Riot Women binge thread for those using BBC iPlayer

[IwantToRetire]

As all episodes are available on iPlayer thought I would start a binge thread for any like me who find it easier to follow a story line when there isn't a gap of 7 days.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002hd7x/riot-women

I like that we saw women dealing with a lot of different issues (mostly plausible ones) but there were too many characters and just six episodes, so the stories weren't as developed as they could have been.

Loved this! I hear the criticisms, but taken as a whole I thought it was bloody brilliant telly! Such a strong cast and Rosalie Craig has a truly amazing voice!

Anne Reid portrayed dementia brilliantly. As someone of the same generation as the riot women who had a mother die from Alzheimers it was absolutely convincing.
The scene in the restaurant between Joanna Scanlon & Rosalie Craig was an acting masterclass. Fictional TV usually only reduces me to tears about once a decade, but this managed it!

I will watch anything written and directed by Sally Wainwright and I really hope she keeps this one close to her chest... the first series of Gentleman Jack was so refreshing and then it went completely off the boil in Season 2, but then she didn't direct it!

I read that there's a little 'easter egg' in there to spot as well... Catherine Cawood's police number (which is handed back on retirement) was given to Nisha. I also love playing 'Spot Sally's own Rep Company'!

@PrimalScreaming I loved that little touch with the police badge, I read about it after I watched.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, I thought all the character backstories were really interesting.

It has been touched on here but Yvonne (the wonderful Amelia Bullmore) and her mum - I wonder if we have a 'golden child/scapegoat' sisters situation here, maybe Holly has always done no wrong and Yvonne has been worn down by criticism from her mother (massively projecting here) and that is why Yvonne doesn't visit. The sisters get on but away from the mother (more projection).

Also [and speaking as a Terfy person myself] I wasn't irritated by Miranda, I thought the character was blended into the Hebden vibe pretty well. The character didn't speak much and when she did it was genuine. She didnt want to be in the band, she was pushed by Jess. I was more irritated by the fact that the backing singers were all under 30 and not the right age, although their characters did develop to be entertaining (poor Nisha though 😥)

Thought some might enjoy this response to the series!

Riot Women sums up everything wrong with the BBC
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/riot-women-sums-up-everything-wrong-with-the-bbc/

If interested and cant read article in full, copy the link and paste it into box on https://archive.is/

i loved it - really hope there is a 2nd series.

"Written by
David James is deputy head at a leading independent school in London, and also teaches at a local state school. He is an author and editor and his most recent book is published by Bloomsbury"

Just Googled and he is Deputy Head at Lady Eleanor Hollis School... an independent GIRL'S school in SW London. Such misogyny among so many young female minds! Even if he thought it, surely putting it in print in The Spectator is a little like shooting yourself in the foot!

Edited as copied links

I enjoyed it and binged the whole lot but I felt like I was being clubbed over the head for most of it. Really tender, heartfelt moments that made me cry followed by idiotic, unrealistic behaviour that made me cringe. And why were all the men so completely awful?

And why oh why oh why did a band called ‘Riot Women’ who were singing about periods, menopause etc need to include a transwoman? Especially as that character stepped in to replace a woman who was being attacked, injured and shamed by men!! Would a drama about a group of middle aged men include a transman? Not a chance in hell.

I have just finished it and I loved it. Loved seeing minor characters that I recognised e.g the neighbour Walker who had his ticket for the talent show stolen - he was the dodgy policeman from Happy Valley who killed his mistress and then himself - likewise the retired policewoman’s sister was the murder victim of the dodgy police man above (I am rubbish with names)
The scenes at the start were hard (as a member of the club nobody wants to join) but I felt it was handled quite well especially how she kept delaying her suicide to answer her phone - we are all so ingrained to answer our phones straight away!
i am going to watch it again (always have to do this when I have binged it for things I have missed)
I think they have definitely left it open for a second series and I am here for it

Just finished the last episode. Absolutely loved it and hope there is another series.
I’m a proud Terf and was a bit irritated with the inclusion of a TW in the band, singing about periods and the menopause but was determined not to let it spoil an exceptional tv series about middle aged women!

I loved it. I’m very gender critical however Miranda didn’t bother me at all - she’s Jess’s child and they needed a last minute replacement, so it worked fine. If they’d had a bigger storyline (or more words) then I might have felt differently but as a background character, it was fine.

Loved Jack the rimmer - gorgeous & hilarious storyline! Really hope Rudy gets his comeuppance & the rapists are prosecuted. Tom was such a baby but pleased he came good in the end & got back with his wife.

Fantastic series - roll on season 2!!

Thanks for posting that review in the Spectator @IwantToRetire I agree with him about the tropes but couldn’t take that reviewer too seriously as he misspelt Peter Davison’s surname.

I’m refusing to watch the rest unless someone reassures me that the bastard copper gets his comeuppance.

The seeds are planted and well watered for S2

Hmm not yet but I think it’s coming…

Just finished watching this. It was great. So well written and fabulous actors.
Well done!

Also great to see something I can actually relate to.

There HAS to be series 2 as too many loose ends need tying up. No issue with a trans woman, it's just trying to represent society and normalise diversity.
That copper though.....he needs his comeuppance and Kitty needs to get revenge on her rapists.

The copper needs to be brought down !

I didn't realise until the end that it was Richard Fleeshman playing JoJo/Jon or whatever other alias he gave himself.

He used to be very good looking, now he looks rather androidish. Has he fiddled with his face?

All of him looked fiddled with!

I thought he looked completely natural apart from a possible fake tan. He’s been the lead in several other projects so I was initially surprised to see him in this essentially in what is a small supporting role, but I guess it helps with his profile.

It’s because Sally Wainwright is recognised as such a talent now that big names want to be in her stuff even as a walk on.

I don't think it's meant to be about the men!

I actually really enjoyed how it wasn't and there was not a whiff of NAMALT about it.

Binged it all. Not a patch on Happy Valley though a very different show.

It felt quite clunky though enjoyed it overall.

It was a bit Waterloo Road in tone...but then with some extremely gritty themes and not sure they meshed together that well. Maybe it tried to do too much.

But I absolutely love Joanna Scanlan, Ann Reid, Amelia Bullmore and Lorraine thingy is absolutely amazing.

I thought they all looked incredible. Isn't Joanna Scanlan so twinkly?

I thought the age was a bit funny really...I think all the characters of the older women apart from Kitty, were meant to be 50s and I think most are early 60s as actors, but they do look fantastic.

The actor who plays Kitty is great and what a voice but it is very musical theatre. Found it a bit cringe. Like they're 'acting' a rock band. And the HRT and stuff very tick box. The men were all hideous characters apart from poor Jerry.

What do I know him from?