Reviews of movies and TV focused on women
I’ve been noticing a lot of what you might call grace notes in Gentleman Jack. Minor characters, casting choices, reasons to break the 4th wall. There are a few spoilers from episode 2 ahead.
Continue reading “Grace Notes after Two Episodes of Gentleman Jack”Unforgiven, the Unforgiven I’m talking about, is not a Western. It’s a 3 part drama from 2009 and the BBC starring Suranne Jones. I wandered into a conversation about it on Twitter with @gingesbecray and learned that not only does it star Suranne Jones – really all the recommendation a series needs – but it was written by Sally Wainwright. Continue reading “Review: Unforgiven”
Happy Valley S2 E4 must be saving the boiling excitement for the final episode in series 2, because this one is more about boiling emotions. I figured there would be dangerous situations to go all around by now, but I was wrong. We have to wait a bit. There are some spoilers ahead. Continue reading “Happy Valley S2 E4: So, So Emotional”
Happy Valley S2 E2 has a few laughs, a couple of funerals, and a mess of disasters that will tangle future episodes. I’ll keep the review as brief and spoiler free as possible, but there are some spoilers.
Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) brings home Ilinka (Ivana Bašić) after a group of Croatian women were rescued from slavery. There were more women than the various facilities in the Calder Valley could hold; naturally, Catherine brought one home. Continue reading “Happy Valley S2 E2: Two Funerals and a Fall off the Wagon”
Happy Valley series 2, episode 1 aired on BBC One this week. The series is off to an exciting start. I can’t stop myself from writing about this series. I shall try to restrain myself from writing recaps with so many spoilers for season 2. I did that for season 1. Feel free to mention it if I stray too close to actual recaps or include too many spoilers for those who must wait for Netflix to stream the series.
Writer and director Sally Wainwright sets up a tangled tapestry of strings that will get pulled in the next 5 episodes. I’m eagerly anticipating how each of them will unravel and add to what will surely be a tension-filled ride. Continue reading “Happy Valley S2 E1: Oh, What a Tangled Web She Weaves”
Happy Valley season 2 previews and publicity teasers are coming our way. Here’s a preview, if you can call 10 seconds of video a preview, of what’s to come. Here’s everything I know about the second series. Continue reading “Previews and Teasers for Happy Valley Season 2”
And here… we… go! #HappyValley pic.twitter.com/62ZR0etf3j
— Red Production Co. (@RedProductionCo) August 24, 2015
With this short note, Twitter carried the announcement of the beginning of filming for season 2 of the BBC drama Happy Valley. The 6 episode season again stars Sarah Lancashire as police sergeant Catherine Cawood. Returning are James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce and Charlie Murphy as Ann Gallagher. George Costigan is back as Nevison Gallagher with Karl Davies returning as Catherine’s son Daniel. Siobhan Finneran returns as Catherine’s sister Clare.
Even though the murderer, rapist and kidnapper Tommy Lee Royce is in prison in season 2, he remains part of the story. The police in The Calder Valley in West Yorkshire have other problems as well. The plot description for season 2 is, “Catherine suspects there may be another serial killer on the loose and makes a gruesome discovery that will have shocking repercussions for her and her family.”
Joining the cast are Kevin Doyle, Katherine Kelly, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Shirley Henderson, Amelia Bullmore, Matthew Lewis, Con O’Neill, and Vincent Franklin.
Happy Valley has been nominated for or won over 30 awards, including Best Drama Series award at the 2015 BAFTAs with writer Sally Wainwright named Best Writer at the 2015 BAFTA Craft Awards. Plus it earns my personal award for being freakin’ fantastic.
I wrote recaps of season 1 of Happy Valley and it can be streamed on Netflix.
Happy Valley Images © 2014 – Red Production Company Limited
Everything goes to hell in Catherine’s life and work in the season finale of Happy Valley. Hang on for the ride! There are spoilers everywhere.
Episode 4 of Happy Valley was directed by the series creator Sally Wainwright. In this episode the police finally learn about the kidnapping. And things get brutal. There are spoilers in every paragraph.
Continue reading “Happy Valley S1, E4”
By the end of episode 3 of Happy Valley everyone – the police and the kidnappers alike – are hanging on by their last nerve. The stakes go way up in this episode, and our heroine Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) is coming unraveled. Far be it from writer Sally Wainwright to ever let the tension drop before the tale is told. There will be spoilers!
Continue reading “Happy Valley S1, E3”
