Growing Home Season 1 Episode 1 Second Service
- September 1, 2018
- 19 min
Growing Home is a heart-warming episodic series that revolves around the lives of the women of Hailsham Community Farm. The show follows the journey of these women as they not only nurture their produce but also their personal lives.
In the pilot episode of season 1, titled Second Service, we are introduced to the main characters of the show and the community farm they call home. The episode begins with the farm owner, Rebecca, played by Helen McCrory, struggling to keep the farm afloat in the face of mounting debts. The farm has been in her family for generations, and she is determined to keep it alive.
We are then introduced to the women who work at the farm and who are like a family to Rebecca. First, we meet Hannah, played by Amy Manson, a skilled farmer who runs the farm with Rebecca. We also meet Willa, an eccentric inventor, played by Nimrat Kaur, who has a particular interest in soil health. There is also the gentle-hearted Taggie, played by Sarah Parish, who is brilliant at growing produce and providing emotional support to her colleagues.
The women at the farm have to deal with the trials and tribulations of farming for a living, battling poor weather, pests, and other challenges. In the midst of all this, they also have their personal lives to navigate, including their relationships and family obligations.
The episode revolves around a community event that the women are organizing, a second service to celebrate the apple harvest. The women are planning to make cider, and the event is expected to draw in a large crowd, which could bring in much-needed revenue for the farm. The episode perfectly captures the excitement and anticipation that surrounds a community event like this, and the women all work together to make it a success.
As the day of the second service approaches, we see the women deal with a range of challenges. Taggie's mother is ill, and she has to return home to care for her, leaving her colleagues to manage the event without her. Willa's newest invention, an environmentally friendly pest control system, has not been working as expected, and this puts the farm harvest at risk. Hannah's estranged brother, who she has not spoken to in years, also appears unexpectedly, causing friction between the two siblings.
Despite these challenges, the women manage to pull off a successful event, and the cider proves to be a hit with the visitors. But the success comes at a cost. The event takes a toll on everyone, and we see them dealing with the aftermath, both physically and emotionally.
The episode ends on a poignant note, with Rebecca making a tough decision about the future of the farm. She realizes that she can't do it alone and that she needs support from her team. The episode leaves us wanting to know more about the lives of these women on this beautiful farm, what their future holds, and how they navigate the various challenges that come their way.
Overall, the pilot episode of Growing Home is a fantastic introduction to the show's world and characters. It is a beautifully crafted episode with excellent performances by the cast. The episode subtly weaves together the themes of community, family, growth, and persistence, leaving us feeling uplifted and moved.