The A League of Their Own series more accurately portrays what this time was like, focusing heavily on LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination.
A League of Their Own is a highly respected film that still holds up after all this time. It is all about female empowerment and is filled with a cast of strong women. There is now a series with the same name, but a whole different lineup of Rockford Peaches. While this is sort of considered a reboot, it tells a much different story than the movie it is a spinoff of.
This version of A League of Their Own is a whole lot less about the game of baseball, and a whole lot more about LGBTQ+ rights, making it a more accurate depiction of what the women of these times went through. As difficult as it is to watch at times, and imagine what these women must have gone through, it is important to see so that we can learn from the mistakes of our past, so that we don’t repeat them.
Unfortunately these rights might seem safe now, but the way the world is going, who knows how long that will be for. Watching a show like this will hopefully cause those who would put the rights in jeopardy to think twice before they do.
This series features a whole new batch of Rockford Peaches — not a one being the same. They are similar though as they all wear the same skirts and play the same game when the men go off to war, but this time they are dealing with more than the blowback from the men who don’t want to see them playing America’s favorite pastime.
Not all, but many, of these women are dealing with an internal struggle. They are members of the LGBTQ+ community however they are forced to hide it. In these times it was illegal to enjoy the company of the same sex.
They forced to hide from their teammates, families, and friends, they are forced to hide from society as a whole. Dubbed “sexual inverts” they can be arrested, and are often beaten, for their lifestyle. A lot of viewers will have to watch some scenes through their fingers as they are difficult to witness. The sad thing is, this isn’t made up at all, but rather situations that many men and women in the LGBTQ+ community were put through back then, and still are put through at times now.
So, while yes, A League of Their Own is about the women of baseball and their whirlwind season, it is also about these ladies and what they are going through. Abbi Jacobson plays Carson Shaw, whose husband is in the war. She has always loved the game of baseball and is thrilled to finally get a chance to play in a professional setting. But joining the team changes her and allows her to finally be herself when she finds comfort in the arms of another player, Greta (played by D’Arcy Carden).
Every single one of these ladies in this show is phenomenal. They are likeable and a whole lot of fun to watch together. This is a team of exceptional actresses, much like the film gave us. By the end of the second episode they all settle in together and it is hard not to root for them to go all the way.
Nick Offerman plays their coach, Dove, who is a great addition to the cast. There is a problem surrounding him, however. Part way through the series he just kind of, disappears. While this is a part of the story line it is done so abruptly that it feels off and throws a wrench in the pacing of the show. Ultimately it is the right decision to have him leave, especially considering the relationships that change and develop when he is gone, but it takes nearly an entire episode to get back on track.
By the end of the series, viewers will be so committed to the Peaches, that it is impossible not to cheer them on as their season comes to a close. In an effort to remain spoiler free we won’t reveal any major details, but any one who paid enough attention through the series will be in tears during that final episode — and likely more than once.
The Peaches aren’t the only characters in A League of Their Own though, there is an entirely separate storyline that only crosses over every once in a while (and when it does, it provides some of the best scenes in the series). Each of these plots are given enough time to be considered a major part of the show. It would be impossible to claim one as secondary and one as primary as they are both important to the overall message.
This other story centers around a young Black woman named Maxine (played by Chante Adams) who is keeping a similar secret. While a lot of her storyline deals with her struggle to be accepted as a baseball player because she is a woman, she also has to deal with racism and discrimination because of the of her skin color. She knows that she will have to play in the Negro league, which is just as hard to crack into, if not harder, and she is unwilling to give up.
Her story becomes extremely emotional, especially when a conflict with her mother arises. Lucky for her she has her best friend Clance (played by Gbemisola Ikumelo) at her side. These two are willing to do just about anything for each other. Seeing their relationship is inspiring and it brings the majority of joy to viewers throughout the season.
While this is a very different story, one of the stars of the original movie, Rosie O’Donnell, makes a small but impactful appearance in the series. She plays the owner of a bar where it is safe for members of the LGBTQ+ community to be who they are. She tells horror stories of movie from place to place in order to stay ahead of the law and has one of the most powerful scenes in the entire show — which we refuse to spoil.
A League of Their Own is eight episodes, each of which clock in at around an hour long. The first half of the season is very much meant to set up for some big twists and reveals toward the end of the season, but that doesn’t stop it from being a bit of a struggle.
These are long episodes and while they are entertaining for the most part, the ball doesn’t really get rolling until episode five. This is when things get so interesting that it is nearly impossible to look away. There is a whole lot of drama, more than ever expected, and it all culminates for a truly epic finale and quite the cliffhanger moment.
Both the film and the series are based on true events. During the war women really did play baseball. While the movie is certainly entertaining, the series feels a whole lot more truthful to the times. It is mentioned in the series at one point that a large percentage of the league are a part of the LGBTQ+ community but are forced to keep it hidden. This is likely a whole lot closer to how things were in the real life of these women.
We won’t ever forget the original and what it did for women, let’s hope that the series does the same for the Queer community.
Emotional and entertaining with a stellar cast that just exudes chemistry!
Rating: 4 out of 5
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About A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own evokes the joyful spirit of Penny Marshall’s beloved classic, while widening the lens to tell the story of an entire generation of women who dreamed of playing professional baseball, both in and outside of the AAGPBL. The show follows Carson (Abbi Jacobson) and Max (Chanté Adams) and a new ensemble of sharp and hilarious characters as they carve their paths toward the field, along the way finding their teams and themselves.
A League of Their Own streams exclusively on Prime Video August 12th.
