Although the title and likable cast—Zoë Wanamaker, Phyllis Logan, and Miranda Richardson—might suggest a genial comedy, writer Kay Mellor’s British series is, despite some farcical elements, essentially a drama. The three stars play old friends who come together to support one another when each faces a crisis. As Linda (Logan) and her husband Micky (Steve Evets) are enjoying an anniversary cruise, he disappears overboard, and she is accused of having pushed him. Even if she is exonerated, Linda may still face penury if Micky’s death is ruled a suicide and his insurance fails to pay. Meanwhile, Gail (Wanamaker) is not only dealing with a recent divorce but also the return of her ne’er-do-well son Tom (Matthew Lewis) from prison and having to care for his little boy. And Sue (Richardson) has just been fired as an editor at a glossy fashion magazine by her boss (and married long-time lover) John (Anthony Head), who she considers suing. The mystery of what happened to Micky is the major arc running through the series, but other narrative threads involve various children of the central characters. The sharpness of Mellor’s dialogue and the enthusiasm of the cast make even the most implausible plot turns here palatable. Compiling all six episodes from the 2018 first season, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and a cast panel at a Television Critics Association event. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
Girlfriends: Series 1
RLJ, 2 discs, 294 min., not rated, DVD: $39.99 Volume 33, Issue 5
Girlfriends: Series 1
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