Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Mrs. Sidhu Investigates

OK, I have to admit it, I'm weak. I wanted to include this series and I used a bit of loopholery to accomplish this. There is a book, it just came after two other iterations of Mrs. Sidhu is all. And yes, this isn't the only time I'm doing this this year, but, well, I couldn't help myself. If I love something and it ties into literature I will find a way! So sorry not sorry? But this means I have to explain the history of Mrs. Sidhu Investigates. Back in 2017 and 2019 BBC Radio 4 aired two "comedy dramas" by Suk Pannu called Mrs. Sidhu Investigates. Meera Syal as Mrs. Sidhu stuck her nose into criminal activity while trying to make a living as a caterer. Flashforward to 2023 and Meera Syal as Mrs. Sidhu is once again sticking her nose into criminal activity while trying to make a living as a caterer, but no longer on the radio. Mrs. Sidhu had made the jump to television. Which, if you know Mrs. Sidhu, makes perfect sense. She has a way of getting into everything. Which means she's also made her way into books. Suk Pannu's Mrs. Sidhu's 'Dead and Scone' was released in the fall of 2023 after the first of hopefully many series had finished airing. So, it's an adaptation. Sort of. Or is the book the adaptation like the tie-in novel for a film even if it's an original story? Whatever it is I'm including the show. Because I have to include this show for the episode "Breaking Convention" alone. They made fun of Game of Thrones so perfectly that it will forever be a favorite episode of any show ever. They tackled the fan fervor, the fan outrage, the books not being delivered in a timely manner, and then dressed up Meera Syal as a wizened old crone, a role she is VERY familiar with from The Wheel of Time to The Musketeers to The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries. But I'm getting ahead of myself! Mrs. Sidhu Investigates is very much like all the other mystery content on Acorn TV. It's cute, it's cozy, it's low stakes, but the fun the actors are obviously having along with the way Meera Syal is relishing her role make it something more, and not just for the fact Craig Parkinson finally gets to play the good guy. Plus Mrs. Sidhu has some depth and a compelling backstory, her husband's death made her open up a catering company to keep a roof over her and her lazy son's head. But her father was a famous police officer and she has his instincts for rooting out criminals. Which is one of the reasons that the cops don't just ignore her, especially the superintendent played by Gordon Kennedy who is the only other actor to make the jump from the radio show. That and the fact that she always shows up bearing tasty treats. Who wouldn't crumble with her delicious delicacies wafted under their nose? In fact, perhaps I should have put a warning at the top that you will desperately crave Indian cuisine while watching this show. So before you start, find your nearest Indian restaurant and might I suggest the butter chicken? Butter chicken always hits the spot. And this is where I'll leave you, wanting more, because I need to get myself some butter chicken. And some naan. Perhaps a samosa as well...

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