This show won't be debuting until March 2007, but I just saw an article at zap2it.com about it. I may actually tune in, at least at first, because it will be starring Catherine Bell who used to be on one of my favorite show, JAG. Presumably she will be one of the Army wives, but since the article mentioned that there will be at least one Army husband, she could be in the Army I guess. I doubt it since I think the show is going to focus on home life back in the states, but she does have a lot of experience wearing a uniform and whatnot.

As an Army wife, and former military member myself, I may tune in to this show-mainly to see if it accurately portrays the culture of military wives as I know it.

The trailers/commercials for this show are interesting to me. Interesting enough to at least get me to tune in. June seems a long time away right now.

As a veteran and a military spouse, I won't be tuning in because it looks like ass.

Isn't this show supposed to finally be premiering tonight? We'll see if I actually remember to tune in, but I vaguely remember hearing a radio commerical for it the other day. What I thought was weird is that the only actor whose name they mentioned in the commercial was Kim Delaney and I would never tune into something just for her whereas if I hadn't heard of the show before and they had mentioned Catherine Bell then I would have been more inclined to watch.

The first episode is already available on Lifetime On Demand for Comcast customers. I watched it and it wasn't too bad, it's basically a drama about different women who all happen to be married to men in the army. I"ll probably start watching it for the simple fact that all of my shows are over for summer anyway.

I caught it via OnDemand this A.M. I have to say as someone with zero expectations I thought it was pretty well done. The characters were all, save Bell and her family, pretty engaging. I liked the way the ‘Wives’ have some common traits despite being very dissimilar people. I don’t have one clue if its authentic to Army wives experiences but Strong Medicine was never remotely similar to real medicine and I floved that show.

Yea I had no expectations and I was pretty damn pleased with the show. I definitely did a double take when I found out it was Bell's character's son who was abusing her.

And given the previews, I'm hoping that her husband didn't die and she's stuck with that monster of a son w/o any deflection from the hubby

Roxy is a bad ass chic, love her so far.

I loved it and, ahem, my taste is impeccable, if eclectic. :)

My absolute favorite scene was the one between Catherine Bell (Denise?) and her husband. Just the way they interacted as he was leaving told me there was no way in hell he was the one hitting her. That little punk-ass bitch of a son needs an ass-whooping.

It is actually filmed in Charleston, correct? I hope they get out and about in the city; it's a lovely one.

I figured it was the son, as soon as she put on that long sleeved shirt to go talk to her husband. But it was still a shock when he actually hit her.

The baby delivery was borderline cheese, but I will forgive that fact, because I loved everything else. There isn't ONE army wife that I don't like, as of yet, so we will see.

And Kim D looks FABULOUS.

I am madly in love with Roxy, Trevor, and their kids. Could they be any cuter?

It really wasn't bad at all. Especially for a pilot episode.

I like how the majority of the couples seem to actually like each other and have happy marriages (for now, anyway-I'm sure that will change as the show goes on).

I like this too. It'll be great to see how everything unfolds.

I didn't suspect the son as the abuser until we actually saw him strike his mother.

I thought it was bad, offensively bad. It makes Army wives seem like extreme freaks...this show will not humanize them or allow non-military people to identify with their problems. Instead it packs every wildly implausible, trashy scenario possible into a sleazy soap opera that exploits the community it ought to be honoring.
I'm not a military person, but have friends who are. I'm ashamed of this show on their behalf.

I know this show is probably in no way true to life, but I'll admit... I enjoyed it.

Part of that is because I love Catherine Bell, but I think this will be a good summer show.

I really liked this surprisingly. I liked almost everyone. And let me add that Kim Delaney looks fucking GREAT and she looked like shit on L&O: SVU. I like Roxie a lot and the red head Pamela, I like that she used to be a cop. Basically everyone engaged me and I was interested in their story. Now Catherine Bell I've never seen her in anything not even in all ten years JAG was on. She seemed a little wooden to me. Hopefully she'll loosen up and I'll start to like her. I will make sure to record the next episode. That Lt. Colonel has me intrigued about what happened to her.

