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TV Critic (4)

While it might look like there's a gap, there isn't. Well, there is but I've been doing badge stuff - and sewing. Lots and lots of sewing. 

So let's go to Happy Valley. We were late to the party, big time. So late that we only started watching Series 3 in the last month, bingeing it every night we could to check that Catherine Cawood is okay. (we watched Series 1 & 2 at the start of the year)

So we had a vaguely fresh look at it all - remembering plotlines and characters easier - this is something I always struggle with and thank authors who do those little character updates at the front of the book so forgetful people like me can cross-reference. When you forget stuff you can really forget it - it has taken until today for me to realise it's only Wednesday, not Thursday, for example - because I started my new blood sugar log book on the wrong date. So I need all the help I can get. 

Which brings me to Happy Valley. Having started the series at the start of the year the characters were all fresh in our minds. Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) is our main character, she lives in Hebden Bridge with her grandson Ryan and her sister Clare (who is a recovering alcoholic and heroin addict). They find out that criminal Tommy Lee Royce has been released from prison - I don't want to give a lot away as there's a lot to take in and I think it's better watching the series. There are plenty of twists and turns and you don't expect where it goes - yet looking back it's also quite obvious as you get to the end of the story. 

I think that's what I like the most - looking back you'd say "ohhhh of course" but then at the time it doesn't really occur to you - I like that Happy Valley made me think a bit more about the story being told after we had watched it. 

We had been told the story was a three series arc, so watching them closely together helped me a lot - I have memory problems so keeping it all fresh in my mind was good. 

It helped starting to watch this when the weather was colder - we're now hitting all the new premieres that start every September (which is great btw), which means less 'older programme' time.

Happy Valley is so wonderfully 'normal' if that makes sense? 

Interesting fact - the grave of Catherine's daughter was filmed in the same graveyard as Sylvia Plath is buried - we recognised it, plus I think that you might see her grave in the background of a shot. 

ANYWAY. I'd watch it again. Although I'd probably keep a notebook to keep track of who is who.... 



BTW, I've stopped watching 'Four in a Bed' - it was too samey. 

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