Strike - The JKR TV series

[OnceUponACat]

Apologies if it has been discussed before, I could not find it anywhere.

I am enjoying watching it for but I am annoyed and irked too. For someone like Rawling so many years after HP and still so many cliches: the ugly male detective with the clever cute female sidekick who is happy to work for pittance; Robin’s overgroomed doll look; Cormoran being seen as an appealing partner even though drinks himself to a stupor and is clearly not commitment friendly, etc etc.

Is it me or we could do better than that?

Not trying to derail the thread, but does anyone like the TV detective series Vera? It's been a while since I watched it, but I really liked it, especially because it was a role reversal of the usual detective-sidekick dynamic, with Vera being the older, less attractive one and her male partner is young, good-looking and does most of the legwork. She still has a drinking problem though - I think that's an unwritten rule about the detective stereotype. 🤔

@NonnyMouse1337

Not trying to derail the thread, but does anyone like the TV detective series Vera? It's been a while since I watched it, but I really liked it, especially because it was a role reversal of the usual detective-sidekick dynamic, with Vera being the older, less attractive one and her male partner is young, good-looking and does most of the legwork. She still has a drinking problem though - I think that's an unwritten rule about the detective stereotype. 🤔

I've never seen it, sounds interesting. Is there anywhere it is available to watch now Nonnymouse?

When I first watched the opening half or so of the first one I admit I had similar thoughts to you OP but later I read the books which does change things a bit I think.

I don’t know why the series aren’t longer, I thought JKR was notorious for having control over adaptations. You’d think she’d stipulate more episodes to fit everything in.

@ARoombaOfOnesOwn nothing further to add to the topic but your name is one of my absolute favourites and I keep meaning to tell you.

I like what I've seen of Vera although I've not watched loads of it.

I remember Beth Lacey in 'Cagney and Lacey' as a stable character and also Janet Scott in 'Scott and Bailey', although their partners - Christine Cagney and Rachel Bailey - were both heavy drinkers drank I think so still that pattern.

If you want some feminist programmes have a look ay Fort Salem on BBC iPlayer - I really it.

And The Capture (also iPlayer) - with the very lovely Holliday Grainer too. —There’s a serious male eye candy there too-.

I really ENJOYED it 🙄

Vera is great. I love Brenda blethyn.

It's on ITV and they only keep stuff for a month after it's been broadcast but I'm sure you could get it on Britbox.

Ann Cleeves wrote Vera (and Shetland) and her interview on Desert Island Discs is worth a listen

I'm listening to the audiobooks, not in the UK don't have access to the TV.
Robin seems a pretty well rounded female character by Lethal White, the book I am now on.
Both main characters are meant in different ways to be attractive to the opposite sex.
I would read or listen to the books OP and not rely on a TV adaptation.

Here you go ThePankhurstConnection.

Series 10
www.itv.com/hub/vera/1a7314

Series 1-9
www.itv.com/hub/vera/7a0115a0001

I've usually just watched random reruns now and again.

@ThePankhurstConnection thanks!

Vera is repeated quite often I think, both on ITV and ITV3.

@lakesidefall thank you. I will.

One of these cases where I am more than happy to be wrong.

@OnceUponACat

But who ever said she CAN’T write what she wants?! My gosh to compare an opinion on a TV series to taking pictures of her and her family on a beach is a bit much!

OP, I wasn’t meaning to say you were saying she couldn’t, but I was saying the general force around the purity standard set for JKR along with the constant scrutiny and harassment means that it’s going to be impossible for her to write anything (or breathe or live) that keeps everyone happy.

OP Google JK Rowling images.

You’ll see she’s by no means averse to some considerable ‘overgroomed’ dolling herself.

@Wandawomble yes I have been thinking about that and you are right. As always the scrutiny is higher because she is a woman and it was not my intention to add to that.