Yeah, but no different than how any other show displays a group of people. My street is nothing like Desp. Housewives either.

Like most of you, I was pleasantly surprised and will watch again.

I loved this show! It's perfect for summer, with school out. I was an Army wife and found it realistic. Some of the storylines are riveting, especially the parent abuse one and the LTC back from Afghanistan. I used to go to those "teas"! And the girls going to the bar - I knew some wives like that too. I can't wait until the next episode! I would have watched it anyway, but it was a special treat to see Kim Delaney again. I enjoy this group of 5 people - they'll be interesting to watch!

I was suprised at how much I didn't think last night's premiere sucked. And that was with me coming in prejudiced against it just because it was a Lifetime show.

And it's funny that even with it being a Lifetime show, one of my favorite characters so far is actually the Army husband, not one of the Army wives. Roland (if I remember his name correctly) was just too perfect. Although, if the previews are to be believed, maybe he is too perfect.

The things that grated were small. Drew Fuller should not try to pull off a southern accent. And I have never had any personal connection to the military and all my knowledge comes from books/TV/movies/etc., but I don't think if Trevor just married Roxy that they would be able to swing a house on the base (sorry, post) already. Also, I'm pretty sure Trevor would have been told sooner than the night before that he would be training to become a paratrooper.

But I'm willing to give this show a chance for awhile. As for the other new shows that Lifetime was pushing during commercial breaks, I don't think I'll touch them with a ten foot pole.

I also liked it...I don't know how true-to-life it was because I've never lived on base or I guess in the army, on post. It was pretty familiar though when they showed the army lady "getting back" and when the one guy had to leave. All too familiar with my DH being a Marine now for 14 years. It about choked me up in both instances. I'll keep watching...

I liked this show so far. The women interact so nicely, even with the rank differences. I was a Navy wife for 24 years, and went to lots of those teas also. I was surprised to see that both officer and enlisted wives were invited to the tea, as there usually isn't much interaction between the ranks socially. There wasn't, at least, during our time in the Navy, and the Army was always much more uptight. Of course, my husband retired in '95, so I am pretty out of touch.

I was really bothered by Pamela's husband. What a dick! He didn't want her to work, and didn't want anyone to know about the surrogacy cause it would "ruin" him, but he was all too happy to spend the money it brought in. Those 2 wives who gossiped about her were vicious. Everyone of similar ranks know what the other makes money wise, so suspicion of too much money would raise eyebrows, but assuming drugs are involved and spreading that around is vile. Usually the answer is that all credit cards are maxxed out. You do same a good bit of money living on post, but these days nuthin is cheap.

The LTC's husband is a great addition to the group. He was so cute with the gals during the delivery of the twins.

I kept trying to figure out who the actor was...like I've seen him before. Anyone know?



eta: clicked on spoiler instand of quote

I actually still was lost. I was like, "DAMN, her son beats her too??" When he said, "You won't tell him" I thought he would finish with "Because you don't say anything when he smacks you around." Then I thought it odd that she jumped when her hubby touched her arm, but I figured it was because she didn't want him to hit her again. LOL! I didn't figure it out until she was telling her friends.

That was a pretty good debut. I'll admit that I had no great interest in the premise other than that I'm willing to overlook bad TV if it gives me a little Drew Fuller to gaze at, but the rest of the storylines were interesting enough to hold my attention. The actress who plays Roxy reminds me of Kyra Sedgewick. If Brenda ever needs a sister on 'The Closer", she'd work well. Ironing never appealed to me before, but I may reconsider.

"but I don't think if Trevor just married Roxy that they would be able to swing a house on the base (sorry, post) already. Also, I'm pretty sure Trevor would have been told sooner than the night before that he would be training to become a paratrooper."


