Related

I must first say that I wasn't looking for a new show to watch. My T.V. schedule was full with other shows; however, I kept hearing about this show called "Related". I decided to give it a chance, a friend had all the episodes so I decided to watch the first four in one sitting. I was very pleasantly surprised. It is well written and the actors know how to act. There is enough diversity that you can relate to at least one of the characters if not bits of each them. The story lines are good and make you interested in seeing more. I really love the interactions between the sisters, as well as their interactions with the men in the series. Related is a show about family relationships (father/daughter, the new step mom-to-be/the girls, husband/wife, and of course the sisters), as well as relationships between potential boyfriends and the women. This is a show which you can laugh with the characters, as well as cry. I am glad that The WB has added this show to their Monday night line-up to hopefully give it a chance to survive.

This show is just so much more then I thought it would be. I was half-expecting another drama that would get boring in a few weeks, but I found myself wanted to watch more of Related. The character Ginny played by Jennifer Esposito is a little annoying sometimes but keeps up with the others when it counts. The character Anne however has WAY to much drama in her life, as wrong as it was to see her hook up with a college guy, couldn't help myself from thinking "good for you". Marjee is by far my favorite, she's free spirited and actually really funny to watch, she has a great character and I personally believe that Lizzy Caplan is a good actress. Rose's character has begun to blossom and I think will slowly but surely be more enjoyable to watch. And to finish, who DOESN'T love a cute British man trying to live a life with a crazy wife and her three CRAZY sisters. "Related" is actually really funny and entertaining. If you haven't given it a shot yet, I strongly suggest you do.

I really like this show.

People have complained that because it's from the creators of Sex & The City and Friends, that it should be amazing. No one will remark that the first four episodes of those shows were groundbreaking. But for someone looking for a replacement of those great shows, you will be disappointed. Someone looking for a great show about family, you will be pleasantly pleased.

Related is ensemble cast driven, giving fair time to each actress. I think the story lines are funny, thoughtful and have a lot of room to expand for many seasons. I like that the four sisters have distinct personalities and dialog. The highlight is Jennifer Espisito. She plays a very warm, caring older sister. It's much different than what I've seen in her before, and she does it well.

I am a girl that grew up with all brothers and when I watch this show, I instantly connect with the images I have had my whole life of having sisters.

Related is great!

I, too, thought very little of "Related" when I watched the first episode, but the 2nd and 3rd episodes were a lot better, with funnier dialogue and more interesting story lines, and since then, the show has become one of my favorites. Lizzy Caplan (who played Lindsay Lohan's Gothic best friend in "Mean Girls" - and I actually like her better in this) is hysterical, hostile and vulnerable all at once, and I think her career is going to take off. There is something very real about her, and she reminds me of Kate Winslet. She's the reason I kept watching after the first few episodes.

The other sisters have risen to the task as well. The greatest transformation has been Jennifer Esposito, who at first appeared to be whining too much. However, over the season, this capable actress has developed a convincing, dynamic character. She is now balancing her comedy with the dramatic skill that earned her well-deserved kudos in "Crash".

This show speaks to me for the same reason that Gilmore Girls garnered my viewership for the past six years. It is a show for and about intelligent, well-rounded, flawed (human!) women. Sex is dealt with honestly but not exploitatively, and the characters dress like real women rather than MTV pinup girls. The problems they encounter resonate with us, from wanting to fit in during college, to trying to figure out what to do once thrust into the "real world", to dealing with painful breakups, to learning the painful lesson that it takes more than love to make a marriage work. And perhaps we all have a bit of each of the characters within us. They have the power to remind us of ourselves as well as occasionally give us insight into some of the other women we know.

I hope that the new CW network will realize as I did that "Related" can fill a TV-void that many female viewers may not have realized that they had.

Now they just need to keep working on getting the background music right...

Ginnie is my oldest sister---always right, always bossy, but always necessary to bail us out of messes. A little high-maintenance, but you gotta love her anyways! Anne is my middle sister---practical, someone you can count on, whether you need a shoulder to cry on, or need to vent, and usually stable, both mentally and emotionally! I however am a cross between Marjie---always getting into trouble, and usually knowing that it's coming, but helpless to stop myself. She's good at her job, and loves the work, if not the coworkers, and that keeps her from putting her foot down for what she wants or needs.---and Rose---The baby! She's a little spoiled because she's the youngest, and doesn't have to take responsibility for her actions. She finds school (especially science) a piece of cake, but is willing to throw that away for a life in the theater.

They were raised by their Dad, the owner of an Italian Deli, since their Mom died when Rose was three, and Ginnie and Anne were in high school. This show is REAL life, not REALITY. Breakups, first babies, first plays, first loves, and watching your father fall in love with someone new. "Related" never leaves a dry eye in the house. Even the theme song hits close to home. "I love you, I hate you, you know too much about me! I'd leave you, but who'll tell me how to live? Don't tell me how to live!" This is a must see for anyone who has ever had a sibling, or anyone who missed out on having a sibling!