Are critics of The Shire just showing their age?

After watching the first episode of The Shire (What did you think of The Shire?), I was determined to watch the second. I lasted less than five minutes! Look, I accept that I am the wrong demographic, but even so. Watching the twitter feed, I think that best thing the show has going for it (apart from bits of the soundtrack that I rather like) is that so many people seem to be watching it so that they can bag it.

Mind you, looking at the tweets and also the media reaction such as this live blog of tonight's episode, I am not at all sure that the older members of Gen Y or the younger members of Gen X who appear to dominate the feeds are at all representative of Ten's target demographic. Maybe just too old! Ouch.

In the meantime, I leave the last word to ‏@KelynnWolfe - "Australians I implore you. Don't watch #theShire anymore!! Even ironically. Let it die quietly!"

I think it time to return to a more fulfilling topic, the economy. 

What did you think of The Shire?

I watched The Shire tonight. I kind of felt that I should. Then perhaps I shouldn't haveI

Eldest has a predilection for certain popular US TV shows, so I have actually watched more of this type of show than you might expect. Many more, in fact.

The official web site describes the program in this way:

Set against the backdrop of the Southern Sydney region that commands the loyalty of its residents like no other, TEN’s brand new ‘dramality show’ The Shire is the latest daring addition to its schedule.

Screening Mondays at 8.00, The Shire isn’t another contrived piece of TV faux-fact; it’s true unscripted Shire life-through-a-lens. The entertaining cast of characters may seem larger than life, but they’re every bit as real as the relationships they share.

From Mitch, the ‘Peter Pan’ surfer boy who never wants to grow up, to Nikee, the glamour model who wants nothing more than to settle down, seeing what makes The Shire’s personalities tick and what ticks them off is certain to make compulsive viewing.

Some you’ll love, some you may loathe, but you’ll all be talking about them when The Shire hits your screens. Are you ready to meet them? Find out who's who on The Shire!

Mmm! The show begins like a tourist promo, then switches into the "story". I can only manage so much shopping in Dubai with Daddy's credit card, and I probably learned more about botox that I cared to. Now on the US shows I have learned about the Housewives, even the real housewives, of Orange County. I have seen the most amazing manipulation of parents by seventeen year old girls spending enough on their birthday party to retire half the Greek debt. But I wasn't bored. And here I was, except for rare flashes. 

Now accepting that I am not in Ten's target demographic(!), accepting too that Twitter is not a good guide given those I tend to follow, I did what any sensible person would do, I went to the official Facebook page. Wow, some of the negative comments there would make Tony Abbott look like the Gillard Government's greatest promoter.  Angie wrote: "Thank you 'The Shire' for reigniting my will to hang myself."

So I went to the official Shire Twitter hash tag. Oops!  According to Chris: "BREAKING: RTA says Tom Ugly's Bridge bumper-to-bumper northbound. Residents fleeing. More detail in Late News". Peter thought that the show was making Being Lara Bingle look like Q&A.

Mind you, even as I wrote the last two paragraphs eighty new tweets came in. They included this one: "If you missed ‪#TheShireTV‬ tonight, this image basically sums it up. pic.twitter.com/69CEnQ9x " Ouch!

Mind you, and as one twitterer noted, its seems just so bad that everybody is likely to switch in next time just to see what the fuss is all about. Now Ten may want that, be seeking it, for if the next episode is better then people may stay. Better? I don't mean high drama, just something that fleshes everybody out in a more interesting way.

Still, what do I know? I will put this post up on Facebook to see what reaction I get. But then I'm not sure that most Easties actually talk to anyone from The Shire. In the meantime, Channel Ten can send me a cheque for promotion!

In praise of The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency

Here in Australia, the ABC has begun running The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency on Sunday nights. I had never heard of the series. We watched it first because my wife had read and loved the books written by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith.

The agency is located in Gaborone, capital of Botswana.

I knew a little of Botswana, including the fact that it was part of the Commonwealth of Nations and used to be called  Bechuanaland. In retrospect, stamp collecting as a child in combination with the old Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogues gave me a remarkably good introduction to world geography and politics!

While I knew something of Botswana including the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, I hadn't realised what a success story the country had been since gaining independence in 1966. At independence, it was one of the poorest countries in Africa. Today its population of a bit over two million has an average GDP (purchasing power parity) of $US14,800.

Mining and especially diamonds has been central to economic growth, but this wealth has been well managed over an extended period. Successive governments have placed great emphasis on education as the key investment for the future, with education taking up some 21 per cent of government spend.  

The founder of The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency is a Motswana woman, Mma Precious Ramotswe, who features as the stories' protagonist and main detective. The episodic novels are as much about the adventures and foibles of different characters as they are about solving mysteries.

In 2007, work began on a film pilot based on the novels. Subsequently the BBC and HBO combined to produce six TV episodes. Both the pilot and the episodes themselves were completely filmed in Botswana. The BBC web site for the series is here. 

I was surprised to discover that the series had not been extended because it failed to attract the required ratings. Coming to it cold with no preconceptions, I thought that that it was wonderful. I was also fascinated by the glimpses of Botswana life.

Reading the earlier criticisms, some reviewers complained that it was too episodic, too much cardboard cut-outs. I think that those criticisms completely missed the point. I found that the pilot and first episode created an internally consistent and completely entertaining world. I do recommend the series. 

Postscript

As noted in comments, I need to read the books! I thought that a comment from Barbara Albin should be repeated in full on the post itself.

Hi, I want to add to your comments. I have been trying in the United States to bring this series back for a second season for almost 3 years now. We had a modest 3,000 fans on FB and now we are at almost 29,000 fans thanks to many of you from Australia. The series is now in the hands of HBO, with I believe a little behind the scenes help from Cinechicks and Mr. Alexander McCall Smith. The cast is superb, led by Miss Jill Scott, Miss Anika Noni Rose, Mr. Lucian Msamati and Mr. Desmond Dube along with a great extended cast and crew. We need your help to convince HBO to make a second season. Please join us on http://www.facebook.com/#!/no1ladiesdetectiveagency and you can also email consumeraffairs3@hbo.com and ask for more shows. We need your help. Thank you, Barbara Soloski Albin

Please support Barbara.