Ladies of Letters

I forgot to mention the best part of the show if you forge through later seasons. No matter what happens, the ladies maintain a positive attitude towards their live in general - something perhaps we all need at times. Is it the proverbial British stiff upper lip of the ladies and earlier generations? I don't know, but I do know that their attitudes are most uplifting.

What a relief to find this series. I am an American woman in my 70s and I love good detective series (Vera, Wallander, Foyle's War, Frost, Endeavour, etc) especially in light of the trash on American television written & only used to promote a Democratic Socialist workd-view. Good stories from Great Britain & European TV are copied and rewritten to be dumbed-down for the Anerican public. We no longer have cable and instead use Prime, Brit Box, Acorn, Walter, etc., for our entertainment. However, most of what we find well-done are the detective dramas and, though the writing & acting is excellent, they are becoming very graphic and I needed a break. I was thrilled to find this series and very sad there are no more than 2 seasons! I haven't finished it yet (on S2 E6) but already wishing there were more episodes. It's not vapid and childish, or relying on slapstick for humor, like way too many comedies on TV and cable. It's really engaging and funny with enough reality to bring just the right amount of tension. I'm already dreading the end.

"Ladies of Letters" vividly displays - humorously and with great acting abilities - how difficult it can be for middle-aged women to make new friends - a rare topic indeed. I, an American, have always enjoyed British entertainment of various sorts so I was glad for this TV series from 2009 which aired on PBS and Acorn in 2022. I haven't as yet read the book but have it on order. ~ Vera and Irene, who live rather solitary lives at some distance from one another in England, first meet at a wedding and begin a lengthy correspondence after one mails a thank you note to the other. The two have much in common - both are widows who live alone in freestanding houses with pet dogs and gardens to tend and no household helpers, and both are mothers with grandchildren on the way - but they also have their differences which are apparent even in the opening credits. ~ Although the storyline is exaggerated for entertainment purposes, there is much truth in this fictional relationship which unfolds over 20 half-hour episodes. I was especially impressed with how active both stars - Anne Reid and Maureen Lipman - are as they flawlessly speak non-stop. Their ever-changing surroundings and wardrobes reveal their personalities. They continually deal with unexpected and sometimes unjust challenges that come their way. ~ I would have rated this a 10 except that it was so difficult for me to keep up with the rapid-fire dialogue that I could only follow the massive flow of words by turning on the closed captioning, and I disliked the sometimes fierce antagonism that erupted between the two women. I myself had continued a longstanding long-distance correspondence with a college friend until time and tide eventually broke the connection so I very much appreciate discovering "Ladies of Letters," a rare find and a unique gem. Bravo!

I gave up after two minutes of ep 1 but then returned. The payoff was enormous as the show is hilarious. I've had to stop several times to translate random slang. My favorite was "Bronco". I won't say in what context it was used but I finally learned it was a toilet paper brand no longer made but that older people would know. I guess the Bronco is like "Kleenex" when we refer to a tissue.

It gets a bit absurd as the seasons go, but Season 1 is a true delight with both actresses divine.

I haven't heard the radio series but I love the TV series and hope we get another season.

The presentation is so unusual and Anne Reid and Maureen Lipman make a great team.

It feels more like a BBC series - ITV don't seem to be promoting it at all.

I wonder why Patrcia Routledgedidn't do the TV version. I didn't catch it first time around but am half way through the re-showing - The 2 characters are such a lovely contrast. Maureen automatically cleaning up her cell in prison! Congratulations to the writers. I hope there are enough viewers to merit more. Please!