I was very sorry to see The Royal end. I wish there were at least 10 more series, so we could see how these characters grow and mature over time! It reminded me somewhat of All Creatures Great and Small, also set in Yorkshire. I had grown up watching the first series of those shows on TV, as well as reading all of the James Herriot books. I did some reading and found out that the writers and actors of The Royal had no idea that season eight would be their last season, therefore the reason many of us struggle with the unfortunate ending. Even one or two more episodes could have easily wrapped things up neatly- but oftentimes those with the power and money to make a difference are just not interested.
I was very glad to find all seasons of The Royal available on Amazon prime, during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back to an earlier, simpler and less stressful time was a therapeutic break for me. It was a great example to see people working together to solve problems, and supporting each other thru difficult times.
While I was reading about The Royal online, I discovered it was actually a spinoff of the tv show Heartbeat! I had heard of that TV show, but not being in the UK, I had never seen it. For those of you who have not seen Heartbeat, I highly recommend it! There are 18 total series, and at least the first nine are available on YouTube.
Whereas The Royal centres around a north Yorkshire village hospital and its immediate surroundings near Scarborough and Whitby in the mid 1960s to early 1970s, Heartbeat begins in the early 1960s in the same area. Most filming for Heartbeat was done in the village of Goathland, which is given the TV name of "Aidensfield." Other parts of Heartbeat were filmed in Whitby, Scarborough and several other rural and city Yorkshire locations.
Of course things were not perfect in the 40s 50s 60s and 70s, not even in North Yorkshire. But there is some reason we all are longing for a time when things were simpler. I wonder exactly what attracts me to shows from this timeframe? We all should be thankful there is less racism today, and there are more educational opportunities available to everyone, so people are not automatically locked into the same type of job their parents had. While there is much to be said for having good relationships with your local Dr and nurse, and for midwifery and home births, I'm sure we are all thankful for more advanced medical understanding and treatment that's available now, especially during emergencies and for chronic illnesses. We should all be glad there is more help and openness regarding mental health needs, and much more help for the various types of abuse and addiction.
There are several characters who do crossovers between The Royal and Heartbeat. I believe these occur in the first four seasons of The Royal, but I did not realize it at the time so I'll likely go back and watch them again once I'm thru watching Heartbeat. Probably the character we would most recognize is the most entertaining rogue of Aidensfield, Claude Jeremiah Greengrass! Since Heartbeat actually began filming eight or nine years before the Royal, by watching Heartbeat we can see Mr. Greengrass getting up to shenanigans in all his glory, before the actor had a stroke.
If you have watched all episodes of the Royal and Heartbeat, and if you are still longing for Yorkshire of the past, I recommend that you watch All Creatures Great and Small- both the old and new series. Other series that hit nearly the same spot for me, but are set a bit earlier and a bit farther north are, Dr. Finlay's Case Book, and Dr. Finlay. Search YouTube and Amazon for these. I cannot visit Yorkshire or the UK, but I am thankful for these shows which have given me a little taste of a slower, more beautiful and peaceful pace of life during the crazy times in which we now find ourselves.
In parting, while we cannot go back to a simpler past and live those days over again, each one of us can do something now to make the present and the future a bit better. No, we can't do Everything to fix the world problems- but we can do Something to make our immediate surroundings more kind, more positive, to simplify our lives, to stop and smell the roses, and to share joy with others. Each one of us can do at least one thing this month to slow down and enjoy the beauty of creation. If we cannot plant a garden, we can grow herbs or flowers in a pot. If we cannot grow flowers outside, we can buy easy indoor flowers like African Violets- a pot for ourselves to cheer us up, and a pot to give to someone who needs cheering. Or perhaps we can make some cookies for ourselves, making enough to share with a neighbour, an overwhelmed mother, or someone who is lonely? Let us start by considering, what needs to change? And then let us say, what can I do? I can't do Everything, but I can do Something. Let us begin with treating others as we'd like to be treated, appreciating and loving our family members and neighbours, as we would like to be appreciated and loved.
