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I'll admit it: I like "Army Wives"

Lifetime's new series Army Wives, which airs Sundays at 10pm, is breaking all kinds of records for the cable network, with more than 3 million viewers tuning in for the the third episode, including me.

Why? Well, why not? The show's all about women. Yes, their lives revolve somewhat around their relationships with men, but the men are usually not there. And unlike The Unit's much more sexist take on the life of an army wife, the gender roles are a little more equal here (although it still some problematic storylines, like Pamela giving up her job as a policewoman just because her husband wanted her to).

Army Wives also has a great cast, including veteran actress Kim Delaney as Claudia Joy, the de-facto leader of the group, and JAG's Catherine Bell as a mother whose teenage son has an anger management problem that he takes out on his mother. Sally Pressman is great as newbie Roxy, who doesn't know any of the rules of Army Life but knows how to defend herself in a fight. Brigid Brannagh and Sterling K. Brown round out the group as Pamela the former cop and Roland the psychiatrist, whose wife Joan (Wendy Davis) is a Lt. Col. with 400 men in her command, and some serious post-traumatic stress issues after returning from Iraq.

Here are some of the character snapshots from the official websites:

But as much as I enjoy the show as it is, I can't help wondering if you couldn't alter the premise a little, take a slightly different look at what really goes on when the husbands are away, and have another kind of hit show on your hands. Call it Closeted Army Wives:

This last one can just stay the same...

Who's with me??

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  • xevus's picture

    hahaha

    Well, Sarah, I am definitely lining up behind you! :))) I am a CAW fan already!!
    woops's picture

    I love this show! I would

    I love this show! I would love it way more if you were writing it, Sarah!
    cassandra0543's picture

    Great show...so far

    I think this show is pretty good so far - funny, dramatic, but also pretty predictable. But Catherine Bell is as always lovely to look at, though i miss the strength and vigor she had as Mac on JAG. Bottom line: there are far worse ways to spend your TV nights.
    DanieXJ's picture

    I agree....

    ...I mean, what can I say. Katherine Fugate rocks!! :)
    JK_Singer's picture

    I'm with you on that

    Even though I haven't watched this show, I will forever bow before Kathrine Fugate for having written the perfect xena episode "When fates collide"

    So now all that is left is waiting for the show to air in Denmark

    [10 years later...] 

    "Even in death Gabrielle, I will never leave you"- Xena

    Nat's picture

    I'm not the only one

    I've got this one on my DVR, and although it's not exactly great TV, it's not bad. What else am I going to watch with The L Word and America's Next Top Model on hiatus?

    As you pointed out...most of the camera time is devoted to the female leads, which was part of the appeal of Sex and the City for me. Sure, they talk about their men, but at least the camera doesn't linger on the husbands and the focus is on the friendships.

    I will admit that almost every scene with Pamela (former cop turned total doormat) makes me cringe, but the last episode gave me a little hope. I really wish that she'd just leave her husband for a nice lady MP! If only Sarah W were writing for the show *sigh*

    Forinzy's picture

    Lt., Capt., Lt.Col.

    This is so nit picky but anyway, here I go, neither Tasha or Joan are lieutenants. The are both of a higher rank. Please give them their ficitional due.

    lsimon's picture

    I love that this show does its best...

    ... to be sincerely realistic with respect to the other side of the military life. I've been both the one in the military and the military girlfriend, and while I wasn't in the Army specifically, I've seen many spouses and lovers go through what these women are dealing with.  And on the L Word note, despite the upper levels continually re-enforcing DADT or making homophobic statements, the lower levels such as units and even commands have evolved and are open-minded about it.  And if anyone isn't, they usually don't run to their superiors (*cough* L Word writers) but instead just turn the other way and ignore it.

    heidikc's picture

    a not even guilty pleasure

    i am totally into army wives.  of course in my world kim delaney and catherine bell have a little something going on the side.  catherine comes to kim all distressed because her son is beating her.  it starts with a hug and "it will be ok."  then they look into each others eyes and start to lean in....but i digress.  ;)

     on an unrelated note, i'm totally into sarah too.  i like that you're doing the blog more.  keep it up!

    lhans537's picture

    There's hope

    The same is true in my world too!  But I really think they are hinting at more for these two already.  Claudia Joy has this "mysterious past" and she's always very physical with Denise, and they make a point to focus on CJ's hands when she touches Denise. 

