Riot Women BBC1

I think it is worth giving it another go next week!

Poor DH might have to go into another room if I do 😀

Is it me, or are they a bit old to be menopausal?

I’m enjoying it- great cast and believable dialogue….

I quite enjoyed it, probably because many of the actresses have become favourites over the years.

The clips that have been shown were enough for me 👎

Well, we thought it was far from believable!
Far-fetched more like.

A disappointment after Last Tango in Halifax.

At last, a series I actually want to watch!

Oh, I really enjoyed it! It’s so good to have a Sally Wainwright back on a Sunday night.

So did I. I binge-watched all six episodes.

I really like Sally Wainwright’s writing: Scott & Bailey, Last Tango, Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack. Nobody writes strong women better imo. A lot of her favourite actors (and mine) are here. They must have had great fun dressing up.

Rosalie Craig is brilliant as the damaged and unpredictable Kitty and what a great voice. Joanna Scanlan as the kindly Beth who feels invisible. Tamsin Greig plays Holly, a version of Catherine Cawood from Happy Valley.

The drama does have some very dark echoes of Happy Valley at times but also has the humour of Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments.

The antics of the band (which don’t take up a lot of screen time) were secondary to the serious themes explored. Middle-aged women caught in the middle, juggling demanding jobs, ageing parents, challenging children ... and no support from men.

There’s a reveal at the end which makes me think there could be a second series.

I loved the first episode. Will definitely keep watching .

I live in the small town where this was filmed so I’m really looking forward to seeing it. I’m abroad at the moment so will have to wait until next week.
The BBC preview of the first episode at our independent cinema with Sally Wainwright speaking was packed and folk turned away. She is so popular here.
The only downside was the months of chaos during the filming, streets closed, shops taken over and the pub reinvented. But it was great fun.
Really looking forward to seeing this.

I enjoyed the first episode. The pub scene when all the women met up was quite interesting as I could identify certain traits in some of the characters.

A collection of very good actresses kept it afloat, but little sympathy for the menopausal angst.
Loved the secondary school Headmaster.

I’m watching early evening today. Love Sally Wainwright, love Hebden Bridge and the area around it.

We loved it, I thought it was very funny at times.
Definitely, going to be a winner.

~. Sally wainwright is a brilliant writer .Loved the first episode.

I echo Westendgirl, loved it. I don't think Sally Wainwright has ever written a wrong word .

I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next episode. A good mix of humour and drama.

eazybee

A collection of very good actresses kept it afloat, but little sympathy for the menopausal angst.
Loved the secondary school Headmaster.

Me neither.
They should have chosen actresses who were a bit younger although Joanna Scanlan does look younger than her age.

I just want to suggest "Have you ever thought about HRT?"

I don't think Sally Wainwright has ever written a wrong word
Everyone has an off day.

The first scene could be triggering for some people, too. Distasteful.

petra

The clips that have been shown were enough for me 👎

Wonderful women struggling against the odds , all stereotypes petra

The men were useless, feckless, patronising stereotypes.

Allira

petra

The clips that have been shown were enough for me 👎

Wonderful women struggling against the odds , all stereotypes petra

The men were useless, feckless, patronising stereotypes.

I didn’t miss much then 😂

petra

Allira

petra

The clips that have been shown were enough for me 👎

Wonderful women struggling against the odds , all stereotypes petra

The men were useless, feckless, patronising stereotypes.

I didn’t miss much then 😂

As other posters thought it was very good, perhaps you should try it for yourself instead of taking my word for it!

A matter of personal taste.
Personally, I thought it was OTT with extremes of character.

I agree the women are more post-menopausal than menopausal but I loved it - especially the scene in the pub.
Allira there was an extensive warning at the begining about the opening scene

Indeed. I watched on iPlayer which has clear trigger warnings.

Men are always secondary in Wainwright’s dramas. She is all about writing strong female characters; Janet Scott, Rachel Bailey and Gill Murray in Scott & Bailey; Celia Dawson, Caroline McKenzie-Dawson, Gillian Greenwood in Last Tango; Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley; Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack.

The emphasis is always on the bonds that women form with other women, often in adversity. Like it or not, that adversity is often caused by the bad behaviour of men.

In Riot Women, as Kitty’s story emerges over the six episodes, her wild, erratic, self-destructive behaviour makes for uncomfortable viewing but is entirely understandable. The meltdown in the supermarket is caused by a present day betrayal and something else which has triggered a terrible trauma experienced in the past.

The men were useless, feckless, patronising stereotypes.

Were they?

Beth’s brother is a man who resents what he regards as his inheritance being spent on their mother’s dementia care. Are you saying these arguments don’t happen in families? Let’s put mother in a cheaper care home even though the money now being spent on her care is what she worked for.

Her son Tom is dealing with what adopted children who go in search of natural parents have to do - face the uncertainly of what they might discover - the kind of apprehension people taking part in TVs Long Lost Family must face.

Tim is also the kind of young man whose behaviour is complained about almost weekly on this board; the son who ends up spending more time with his in-laws than his own mother.

Jerry is a hard working man who obviously adores Jess.

Holly’s ex-husband Tony has to balance police staffing levels and station morale with knowing that not all his officers are angels and turning a blind eye to it. I suspect Sir Mark Rowley has the same concerns. This was a timely drama not least because of the recent Panorama revelations about continuing misogynistic and racist behaviour in the Met.

Kitty’s father and brothers were a notorious crime gang. OCGs do exist. They are mentioned frequently on this board.

Are these stereotypes? I don’t think so. They are just dramatic depictions of real life issues.