Yes, he would get post housing if he was married. I assumed they had been married for a while when they pulled up in front of the house. He would have to apply to get her "military privileges" - PX, commissary, hospital, etc. The Army would recognize her as his wife. And depending on the circumstances, the paratrooper thing could have been last minute too.

I kept thinking the same thing.

I loved her line "Remember me? Thong?" Lol!

I liked Roland too. And when they said he had a big...car.

He's been in a bunch of stuff. Pick your Poison.

I think she flinched because it was the spot where the bruises were, so it hurt to the touch. I attribute my pick up on the son to CB's facial expressions. When the husband took her arm, I saw a flinch of pain as opposed to fear.

At the tea party Roxy said they had either known each other or been married for 17 days. By the tea party they had already been to the promotion dinner and she had gotten the job, so at the very most they might have been married two weeks by the time they pulled onto the base. However, when Trevor proposed to her she said something about his leave being over so I assumed they had to leave pretty quickly to get back to the base and that they had only been married a few days when they pulled up to the house. I know he would get post housing, I just doubt he could swing it that quickly.

The other thing I wondered about: I know there is a heirarchy pretty much everywhere on the post, but I couldn't quite believe they wouldn't take care of a young child that was throwing up constantly at the post hospital. It set up the scene between Roxy and Kim Delaney's character, but it just seemed weird to me. But if someone who knows more than I do says that would happen then I'll be happy to change my opinion (though not thrilled that that could happen).

Didn't Roxy say she had only known her husband for 17 days? So they would have been married even fewer days than that. Unless there is a bunch of surplus housing on this post, there's no way a couple could get on base housing in 2 weeks. I love that he's a great guy though! He's good with the kids and really seems to love her.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I recorded the 1st one just to make sure it wasn't worth recording - and now I want to keep watching!

Although I think I would have preferred to keep driving instead of having a baby in a bar. At least you're that much closer to the hospital when it's over.

"It wasn't me!"

If it helps any the first time I saw him I could of sworn it was Dule Hill, especially with the sunglasses.

Of course as soon as he took the sunglasses off I thought I was an idiot for thinking it was Dule.

The actor is actually Sterling K. Brown and he's guest starred on quite a few shows I watch. Among them being Supernatural and Third Watch.

I actually also really liked this show. I'd watched it earlier in the week OnDemand and was particularly taken by a scene mentioned earlier, with Catherine Bell's character and her husband saying goodbye. I'm glad she finally told Kim Delaney's character the truth. And I really really like Roxy.

I'll keep tuning in and I have to say I disagree with the way some feel it portrays Army wives. Some of the secondary characters indeed did go to those extremes but I felt overall (with the exception of Brigid Bannah's character) that the main wives were quite well rounded and portrayed in a very positive way.

And to echo GuitarGal's point everyone on tv is portrayed in the extremes. We also have to remember this is from one of the minds responsible for Grey's Anatomay (according to the commercials) and look how they portray doctors.

I'll definitely watch it again but I really hope they don't kill off Catherine Bell's character's husband. They implied in the coming attractions and that relationship is one of the one's I like best.

Do soldiers really not like their wives to work? (Going off of what Pamela said).

As with anything some military guys do not want their wives to work, some don't care. Depends on the guys. all ego driven

In my case, there wasn't heirarchy, but I took my son to the BAMC ER with a migraine last summer and no lie, we sat there with him continually vomiting for ten hours before we finally left. We were triaged three hours after we got there, but after that, it was like they totally forgot we were there. Nine hours into the visit, the nurse was handing out tylenol to those who needed it while they were waiting. I ended up asking her to give my son a suppository for the pain. After we got that, we took him home and he slept it off. There was no Kim Delaney offering to give us her spot. When we complained, we were on our own.

That totally sucks. Maybe there'll be a "Kim Delaney" out there watching somewhere who'll give up their spot next time.

Some day I'd like the be someone's Kim Delaney.

