Maternal

Loved this. Wasn't sure what to expect with it being a British show. Usually most of these are American but I was really surprised and ended up bringing the whole thing. Really hoping for a second season. Loved Nagra from ER and she didn't disappoint in this. It's exactly what woman are supposed to try to do, juggle family life and work life or just be expected to put life in hold with no support to continue as themselves. Has the same grey's feels about it though with who is sleeping with who! Definitely worth the watch as a new mum or even a dad to help understand the roles and how it is just expected of us to manage.

I started out intending to watch just the first episode and ended up watching them all because it was so compelling! All 3 of the female leads were excellent in this brilliantly written series, but it was altogether a strong cast. Having worked in a hospital for some years, I found it to be very true to life and believable, giving true insight into the pressures the NHS staff are under. Well done to all concerned and I really hope there will be another series because we need to see more drama like this.

It's always a good sign when you don't want a series to come to an end and this was one of those series!

It is rare to find a show with a protagonist who's actions stay consistent with their character throughout, and it's even rarer to find a show with three consistent protagonists, often one or two characters fall to the way side. Maternal delivers on this mark without flinching.

The show creates a devastatingly well crafted world that mixes enjoyable scenes of light character development with powerful storylines and heart wrenching moments. It shows without telling and but doesn't make you work too hard. It cuts to the core of systemic issues in the nhs and passes the bêchedel test without drawing attention to the fact it is. The male characters are awful but in a complicated way which I think is rare to see, and I can't shout out Hannah and Maryams performances enough.

I think episode six deserves a lot of awards.

I absolutely loved this series and couldn't stop watching. We so need more series like this - It had brilliant story lines and a superb cast whom you couldn't stop watching. As a woman who had experienced the realities and sacrifices of working in an industry run be men (albeit not a medical one) there was so much they got right. Women being expected to take on far more than their fair share of both work and child care with a smile on their faces, the camaraderie amongst women who have each others backs and the reality of the NHS being on its knees. Unfortunately there was a fair bit wrong too (which made me a little surprised it was written by a woman). The fact that all male characters (even the gay one!) are chauvinists or losers was a big one, and the fact that despite all the shortages the wards look pristine.

Also the title of the series - MATERNAL -really? Is there a better title to deter male viewers! My boyfriend loved this too but would never have watched this my himself despite seeking out the much better titled 'this is going to hurt'

More of these brilliant relatable women please - next series let's just have better male characters and less apology from the kick arse women who work with them.

I knew it wouldn't last. It was too smart, it was about smart women living a real life. It is about smart women working for men because the system makes that so. Real life stuff. I thought the network would do better than it does in the US. Sadly, it does not.

To stay on the air, I can only assume that it needed more misogyny, more women stabbing each other in the back instead of being friends and looking out for each other, more trite, probably more sex. Funnily enough, though, I don't watch that kind of "stuff", so either way I lose to network execs not paying attention to their customers - again.