Age Before Beauty

Age Before Beauty is a British television drama series that aired in 2018 on the ITV network. Crafted by Poldark writer Debbie Horsfield, this drama blends family dynamics, business dealings, and personal beautification in a modern environment. The show centers around a family-run beauty salon based in Manchester, where we see the owners and staff members dealing with everyday professional and personal life challenges, providing nail-biting entertainment for viewers to enjoy.

The salon is aptly named Mirrorbel, and the primary setting of action leads to intriguing story arcs revolving around beauty treatments and the secrets that often find themselves revealed within the salon's walls. Despite its primary backdrop prominently featuring the beauty industry, the crux of the series lies beyond the superficiality of appearances to explore family dramas, marital relationships, friendship, and betrayal.

The main protagonist is Bel, played by Polly Walker, who is being coaxed back into the world of beauty salon after spending the past eighteen years bringing up her children. Bel represents many women juggling multiple responsibilities, and the show adeptly portrays the chaos and joy in balancing family duties, career aspirations, and personal fulfillment.

Being in a beauty salon, Age Before Beauty naturally delves deep into the pressures and expectations put on appearance in modern society. It cleverly highlights how the increasingly popular cultural obsession to stay youthful affects both the personal and professional domains of the characters' lives. Whether it be through anti-aging practices or fitness regimes, the series instigates a thought-provoking discussion on the prevailing standards of beauty.

The impressive roster of actors ensures an outstanding performance throughout the series. In addition to Polly Walker, the show features notable actors such as Robson Green, Sue Johnston, and Lisa Riley amongst others, whose performances bring a crucial human element into the narrative and create captivating and relatable characters.

Another significant aspect of Age Before Beauty is that it places its lead characters in the age group of 40s and 50s, which is still underrepresented on television. It scrutinizes the unique challenges, aspirations, and complexities that women face in this age bracket that are too often overlooked, making it a standout show in its genre.

Debbie Horsfield, known for her engaging narratives and complex characters, brings those elements in abundance with Age Before Beauty. The show's family dynamics are complex yet realistic, with closely bonded siblings, past rivalries, loyalties, and complicated parental relationships at its heart. The show's drama, however frequent, never spirals into realms of the unbelievable or absurd. Instead, it is executed with a level of authenticity and sensitivity that acknowledges the trials of life that many audiences can relate to.

Furthermore, the series perfectly balances the drama with its comedic aspects. The blend of humor, love, friendship, and occasional cheekiness add a light-hearted dimension, which complements the drama and prevents it from becoming too heavy or difficult to watch. This is one of the reasons why Age Before Beauty hit the right notes with its audience, making it an engaging watch.

At its heart, the show is an exploration of human relationships and the intricate complexities that come with it, against the backdrop of a family-run beauty salon. It manages to say important things about societal pressures on appearance, family ties and dynamics, marital complexities, and ageism without becoming too oppressive. Yet, the show also encourages a spirit of empowerment and determination in dealing with life's ups and downs.

In conclusion, Age Before Beauty from ITV is a bold, touching, and thought-provoking drama. It successfully uses its beauty salon setting as a mirror to reflect societal norms and attitudes in an engaging manner. Whether something resonates with viewers or simply entertains them, it truly captivates a wide array of audiences with its incredible storytelling, authentic characters, and meaningful themes, making it an essential addition to anyone's watch list.