Definitely give the audio books a go OP, hearing Robin’s thoughts as well as Strike’s will definitely make a difference. When I watched the series I found my brain filling in the gaps. Especially at the end when in the books Robin negotiates her pay as to what she has worked out Strike can afford.
Strike’s dad gave him a loan to start the business but is ruthless about taking the money back. He eats out a lot because he hasn’t got a proper cooking facility until book two I think. When you hear his thoughts you might find him more sympathetic. Maybe that’s why it’s hard for them to completely translate to screen as well, a lot of the book is observation from him or Robin’s characters albeit in the third person.

In the books Robin is described as very attractive but Strike tries to ignore it in order to maintain a professional relationship with her. He regrets giving her the green dress as a gift because of Matthew as he gave it to her as a parting gift not thinking she Would stay working for him.
The spectre of Charlotte his ex is very compelling to me. She’s like Rebecca De Winter!

WandaWomble

"Definitely give the audio books a go OP, hearing Robin’s thoughts as well as Strike’s will definitely make a difference. When I watched the series I found my brain filling in the gaps. Especially at the end when in the books Robin negotiates her pay as to what she has worked out Strike can afford.
Strike’s dad gave him a loan to start the business but is ruthless about taking the money back. He eats out a lot because he hasn’t got a proper cooking facility until book two I think. When you hear his thoughts you might find him more sympathetic. Maybe that’s why it’s hard for them to completely translate to screen as well, a lot of the book is observation from him or Robin’s characters albeit in the third person."

Oh yes I agree with this totally
I watch the TV series with my wife and find myself explaining the characters in more depth and adding sub plots etc

Op didn't start this thread in TV or Book topics but in Feminism Chat which is why I questioned their motivation.

There are quite a few threads on Strike, Vera, scandi noir etc. on guess what? telly addicts.

From comments there this series of Strike no rated as highly as earlier ones.

Lots of recommendations for crime series featuring women if that is what you are after

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts

@NonnyMouse1337

Not trying to derail the thread, but does anyone like the TV detective series Vera? It's been a while since I watched it, but I really liked it, especially because it was a role reversal of the usual detective-sidekick dynamic, with Vera being the older, less attractive one and her male partner is young, good-looking and does most of the legwork. She still has a drinking problem though - I think that's an unwritten rule about the detective stereotype. 🤔

I actually much prefer the books. The actor playing Vera doesn't quite mesh with the written character, imo.

Although OP I will add that the Glaswegian accents are pretty painful in the audio series.

I'm not sure why we would expect writers to be politically motivated in how they build their characters. There are actually a lot of younger women who are pretty regular and happy to wear nice clothes and want to look attractive. Maybe more than those who don't care at all about such things.

Subverting every expectation in terms of both literary convention and reality doesn't work, it's just confusing and unbelievable.

@NonnyMouse1337

Not trying to derail the thread, but does anyone like the TV detective series Vera? It's been a while since I watched it, but I really liked it, especially because it was a role reversal of the usual detective-sidekick dynamic, with Vera being the older, less attractive one and her male partner is young, good-looking and does most of the legwork. She still has a drinking problem though - I think that's an unwritten rule about the detective stereotype. 🤔

I like Vera, and maybe the show in some ways more than the books. The reversal is nice, I always enjoy seeing her sergeant help her get boots on or when they go over a fence or something, I think it's quite sweet.

They aren't awesome literature or anything, they are a little on the formulaic side, but a nice read.

I think problems with drink are actually quite common in the police force, compared to the general population. Does it still count as a stereotype then?

But that is exactly my point, that it is always the man that can be all that with scars, disabilities etc etc. The clever girl is always the side kick and very beautiful, and very stylish.

OP I agree with you. Can you imagine a woman with one leg and a hair lip (or a scar or whatever he has) not only being the lead detective in a show but also considered hot enough to be fancied by a gorgeous young man in his 20s?

It just wouldn’t happen.

I love the Strike series but that shouldn’t stop us critiquing it.