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Reviews
When Calls the Heart (2014)
Sweet but idolizes unrealistic past
I enjoy the characters and the enjoyable stories. And I look forward to watching it!
But...
Its view of "family values" is a thinly veiled pitch for strong Christian messaging. Lots of prayer vigils and "God has a plan". This has kicked into overdrive in the past 2-3 seasons. I respect people of all faiths but don't like being preached at. Isn't it possible to have family values irrespective of religion?
Although Season 1 talked about challenges of outhouses and presumably lack of plumbing, all the ladies walk around with gorgeous highlighted hair (worn down rather than put up as per ladies of that era). I guess they wash their hair in the pond or spend time every day hauling and heating water for a bath, lol. They also have full modern and overdone makeup, and gorgeous clothes in a presumably small and simple town. Even one of the men who is clearly over 50 has dyed hair. It reminds me of the old Bonanza and Gunsmoke days where the women were dolled up in 60s hairstyles lol.
Lots of staging issues too. For instance, in the small mining cabins of Season 1, today they have a Harry Potter-like magical morph of a large interior in the tiny little exterior. Seems like a 1500 sqft interior in a 400 sqft shell.
Look, it's a sweet storyline and I'm not seeking gritty reality in this show. But SOME attempt at minor realism would be nice.
Sweet Magnolias (2020)
Sappy, fake southernese
I enjoy a clean show. But this show is so hackneyed with the southernisms. For instance, yes we do say the occasional "bless your heart" in context of a "you poor dear" but don't pause and announce it as a dramatic semi-curse on exit. And the Christian vibe is also over the top. The male-female relationships are contrived at best. Overall, it's syrupy, undeveloped and simpering.
Bridgerton (2020)
Julia Quinn must hate this...
... I know I do. The novels sparkled and were a delight. So fun!
To be fair, the TV series does have great costuming and sets, but that's pretty much it. In fact, the producers seem to make that their biggest focus, instead or character development. The casting is just wrong, the story isn't fun at all, and the gratuitous sex is just ... well, gratuitous.
When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree (2017)
What's with the horrible wig?
Surely Elizabeth could have a decent wig. Very distracting!
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play (2019)
A Very Foul Wig
As noted by another reviewer, I can't figure out why Hallmark can't do a decent wig for its leading lady? I can only think it's the same wig maker that did the even worse job as on When Calls The Heart. Horrible.
But overall, an enjoyable whodunnit.
When Calls the Heart (2014)
Sweet but idolizes unrealistic past
I enjoy the characters and the enjoyable stories. And I look forward to watching it!
But...
Its view of "family values" is a thinly veiled pitch for strong Christian messaging. Lots of prayer vigils and "God has a plan". This has kicked into overdrive in the past 2-3 seasons. I respect people of all faiths but don't like being preached at. Isn't it possible to have family values irrespective of religion?
Although Season 1 talked about challenges of outhouses and presumably lack of plumbing, all the ladies walk around with gorgeous highlighted hair (worn down rather than put up as per ladies of that era). I guess they wash their hair in the pond or spend time every day hauling and heating water for a bath, lol. They also have full modern and overdone makeup, and gorgeous clothes in a presumably small and simple town. Even one of the men who is clearly over 50 has dyed hair. It reminds me of the old Bonanza and Gunsmoke days where the women were dolled up in 60s hairstyles lol.
Lots of staging issues too. For instance, in the small mining cabins of Season 1, today they have a Harry Potter-like magical morph of a large interior in the tiny little exterior. Seems like a 1500 sqft interior in a 400 sqft shell.
Look, it's a sweet storyline and I'm not seeking gritty reality in this show. But SOME attempt at minor realism would be nice.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Lovely, but not very singable 🎶
All the actors were delightful, and I liked the storyline. The only issue for me was the music. It's complex and lovely, but the tunes are not the kind of music that you sing to, and the lyrics will go right over the head of most children under the age of 9. When I was a girl, we would act out and sing the music from Mary Poppins and other memorable musicals on our back porch. What a pity that we didn't give better compositions and lyrics to such great talent.
🎶🎵 A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go doooown....🎶