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Last Tango In Halifax - General Discussion

David T. Cole

By David T. Cole
in Last Tango In Halifax

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Quilt Fairy
Quilt Fairy

This is a good point.  However, Caroline really needs to stop coming on to and/or getting involved with subordinates.   I get that the school is pretty much her whole world as far as meeting other adu

JudyObscure
JudyObscure

Wow, so much time has passed and so many new problems.  Woodworms are eating Gillian's upstairs.  Judith wants to marry John and I thought they already were. Alan's getting a part time job at the supe

Quilt Fairy
Quilt Fairy

It was never canceled as such, although the Christmas special several years could easily serve as the finale.  In the last scene, Alan and Celia literally drive off into the sunset.   And Sally Wainwr

Milz

Milz

Can anyone identify title and artist in the tune used for the Celia/Alan & Gillian/Robbie dances at the reception?  I though the segue to Roberta Flack tune (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow/) was great.

 

Thanks..

 Alan and Celia: "You Make me Feel so Young"  Frank Sinatra

Robbie and Cheryl:  "I only want to be with you"  Dusty Springfield

Robbie and Gillian/Alan and Celia: "I'm not In Love" 10cc

wonderwoman

wonderwoman

One was Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want To Be With You." Can't remember the one before that, and I already deleted the episode. So, if anyone else remembers... I do remember noticing that the producers paid the royalties for recognizable versions of the songs, rather than a no-name cover.

I, too, loved Celia's wedding coat and dress; hated Caroline's jacket, and the collar was just weird.

dcalley

dcalley

(edited)

I also thought she was mean to bring up the house issue at the altar. She forgave him but why bring it up then? I think she wants the upper hand in the relationship. Celia's sense of entitlement is staggering to me. I frankly don't understand why Gillian told her especially since she and her father seemed to be in such a good place but Gillian does and says stupid things all the time--sleeping with Robbie goes right on top of the list of stupid things to do.

I got the impression that Gillian told Caroline, who told her mother. Why Caroline thought it was her place to tell Celia "before she heard it from someone else" (I think she said), I don't know. Who was she going to hear it from other than the appropriate person, Alan?

 

I, too, loved Celia's wedding coat and dress; hated Caroline's jacket, and the collar was just weird.

I didn't like Caroline's outfit either. I'm old fashioned (apparently) and don't think women should wear black to weddings, and the collar seemed perhaps too young for her. But then I thought maybe it was meant to look tuxedo-like because she was walking her mother down the aisle. (Edit: It seems Caroline's dress was blue.)

 

I agree that the PDA on the dance floor would have bugged me no matter who was doing it, except maybe a couple at their own wedding, but even then.... I thought Alan was pleased and Celia was annoyed, though I'd also been wondering if she was trying to get them back together.

 

So, Alan, you believe your daughter's a murderer and yet you are pushing the deceased's brother into a relationship with her. Why?

 

ZUrZQJo.jpg

I was curious about this sticker. Is having a camera in your car common? Would Gillian and her money troubles have one? Or is this like putting a fake alarm company sticker on your home's window to make people think you have a security system?

 

I loved Caroline's face as she watched Gillian walk up to Robbie.

Edited by dcalley
Milz

Milz

Thanks Mitz and wonderwoman.   The intriguing song was indeed "I'm not In Love" .  I listened on You Tube to verify.

 

Here's looking forward to season 3.

When I was a kid, my then 20-something aunt used to baby sit me. That was one of her favorite songs. If it was on the radio, she'd crank it up. Sometimes she would get into these funks (ie: broke up with a boyfriend) and just play the cassette over and over and over. So whenever I hear it I'm reminded of being in the Volkswagon Beetle with her driving to some place or sitting in the living room of our apartment playing with that in the background.

adhoc

adhoc

So I'm (almost) the only one who is not a fan of the Caroline/Kate pairing, I see.

