A Brilliant Series...But...

before I start, I have to say that I truly do love this series. It is brilliant and the personal accounts are amazing as social history documents...


That being said I do think, and wish, that the show went further. Now, I understand that my ideas couldnt have worked in the original special mainly because it was only meant to be a 'one off'...However 14 and the rest couldve introduced a new aspect to the series...

Ill explain...


I think these films are a brilliant social history document...But they couldve went further... Instead of each show running from around one hour to two hours and twenty minutes (or there abouts) with some being on for one night while others being run over two nights, each show shouldve ran 14 one hour episodes...This way it couldve not only showed us these people's lives through their eyes, but also how their percieved by parents, siblings, friends etc...Also, the show couldve followed them for a week, showing us what these people's lives actually consisted of at that particular time...They couldve asked cultural questions, such as what their favourite films are, what music they enjoy, what they do for relaxation, what sports they play etc. For me, that wouldve not only made this series a social historical document, but also a REAL, full historical documentation of these peoples lives and their times...

Dont get me wrong, the films do do that to some extent, but not enough for us to get a true feel for the life and times of these people as seen from their points of view. Also, dont really get the points of view of those close to them until the wives come along, but to me a person's way of life isnt just affected by self opinion, but also by the opinion of you others hold.





I do realise that many of the interviewees already see the program as an intrusion, and my ideas wouldve been even more intrusive...But I personally think at the end of their lives when they got to look back at the series (if it were made the way Im proposing it could have been made) the interviewees wouldve been greatful for such an indepth window to their lives...And us, as the audience, wouldve had a more indepth look not only at these people and their lives, but also at the times these people lived.








I know not a lot can be changed now, and Im not sure really that I would want it to mainly because the programs are so extraordinary as they are...I just think they maybe possibly couldve been more so...Though this is something we can never know.





I am interested to hear/read what others think.









hjl










Star Wars Episode IV.V: The Holiday Special.