I think that is largely what is missing from the world today, and a big part of what has changed from both town and country life in the 50s and 60s. I think many of us enjoy shows like this from the past, because we love seeing the importance of community relationships and how people support and help each other during times of need. Many of us long for membership in some type of fellowship that practises mutual aid; this is how our ancestors survived. Yes some things are better now, such as less racism and more opportunities for advancement through education. But isolated, depressed and self-centred people do not make strong healthy communities, nor healthy families. Some people are helped by meditating on this question, asking themselves, "What Would Jesus Do, if he were in my place?" If that doesn't work for you, then maybe ask what your favourite character on The Royal would do? 💙🙏🏽
I was very glad to find all seasons of The Royal available on Amazon prime, during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back to an earlier, simpler and less stressful time was a therapeutic break for me. It was a great example to see people working together to solve problems, and supporting each other thru difficult times.
While I was reading about The Royal online, I discovered it was actually a spinoff of the tv show Heartbeat! I had heard of that TV show, but not being in the UK, I had never seen it. For those of you who have not seen Heartbeat, I highly recommend it! There are 18 total series, and at least the first nine are available on YouTube.
Whereas The Royal centres around a north Yorkshire village hospital and its immediate surroundings near Scarborough and Whitby in the mid 1960s to early 1970s, Heartbeat begins in the early 1960s in the same area. Most filming for Heartbeat was done in the village of Goathland, which is given the TV name of "Aidensfield." Other parts of Heartbeat were filmed in Whitby, Scarborough and several other rural and city Yorkshire locations.
Of course things were not perfect in the 40s 50s 60s and 70s, not even in North Yorkshire. But there is some reason we all are longing for a time when things were simpler. I wonder exactly what attracts me to shows from this timeframe? We all should be thankful there is less racism today, and there are more educational opportunities available to everyone, so people are not automatically locked into the same type of job their parents had. While there is much to be said for having good relationships with your local Dr and nurse, and for midwifery and home births, I'm sure we are all thankful for more advanced medical understanding and treatment that's available now, especially during emergencies and for chronic illnesses. We should all be glad there is more help and openness regarding mental health needs, and much more help for the various types of abuse and addiction.
There are several characters who do crossovers between The Royal and Heartbeat. I believe these occur in the first four seasons of The Royal, but I did not realize it at the time so I'll likely go back and watch them again once I'm thru watching Heartbeat. Probably the character we would most recognize is the most entertaining rogue of Aidensfield, Claude Jeremiah Greengrass! Since Heartbeat actually began filming eight or nine years before the Royal, by watching Heartbeat we can see Mr. Greengrass getting up to shenanigans in all his glory, before the actor had a stroke.
If you have watched all episodes of the Royal and Heartbeat, and if you are still longing for Yorkshire of the past, I recommend that you watch All Creatures Great and Small- both the old and new series. Other series that hit nearly the same spot for me, but are set a bit earlier and a bit farther north are, Dr. Finlay's Case Book, and Dr. Finlay. Search YouTube and Amazon for these. I cannot visit Yorkshire or the UK, but I am thankful for these shows which have given me a little taste of a slower, more beautiful and peaceful pace of life during the crazy times in which we now find ourselves.
In parting, while we cannot go back to a simpler past and live those days over again, each one of us can do something now to make the present and the future a bit better. No, we can't do Everything to fix the world problems- but we can do Something to make our immediate surroundings more kind, more positive, to simplify our lives, to stop and smell the roses, and to share joy with others. Each one of us can do at least one thing this month to slow down and enjoy the beauty of creation. If we cannot plant a garden, we can grow herbs or flowers in a pot. If we cannot grow flowers outside, we can buy easy indoor flowers like African Violets- a pot for ourselves to cheer us up, and a pot to give to someone who needs cheering. Or perhaps we can make some cookies for ourselves, making enough to share with a neighbour, an overwhelmed mother, or someone who is lonely? Let us start by considering, what needs to change? And then let us say, what can I do? I can't do Everything, but I can do Something. Let us begin with treating others as we'd like to be treated, appreciating and loving our family members and neighbours, as we would like to be appreciated and loved.
I think that is largely what is missing from the world today, and a big part of what has changed from both town and country life in the 50s and 60s. I think many of us enjoy shows like this from the past, because we love seeing the importance of community relationships and how people support and help each other during times of need. Many of us long for membership in some type of fellowship that practises mutual aid; this is how our ancestors survived. Yes some things are better now, such as less racism and more opportunities for advancement through education. But isolated, depressed and self-centred people do not make strong healthy communities, nor healthy families. Some people are helped by meditating on this question, asking themselves, "What Would Jesus Do, if he were in my place?" If that doesn't work for you, then maybe ask what your favourite character on The Royal would do? 💙🙏🏽