 

But honestly, I've never seen an ounce of chemistry between them. I get that they're not effusive people, and not everyone wears their heart on their sleeve. But watching them together has always been like watching paint dry, IMHO.  I never feel like these are two people yearning to be with each other. That's why their inappropriate (also IMHO) PDA at the wedding was all the more awkward--I was always aware that these were two actors acting, not two characters in love.

 

And while I'm criticizing--and as soap opera-y as this show has become at break-neck speed, with the writers throwing in everything but the kitchen sink to create story lines, there's a lot to criticize--may I say that Caroline's wardrobe, though perhaps perfectly normal and expected for her line of work, social and economic standing,etc., unfortunately manages to make her look like a linebacker.  

 

Highlight of the season:  Gillian holding the baby while on the telephone (I think it was the episode where the baby's mother took off) and the baby giving her the side-eye. Or possibly the side-eye stink-eye.  Anyway, best baby moment ever.

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attica

attica

I generally dislike the trope of 'if the prospective romantic partner doesn't want you, just be persistent and stalkery, they'll come around', and Caroline and Kate are no exception. I was kind of liking Kate's "No, thank you" response to reuniting as being kind of grown up. But I like the character of Kate in general, and I get the economy of cast that shows have to employ, which means getting new blood for new romantic entanglements is Not Done.

 

The thing that annoyed me most, however, was the spring flowering trees in the cemetery scene, followed by Christmas (and the exterior shot of the hotel cgi'd snow all over the lush greenery).

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pointybird

pointybird

(edited)

Nina Sosanya's was good in Casanova with David Tenant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZnYEqNrumE - not sure if it's on Netflix or other streaming service, but worth watching if it is.  

 

She was also really good in a little-watched but quite funny comedy called FM, where she played a radio producer opposite Chris O'Dowd and Kevin Bishop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKkkSFTczm8 - all the full episodes are on youtube.

Edited by pointybird
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pointybird

pointybird

Spoiler tagging 'just in case', but as it's linking to an article in the local newspaper, it technically isn't a spoiler.  

And it looks like we'll have yet another wedding to celebrate - Caroline and Kate! http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/calderdale/last-tango-in-full-swing-in-halifax-1-6755218

 

Great news!

 

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albaniantv

albaniantv

Love Sally Wainright's writing and everybody's acting--what a powerful pairing.

 

Since most tv lesbian couples end up dead, split, going straight or any combo thereof, I was quite happy to see this one dancing off into the fakey Christmas lights. Also I thought the PDA might be the author's way of calling back to Celia's worry that if she invited her sister, somehow she would outshine her at her own wedding.

 

And instead, it was her daughter doing all the shining. And Sarah Lancashire certainly can shine with the best.

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bybrandy

bybrandy

You know I was prepared to hate the soapiness of the Gary plot (despite my love for Rupert Graves) but I thought so far it has been done well enough and as a person who spends a significant amount of free time doing genetic genealogy, I can assure you it happens.... a lot...    

I sort of like that both Alan and Gillian reacted quite badly and then as it had time to settle and the facts became clearer they both kind of came around to it.  

Celia was amazingly hateful in this episode but man Anne Reid is fantastic!

 

Every single character in this show is flawed and none of them in a hate-able way (although Celia tries sometimes) and I really, really like that about LTIH.

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maraleia

maraleia

I am so happy this show is back. I love how much Caroline has changed regarding how she reacts to the homophobia around her. The way she refused to fight with her mom and the fact that she got all Tiger Mom when Lawrence was being bullied with that note...perfection. She's grown so much in just two short months.

Also, Caroline and Kate on Valentines Day. So damn romantic and cute and Caroline proposing marriage was the icing on the cake. I can't wait for their wedding.

  • Love 1
Quilt Fairy

Quilt Fairy

Recap of episode 1 for those of you (like me) who cannot wait another 6 months or so to see this on PBS:

 

http://www.afterellen.com/tv/407037-last-tango-halifax-recap-3-1-sipping-furry-cup

 

It's a full blow-by-blow recap, not a review, so DO NOT read it if you don't want to be spoiled.  Frankly, I find this series to be so well acted that even knowing what's going to happen doesn't ruin watching it later.

