The 60s classic English pop music made this the most fun. most all I knew- a few I wondered why they choose it (didn't fit or recognize)- mostly pop but well known hits- just a few Cream, only 1 Kinks 1-1/2 line, & cut off- a few Beatles cover. almost no Stones, a very few covers, Season 4 Episode 11 - they played Strange Brew by Cream and As Tears Go By with Marianne Faithful. No Klash. I guess they are moving forward.
most of it's stories are pretty routine, tho in the 1st episodes there are already 2 deaths. It is a hospital. and they try to be social relevant on some without exploring issues. Mixed in with this- its "the Love Boat- on land, in Yorkshire, "the Love Royal".
This is the mid 60s- time of the Female Eunuch, Gloria Steinem, fight for Racial and Social Equality, and Free Love. This is not London, but it's England in a major area, Yorkshire. Yes, Woman Drs had to fight, and abortions were still illegal. England was not as Catholic as Ireland, or Italy. But I am not sure those who wrote this understands the times. I do think they have mixed up U.K. in the 60s with Ireland, Scotland in the early 50s.
there are 2 handymen; one is a schemer always plotting, meant to be comedic relief; rather hokey, lovable. 2 older Drs, are kind of characters. One is sensible, the other a gifted surgeon, more interested in golf, an odd ball, who really has a good heart. Everyone is sincere and well meaning. Some religious morality of the time, with one nurse a nun. They do try to be relevant and not ignore the world.
sometimes just too hokey (strained, contrived, saccahrin), characters just too precious.
Can a hospital even small, rural, but near a city and bigger hospitals, run like thisI don't want to add spoilers- but some stuff just isn't possible- for instance, it's a busy hospital (how many personnel & beds?) more nurses than we meet- we know all the Drs. (a handful), a small local hospital. there is one front desk receptionist who signs ppl in and answers the phone which doesn't ring that much. and there's never a relief- she goes home- but it's just her- 7 days a week- no one else?- There would be more activity in a Drs' office. They do call it a free hospital, and private practice; not sure how the Public Health system fits in.
Something else- for country roads with little traffic, there are a lot of death by car accidents- and the all present ploy of standing in the road, and getting hit, killed by a car. Everyone hit by a car doesn't die. what are all these drivers doing, not watching the roadway; these are not freeways- so on a cell phone (not in 1960s) drunk, not watching, and how many go off the road and crash and die, or are trapped. It is a really cheap (poor) plot point.
Big Spoiler- they clearly didn't expect Season 8 to be the last- end of Ep#11, and the finale Ep#12- very sad events and a cliff hanger- really got serious with no happy resolve. DO NOT read if you don't want to know-
man accidentally kills his son. old woman abused by a priest and sent to asylum as a 15 yr old, her life stolen, dies, and favorite character is at point of death. do they kill him off or does he survive- and sister Bridget may leave the nun's order. (about time) a new secular life? it ends!
Review of The Royal
