Plot: What’s it about?
World War I has just ended, but the trials and tribulations for the Moss family are by no means over. The household is run by the three daughters, each of which fills an important role. As their mother is deceased, the girls all pitch in to keep the family afloat and the house up & running. Iris (Catherine Tyldesley) serves as the matriarch of sorts, overseeing the entire household and doing whatever needs to be done. She is devoted to her family and even if she has to sacrifice her personal life, she will make sure she does her best to serve her loved ones. Her sister May (Leanne Rowe) is also dedicated, but also a dreamer and she has aspirations to be a famous actress. Of course, in the meanwhile she cooks and cleans for her family, while her imagination rolls on. The third daughter is Ruby (Kerrie Hayes), who works as a seamstress and sells her wares to help the family finances. The times might be tough, but can the Moss sisters make sure their family makes it through?
I didn’t know what to expect from Lilies, but I had read some positive reviews, so I gave this series a chance. As it turns out, Lilies is an excellent period drama with great character development. I sat down to watch the first episode, but I couldn’t stop and wound up viewing the entire series in sequence. The show is so well written, you’ll connect with the characters from the start, but also get closer to them and care more about them as the series unfolds. I appreciated that the writers didn’t lean on melodrama, we’re there for the highs and the lows, as well as all points in between. The cast is superb also, with great performances across the board and no real weak links to mention. I loved Lilies, the story, the characters, the cast, even the production values, this is a first rate series and destined to be fondly remembered. The only downside is that a second series wasn’t produced, which is a real shame. Even so, this single series is beyond excellent and well worth a look.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a brand new series, released to DVD the same year it was shown on television. So as it should be, the episodes look terrific and show minimal flaws. The lush period production design shines here, with gorgeous costumes and background elements. I found detail to be above average, so the image is quite crisp. The colors have a natural texture, with a little variance, depending on the light design from scene to scene. I have no complaints as far as contrast, the black levels are spot on throughout. So in the end, this series look great and fans will be more than satisfied.
Audio: How does it sound?
The nature of this series prevents the included stereo soundtrack from being that remarkable, but the needs of the material are met without fail. The audio is low key for the most part, driven by dialogue and subtle background noise. So while the soundtrack here isn’t memorable, its the kind of soundtrack you shouldn’t really notice. The vocals are clear and never hard to understand, while music and sound effects are well presented. Not much else we could ask in this case.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes a brief behind the scenes featurette, some still photos, and profiles on prominent cast members.
