I couldn't fairly review this whole series when I couldn't get through the first episode. I was interested enough to want to get an insight into the Rosie-the-Riveters of WWII factories to try this series. I got about halfway through the first episode, and, as you'll see, that was more than enough for me.
The first problem is that it only hints at when the story is set. The appearance of an American at a party who believes the US will never enter the war puts it in Canada, and somewhere between September 1 1939 and December 7 1941. Where the story falls in that span seems very significant. There's a huge difference between November 1939 and June of 1940, and that difference should affect every character's outlook. There's no hint of what city or part of the country the story is set in. At least none that I could pick up on. That's disorienting. No Union Jacks in the munitions factory? Guess that's Canadian understatement in contrast to American enthusiasm.
Next comes the "men are all pigs" theme, with ALL the men acting like swaggering, rude, horny high-school boys, contemptuous of any woman who has delusions of competence. Oh, except for the clueless, uncaring factory owner, and the greedy rich man who is only interested in snagging more war contracts to make him even richer. Then there's the street preacher with an incoherent message who beats his wife, even in public, and whips his innocent daughter in private. Did I forget to mention the, presumably, crippled, bitter WWI vet who constantly berates his wife for using her salary to feed them better than they ate before on his disability.
Maybe the men of the WWII era were actually ALL like that. I don't know. I wasn't alive then. I saw my share of misogyny from older male co-workers who came from that era, but it was a whole lot subtler than what's portrayed here.
Yes, I am a man, but can't I have at least one character worth rooting for? I even enjoy some well-done romance movies, but I refuse to subject myself to being repeatedly kicked in the ..., by the writers. Important marketing tip. When you start by repeatedly insulting half your audience, you're doing it wrong.
The first problem is that it only hints at when the story is set. The appearance of an American at a party who believes the US will never enter the war puts it in Canada, and somewhere between September 1 1939 and December 7 1941. Where the story falls in that span seems very significant. There's a huge difference between November 1939 and June of 1940, and that difference should affect every character's outlook. There's no hint of what city or part of the country the story is set in. At least none that I could pick up on. That's disorienting. No Union Jacks in the munitions factory? Guess that's Canadian understatement in contrast to American enthusiasm.
Next comes the "men are all pigs" theme, with ALL the men acting like swaggering, rude, horny high-school boys, contemptuous of any woman who has delusions of competence. Oh, except for the clueless, uncaring factory owner, and the greedy rich man who is only interested in snagging more war contracts to make him even richer. Then there's the street preacher with an incoherent message who beats his wife, even in public, and whips his innocent daughter in private. Did I forget to mention the, presumably, crippled, bitter WWI vet who constantly berates his wife for using her salary to feed them better than they ate before on his disability.
Maybe the men of the WWII era were actually ALL like that. I don't know. I wasn't alive then. I saw my share of misogyny from older male co-workers who came from that era, but it was a whole lot subtler than what's portrayed here.
Yes, I am a man, but can't I have at least one character worth rooting for? I even enjoy some well-done romance movies, but I refuse to subject myself to being repeatedly kicked in the ..., by the writers. Important marketing tip. When you start by repeatedly insulting half your audience, you're doing it wrong.
