Office better than the British? Wow. I've seen it all on MN now, officially.

I enjoy HV mainly because I share many traits with Catherine. It's not the best series ever, but it's good.

I definitely think the US version of The Office is better and know lots of people that agree with me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TV
SideboardOfLove · 06/02/2023 18:37

JaneJeffer · 05/02/2023 15:14

The US Office is way better. The English one gives me the cringe and I can't watch.

Exactly

IDontWantToBeAPie · 06/02/2023 18:48

Are you sure that it's not just the accents irritating you? As a Yorkshire woman I sometimes can't figure out what they're saying they've made them so strong 😂

DesertIslandCondiment · 06/02/2023 19:03

SideboardOfLove · 06/02/2023 18:37

Exactly

Show quote history

You are in the minority.

Lifesyoungdream · 06/02/2023 19:03

Yes I agree The American version of the The Office was definitely better than the British version.

RampantIvy · 06/02/2023 19:03

I managed to avoid covid for three years until last week @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads. I hope you feel better soon Flowers

I wasn't very ill with it, but had to cancel my dentist appointment. I was late to the HV party, but I'm so glad I joined in, but I do love a cop drama.

Re The Office. I didn't "get" it until I realised that David Brent was exactly like my ex boss. Then, blow me, didn't he write to The Telegraph and get his article published "I am David Brent" writes xx. I couldn't believe my eyes!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/02/2023 19:23

@RampantIvy - I had to cancel a dentist appt for me and the dc this afternoon.Smile

SideboardOfLove · 06/02/2023 19:25

@DesertIslandCondiment

That's ok, I'm happy with my choices 😊

Munches · 06/02/2023 19:29

Tilllly · 05/02/2023 14:55

We can't be friends

I can’t be your friend either op.

I love all three series so much. Absolutely fucking brilliant. Devastated there is no more .

DesertIslandCondiment · 06/02/2023 19:33

SideboardOfLove · 06/02/2023 19:25

@DesertIslandCondiment

That's ok, I'm happy with my choices 😊

I know. I suppose because I'm a big fan of it I don't get your view. I absolutely loved the English Dawn & Tim. Also, Gareth. I love all the actors in other stuff too.

I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just more of an English sense of humour person.

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 19:40

Ive just tried watching it off the back of this thread. Got halfway through the first episode and gave up. It was so dull. Does it get any better or is it all just inane chatter the whole way through?

I also think the US office is better though but that’s because I can’t stand Ricky Gervais. I normally prefer British versions of things.

toomuchlaundry · 06/02/2023 19:44

@ChilliBandit are you talking about HV, there is definitely more to it than inane chatter

VioletaDelValle · 06/02/2023 19:47

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 19:40

Ive just tried watching it off the back of this thread. Got halfway through the first episode and gave up. It was so dull. Does it get any better or is it all just inane chatter the whole way through?

I also think the US office is better though but that’s because I can’t stand Ricky Gervais. I normally prefer British versions of things.

You need a little bit of time to introduce characters and build a story .... bit harsh to judge the the whole thing on just 30 mins!!

DesertIslandCondiment · 06/02/2023 19:47

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 19:40

Ive just tried watching it off the back of this thread. Got halfway through the first episode and gave up. It was so dull. Does it get any better or is it all just inane chatter the whole way through?

I also think the US office is better though but that’s because I can’t stand Ricky Gervais. I normally prefer British versions of things.

I saw him live last year. Like him even more now.

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 19:52

VioletaDelValle · 06/02/2023 19:47

You need a little bit of time to introduce characters and build a story .... bit harsh to judge the the whole thing on just 30 mins!!

Show quote history

That’s why I’m asking, it just didn’t grip me at all.

RampantIvy · 06/02/2023 20:34

Blimey if you found HV dull what kind of TV do you watch @ChilliBandit?

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 20:40

@RampantIvy - All sorts! I was genuinely really looking forward to watching it and normally like the gritty crime shows, but I just found it dull and got bored and switched it off. I will probably give it another go at some point maybe.

toomuchlaundry · 06/02/2023 20:49

It’s definitely gritty by episode 3 in series 1, harrowing in fact

QueSyrahSyrah · 06/02/2023 20:52

Each to their own isn't it. I think Happy Valley is one of the best of its genre, but then on the other hand everyone seems to be raving about White Lotus at the moment and I think it's pretentious nonsensical crap 🤷🏻‍♀️

It'd be boring if we all liked the same thing.

VioletaDelValle · 06/02/2023 20:57

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 20:40

@RampantIvy - All sorts! I was genuinely really looking forward to watching it and normally like the gritty crime shows, but I just found it dull and got bored and switched it off. I will probably give it another go at some point maybe.

Ultimately it's a show about relationships and it just happens to involve crime and the police!

If you don't care about the characters then it just won't interest you.

It's very character driven and quite harrowing at times.

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 20:59

White Lotus was also on my list… maybe I will like that one

ChilliBandit · 06/02/2023 21:02

VioletaDelValle · 06/02/2023 20:57

Ultimately it's a show about relationships and it just happens to involve crime and the police!

If you don't care about the characters then it just won't interest you.

It's very character driven and quite harrowing at times.

Show quote history

Ah this probably explains it thanks. I more enjoy the mystery aspect to crime drama than the characters. I don’t think I will bother again then. Thanks all.

SideboardOfLove · 06/02/2023 21:13

@DesertIslandCondiment

I understand, I really liked the original too, and for quite a few years I refused to watch the US version.
But when I did I loved it so much 😂 They're very different, and there's a warmth and a depth to the US version that I wasn't expecting. As well as it being very funny!

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