THE WALSH SISTERS - sat 9.15pm bbc 1 - TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

New series 6 which is mean to be ace !!

was shown originally in Ireland last year and now bbc have it

Enter The Walsh Sisters, which has been adapted from several of Marian Keyes' beloved novels and introduces us to the dysfunctional but deeply loveable Walsh family.

Featuring five sisters, a devout mother and a bemused father, every family will find something to relate to in the chaos that surrounds them.

Billed as a "comedy about serious things — a pacy, brutally honest and uncompromisingly funny exposé of the realities of being an Irish sister", we meet the five sisters as they’re drifting through adulthood in Dublin and supporting each other as they cope with heartbreak, grief, addiction and parenthood.

And if it's as good as Marian's books, it's going to be a truly outstanding piece of TV.

The six-part series is part based on two of Marian Keyes’ novels, Rachel’s Holiday and Anybody Out There and introduces us to a group of five loveable but chaotic sisters living in Dublin - Anna (Louisa Harland), Rachel (Caroline Menton), Maggie (Stefanie Preissner), Claire (Danielle Galligan) and Helen (Máiréad Tyers) – as they navigate the peaks and troughs of their late 20s and 30s.

It's a sisterhood full of in-jokes, hand-me-down resentments and more than a few old wounds.

But their DNA, history and shared love of power ballads keep the Walsh sisters together in the face of heartbreak, grief, addiction and parenthood.

The cast of The Walsh Sisters includes:
• Louisa Harland (Derry Girls, Renegade Nell) as Anna
• Caroline Menton (Oddity) as Rachel
• Danielle Galligan (Kin, Shadow and Bone)

•	Máiréad Tyers (My Lady Jane, Belfast) as Helen
•	Stefanie Preissner (How to Adult) as Maggie
•	Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall) as Jack ‘Daddy’ Walsh
•	Carrie Crowley (Hope Street) as Mammy Walsh
•	Debi Mazar (Younger) as Chaquie
•	Gina Moxley (The Patient Gloria, Here Before) as Josephine 
•	Jay Duffy (Wheel of Time, Northern Lights) as Luke Costello
•	Samuel Anderson (Amandaland (<a class="break-all" href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a69662742/jennifer-saunders-amandaland-christmas-special/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a69662742/jennifer-saunders-amandaland-christmas-special/))</a> as Aidan

On the back of what happened at the end of the first episode last night I've started re-reading Anybody Out There as I just couldn't remember Anna's story. I'm only a few chapters in and already it is quite obvious that Mammy Walsh is cast wrong and had a complete character change. Also throughout all the books and this one there is constant references to Luke being so hot that all the sisters feel uncomfortable in his presence because they are all attracted to him (except Helen who is immune to his sexiness).

To be fair in the blurb it does say 'based on' the books so it doesn't claim to be a faithful adaptation

Yes of agree if I hadent read the books ,it would be ok but having read them they have completely destroyed the storyline
Why does TV do this why are they so arrogant too think they can improve the story lines?
If they can't stuck to the original plot they shouldn't do it at all imo.

Yes even Sister Josephine remarked how remarkably good looking he was In Rachel's Holiday
And where's Adam?

Marian Keyes is an executive producer and has been plugging the TV series online so presumably she's happy with the adaptation. I think we need to go with the fact it's loosely based on the books so not 100% true to the books. Having read all the books, despite the inconsistencies, the TV series feels like meeting up with an old friend (particularly Rachel as Rachel's Holiday is my favourite).

Was baffled by the odd casting, especially Mammy Walsh and Luke, and the way the storylines were going - I had read the books and the whole atmosphere of the production was so different. So I abandoned thoughts of it as a retelling of the story and looked at the episode again on iPlayer, plus dipping in further along, and thought how badly it stood as a drama, let alone comedy drama. There have been some cracking programmes and films coming to the UK from Ireland, both north and south of the border, and I was hoping for that level but this was not of that quality by a mile.

You write @PrincessScarlett that Marian Keyes is an executive producer and has been plugging the TV series online so presumably she’s happy with the adaptation.
That is why I highlighted the word real in my post.
She can’t really say it’s sh*te can she ?

I watched the first episode last night, thought it was shite. I didn't like the way that they had Claire palming Kate off to anyone who would have her and pretending not to be a mum to pull men. I also didn't think the character of Anna was right, and as many others have said Mammy Walsh was definitely all wrong.

I really enjoyed this series. I watched it for what it was. 6 Episodes of entertainment. Yes it would have been nice to have a million series to recreate the books faithfully. But that was unlikely.
Watermelon came out when I was 20. I'm 50 now the setting and references probably needed updating for todays audience (and to fit an early and late boom together]. Just as the books have evolved and changed as the sister have aged and the audience has aged too. I have a rubbish memory for tiny details- so whilst they might not have been the Walsh sisters in my head I was able to just watch it and go with it.

For anyone who hasn't read Rachel's Holiday,it's on kindle for £2.99 ATM. I'm re reading it and really enjoying it.

Very true! Maybe she's just happy to take the money from it and promote it regardless of whether she thinks it's any good 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve read Anybody out there. Think a couple of the others. That is not Luke, Aidan or Mammy.

I have read most of the books I think the only one who is relatable is Clare ,she was always supposed to be glamorous and selfish

I made it half way through episode 1 and I'm not sure if I'll return. As PP said, it just didn't have the sparkle, wit or warmth of the books.

I came on to see if anyone else felt that they’d got Mammy Walsh wrong, I see everyone agrees! She was a hilarious character in the book. And she lacks the warmth. Physically I visualised her as short, frumpy cardigans and a bad, grey perm!

Yes she has no warmth at all

Yes it was the twang that threw me

I do say this often

if a book is good enough to make into a drama. Then stick with the details

as I read the book years ago it didn’t bother me

tho it is weird they have stuck 2 stories together. Rachel and drugs and Anna and aiden

So most of you hated it as not true to the books

where as the book I read was years ago and part from the fact she isn’t married and only been with him 3mths it’s close enough

providing that e2 is th same as the plot - trying not to give away for those who haven’t read the books

so I liked and enjoyed an roll on e2 next week

I read it ages ago and can't remember much of the plot detail. It's just tone is wrong for me and it's not got my attention at all. Did someone say Rachel's Holiday is coming to Netflix?

I googled, it's Grown Ups that's being adapted and it stars the wonderful Aisling Bea. I'm in. I will resubscribe for this.

I posted at the start of this thread saying I thought it would be crap and turns out I was right.

Such a disappointment.

Not even remotely humorous.

Mammy Walsh is a now completely different personality, actually horrible.

The mish mash of the story lines made nothing of the seriousness of each issue.

Also, surely they could find an American actor to play Aidan instead an english bloke who can't even do the accent?

Who on earth thought this bollocks was a worthy dramatisation of such fantastic books?

Its the mashed up time lines and the fact they have left crucial characters and locations thats ruined it for me
And obviously this is subjective but most of the actors are not right for the roles imo.

Im watching it, i read most of the books.
I think its great.

You are a rare breed esp if read the books as well 😂😂

I enjoyed as a story of 5 sisters all with their own problems.