Since Masterpiece Classic has ended, I've been yearning for something clean and quality and uplifting and fun. And not stupid.
Side note: I had high hopes for Glee, since the pilot was so fun--but the following two episodes have pandered a bit to the fun-music-is-always-about-sex crowd and have left me a little disappointed. Come on, people! "I wanna sex you up" at a PTA meeting?!? That's not even believable! (The Josh Groban bit and the thumb-cake bits were funny though).
Really, though, HBO just released the first season of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency on DVD. Yay! I've been waiting for it to come out, hoping it hadn't been canceled--but apparently it survived a season on HBO, despite the fact that it's not about people who repeatedly make bad life decisions!
Just as important, it's quality stuff. Jill Scott does a lovely job playing Mma Ramotswe in all her warmth and traditionally-built glory, and it's filmed entirely on location in Botswana, a country apparently just as beautiful as author Alexander McCall Smith describes. I've only seen the pilot--I hope they can keep up the quality in future episodes--but even just that was enough. It covered much of the material in the first book, and was about an hour and a half long--feature-film length. Well-cast, gentle humor, a love letter to Botswana with all its beauty and some of its dangers.
Like the books, I don't expect to devour the entire series in one sitting--it would probably be too much of the same. And I was iffy about the accuracy of one scene (I didn't remember her kissing that one guy). And if you see it, don't expect to see a totally accurate depiction of Africa today--I recognize that its image maybe isn't gritty reality. But who wants grit in your popcorn, sitting on your couch on a Sunday night? Not me.
3 comments:
Couldn't agree with you more about ALL three series. 1) Masterpiece Classics are wonderful. I've only been able to see them via DVD since the only channel we seem to get is the Discovery Channel. 2) Similar disappointment in Glee. I only just watched the first three episodes on hulu.com, but I'm not sold that I'll be going back for more (sniff sniff). 3) Jill Scott is WONDERFUL as Mma Ramotswe, although for me, a little The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (in book or TV format) goes a LONG way.
I just had a cup of rooibos tea the other day. It made me happy.
I LOVE these books. I remember you recommending them to me on our mission. I listened to them on cd and the boys have heard quite a bit of it. Mma Ramotswe is a household name around here. I'd like to try out the DVD.
thanks for the review! I'll be sure to check out the books and dvd.
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