‘A League of Their Own' review - Amazon is in a cuckoo land of its own for not renewing this gem

Hopefully, this little call to action of mine will be redundant soon. But as of yet, the mighty Amazon hasn’t made any plans to cancel or renew the gift of a show that is A League of Their Own. It’s in limbo.

This series, about a professional women’s baseball league (which formed when men went off to war), is full of heart, inevitable heartbreak, passion and humour – the perfect cocktail for any show.

I recently watched the film this series is based on, and whilst it was instantly iconic, I loved the queer additions and relationships that the remake put a lot of thought and care into nurturing.

Remakes do the best when they aren’t trying to replicate or overshadow the original. A League of Their Own does neither of these things and makes its own mark as a brilliant show of its own.

It’s not like the themes of queerness and identity were plucked from anywhere, either, before I hear cries of ‘woke!’ (although that in itself is a problematic word which has been hijacked by the press… I won’t get into that, today).

No, several members of the original Rockford Peach members (in real life, not the film), as well as members of many other teams, were in fact – shock horror – lesbians. This is as far from forced as you could possibly get. The show provides representation in its most authentic form. It captures more of the whole truth that the film didn’t cover.

This is a series fizzing with care, love and identity. Really, to boil it down to its bare bones, it’s a show about finding yourself amidst all the relationships you build in your life. How do you navigate the world and find your own unique voice when the world is telling you different things?

Both Greta and Charlie influence how Carson sees the world and herself. It is only through the Peaches that Carson begins to understand her purpose; although, like with most of us, learning about yourself still doesn’t end when you find your main passion in life. Greta guides her towards finding herself, but ultimately, it is down to Carson to choose her direction and go for what she wants.

Similarly, with Max, who is caught between the beliefs and identities of her mum and her Uncle Bertie, there is a real sense that this woman just wants to be an authentic medium between the two of them but doesn’t really know who she is without influences from either.

Bertie has introduced her to a world she fits partly into, but it’s not a neat fit. As she says to Carson, ‘Everyone wants me to be some way’. And ‘maybe we need a new word for us – somewhere in between’. Her ending has been set up perfectly for a great s2. She’s off to find herself and it would be really interesting to see how everything unfolds for her.

And that ending with Carson and her husband? How on earth could you end the show there?

So I bring this raving review back to its central question, directed at anyone involved on Amazon Prime. When are you going to bring back A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN?

Afternote: I had been wondering when to post this, but when better than on international women’s day? These are women who deserve to have more of their stories told.