Our Girl and Captain James Discussion Thread...

[ihearttc]

A new thread for all things Our Girl as we have already filled up another thread discussing everything to do with the show.

Ooh, icemist, I hadn't seen that finale interview before. I'm feeling all wobbly and weird now ... (interpret that how you will ...)

Someone mentioned whether he'd go to the States ... Hmm ... He's going to try, isn't he? They all bloody do. He's already done one pilot and I heard or read somewhere that he's going out for pilot season again. (Basically, they go out, do a pilot for one of hundreds of possible projects. The networks look at them and may pick a couple up for a season. You get lucky or not.) If that's what he wants, I wish him well. (And will sob quietly while sipping a cup of tea back in Blighty.)

Hi Ladies! Just checking in and making sure CJ/BA is still top of the agenda!

Still find it hard that Molly hadn't discovered he had been married and/or had a child prior to the wardrobe scene. I'm sorry, but most women would have checked that out surreptitiously. I know I would!

Been out with a group of (girl)friends tonight and knew at least a couple of them had watched the series so was looking forward to an in-depth post mortem on it all. To my disappointment, one had said it was "nice". I mean, what sort of a description is "nice" when you are talking about Ben Aldridge! The other friend was more forthcoming and had certainly drooled over CJ but in the end, I didn't reveal the extent of my obsession and just admitted to having watched the episodes a couple of times each. If only she knew I could write a full blown thesis on the subject!

I have been sipping a glass of fairly strong port (can't have anything non-alcoholic with roasted chestnut, right? My dad swears that's a Sacred Rule!) so I am more prone to giggles than sobbing...
But you must admit that even US tv has improved a lot recently! I mean, I have watched a fair amount of tv series (had to compensate for 6 years without tv altogether!!) and I found plenty of tv productions that were more captivating than movies. To be honest, last time I have been to the cinema (and it wasn't animation) both DH and I concluded that we were ripped to watch absolutely s+-t, whilst we could have watched an episode of Fringe/scandal/Mentalist/homeland...shorter, more to the point, usually included in our Netflix/love film subscription and much more easily accessible.
Having said so, I hope BA doesn't lose his accent ;-)

(Hic! Too tipsy to elaborate further)

If there is a second series I hope Tony Grounds pays full attention to the fact that BA himself believes that Molly and CJ are in it for the long haul!
I wish we could have seen CJ's heroic retrieval of the body of Smurf's twin. Perhaps we could have some flashbacks in the next series and it would give Iwan Rheon an opportunity to come back!
What do people think about Molly's decision to wear the engagement ring? Do you think it was the right thing to do?

Nice, nice !??!

Not so sure about Molly knowing about Mrs James though. When I was her age I ended up sleeping with a couple of married men. I knew one through work and one through friends, had lots of nights out with them both as members of a large group, many of whom knew them much better than I did. On no occasion was a wife mentioned by either them, friends or colleagues. On both occasions I only found out later that they were married, I was not bloody impressed.

On the second occasion I actually ended up telling the wife about a year later when they had separated. I was out with mutual friends who introduced her to me. She was being so friendly that I felt I either had to leave or fess up. I still love her reaction, "thanks for telling me, I'm pretty sure he's slept with most of his female colleagues, but you're the only on who's ever had the decency to tell me!"

My long winded way of saying that I can believe Molly had no idea!

Very jealous of drinks with friends and port by the way. At the very alcohol free PILs house. Only one still up but just had to get DH to turn the inter webs back on as it is set on a timer to turn off at their very early bedtime.

Your in laws turn the wifi off at a certain time??? Really???

Oh ...

Go and read some fan fic, deary. That'll do you. ;-)

Looks like another good session this evening. Only just manage to catch up. After DIY last night DW had me carving pumpkins this evening ready for the big day tomorrow. Gone are the days when a simple grimacing face is enough, now you're expected to recreate the Sistine Chapel on these things.

Anyway, noted Orphan now also has a crush on Molly and has referenced the duet scene. I agree totally that she looks amazing and happy. Have thought alot about why it has this impact on me and i think part of it is that Molly's character is never overly sexualised. She is mainly seen in her combat gear with hair up so subtle introduction of more feminine elements such as having her hair down and a more figure hugging top have a much greater impact. Also and more importantly I think, the looks she gives CJ are the kind of looks us men would climb mountains, wade rivers and cross deserts for. They say ' I am starting to like you, keep doing what you are doing and i am yours'.....ok im back - sorry hope you will indulge my little Molly moment there.

Speak to you tomorrow!

"His wife left while he was on his 2nd tour- whats that about 18-24 mths before this tour?"

I took that to mean that things started going downhill on his second tour, not that she actually walked out at that point.

Op tours are, on average, about two to three years apart, meaning that the gap between a second and fourth tour would be around four to six years. Officers usually swap between postings at regimental duty (as part of which they may do an op tour) and postings on the staff (during which an op tour would be less common). Not all op tours would be as a platoon commander or as part of an infantry battalion - it's fairly common to do other types of job on tour, depending on the needs of the service.

Thanks jcscot

So if he volunteered for this tour- it could be a shorter time between them? Trying to figure out when Smurf's brother died. I'm thinking no more than 2 years? As this was Smurf's first tour.

