Customer Reviews

Clatterford: The Complete Season Two

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been waiting impatiently for the second series of this delightful British show (titled Jam and Jerusalem there) to be available on this side of the pond. Although it still hasn't aired here on BBC America, I did catch these episodes in 9-minute chunks on YouTube (certainly not the best way to catch a TV show, but grateful for the access anyway). It's a sweet, funny, and very poignant character study of the quirky women of Clatterford, a small fictional village in Devon. If you've not seen series 1, don't think you're getting another AbFab from the brilliant Jennifer Saunders. This is a very different show. Like series one, it showcases the gentler side of English village life that is sadly passing away.

I wrote a review rhapsodizing over season 1 of Clatterford and couldn't say enough good things. We were on the list to get season 2 the second it became available on Amazon U.S. Alas, we are sadly disappointed. We should have been alerted when we saw a second name on the writing credit. However, we figured Jennifer Saunders would have remained on top of things and kept the characters and plots congruent, as they had been in season 1. The stories flowed so naturally from the characters that we were able to sit back and simply bask. However, season 2 is not in the same category - it is still better than most television, no matter what side of the Atlantic it's being produced, hence the 3 stars - but it certainly is not a 5 star series any more.

I'm going to confess here that a big piece of our disappointment was a totally unbelievable glitch in the behavior of one of the main characters, Sal. Sal's daughter, 36 years old and mother of a young child, is unable to take care of herself, can't make a decent decision, has to live with her mother because she won't/can't find work, and is neglectful of her son. This is not pretty, but it is believable - as is the way Sal alternates between being frustrated beyond reason, and co-dependent to a fault. This rang true to us, as we have a similar situation in our own family - and we identified mightily with all of it- the frustrations, the co-dependency, the futile attempts to expect and demand adult behavior from someone who simply isn't capable of it - and continuing to love and hope despite all evidence to the contrary. It was the first time we'd seen this situation portrayed with sensitivity, honesty, and accuracy in any medium and we were mightily impressed. In Season 1 that is.

Then comes season 2 - wherein Sal, portrayed as an intelligent, experienced woman, who, although co-dependent, is not blind to her daughter's flaws - encourages her to hook up with a man who is in worse mental health than the daughter, addicted to drugs, and even less responsible. Are we to believe that Sal lost enough IQ points in a year to take on a life time of supporting 3 people, rather than passing along the two she's already in bondage to? There is a solid and responsible man who wants to take care of them - are we to believe Sal would actively try to disrupt this happy state of affairs? I don't think so. It is especially annoying because this idiotic plot theme takes up a good bit of the season. Look around you - feckless, aimless, helpless people marry stable people who will take care of them. And then there's changing Tip from a funny, witty, kind, hard working woman who has a difficult life with a man she loves and who loves her - and the fortitude, wisdom, and humor to keep on with it - into a bitter, unhappy, whiner. A conflict with a lot of inappropriate verbal sniping between two other characters - Eileen and Katie is unlikely, unpleasant, and irritating to watch. Given the character development of these two women, it simply wouldn't be. And we are smart enough to know that.

Conflict for conflict's sake is just plain painful (as well as boring and annoying) to watch. This plot technique only causes a person to click the clicker and pop in a different DVD - or go read a well written book. Season 1 of Clatterford we watched virtually in one sitting, it was so compelling. Season 2 we turned off before the disk was done. We will probably finish watching it some time - but we felt no need to lose sleep over it. My only regret about writing this review is that I plan to resell it and have to hope no one reads it before buying!

To be honest, there is some constancy as well, which makes it worth a viewing. Is it that there was only one good season in this setting, with these characters? Certainly I expected there was more gold to be found in Clatterford. Or is it that the firm and talented hand that guided the first season is doing something else, and a television hack writer has taken charge? The acting remains topnotch, it's the writing that has fallen off. We've seen a few television series where that has happened - the originator has said all he/she has to say and moves on, leaving the plotting to a lesser talent. After a season or two of implausible plots and incongruent characterizations, the series simply fades away. What a shame to have this happen to Clatterford.

