From time to time I find myself getting hooked into public television programs so that they become “must see” programs. In the past this has included such series as Downton Abbey and Doc Martin (I found myself wanting to emulate the doctor’s social skills). My current “must see” TV program is Last Tango in Halifax.
Last Tango in Halifax is a British drama that is now in its second season. The underlying theme is that childhood sweethearts who have been apart for 60 years and re-united via social networking, fall in love again, and get married. This is a love story that manages to be neither ageist (yes, they have sex) nor stereotyped. As with other British dramas, it is well-acted, well-written, and doesn’t require actors or characters to be perfect. It is always nice to see people in dramas who look like real people—not like models with perfect skin, hair, and teeth. The Daily Telegraph has called the series “a triumph against TV’s ageism.”
While the series has an outstanding ensemble cast, the two “stars,” that is, the actors playing the sweethearts, are Derek Jacobi (well-known for his theatre work and also featured in the public TV series Vicious) and Anne Reid (well-known stage, TV, and film actor who has also appeared in Doc Martin). All of the actors communicate more with simply a look, a smile, or a body movement than many actors can do with pages of dialog.
This is Street Prophets Saturday, an open thread. Do you have any “must see” TV programs?
Feel free to talk about life outside of TV, like food, drink, art, vacations, politics, religion, and/or whatever else is on your mind.