Being Erica - Season 1 [DVD]

Being Erica is one of the most original and touching series on TV in recent years. It's a programme that I can watch with my teenage daughter without too much embarrassment for either of us, though one or two episodes came close. I suspect that being a Canadian production gives it a less cliched and predictable aspect. Some TV drama from the States has become too knowing, and less amusing and more predictable because of it, over the years. I'd highly recommend it to any female friends and some men I know would likely enjoy it too.

Erica hasn't made all the best choices in her life and is given the oportunity by her 'therapist' Dr Tom to go back and make some changes where she identifies her greatest regrets.

Erica is likeable character who is easy to relate to, even if you don't share the same interests and experiences as her. It is a tale of human relationships that will have something for most of us to identify with. Her on-off relationship with her college friend is believable and you want them to work something out, though the odds seemed stacked against them as he is married to someone else.

The most compelling subplot, however, is the death of Erica's brother when they were still very young and her obvious grief and regrets over that. There is a constant tention and while watching, you wonder if she will be able to resist meddling in time and saving his life, if she is not preventing from doing so.

If you like a series with believable and likeable characters, a little unpredictability about outcome and a sci-fi twist then give Erica a try. I don't think you'll regret it.

A fantastic series. Every episode pulls its weight - there are none that I felt were just fillers. Other reviewers have described the plot/premise, so I won't repeat that. It has everything: wit & humor, time travel, drama it makes you laugh and cry, the characters are nicely drawn and engaging. I thought the therapist stuff might turn out to be preachy and trying too hard, but not at all. It teaches you the kind of wisdom you already know somewhere, and you've read in books, but somehow you can't quite work it into your own life.

With some shows, the characters never ask the questions I really want to ask, or get into the kinds of situations and problems that might happen to me. Erica does! I know it might sound cheesy but I actually learnt stuff. I think with good fiction, you can put yourself inside the characters so much that their experiences become part of your own. Plus, who hasn't wished they could go back and relive things and undo their regrets and mistakes? What a delicious fantasy!! It works great as pure entertainment.

It's a lot cheaper than therapy, and a lot more fun!

I do not really remember how I came upon `Being Erica'; probably it had something to do with my obsession with `Lost'. I think someone talked me about the time travel in `Being Erica' because I am a fan of the use of that tool in stories (thus the `Lost' addiction). Well, it really does not matter how I found out about `Being Erica', just the fact that I did find it and fell in love with it. I have watched and loved all sorts of TV shows, and of course, the title of "best TV show" changes from time to time, but there is something about `Being Erica' that is unexplainable. Maybe because I was in a period of my life when I was not satisfied with the choices I had made, I had an instant identification with the show. The premise is very simple and I believe everyone who watches will relate. Do you ever feel you made bad choices in your life? Did you ever want to turn back time and fix those mistakes? These questions are essentially the premise of the show.

Erica Strange is a thirty-something woman who has made all sorts of bad choices and because of it she feels trapped in a life that she never intended to lead. Sounds a little too dramatic, doesn't it? But the show, even though is a drama series, tackles the subject very lightly. You will eventually cry, but just because you have seen something you can totally relate. In some moments you will even laugh and smile because, as I said, `Being Erica' is not a heavy show at all.

So, Erica, in the midst of this disappointment with her life (she is unemployed, has no boyfriend...) meets Dr. Tom, a different kind of therapist. Dr. Tom can transport her back in time to `fix' her mistakes. But there's the catch, she does not actually changes her past, but instead, learns from her mistakes and uses this new experience in her present life. This is one of the reasons I love `Being Erica', because no one can actually travel in time, but we all have regrets and by watching the lessons Erica learns, we definitely grow as a person.

The fact that the show is set up in Canada is not a negative aspect, as the lessons taught are truly universal. In fact, I think it gives a certain mystique to the show. I have recommended `Being Erica' to all my friends and those who watched feel in love.

If you can watch one episode and if you like it (which I am positively sure you will), buy this DVD set. It will be an amazing experience. You won't regret it.