     I realize this is a severe case of wishful thinking, but really.  Some one tell me if I'm just absolutely crazy.  Either they are setting up a CJ/Denise story in the future or these actresses just have some serious sexual tension/chemistry going on.

    jennbswifey's picture

    I agree

    HOOP...I agree with you.  I have watched this show since it's premiere and I'm pleasantly surprised.  I avoid anything to do with the Lifetime channel and it's cronies of likeness, but after seeing the preview with Kim Delaney and Catherine Bell (can look at her all day long) I tuned in.  Pleasantly surprised by the characters, and only the small amount of predicatability.  Now back to you obeservation of Claudia Joy and Denise...there is some serious chemistry going on between those two.  It just simmers right below the surface in every scene they do together.  Or perhaps that is my own perverted, dirty little mind. 
    Walking_Contradiction's picture

    I havn't watched the show

    I havn't watched the show "Army Wives" because what I saw on the pr-views/comercials for it didn't realy catch my attention. This could probably be because I grew up in a Military family (My father graduated from West Point..coming out to him was fun) and I gre wup in the situations that are being dramatized. What little I saw from the pre-views led me to think that the show is more about creating drama where enough already exists and sensationalizing it. but then...most tlevision is about that now-a-days. If anyone thinks I'm wrong please tell me and I'll try tuning in, but untill I see something that makes the show seem worth a look I'll pass.

     

    "Nothing is impossible and there is no such thing as a lost cause"

    jetgirl7's picture

    Hoyay

    I've only seen a few clips here and there, I've never quite been able to catch an episode in it's entirety BUT there is some serious hoyay going on between Kim Delaney and Katherine Bell's characters. Kim is always comforting her... it's bound to lead somewhere (with the men overseas). And in the last episode I saw, Kim all but admitted to a lesbian past ("experimenting" in college).
    Journey_Wmn's picture

    Do I smell a crossover?

    I love the Tasha and Joan storyline! Do I smell a crossover?!?

     

    I loove Army Wives!!! 

    TMeade's picture

    Army Wives

    I really like this show too...The shows premise is that each of these women hold some sort of secret...I believe Kim Delaney's Character has one of lesbianism...I would love to see her and the woman's kid that slaps her around become involved...After all this is lifetime...They did do Unexpected Love.. Why not..
    Seattle7's picture

    Good Show

    Between Army Wives, The Closer and the WNBA  games  that's about all I'm watching.

    I like this show, great characters, good chemistry and last nights episode had some fun flirting between  Sally Pressman's character Roxy, and the gal who quit her police job, wish i could remember the characters name.

    I like that the show mainly concentrates on the womens characters, though I have to admit Roxy's new husband is adorable and almost too good to be true. wanting to give her a new life and adopt her boys and all.

    Glad to see it's doing so good in the tv ratings dept.  Wonder how many episodes the show is slated for?

    lsimon's picture

    June 24th Episode, caution: *spoilers*

    So to all those crossing fingers about the Claudia Joy- Denise story line, and how (if)they're setting it up:  Any commentary on the post-hostage hug? I mean really cute, and yes, dramatic, but interesting nonetheless.  And then the previews had to go and piss me off. 1. I highly doubt 'the affair' will be of the CJ/D variety, and 2. even though I want them to be together, I would like just as badly for Denise's husband to come back safe.  Any thoughts?
    ilovemisch's picture

    I like this show so far,

    I like this show so far, buut if it doesn't progress more im afraid i loose interest very soon. Even tho there are some hot annoying straight ladies in it.

     

    "J**** F****** C*****

    of COURSE they were!"-Claire Stansfield (Alti)

    ClosetCase's picture

    Only one

    Well, I guess that I am the only one that hates dosen't like this show. My expectations were too high. When they first aired the commercials, I thought "A show about the Army! Hey, Lifetime's finally growing a pair!" I was sadly mistaken.  

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