The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

If you don't find depth in this show, then you're not giving it your full attention. We are jaded because of all the in-your-face, aggressive, loud and often violent programing - this is a gentle program, but it has great depth and sensitivity if you really listen to the characters. It takes a moment to get used to the dialect/accents...I recommend this, and hope it survives! It's a visit to another culture, one quite worth getting acquainted with. The music alone is reason to give the show a try - ethnic, quality performances - this program I think offers so much charm but in a very subtle way. Some may, as I did at first, find it requires a little working at but soon you settle in to the style and find it most worthwhile programming.

I rarely watch anything more than once, but this series is so precious!!! I was in the Peace Corps in Lesotho, near to Botswana, and I feel like I am back there, in an environment that I loved. The stories ring true, though a few are a bit far-fetched. It saddens me that it was discontinued....for once I loved a series and it ended abruptly!!

After watching three episodes, I am already disappointed that there will be no second season.

A relaxing and charming program to watch. Likable characters portrayed by a lot of well cast actors.

The photography, editing and scenery are a major part of what makes this good. No fast clip, jumpy editing. Smooth transitions. The camera stays on someone's face long enough for the viewer to focus (and appreciate the acting), apparently a difficult feat based on how few directors seem to be able to do that.

I am certainly not prudish, been around way too long for that. But I find gratuitous and frequent use of "F" and other vulgarities to be annoying, and IMO proof that writers can't construct decent dialog; substituting coarseness instead. This program manages to work pleasantly well without any swearing, resorting to the novel approach of using real adverbs and adjectives to convey the message.

If you want high speed, non stop action with jumpy editing and constant swearing, don't waste your time watching this. Otherwise, sit back and have a nice, relaxing hour of quality entertainment.

When I heard about this show being airing on HBO, I was thrilled. My father had read several of the books and loved them (I have just started the first book). Although, from the first moments of the show I was still a bit skeptical. But when Mma opens her detective agency, the writing becomes some of the best I've seen on TV in years. There is a perfect mix between seriousness and fabulous humor.

Mma is a clever, witty woman, while her secretary and hairdresser add nothing more than many wonderful laughs. This show has fantastic characters played by wonderful actors.

I can only hope that this show stays on for many years to come!

The pilot for this series is very very close to the book(s), in tone and in content, if a little lightweight. The book series was perfectly charming, original in concept, playful and dignified and respectful of the human hearts at the center of this African culture, and so was this pilot. I do very much look forward to watching the series - the actors are a pure pleasure, and there's plenty of time to beef up the plots - PLUS- some great music! NO murderous cops, rotting corpses, drooling vampires, autopsies upon which the ME and his assistant eat their sandwiches, waggling, eye-level rump/crotch shots, convoluted quasi-Machiavellian mafia mobsters, sub-literate scriptwriters, howlingly ignorant plot devices. An original premise ... What a concept...