Gender swapping reboots and remakes happen all time now, often just for the sake of nostalgia while trying to make it relevant. And they don't always work.
In this case, however, they've actually done something interesting with the original premise. In the Jeremy Irons version, it was about two damaged men trying to play God. By making them women and played by the ever-brilliant Rachel Weisz, it adds another layer of intrigue and complexity to the story.
While Beverly is introverted, gay, compassionate and always has her hair tied back, Elliot is assertive, straight, ruthless and addicted to sex, drugs and alcohol. They need the help of a Pharma "gangster" (Jennifer Ehle) to fund their birthing centre, and while Beverly wants to do things by the book and truly cares for the women who come to them, Elliot is willing to push the boundaries of medical ethics to achieve goals, and shares the beliefs of her investors that profit is all that counts.
Like in the film, their co-dependant relationship is put to the test when Beverly falls in love with an actress (even though Elliot pimps out Beverly to several women) The relationships around them unravel, which leads to devastating consequences.
What sets this apart from other R-rated shows, is that we see graphic depictions of vaginal and c-section births, which is very rare. And yet it's the most common and natural thing in the world. We're so desensitised to violent deaths, tortures and shootings on screen, and yet, as one of the twins mentions: pregnancy and birth should not be something to be ashamed of.
Do not miss this!
In this case, however, they've actually done something interesting with the original premise. In the Jeremy Irons version, it was about two damaged men trying to play God. By making them women and played by the ever-brilliant Rachel Weisz, it adds another layer of intrigue and complexity to the story.
While Beverly is introverted, gay, compassionate and always has her hair tied back, Elliot is assertive, straight, ruthless and addicted to sex, drugs and alcohol. They need the help of a Pharma "gangster" (Jennifer Ehle) to fund their birthing centre, and while Beverly wants to do things by the book and truly cares for the women who come to them, Elliot is willing to push the boundaries of medical ethics to achieve goals, and shares the beliefs of her investors that profit is all that counts.
Like in the film, their co-dependant relationship is put to the test when Beverly falls in love with an actress (even though Elliot pimps out Beverly to several women) The relationships around them unravel, which leads to devastating consequences.
What sets this apart from other R-rated shows, is that we see graphic depictions of vaginal and c-section births, which is very rare. And yet it's the most common and natural thing in the world. We're so desensitised to violent deaths, tortures and shootings on screen, and yet, as one of the twins mentions: pregnancy and birth should not be something to be ashamed of.
Do not miss this!