A Place to Call Home

I started to watch this amazing television programme with a friend, through her recommendation, while I was in Australia on holiday (I am from the UK). Unfortunately, the series was half way through the story. But the more I watched it, the more I liked it. The cast were terrific and while the series, unlike so much of the local television, looked like an A-grade period drama. Nostalgia is a potent sentiment, one that transcends even the most stubborn cringers. As the season come to an end, I found myself happily reporting that, despite my assumptions, A Place to Call Home actually explores with real sophistication the stuff that resonates powerfully in our national consciousness – a longing for the past, and a longing for home – and that makes for great television. Luckily I have been able to get the DVD not long after it was released. Unfortunately, I won't be able to see the second series next year. But, hopefully I will be able to purchase the DVD once it gets released.

My husband and I are very much enjoying this series, (not nearly finished) but since the '50's were the decade where we reached maturity, served in the military (he) moved to NYC (me) and generally left the nest and entered into our own lives, we have some observations on the '50's as depicted here. The first is the total absence of anyone smoking. Most people smoked in the '50s and it looks very odd for no effort to have been made to depict that. (Pregnant women could smoke in obstetricians offices and the doctors smoked too!) The other thing is the wearing of hats by men during social events, that may be an Australian custom. Finally is the clothing. The clothing IMHO is spot on; an excellent job, except for one thing. We wore casual clothes a lot and I don't see any here. Dress was definitely more formal, (no slacks to work,) gloves, hats, small pocket books etc. However for leisure time we wore shorts, slacks, pedal pushers etc. Not jeans so much but still everyone owned at least one pair. And given the country life they lived surely they would have worn casual clothes? The other observation is the character of Sarah, who of course is wonderful. Since I lived in NYC, I met and worked with many survivors. (one woman who was 46 looked at least 66) they were mostly beaten down or at least bitter. I certainly never met anyone with the spunk and determination and fearlessness of Sarah, but she still is a wonderful character and we are enjoying this series very much.

This is one of the best TV series to come out in a long time...we live in the States but tend to watch English shows vs American 90% of the time since the reality show trend is a total waste. I'm a Brit expat and husband is American, we both loved this post WW2 drama. The cast is superb and make this series all the more compelling. The 50s' feel is well done, as is the portrayal of the three generations and how they cope with their different - and unexpected yet similar - experiences. Not to spoil it for those who haven't seen it, the series generally takes us to fresh plots/characterizations in ways other shows haven't. Bravo! We saw series 2 on the BBC and anxiously await its screening on Acorn Media next month. Series 3 is apparently being filmed now to be shown later in the year with a 4th to follow. Looking forward to seeing it -- why can't this type of series be shown here at the same time? Why do US audiences have to wait a few years or worse watch a US-made remake that usually flops? Don't the studios understand that we are not idiots and enjoy watching intelligent shows?

..so it's over.. it will be missed... it wasn't always great television, but for sure it was mostly all very good TV

..the cast was solid across the board, and all production values high

..when there is just sooo much not worth watching that seems to never end... to loose one that was looked forward to week to week leaves a void..

..Australia keeps putting out high-quality shows... keep 'em coming.. you have a most grateful North American audience thanking you..!!

A soap, but a soap of the very highest quality. Noni Hazlehurst's performance alone is reason enough to watch.