Drama needs balls

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As a seasoned cinema aficionado with a soft spot for historical dramas and a penchant for period pieces, I can wholeheartedly say that The Hardacres has swept me off my feet! With its rich tapestry of working-class life in 1890s Yorkshire, it’s like stepping into a time machine and being whisked away to an era that I thought had long vanished from our TV screens.

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Nostalgia as we once knew it seems to have faded on our television screens, but that changed with the debut of Channel 5’s show, “The Hardacres“. This isn’t just a story about a working-class family from the docks; they found success through their exceptional herring cooking. It’s like a magical fish – cook it right, and fortune will follow. Soon enough, they were wealthy and living in a grander home. I call it “The Fish of Dreams”.

1890s Yorkshire serves as the backdrop for this drama, which seems almost self-written, having been adapted from a 1976 novel by CL Skelton. The leading character, Father Sam (portrayed by Liam McMahon), exudes an easygoing charm and rugged good looks reminiscent of a boxer. His wife, Mary (played by Claire Cooper), is characterized by her sharp cheekbones and strong-willed spirit. Their relationship is filled with tension – “I’m no lord of the manor, Mary” – and they often find themselves at odds not only with each other but also with their newly acquired snobbish neighbors. It’s only a matter of time before the neighbors’ daughter becomes a source of trouble.

If at times it seems like a humorous imitation of French and Saunders, it doesn’t diminish my enjoyment. It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a grand saga like this. Do you remember curling up for one of those extensive historical dramas that used to dominate Sunday evenings, filled with treasure hoards and betrayals, clandestine romances spanning social classes? I can’t bring myself to appreciate Netflix’s behemoth Bridgerton, as it’s too theatrical, offering its opulent ballrooms along with contemporary winks. Instead, I yearn for the sincere and heartfelt “family and finance” stories of yesteryears: Penmarric (mining), The Pallisers (politics) The Onedin Line (ships, with a theme song that even made it to the pop charts.)

It’s been a while since we’ve had a bonnet-quiverer on this scale

For 30 years or so we took all of this for granted, and that was before screenwriter Andrew Davies brought us Mr Darcy’s post-swim white shirt (Pride and Prejudice) and Rufus Sewell’s curls (Middlemarch). We had an embarrassment of riches, and rags to boot. My two personal favourites were The Mallens – the rewarding premise of a ruthless squire with a white streak in his hair, something inherited by all his children, legitimate and otherwise – and, later, A Woman of Substance, with Barbara Taylor Bradford’s heroine Emma Harte similarly buying the big house from under the noses of her former tormentors. “I want it torn down, Blackie, brick by brick…” Delicious.

Moving away from the confusing kitchen soap operas that have become common in recent years, three shows have managed to thrive with the sharpness of intricate historical narratives. In 2010, my former roommate and I would arrange our Sunday nights around Downton Abbey on ITV, while on BBC we had Poldark and Peaky Blinders. All three shows were massive global successes, offering vivid portrayals of the past through large budgets, exceptional writing, and a wide array of well-played characters by skilled actors.

Why persistently do TV producers present us with programs that have minor variations – such as Vigil, Bodyguard, Nightsleeper, among others; isn’t it enough to mention Line of Duty? While Line of Duty was captivating, its popularity has spawned a multitude of SWAT teams storming buildings in subsequent shows. Interestingly, Channel 5 appears to be preserving the past with its successes. It excelled with its revival of All Creatures Great and Small, which, like the Hardacres’ mansion, was purchased from beneath the BBC’s nose, who were reluctant to commit to enough episodes for a series now in its fifth season. And The Hardacres hints at a prolonged and fulfilling future.

For producers, it’s great news that CL Skelton penned a sequel, meaning they have more material to work with, like drawing from a deeper well. On the other hand, viewers can look forward to this: At least one channel has brought back bonnets, so there’s something new and exciting to watch!

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2024-10-17 19:38