More literary and intelligent that most American TV: Slings & Arrows

Ultimately, by the end of the first season, "Slings & Arrows" does win you (me) over, despite its flaws and limitations, as a real sweet story that does capture the essence of life in a provincial theater troupe (or among any group of actors, for that matter), that's funny at times, and that is actually quite insightful about Shakespeare and about directing on stage. In fact, the work the director, Jeffrey, does with his troupe, especially in episodes 5 and 6, is among the highlights of the series. Series hinted at the outset that Jeffrey was a revolutionary director, and in fact he's not - he's traditional, in ways that have probably largely vanished from stage direction and have definitely vanished from movie direction - in that he focuses on character, on helping his actors see who the character is, his or her condition, motivations, feelings. His doing so helps us understand Hamlet, too, which is great - made me think about going back and reading the play, or even seeing it live, if that were possible. As anyone would expect from scene one of this series, things will work out well at the end - theater will triumph, the evil Holly will get her comeuppance (I wonder if we'll see more of her in season 2? I do wish her downfall had been more dramatic, but still.) I am still troubled by a few elements - the lack of clarity about Jeffrey's character (would have been much stronger, I believe, if he didn't dress in all 6 episodes like a lunatic), and in Oliver's character. (Is he an old-fashioned out-of-it director or Jeffrey's mentor? Is he an old queen or a sexual rival? Series goes back and forth on this - as if it started out with one premise then modified that concept as series progressed.) Nevertheless, a lot of fun and way more intelligent and literary than almost anything on American TV. Oh, Canada!