Last Tango in Halifax

Robbie and Eddie were brothers. Robbie hated his sister-law in the first season, even to the extent of vandalizing her truck. He had no idea how abusive Eddie was to Gillian. As a polices officer, Robbie was always looking for ways to make trouble for Gillian.

She may be making a bad choice in Robbie to keep her from more involvement with that lush, John.

Any thoughts about Alan's son? Where his story is headed? Last episode, he appeared to be a tad undone

I'm not sure why you dislike John so much, Mtierney. I see him as flaky, but not a bad person. What don't you like? (Note that I didn't see all of the last season, just a couple episodes.) And I do have doubts about Robbie and Gillian, although what I've seen of him so far this season seems good, like he really cares about her. Does he know that she essentially killed his brother??

I also find Gary (Alan's son) a bit odd. He was so perfect for the first couple of episodes after he was introduced, but now he is strangely clingy and needy. Who gets that freaked out if his new-found family members don't reach out to him for a week??? That's slightly sinister, since it seems to have made him come a bit unglued. Very strange.

I'm also really disliking Caroline's younger son, who keeps referring to the baby as "it" with quite a lot of hostility. He's a little old to be behaving like that. I'm interested to see the biological father (Greg?) become involved in the baby's care (according to the previews of next week).

Robby doesn't know Gillian's secret. That's why she or Caroline didn't think it would be a good idea for her and Robby to be together.

I think Gary is lonely with his wife and sees how interesting his father's life, family and extended family are.

That makes sense about Robbie, not knowing Gillian's secret. Well, that marriage is a disaster waiting to happen. Yikes.

I also agree that Gary is probably lonely (his wife seems a little tone deaf, to say the least) and that he is drawn to Alan's life. But his reaction to not hearing from his new-found father or sister seemed a little over-the-top. I guess we'll see how things play out over a few more episodes.

I am into Last Tango much, much more than Poldark. Seems like the writers of Poldark are constantly looking for an opportunity for Ross to take his shirt off. Ugh.

Isn't Vicious supposed to run soon? That's the half hour comedy with Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi (Alan Buttershaw) playing partners for 48 years living together in Covent Garden. I watched a couple episodes on Roku or Prime, it was funny if not a little bit La Cage au Folles-ish. They just wrapped filming the second season and then the two of them were the Grand Marshalls in the NYC Pride Parade.

Wow! I really didn't remember Robbie's character from the first season. I want everyone to get their happiness. Don't know if Robbie would be right for Gillian, much less the burden she will be carrying with her about what happened with her brother.

I think John has come across as a well meaning guy, but a moocher. Also someone who if you really need him to be available, you won't be able to count on him.

As for Caroline's younger son, he is annoying, but he seems true to life to me. Having a new member added to the family disrupts the known dynamics in the family. Plus it must feel strange to have a baby added to the family at this time in their lives. Caroline is old enough to be a grandmother. Remember, she wasn't too keen on having a child in her life, since she has been through this phase of life. As for the son referring to the baby as it, I can understand that. When my daughter was born, there wasn't much about her that seemed "like a girl". She seemed like a baby. I was happy to have her, but I had to force myself to refer to her as she and her.

PeggyC said:
I'm not sure why you dislike John so much, Mtierney. I see him as flaky, but not a bad person. What don't you like? (Note that I didn't see all of the last season, just a couple episodes.) And I do have doubts about Robbie and Gillian, although what I've seen of him so far this season seems good, like he really cares about her.

John is a lush, an abuser of women -- living off Caroline -- seems she asked explicitedly in this episode whether he had been looking for an apartment. He is selfish -- hesitating to pitch in if needed with Flora even while living in the house!

Playing head games with Gillian -- he would help her financially if she dumps Robbie. I don't think he has been sober for 15 minutes! He needs her to drink with and to crash at her house. I was surprised when Kate's mother commented she had read a couple of his books.

Re Eddie's death: I have difficulty at times with the sound and accents, but I think Eddie had a bad accident with farm equipment (?) And when Gillian got to him he was in bad shape and so she decided to finish him off. Not 100% sure, though. I think his death was attributed to the accident, but Robbie was suspicious at the time

I think that after many drinks, Gillian told Caroline that she (Gillian) killed her abusive husband Eddie - it was no accident. Caroline told Gillian it would be best to stay away from Robbie since after all she killed his brother. Yet Gillian is planning to marry Robbie.