SPOfficer, I think because theydidn't oversexualise Molly's character is mainly why she has become so loved my men and women. Other then her hair which has been perfectly plaited (I can't do a ponytail without bits falling out) she never had any make up on and always looked very fresh faced. Very clever idea to do hair down on scenes such has duet and piss off dawsey, by doing this it somewhat created some of the sexual tention, lip chewing, eyes gazing and not forgetting that fabulous wink he gives her as well!

Thanks for the link to BA interview, I had seen it when first posted but forgot where I found it. Pls, pls let there be another series....... We are all in it for the long haul!

I am sure his management agency will send him over the U.S. for pilot season. They would be mad not too. OG has hugely raised his profile. Programs such as Scandel, Nashville and The Good Wife all have british actors and actresses in them, whether they play with an English accent or American. Dont think I am ready for his American accent though.

Never thought about added or deleted scenes on the DVDs, I have bought all the episodes through iTunes as I can watch on the iPad (can be more secret that way, without DH, and DS's tutting at me and thinking I'm bonkers). But tempted to buy DVDs if they do?

Plan today: get all jobs done AM. PM re read through scrips, Klipdoctor for new chapter and start back on Ep1!!!!

Richtea19 can we swap days please? I have back to backs at work and then Trick or treat tonight. Will have little time to indulge obsession today but will try and check in at lunchtime.

Just a thought on a 2nd series. I have noticed that TGs Twitter account has a number of tweets from Danny Cohen being very complimentary about the series and the subsequent reaction. Danny is the Director if BBC television. Hopefully a good sign?

richtea, ditto about the hair! Very envious of lovely hair (mind being completely the opposite of her! Obviously ;-)
Ring question: I think she was still in shock due to the discovery of CJ marital status, when smurf came charging up with the ring. In all honesty, she was probably moved (having also heard his words in the container...) but thought she had made clear enough that she only wanted him as a friend...and didn't want to hurt him on a day when so much tears and tension were already building up.
Can't believe she went to see CJ with the ring dangling from her neck, though! (You can see it when she's sitting on the bench and smurf's mum comes to see her)

Blimey, is there a shot of this story we haven't dissected, yet??

If there was a second series, what unanswered questions from the first series would you like to see resolved?

As that sounds like an essay question it probably ought to to read "which questions" just to be pedantic!

cherin I've been bothered about that ring exposed around her neck too. In fact it seems to be on/off a number of times. Can't see it when they emerge from the helicopter right at beginning of Ep 5. I did wonder if it helped to fuel Rececca's reaction? As to Molly taking the ring in the first place...doesn't ring (sorry!) true with me despite all the upset.

On the unanswered question I would like to know who the good'un was that Molly's gran let go. Wouldn't it be great that if by some twist of fate it had been CJs grandad. Now really must prep for first meeting of the day!

Icemist, in theory, yes it could be a shorter gap but there are rules in place to prevent people deploying too often because it causes burnout. A tour can be extended or someone can be sent with a shorter gap but it has to be justified why that individual has to go and why the unit can't find someone else - volunteering isn't enough.

You're all on fire and it's not even 9 o'clock yet!

I'm glad to hear that about the appeal of Molly, SPOfficer. That's exactly what most women would want to hear about what makes them attractive - natural beauty, not overly sexualised, not overly self-aware, no make-up and then the occasional show of femininity to pull the rug out a bit. So different to how the media expect women to present themselves these days. It's not surprising that that's what a lot of men actually want, but it's a breath of fresh air to hear it voiced. Thank you. And well done Molly Dawes for embodying that so wonderfully.

The ring thing bothers me too - bit of a continuity error, I think. As we've seen there are a few for the eagle-eyed. (Most notable being left leg/right leg.) No matter though. Doesn't spoil a thing.

I'd like to get a definite answer in a second series on how old both CJ and Molly are supposed to be given all the discussion about how long he's been in the army, how many tours he's done, how old his son is etc. Although BA is 28 I can't help thinking CJ is supposed to be older.

I think CJ can't be much older than 30. He is clearly at the front of his peers so would expect to promote to major at the first opportunity. So much older than 30 and he'd be a major not a captain.

Rhurbarb re the age of Sam, CJ's son, iirc the script states that he is 7yo.

Am amazed at how many messages there ahve been so far this morning!

I must admit I prefer Molly in her army guise and not in civvies. I really don't think she looks as good in all the make-up in the Bath scenes, although I would kill for her hair (esp. as I have had female pattern baldness since my late-20s, thanks grandad for those hair loss genes!)

Questions I'd like answered: does CJ really leave the army (I'm pretty sure he's still in before Molly redeploys) and if he resigns his comission what on earth could he do that isn't sitting behind a desk? If he's still in, would he take Molly to a regimental dinner and how would she react? How is Molly going to further her career? I do feel TG has rather constrained himself by setting the series in such a contemporary timeframe (if it had been set in 2013 for instance that would have given him an extra year to play with, and he does like to compress time). If there is a second series, she wouldn't be ready to try for Lance Corporal, so would she look at the options such as retraining as a nurse with the QA?

Hello again all. Just wondering, when Rebecca left during his second tour, do you think she went off with another man?

Nick Grimshaw just announced the cast of Our Girl on on Monday- didn't seem that enthusiastic about it - (cast of Glue also on). Hope BA will actually say something...

Oh I thought it was just Ben on radio 1, disappointed.