"In my case, there wasn't heirarchy, but I took my son to the BAMC ER with a migraine last summer and no lie, we sat there with him continually vomiting for ten hours before we finally left. We were triaged three hours after we got there, but after that, it was like they totally forgot we were there. Nine hours into the visit, the nurse was handing out tylenol to those who needed it while they were waiting. I ended up asking her to give my son a suppository for the pain. After we got that, we took him home and he slept it off. There was no Kim Delaney offering to give us her spot. When we complained, we were on our own."


Brooke at Ft. Sam? Yeah, I've been there too! : ) -- I think the scene here applies more to the "old" stereotype of the Army and RHIP (rank has its privileges). I really don't think you'd see that today. Like a lot of hospitals, Army ones are understaffed and crowded too. But I don't think you'd have a Kim Delaney character getting preferential treatment, unless maybe her husband was on the hospital staff!

I was pleasantly surprised by the pilot, since I generally dismiss Lifetime series without so much as giving them a chance, and I'll be tuning in next week. I have my mom and sister tuning in as well (since my mom will watch anything with Kim Delaney in it).

I wasn't totally surprised by the plot development of Catherine Bell's son being the one who smacked her around, but the surrogacy development did surprise me, so for all of its melodramaticness, it worked. I liked the Roxy character; she's a rear spitfire and she provides that "outsider looking in" perspective of someone this is all new to.

And I appreciate the insights that those of you who have been on post, on base or on an equivalent provide on what elements are somewhat realistic versus total BS. Clearly, as someone mentioned upthread, this is TV-world and the hands that created Grey's Anatomy are involved in this too. I don't take Grey's to be a realistic portrayal of doctors or residency, but I'm always interested to hear when they get something right (in fact or in spirit!) Plus, while there are and have been countless medical shows, it does strike me that this shows a group of people not normally depicted on TV, other than in very minor roles, so I find that interesting, as well.

My husband and I both really enjoyed it! I'd read a bit about the episode in advance - enough to know there was going to be physical abuse involving some sort of twist. However, my husband didn't know this. I was shocked when he knew it was the son from the start; especially given the fact that my husband has never struck me as being terribly observant of familial behavior!

Anyway, we're an Army family and I identified with a great deal of it. Exaggerated? Yeah, parts of it, no doubt. But really nothing egregious, I didn't think. I think we'll both be tuning in next week...

Did the preview for next week hint at more than physical abuse or am I reading it wrong? I certainly hope so.

Everyone is probably going to lose all respect for me after I say this, but Lifetime has improved a great deal. Yes everything it did in the past was six kinds of awful but in recent years it has improved ALOT. OK it still has its issues, but Army Wives isn't the first series I've actually liked on Lifetime and its movies have improved.

Ok everyone can hate me now.

Awwww, this thread is the Love Thread! Can't you tell?

The fact that the show was actually watchable was the biggest surprise of all and I think it was echoed again and again. So, bask in the love... ~this time~!

Re Catherine Bell- She is an awesome actress. Loved her as Mac on JAG. Give it time, I think you will like her.

Yeah Drew Fuller does ned to lay off the accent. I have only seen him as Chris on Charmed, and he def is not southern. lol

I didn't read any more into it than physical abuse but I'd have to see it again and I didn't DVR the show since I could watch it OnDemand.

I also certainly hope that you read that wrong too. However, having said that I did get some kind of weird vibe coming from her son even before the husband left so that might not be too far out of left field.

But yeah, I hope we're BOTH reading way too much into that.

I got the same vibe as well. IMO, the son looked like he was jealous of his parents' relationship with each other. Like, he's the "other man". I wanted Kim Delaney's tv show husband to give him a beatdown in front of the daughter.

At least I'm not alone because I kinda got that vibe too. I really hope that we are all mistaken--that would be a weird way to start the show and it would forever skeeve me out.

