I usually don't bother writing reviews, despite the fact that I refer to IMDB reviews all the time to see what users have said about movies I watch. But in this case, I was compelled to write something because, despite the ostensible positive reviews, the show is surprisingly inferior, despite the cast. There are so many storylines going on that it's ludicrous. It's more hyper-dramatic or melodramatic than a Charles Dickens novel. Each woman has multiple storylines of failed relationships, divorces, betrayal, in addition to a suspected murder and what not. Surprising for a British series, the show lacks a real sense of place and person, and the pace to let the story breathe, the characters breathe, and for things to evolve. There's so much continuously thrown at you, and there is a lack of credibility from the get-go. We go from a dynamic where there was no contact for years and years, to suddenly these women are instant best friends, propelled by the death of one of the husbands. While Miranda Richardson benefits from the flattering hair and costumes dictated by her character, poor Phyllis Logan gets weighted down with a frumpy hippie wig and long dresses, which is a bit of a stretch. Zoe Wanamaker's look is the most natural, though she vies with Phyllis for the hang-dog role. There was so much artificial interaction between the three women, and the women and their nuclear families that it was hard to suspend disbelief and feel you are watching something real. My understanding is that the producer has a good track record, but this one is off in every conceivable way, except for the overall premise to feature three mature actresses. As a few headlines professed: If only the material were as good as the actresses.
