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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have thought Happy Valley was a gentle female led police show set in the picturesque Yorkshire dales?

108 replies

Greatly · 04/01/2023 14:21

Something like Doc Martin, but with a female lead.

I finally got round to watching the first season, thinking it would be a calming, relaxing show that would help me fall asleep.

Ended up binging the first season and still feeling slightly traumatised! How did i get it so wrong?!

Please no spoilers as i loved it and cant wait to watch the next two although hoping they are a bit less violent 😂

OP posts:
ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 04/01/2023 14:24

Honestly, it's not for you!

SilverHydrangea · 04/01/2023 14:24

I remember watching the first series and it wasn't until the last five minutes or so that the 'Happy' bit of the title made sense! Well worth the watch and Sarah Lancashire is brilliant.

TarasHarp55 · 04/01/2023 14:25

I loved the first two but the new one isn't that good yet. Could get better though.

Threadkillacilla · 04/01/2023 14:26

What a fortunate mistake to make! I wish I could see it again for the first time

OlleOskiFelle · 04/01/2023 14:27

Same!
I'm going to watch now I know it isn't

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 04/01/2023 14:29

The first series was brilliant.

I need to rewatch!

amicissimma · 04/01/2023 14:29

Try Last Tango in Halifax. Same brilliant Sally Wainwright script, same brilliant Sarah Lancashire acting, but mostly less violent.

Original poster
Greatly · 04/01/2023 14:30

All the acting was good but Sarah L was brilliant.

OP posts:
Original poster
Greatly · 04/01/2023 14:30

amicissimma · 04/01/2023 14:29

Try Last Tango in Halifax. Same brilliant Sally Wainwright script, same brilliant Sarah Lancashire acting, but mostly less violent.

Good shout, thanks

OP posts:
DameHelena · 04/01/2023 14:31

Sorry you felt misled but I hope you liked it and continue. It's a fantastically good piece of work IMO. Sarah Lancashire and Siobhan Finneran are both magnificent and their sister relationship is one of my favourite things ever.
I'm steeling myself for the new series just now.

ethelredonagoodday · 04/01/2023 14:31

amicissimma · 04/01/2023 14:29

Try Last Tango in Halifax. Same brilliant Sally Wainwright script, same brilliant Sarah Lancashire acting, but mostly less violent.

Yep, this!

I love happy valley, but it is definitely to the grittier end of the drama spectrum!

ProperVexed · 04/01/2023 14:31

It's not like Juliet Bravo, is it!

Original poster
Greatly · 04/01/2023 14:32

DameHelena · 04/01/2023 14:31

Sorry you felt misled but I hope you liked it and continue. It's a fantastically good piece of work IMO. Sarah Lancashire and Siobhan Finneran are both magnificent and their sister relationship is one of my favourite things ever.
I'm steeling myself for the new series just now.

Oh I really liked it! Would have watched originally if I'd realised.

Mare Of Easttown must have been heavily influenced by it.

OP posts:
snowsilver · 04/01/2023 14:32

I'm just re-watching before starting the new one.
The cast, the script, the setting and most of all Sarah Lancashire are all magnificent. It's always ranked as my favourite series. I saw a review which described SL's character as "imperious". Spot on.

When I first watched it I went on the watch Last Tango in Halifax because of Sarah Lancashire. The two series are very different but the quality is the same

Original poster
Greatly · 04/01/2023 14:33

ProperVexed · 04/01/2023 14:31

It's not like Juliet Bravo, is it!

Lol I swear that's what I thought it would be like.

OP posts:
NorthernSoul55 · 04/01/2023 14:37

ProperVexed · 04/01/2023 14:31

It's not like Juliet Bravo, is it!

Although, oddly enough, filmed in some of the same locations!

ProperVexed · 04/01/2023 14:39

@Greatly @NorthernSoul55
How times have changed in 40(?) years!

Blueberrycreampie · 04/01/2023 14:43

I think the name gives that impression but it's obviously irony. You wouldn't know that unless you read up about it - and I often don't when watching these programmes. Glad you enjoyed though - I feel it's worth sticking with it.

spiderlight · 04/01/2023 14:51

I thought the same - thought it might even be a comedy. Put the first one on a few weeks back when I was stuck on the sofa feeling ill and miserable, thinking it would be a nice gentle low-investment watch and it wouldn't matter if I didn't carry on with it. Ended up bingeing the entire two series in a fortnight - NOT what I was expecting, but so, so good.

Original poster
Greatly · 04/01/2023 14:54

spiderlight · 04/01/2023 14:51

I thought the same - thought it might even be a comedy. Put the first one on a few weeks back when I was stuck on the sofa feeling ill and miserable, thinking it would be a nice gentle low-investment watch and it wouldn't matter if I didn't carry on with it. Ended up bingeing the entire two series in a fortnight - NOT what I was expecting, but so, so good.

A nice gentle low investment watch 😂 that's what I thought

Ended up watching a lot actually through my fingers

Steve Pemberton was great in it

And the little kid

OP posts:
MintChocCornetto · 04/01/2023 14:56

Hahahaha I can just imagine OP!

That opening scene when she struts into the corner shop, takes his fire extinguisher and a pair of sunglasses and goes to talk that man down from his crisis really sets the tone for the whole thing! Loved it. Fantastic bit of writing.

Catspyjamas17 · 04/01/2023 14:59

I actually watched S2 before S1, and am glad I did as S1 was such difficult viewing at times that I was glad to know that one of the characters involved was still alive and well in S2. Now in S3 I know what to expect.

Maybe try Last Tango in Halifax by the same writer? There are still some OMG moments but it isn't as grim.

spiderlight · 04/01/2023 15:09

MintChocCornetto · 04/01/2023 14:56

Hahahaha I can just imagine OP!

That opening scene when she struts into the corner shop, takes his fire extinguisher and a pair of sunglasses and goes to talk that man down from his crisis really sets the tone for the whole thing! Loved it. Fantastic bit of writing.

I loved the end of the opening scene in the first episode of S3 - not saying any more to avoid spoilers but she was just excellent.

Georgeskitchen · 04/01/2023 15:22

It's anything but happy mostly, but great script and great actors. We need real life police officers like Sarah Lancashire!!

Iamblossom · 04/01/2023 15:34

I love it.

However I often found Juliet Bravo quite disturbing for it's era tbh!