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pointybird

pointybird

(edited)

I've previously viewed Celia as a decent but flawed character; set in her ways but someone who loves her family, and who is at least trying somewhat to shake off the prejudices she was brought up with.  Having watched this episode, and in particular her refusal to attend Caroline's wedding (and also encourage Lawrence to boycott it), I've come to the view that she's a truly selfish, vile and hateful creature, with few redeeming qualities, and is now a character who I actively dislike and whose happiness I don't care about in the least.  I don't know if that's the intention of Sally Wainwright, but that's the view I've come away with after watching this episode.

 

I found Caroline's story about hurting her father with cutting words when he turned up to her graduation without Celia, and then repeating the same thing with Alan when he turned up without Celia and Lawrence quite hackneyed.  She can be almost as selfish as Celia at times.  And poor Alan!

 

I found the dinner party at Gary's a little long and boring in parts, but I'm intrigued to find out what his story is.  There seems to be something sinister about him.

 

The scene in the supermarket, when Gillian tried to turn off the vibrator that Cheryl had 'donated' but only succeeded in setting it to 'warp speed' was fantastic, I thought.

 

Caroline seriously needs to chuck John out, and have a heart to heart with Lawrence before the baby is born.  I can understand how Lawrence might feel pushed out by Kate and the new baby - I get the impression that Caroline hasn't been particularly sensitive to his feelings.  But she really does need to toss John out on his ear, and take Kate's concerns about his presence seriously.  

 

Caroline's scenes with Kate were very sweet - Nina Sosanya does 'vulnerable and completely in love' beautifully, and Sarah Lancashire's performance was as wonderfully nuanced as  ever.  Her delivery of "It was more than a snog, pal, I had my hand inside your bra" was really charming.  

 

Looking forward to next week's wedding (will Celia and/or Lawrence have a last-minute change of heart?), and finding more out about Gary and whether or not he has a sinister side to him.

Edited by pointybird
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bybrandy

bybrandy

Rupert Graves always plays sinister so I'd like a bit of a reversal for him, here.   Obviously there has to be something more to him other than just being absurdly perfect and happy and content and wealthy, because there is no story in that.   But I'd like less than sinister.  

 

I wish Lawrence had gone to the wedding, but I do feel like he's heard about everything second hand in this relationship and how easily he could be feeling like he wasn't a person who Caroline felt was important to share in this moment.

 

After all, we saw Caroline tell Celia about the engagement straight off.   On the other hand we saw Lawrence find out about it second hand.   If she showed as much care to Lawrence as she did Celia, I suspect she'd get different results.

 

I love Angus and I ship Lawrence/Angus hard.   

 

I was glad that Alan told Celia even if it wasn't fast enough.   

 

I loved how supportive Caroline was of Celia as she found out about Alan's indiscretion.

I hurt for Alan when he was turned away from the wedding the same way Caroline turned away her father from her graduation.

And I will never not find the vibrator scene funny.  

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joelene

joelene

I've previously viewed Celia as a decent but flawed character; set in her ways but someone who loves her family, and who is at least trying somewhat to shake off the prejudices she was brought up with. Having watched this episode, and in particular her refusal to attend Caroline's wedding (and also encourage Lawrence to boycott it), I've come to the view that she's a truly selfish, vile and hateful creature, with few redeeming qualities, and is now a character who I actively dislike and whose happiness I don't care about in the least. I don't know if that's the intention of Sally Wainwright, but that's the view I've come away with after watching this episode.

I came here to post something similar but I couldn't put it better than this. They need to redeem this character but good if they don't want me to think that Alan needs to bolt from this relationship asap. I'm starting to forget why they're even together. Still, it makes for good drama and I'm really looking forward to where they're going with it all.

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Milz

Milz

I'm a confused American who doesn't mind being spoiled and who can't wait to watch the series when it will air in a few months. Why would Celia be upset about Alan having an affair during his first marriage over 30(?) years ago? It's not as though Alan cheated on her (Celia). And from what I've read, Alan didn't know Gary was the end-product of that affair.

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