I am giving a limited recommendation: you will find some of it less than plausible and therefore not nearly as entertaining as season 1; but there is still enough remaining of the superb characters and their doings to be worth a watching. I'm not so sure I'm glad we bought it, however. I would love there to be a season 3, back to the quality of the first season.

Clatterford is like a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket on a wintry day. It's warm and inviting, and celebrates a slower pace of life that I personally long for. That being said, Season Two is a slight step below the first one. I really only have two chief complaints with this season: The first is the absence of Joanna Lumley's character, who makes an appearance in the first episode and is gone from the rest. She was a lot of fun to watch and was sorely missed.
The second, and more important complaint is the out of character plot line for Sal. All of last season, Sal was trying to get her thirty-something daughter Tash to grow up and take responsibility of her life. At the end of last season, Tash had hooked up with a childhood friend who was a good, responsible man who loved her and her son. You'd think Sal would be thrilled. However, for some unknown and out of left field reason, this season Sal instead tried to push Tash and SPIKE together. And succeeded. Now Spike is a likable drug-addicted loser (!), and actually not too bad a match for Tash, personality wise, but the whole thing came across as contrived. Why would Sal want her daughter to ditch her oh so dependable boyfriend for someone who has less going for him than Tash? It simply doesn't make sense and therefore takes us out of the show.
That being said, the show is still very entertaining and the cast is a joy to watch, and I can't wait for Season Three, which just finished airing in the U.K. As I ask is for a little more consistency in charactization.

I love this series...querky, weird and just plain heart-warming. I have both seasons and hope they keep coming! Dawn French is outstanding!

Clatterford is very entertaining. If you liked "Calendar Girls," you will certainly love this cast of women! They are charming, corky, and, overall, fun to watch! Dawn French is a hit in this show. She is a mentally challenged individual, who actually may be more sane than people think. Her character brings some of the issues being confronted by the women to the surface, but in such an unexpected way. In the U.K., this show is entitled, "Jam & Jerusalem." I am not sure if they have aired the third season, but I can't wait for it to be released on DVD. This show also has some of the same characteristics of, "The Vicar of Dibley," which was created by Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral...). Both shows deal with a set of characters that you get to know, who are endearing and fun to watch! Have fun watching "Clatterford."

This second season is just as good as the first!! The only thing I was bummed about was that Joanna Lumley as Dehlila, was not in this one but for 2 minutes!! It's a great comedy series and I am hoping that there is a season 3!!!

Season one was a real winner, this season not so much. Too much pandering to the unappreciative daughter and would have liked to have seen more of the individual women's lives, all in all too great a cast to not give a good review. I Did miss Joann Lumley in the second season. It is a shame when the cast changes in these and I hope to see them all return for season 3. Anxious to see that released soon.

Wow, this is a fantastic britcom! Jennifer has hit the nail on the head with this one. It is so believable and the camera works is fantastic. It really brings you in to the group of women in this village and makes you feel you are right there with them. You'll be laughing and crying right along side this wonderful well written show. Also what a wonderful cast, some of my favorite British Actresses.
Too bad it has been dropped from the BBC and three seasons is all we are going to get.

If you love French and Saunders like I do, this is the series for you. Joanna Lumley is also a favorite of mine , though she's not in the
series often or for very long, she is a great addition to the cast. Very Funny !

I read about this series a while back in the newspaper and had to wait for it to come out on DVD to see it. It was worth the wait. The second season (here)is now out on DVD.

It is about people living in a small town somewhere in England - mostly the women in the church lady group. There are many characters in the show - including Dawn French as a woman with multiple personalities who works in a cheese factory. The show is comic, but dramatic at times as well.

I think that some of the people in the show are not actors but are from the town where the show is shot. There are very amusing too.

It is a little hard to explain the show beyond this, but it is very good. If you like British TV, give it a try. I think season three will be available soon too.