Glad you mentioned the accents. I laugh because I turn the volume way up, hoping that I will be able to pick up what they are saying. I wonder if they have deliberately left the "killing" ambiguous. I got the impression Gillian froze and didn't do anything to save Eddie. That she thinks of herself as killing him, perhaps because of her murderous wishes to do so to her abuser. Maybe even if she had acted, he would have died anyway. She is certainly filled with a lot of self loathing and recrimination to blame herself for something she might not have been able to done much about.

I think she has said yes to Robbie because her life has been very sad and lonely. He is sweet to her and kind. Sometimes loneliness drives people to do things that are not very rational.

I loved that the writers have Kate's mother validate John's capacity. There are people who are very talented, but end up squandering away their lives because of their emotional immaturity. Especially artists (I am including writers as artists).

Doing a little research, I found on wikipedia that Sally Wainwright, the writer, wrote two versions of the episode in which Kate was killed off. In the other she lets her live. It is a fascinating read about the cast and characters even though it does not clear up any of my confusion about whether or not Gillian "killed" Eddie.

Kate dies???

Season hasn't started here yet!!

Sorry about the spoiler...thoughtless of me!

Nah, it's OK, just a surprise!

Oh, phooey. That's a hell of a big surprise, Joanne. Too bad you know about it now. Sorry we gave it away.

John isn't living off Caroline... he has his own money now, after selling Caroline his share of that house. After Judith's baby died and Judith took off to stay with her mother, he was feeling lost and asked if he could stay with Caroline and Kate for a little while so he wouldn't be alone. I guess he had moved in with Judith, but I never saw that season, so I'm not sure. Anyway, with Judith gone, he didn't have anywhere to stay. He did outstay his welcome, because Kate wanted him to leave and find his own place so she and Caroline could have the place to themselves again.

I only remember seeing him drink to excess the one time, with Gillian, when they got drunk together the afternoon of the wedding. I feel as if you and I have been watching two different shows, mtierney! How did I miss all the details you are saying you saw???

Oh, and regarding the accents, that is a big part of why I turn on closed captioning on my TV. I watch a lot of British shows, and at times the accent is too much for me.

Peggy, in the first season, the boys complain that their Dad is always drinking too much with his new girlfriend, and he's trying to prove she's not his girlfriend so he can move back into the house...

Ahhhhhhhhh! NOW I understand. I didn't see any of that. With that as background, yeah... what a jerk.

O. M. G.

Gillian's wedding episode. I won't say anymore so as not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but hold onto your hats. It's a wowser.

Rewatching Dr Who from the Eccleston years, there are sooooo many Halifax connections, I was quite surprised. A lot are behind-the-scenes, too.

PeggyC said:
O. M. G.
Gillian's wedding episode. I won't say anymore so as not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but hold onto your hats. It's a wowser.

Loved the episode. Loved the ending. Terrific series. Sad it's over.

There will be a fourth season. http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-02-02/last-tango-in-halifax-series-four-confirmed

Thank you so much for the great news, Ell_Cee. "Last Tango" is in my top shows.

gerryl said:

I think she has said yes to Robbie because her life has been very sad and lonely. He is sweet to her and kind. Sometimes loneliness drives people to do things that are not very rational.

The actor who portrays Robbie, Dean Andrews, has the most beautiful eyes. I got to see him in the last episode I watched of "Vera," yet another of my favorite British imports.

His eyes are quite startling. I keep wondering if he's wearing makeup, but I can't imagine that's the case.

I was sure at one point that not a single character would be on speaking terms with anyone else by the time things wre done,and I thought there might well be bloodshed!

And every time Gillian said, "well,there is one more thing…" I screamed out loud.

so glad to hear there will be a 4th season, can't wait to see what happens next. Yes, every time Gillian said "there's one more thing…" I was hysterical.

I only figured out that Sally Wainwright who writes for Last Tango is also the writer for Scott and Bailey. What a wonderful writer.

I, too, love Vera. Can you imagine Brenda Blethyn being a lead role on American television?

I love Brenda Blethyn, although I have never seen Vera. However, I would watch "Saving Grace" every day if it made any sense to do so.

Turns out same writers for Broadchurch and I think parts (rewrites? Character development?) for Halifax as well as a few episodes of Torchwood. Very versatile.