I haven’t read the books, but I’ve been watching the television show on HBO. I have to say that I’ve been relatively disappointed in television lately, but I’m definitely looking forward to The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency each week. I’m hooked.
It’s a detective show, but the attraction for the viewer is not figuring out the mysteries. Instead, the mysteries exist to reveal character and to explore “issues.”
I love the setting of the show–Botswana and the scenic views the show provides (though I’m not sure how much is actually filmed in Botswana). I love the gestures toward using authentic accents and colloquialisms (and that the show assumes you’ll be able to get a few foreign words if repeated in context).
My favorite aspect of the show, however, is that it leaves me thinking. The main characters are very interested in doing the right thing (but they don’t engage in any “what would Jesus do” questions). They want honesty and a better Botswana. The problem is figuring out what’s right. Is it right to confirm that someone is cheating if that means a family will be torn apart? Should a detective lead on a cheater to confirm that he is so (or is that a sting)? While it’s the detective’s responsibility to find a “truth,” what is the responsibility in reporting the findings–is she allowed to frame it in a certain way?
Watch the show:
