The Amazing Mrs Pritchard

By the end of E2 I could only think of one word to describe it - superficial. A shallow plot that even the first rate acting of Jane Horrocks and the other leads couldn't turn into anything convincing.

I was reminded of "The Marvellous Mrs Maisel". Although I did eventually find that rather tiresome, the story was much more convincing.

But Mrs P improved by E4. Or maybe I'd just got used to it. But the dilemma's Mrs P faced were interesting and I was keen to find out what happened.

Epiosde 1 screened last night - Tuesday 3 October

It was a good start with plenty to develop in the further 5 episodes.

Often in these kind of shows where real people play themselves, the real people lack credibility - They appear to act. But here Kirsty Wark and Peter Snow played themselves with the authority one should expect from the original.

Jane Horrocks was excellent and her beleaguered hubby was entirely believable.

There was also an excellent balance between shabby politicians and exposing the job they do as remorselessly difficult. It is to hoped that this balance can be maintained throughout the production.

Interesting that it is billed as comedy when the laughs were few and far between. Not that that is a bad thing.

The later episodes were replaced by football matches, please arrange for us to see them. My wife and I greatly enjoyed the episodes we saw for, though the plot is unlikely, it expressed the feelings of many that politicians pay no attention to the wishes of the electorate and follow their own agenda. I have long thought that parliament should move from London further north. I would choose York or even Manchester or Newcastle rather Bradford in the play. This will never happen for MPs would then not be able to earn large sums decorating City offices. Incidentally I think an MPs job should be full-time so no outside earning should be allowed. I belong to a profession, medicine, trusted by the population and think politicians should get their act together, stop lying to us on Radio & TV and start to earn our respect. They do not seem to realise that lying is easily detected on TV.

Hasn't this been done a hundred times? You'd think after Margaret Thatcher this wouldn't be such a shocking premise. I found the whole thing silly and irritating.

I dislike prejudice in any form so it offends me to hear statements like, "Women are better at politics because they can admit when they've made a mistake." I don't think work has a gender, I don't think women are better at politics any more than men are better at engineering. I also dislike seeing women treat their husbands like children and their children like adults.

This might make a nice "follow your dream" film for school girls except for the fact that the film teaches that self-esteem is a more useful career preparation than education or experience.

The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard is a superb performance by a very believable cast. The story is one of hope, against a backdrop of political despair that many in the world today face. The idea that one of the marginal people can rise above the corrupt incompetence that many in national parties claim is just the way things are done, is very inspiring. Jane Horrocks was consummate for the part. Jane's dynamic range gave us a believable character we have to cheer for, from one of the little people to that of a world leader in a couple of episodes, she made this performance most memorable.

The foibles of those around Mrs. Pritchard add the dramatic element found often in reality: it isn't what a person really wants to accomplish, it is how that person reacts to those in the world around them that makes for a charismatic winner.

Newcomer Jemma McKenzie-Brown who played young Georgina Pritchard with enthusiasm, was the innocent yet solid support for Mrs. Pritchard's transition from Mom to Prime Minister.

The entire supporting cast was wonderful.

The story, the cast's performances and direction all are top notch. 10 of 10!