pmc77

OK, so I am still watching because I kinda do want to see what happens with the characters. If I can stop falling asleep. It's so slow moving and predictable. There's plenty of small town quirkiness and "we're all in this together" moments. Further plot developments are broadly hinted at in one episode to be brought out in the following one. The writers may think they are subtle but they can't seem to avoid slapping the viewer in the face with the obvious. There's nothing to keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation. Everyone has a secret and complicated past but not in an intriguing plot twist way. I suppose the characters cliched past traumas are to keep the story from becoming too sappy which it's one teary eyed moment away from. Can't handle the ooey gooey of Hallmark but don't have the bandwidth for anything complicated? This one's for you. Trigger warning: there's medical stuff so things get bloody.

On the surface this show has everything one would expect from the creator of Downton Abbey- luscious settings and costumes, great period detail, an awareness of social issues- but it lacks a key element. The writing is sub par. The dialog is overly expository as if it has to explain every detail verbally instead of letting the characters develop naturally. The actors, even the ones who are usually quite good (and trying their best here- Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski) cannot get past the blank declarations of their characters status and motivations. There's no subtlety here. The only character who is allowed to have any realistic expression is Peggy Scott. The others are mostly cardboard cutouts of real people particularly the social climbing Russells.