Mum's Monday: Last Tango in Halifax

Seven years after Celia (Anne Reid) and Alan (Derek Jacobi) married and two families merged into one. Although they met at school this still reminds me of the BBC Sitcom ‘As Time Goes By’. With Geoffrey Palmer and Judi Dench as Lionel and Jean. However, they first met back Lionel was in the army and Jean was a nurse, before they drifted their separate ways and then met again and married years later.

Now in Last Tango in Halifax I like at the beginning when they flashed back over the last seven years. It looks like there have been some ups and downs, family fall outs, as people have changed. I can see how a daughter would want to protect her father, but ultimately he has his own mind, although the heart attack must have been traumatic. I am not sure about the playing of ‘The blame game’ though.

Now we come to the start of episode one, of this new series, Alan has a job in a supermarket, this is after some news of his brother Ted (Timothy West) coming to visit. The scenes jump around from one set of character’s conversation to another, although this is consistent you have to keep up with what is happening. What I do know is ‘They don’t need a new kitchen’ and a father wants to help his daughter. I hope he can. This part is actually hard to watch. Has Celia got too much control? Answer, their families think so and there is a little evidence of it being the case. The drama continues, Ted could be lost in Hong Kong. I feel scared for the characters watching this part. It is like an empathy type thing. And well now the birthday party could be described as ‘Awkward’ I can actually see both sides of the argument it just depends on who gets the final say. When they say ‘Always leave them wanting more’ this doesn’t disappoint as this episode ends on a ‘Cliff hanger’.

Episode two, it is nice to see after the awkwardness in the first episode a heart to heart between Celia and Alan. Well Ted has arrived with more than just luggage this is odd to watch. It is now a question as to where they will accommodate all. Also the art work is causing quite a stir. I feel this episode is either going to get more awkward or fun to watch it seems Celia is not so ‘Good with people’ let’s see. However, first the art work strikes again and the script is cleverly interweaved with the phone call and Caroline (Sarah Lancashire) talking to herself. It is lovely to see Celia happy with her new house guests for a little while anyway. Ted is causing a stir and it seems Alan’s new job a little as well. Well now John (Tony Gardner) did say ‘Yes’ to marriage, I can really sympathise with him it looks like things are quickly going to spiral out of control. All of it feels awkward, whether they were going for making people who watch this program come to that conclusion or not it is the vibe I am getting from this. I am glad to see a little light-heartedness with Caroline’s dinner date. Sadly, it doesn’t last long and we are back to awkwardness again. ‘No, no’ when it is so obviously a ‘Yes’. The morning after we know where some are as she is making enough noise, but where is Ted?

Episode three, I am glad to see Ted back. It is sad to see a blur between professional and personal lives. It high-lights a very good reason why they shouldn’t mix. Oh so no kitchen, no high profile painting and now no sheep. I don’t like how this episode has taken a very negative turn. They have found the sheep and vodka. Alan’s job is causing quite a stir and I can actually see Celia’s point. Well now Angelina and no money. I can also sadly see why Gillian (Nicola Walker) wants to sell the farm, and now a shocking twist, crazy but funny and yet another shock. I feel for the characters I wouldn’t want to have no kitchen any longer than necessary.

Episode four and final in this series, as school runs go, this is written really well, well first we hear an awkward line of questioning, that could have gone better. It is simple but when answering a child, a little different as we see. Then some people are popular however, not with other road uses, or with stating clearly, as clearly as they can that a dinner date is out of the question as yes, I see she did wreck her marriage. it is obvious now. I suppose when I first heard the revelation I was one, in shock and two, too busy thinking this is amusingly weird/crazy. And don’t get me started on who was supposed to have murdered who. That was even before the school run but the mention of Caroline helping Gillian with the farm with an idea she’s had reminded me of a previous in car conversation. On the bright side Celia and Alan should have a kitchen back. That is a nice gesture. Ted has gone ‘Bridlington AWOL’ Caroline’s ideas some good, her first good but I can see the logistics sadly, wouldn’t work in the long term as described well in this episode. It is now nice to see a caring boss. The conversation between Celia and Alan is a good one full of life lessons, realisations and a nice gesture. I agree to the outcome than I would have if they would have chosen a holiday it is heart-warming. Now we see a tragedy, we had warnings but it is still really sad. I felt sad when the warnings started. I don’t condone but I imagine beer and a car engine don’t mix well. I want to say the funeral is nice, well as nice as it can be but they have used this storyline to tie up loose ends and a baby has been born. We knew she was pregnant but it was all been skipped over that part. This episode has quickened it seems they had more ideas than time to process, write the script for or film.

To sum up each episode in one word, the first episode, awkward. The second episode, stir. The third episode, negative and the fourth episode, denial (in and not in). to sum up the whole series, The seven year itch.