Julia - on sky anyone watching?

[Netaporter]

I loved the film with Meryl Streep playing Julia Child but this new series staring Sarah Lancashire as Julia Child is just fabulous. Sarah Lancashire is a brilliant actress but is outstanding in this role. Great cast supporting also. Anyone else watching?

Interesting. I read that the insinuation that she was bi was completely made up which annoyed me greatly. Just why? Can't remember where I read it, it will have been when googling.

I found that annoying too. Just because she wasn't a skinny, petite thing doesn't mean she was a closet lesbian. It's offensive on many levels. I also dislike how anyone in history who lived in a household with their best friend of the same sex ( there were many economic reasons to do so) or even had a close friend of the same sex is also often claimed to be gay in "fictionalised" versions of their life (e.g. Ammonite shoe horns in a lesbian romance as if Mary Anning's life wasn't interesting and sexy enough for a film).

It's interesting hearing from you all how Judith's life was different to the one protrayed and also the debate around the character of Alice.

I'm not much of a podcast person and an audience shouldn't have to listen to a podcast in order to understand a tv show. Do you know who exactly they are referring to? I suspect that the woman who Russ met with in the latest episode was meant to have been/inspired by Madeline Anderson. Anderson was an absolute pioneer but unfortunately Allison's character, absolutely belittles Anderson's achievements and how much harder she had to work to achieve what she did. For one, the audience knowing Alice is based on a real life white woman, makes it almost impossible to know if she was a real black woman making these documentaries. Or if it's a case of not being able to trust what we're seeing. And secondly, if she is Anderson, the audience doesn't get to experience the full impact of how important she was because instead of being a pioneer, she's not so notable if she's not the one breaking ground.

The thing is, there were black women, in this time period, who were out there fighting so hard to succeed in a society that was doubly against them. Paving the way for those who followed. But by presenting everything as much more modern, we don't get to truly appreciate those women and what they did for all of us. I understand the desire to wish that the past hadn't been so. But pretending that it wasn't minimises the struggles and success of the people who made things better.

I enjoyed the exchange between Julia and Betty Friedan in the most recent episode, though I doubt it really took place

I think it’s excellent. Sarah Lancashire is fab. It’s also great to see ‘Niles’ and ‘Lilith’

Will look out the podcast too. Thanks

I'm not really interested in listening to podcasts where the people behind Julia try and justify poor storytelling. Perhaps there were black women in the early 60s who were TV producers but are the writers seriously expecting us to believe that they (or Alice) never encountered racism, overtly or otherwise?

The cynical part of me suspects that the producers and writers were too nervous to have a main cast of white actors for fear of bad publicity or, quite frankly, to tick a box.

So don’t listen to it then 🤷‍♀️. It’s not poor storytelling. It’s just more information.

Of course it’s poor storytelling. Pretending that someone like Alice had no struggles at all at that time because she was black is ridiculous.

She does have struggles though?

I was SO cross about that film ,why on earth make her a lesbian? What did it bring to an already interesting story, apart from porny lesbian scenes ?🙄

On another note, reminded by the encounter Julia has with Betty Friedan, the series ‘Mrs America’ with Cate Blanchett is excellent and well worth viewing.

I loved "Mrs America" - I watched it 3 times!

Such a fantastic cast. I think Tracey Ullman was Betty Friedan

Paul Child is beginning to get on my every last nerve. What a man-baby. So is Avis. What a doormat.

I was trying to remember did Niles and Lilith get together in Frasier at one pount?😃 it was the hotel scenes that made me think that.

I watched two episodes. Paul is portrayed as a bit envious in the series. Is it just me who thinks that?

Yes they had a one night stand in a hotel.

Aww today’s was the season finale. I am bereft but really hope they make season 2 🤞

I never knew who Julia child was, I just thought Sara Lancaster is superb at who ever she is portraying, so I looked up some old footage of Julia, and I cannot believe how brilliantly accurate Sara is, she's amazing to watch deserves an award for this.

Amazing acting from Sara as usual, she's so good to watch.

I've just finished watching this and just enjoyed it so much. It made a change to watch something where basically everything just went along happily and successfully and yet there was still a good story. I really hope there is a second series as the cast they got together for this was perfect and should continue. I also want to know more about the Isaac relationship, want to see more of Bebe Neuwith and also see what happens in Provence with Simca!

Her name is ‘Sarah Lancashire’ …

Must admit I’m still glancing hopefully at Now on my phone every Tuesday …

Did she do any publicity for this beforehand? I don’t think I’ve seen her on the circuit, I wonder where series 2 will take us?

I am presuming all publicity pre series one was in the US (and likely didn't feature Sarah Lancashire who is unknown there - hopefully not now!!) although it's so sad she didn't appear on the podcast.

Annoyingly, she was filming near me very recently just before Julia. I'd have been more tempted to stalk her and ask questions if it were now 😆

Public service announcement… S2 is up on Sky. It is sublime. Enjoy!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/4979152-oh-my-god-theres-new-julia-s2?reply=132021925