New drama The Village starting tonight at 9pm

grannyactivist I agree. I'm sure one of the ways people survive in hard times is through humour.

There is a happy medium between the schmalz of Downton (which I admit to quite enjoying though I know it's tosh really) and the sheer misery of The Village (I only saw the first episode but it has obviously continued in the same vein).

I still think the complete lack of humour or any lightheartedness is false. I grew up under very difficult circumstances - and yet there were many (treasured) moments of levity.

I often think of Cold Comfort Farm when I watch it [there's something in the woodshed and all that]. I do think it probably appeals to those with a melancholy disposition [I watched the last episode of Tess of the d'Urbevilles over and over again]. Also think using the narrator is a stroke of genius which also serves to take some of the pain of watching it away knowing that Bert, at least, survives everything that's thrown at him. It's not perfect by any means but I suppose if you do a series like this you have to find a different angle. I do still find a lot of it confusing though and have to admit to thinking that Juliet Stephenson's [sp] elder son was, in fact, her lover . And it only just manages to stay one side of not being a sketch from The Peep Show sometimes. But I haven't been gripped by a non Scandinavion series for a long time the way that I have been with The Village, and it has maintained viewing figures of nearly 5 million despite tough competition.When my daughter came downstairs from putting the children to bed on Sunday [never having seen the programme] she was visibly moved by what she saw. Can't wait for Sunday [I think].

You may not like it but it is the reality of my kind of life 65 years ago. History cannot be swept away by emotion and I know it would be good for my G/children to be aware that it is how it was and help them appreciate how we have moved on in only two generations.

Personally I love a good miseryfest and I'm really enjoying it. John Simm and Maxine Peake are always excellent. I've wondered about the baths too, but I think it's just a dramatice device for the sharing of gossip, secrets, revelations and so on, just as there is always a pub or cafe in soap operas serving the same function

I watched the first episode and felt that there must be more entertaining things to do. It reminded me of the kind of rustic doom and gloom that Stella Gibbons satirised in Cold Comfort Farm!

I have given up on it as it is so tedious - I do not feel anything for any of the characters; and find the narrator quite irritating - he looks and sounds about 75 rather than 100.

I'd missed a couple, but saw it this week. It's not exactly a "feel good" programme is it.

Didn't like the first episode, found it hard to watch, especially the cruelty towards the young lad. Popped in last week, but, still no. Have given up.

I have finished struggling and given it up kitty

I'm really struggling with this and hope that it lightens up quickly - maybe the 20s and 30s will be more fun [hopefulemoticon]

I love it! It's about as far from the sugary sweetness of Downton Abbey as you can get. I agree it's very depressing but looking at life through a child's eyes gives it a bit of Cider With Rosie lightness now and again. There's a whole list of characters I hope will come to a very sticky end as two of the 'good guys' have already been shot and will that blasted farmer ever do a day's work???

PS The farmhouse is bang on trend with the stripped floors and muted tones. Escape To The Country anyone?

Tegan I wondered about the baths too, it doesn't seem to fit.

I think Maxine Peake is fantastic, but I feel the series is just skimming the surface, and could be a lot more engaging.

That's sort of what I meant though. In that, when I feel that something is too awful to be true I realise that it did happen. It's a bit like the televisual equivalent of fell running in that I seem to be addicted to the pain I have to go through watching it. Did villages have public baths? When I was a child growing up in Birmingham we didn't have a bathroom and I used to go to the public baths but can't imagine them existing in villages. Wonder if I'll get through the last episode without bursting into tears? The next series is supposed to be much jollier [although I don't think it will, somehow, turn into Downton Abbey].

I have watched this on iPlayer (too much time on my hands ) and find the unremitting hopelessness of it is almost too much to bear. Life was hard in those times for people of a certain class, no doubt. But this joyless, permanently angst ridden depiction (across the classes) doesn't ring true to me.

I'm still watching it Tegan and enjoying it (if that's the right word). I find myself becoming very angry at the various injustices and last night's ending was almost too much to bear, but inevitable really. Didn't you find Maxine's pain as a mother agony to watch? The only thing that irritates me (and I know you will understand this) is that nobody seems able to even attempt a Derbyshire accent. Considering they are all supposed to be born and bred in the village they seem to have an interesting assortment of dialects .

Anyone else still torturing themselves by still watching this? I watched part of yesterdays episode with my daughter and, just as I was thinking that something that happened in it was beyond the realms of possibility [which has happened quite a lot over the past 5 episodes] she turned to me and said 'mum; that's what they did as a punishment for insubordination' [she teaches about that era]. Which made it hurt even more . I've also only just noticed the thread running through the series which is about how mental illness was treated according to your class.. I love the way that the character of Caro's brother [is it George?] is developing; I think he's going to turn out to be quite a hero. So pleased to hear that they're going ahead with a second series.

What good actresses Shameless has thrown up. Look at Anne Marie Duff as well. And when you think of the actors/actresses that started out in Brookside, think Ch 4 have got a knack of spotting talent.

NB

DOESN'T IT REMIND US OF HOW DIFFICULT OUR PARENTS LIVES WERE.[SAD]

I am enjoying it and do not understand the critics when they say it is too sad. It was life pure and simple.

I love Maxine as an actress (the lad's mum) but I can't thelp seeing her as the chubby girl in 'Dinner Ladies' with Julie Walters. Then I remember how good she was in 'Shameless'. Could well be another acting treasure as she get's the acting parts over the next few years.

I have just watched the last episode on catch-up. It is absolutely gripping! That child is such a good actor! So sad about the poor teacher but great closing scene with the horse in the pub!

Bu it's on after 9 o'clock so after the watershed anyway.

I haven`t watched The Village at all, but on The Wright Stuff this morning, there was mention of embarrassing bits which could have caused problems if children were watching?

I saw the first episode of The Village and found it depressing. Last night I saw Endeavour which was an inventive back-story (I hate the word 'prequel') to Morse and seemed to be very much in character.

I was out last night (yes! sometimes I have a life ) so I missed The Village and Endeavour, so are they both worth watching on catch-up?