Rosemary & Thyme: And No Birds Sing (2003) (TV)

This is the first episode of a TV series. The idea behind it is hilarious, a true genius find. Two middle-aged women, down in their luck, one a spinster (too bad this word has fallen out of fashion), the other just left by her husband, become acquainted by accident, and both are interested in gardens, one by profession (she is a plant pathologist), the other by inclination. They stumble upon a possible crime and further possible foul play at the house where one of them was asked to give some scientific advise about some sick trees. So, they investigate it, and the notion of two nosy ladies with no detective experience, being just curious about matters wich are not their concern at all, is frankly hilarious. This particular episode, besides successfully introducing the basic idea of the series (presumably; it is the only episode I have seen) and the main characters, revolves around a plot which has much absurdity in its premise and development, and that is also hilarious. All this is played in a completely straight-faced way, and I am not sure I like that. The two leading actresses (I hear this is another word which has fallen out of favor in mainstream circles) fit their respective parts, as they say, like gloves (or is it the other way around?).