I really enjoyed the premiere. I don't watch Lifetime and just happened to catch the show because a relative left the channel on when she left. Now I'm glad she did! And I was glad to find out it's a show and not a movie, and that I'm coming in at the beginning. It even comes on at a convenient time LOL. I found it interesting how much character information they're giving us this early. I love it because it helps me get into the show more if I know basic info about the characters earlier (I've watched shows where it was halfway through the season before I ever heard all the adults' last names much less their random kids' names and never their educational background), but I just found it unusual.

MSN TV has a brief article about the show and a bit of an interview with Kim Delaney.

As someone who wouldn't watch a Lifetime series on a bet, I found myself drawn to this one with strong expectations of being disappointed. And I wasn't. The writing is pretty good and the casting was great. I had no idea who was in it and was surprised by the quality of the cast. Catherine Bell is so fantastic, I think it's harder to portray reserved and pained than it would be to 'chew the scenery' with the overdramatics (like every other shlocky Lifetime movie or tv show I've seen, women in peril etc does). She's being abused but she's also ashamed. She's raised a son who abuses her and suffers silently rather than admit to it. I totally get that. When she finally confided in her friends and sought help I thought that was well done and very realistic.

All in all I think this one is a good one to watch and I hope it stays around and gets even better. If it devolves into just another Lifetime dreckfest I'll be really disappointed. Time will tell.

Wow, I'm kind of confused and disturbed by the fact that I genuinely liked a show airing on Lifetime (don't look at me like that Blood Ties, I said genuinely liked).

I never watched JAG so the only thing I'd seen Catherine Bell in - that I can recall - before this was that really bad TV movie called Triangle, which was really bad and about the Bermuda Triangle eating people or something. So this is the first time I've seen Catherine Bell in something that didn't suck, and I do declare that she is lovely and amazing and luminous and I kind of love her. She did an amazing job with Denise, it's a difficult task sometimes to make quiet more reserved characters compelling but she totally did it, and Denise is now one of my favorite wives.

Next, I used to love Kim Delany, then she wasn't working for me so much, and now she's back to being awesome. This is Kim Delany is a form I haven't seen her in in a while, and I'm digging it. She really pulled off the classy, pulled together, well-educated, caring, respected den mother of the post thing with aplomb. She had a regal kind of elegance and grace mixed with genuine decency and steel that really worked for me. I like this Claudia Joy Holden, in fact I even like that Claudia Joy Holden has three names and that people say it all together like that.

I'm also totally interested in the storyline in Roland and Rolan's wife.



Somehow I don't think they're going to go there, but thank goodness I wasn't the only one who thought this. I don't feel so alone now, lol.

I'm going to add my voice to those that were surprised by the quality of Army Wives. I only watched it because my gf and I ran into one of the guys that works in the art department while we were at a local Charlestonian coffee house and we told him we'd give it a go. It's kinda a weird feeling have pseudo inside information, none of which is of a particularly surprising nature. He said something about how all of wives have Secrets, but that they just found out one of them and he didn't see what the big deal was. He also said that all of the art guys were laughing about how they've had to dress a set for some kind of party every week for the past sevenish weeks. I'm pretty sure that neither of those bit of information are spoiler worthy. I'm waiting to see if any of the actresses show up in said coffee house, since it seems like it's becoming the place to go in Charleston.

I started watching the show when it already began, but I suspected the son of abusing his mother when he ordered her to leave with him instead of watching the bus take his father away. That was some bullying that screamed something wasn't right. A few minutes earlier, his father reminded his son that while he was away that he would be the man of the house. And the son replied he has been the man of the house since he was 7 years old. I hope the mother hasn't been letting little shit telling her what to do.

Damn, I missed this show! Maybe because I was travelling home from San Antonio, in a car, with my kids-and no AC.
I hope to catch the re-airing, whenever that is. I read the article that L_star linked to, and was stunned to read that Kim Delaney "husband" was going for a 3 month tour to Iraq. I would kill for my husband to have a 3 month rotation, rather than the 15 month one he has upcoming. And after only 9 months back, too <last time was only a year though>.