A League of Their Own Season 1 is a Home Run of an Adaptation
Remakes are tough sometimes, but A League of Their Own makes the whole process look effortless. If you think of Penny Marshall’s classic film of the same name in the upper echelons of the art form, the new series knocks the storytelling out of the park.
What ultimately makes the series such a perfect adaptation is that it distills what made the movie great and further develops themes and characters into a unique package that is a delight from beginning to end.
From the start, series star Abbi Jacobson establishes herself as a worthy successor to the iconic Geena Davis. Jacobson’s Carson Shaw, in every way, inherits the power that was Davis’s, Dottie Hinson.
It’s hard to overstate just how cathartic it is to see Carson go a different way. While Dottie chose family and marriage, Carson prioritizes herself in a relatable and heartwarming way.
It’s nothing against Davis’s iconic catcher, but the new series gives the leader of the Rockford Peaches new life and new depth.
She’s imperfect and she isn’t always entirely sympathetic. And yet, her journey is an enthralling one as she finds ways to fully come into her own with the love and support of her team.
It’s undoubtedly a sign of the times that A League of Their Own dials up the queer representation in the most delightful way. Arguments have been made that the source material definitely has queer-coded characters and storylines.
Rather than playing coy, the series has characters lean into their sexualities as crucial aspects of their personhood. A trap that so many period pieces fall into is having us believe the past was inhabited strictly by cisgender and heterosexual humans.
A League of Their Own emphasizes the fact that while they may not have been entirely visible due to safety, the LGBTQ+ community has always existed.
The stories and characters presented throughout the drama are a breath of fresh air, to say the least.
On this note, D’Arcy Carden shines and is a stand-out in a series filled with shining stars. A League of Their Own is the perfect venue for Carden to showcase her brilliant comedic chops as well as her emotional range.
While Carden and Jacobson shine individually, they are at their best when combined with the ensemble. The WLW romance throughout A League of Their Own is something special.
What the show also succeeds in doing, however, is showcasing the beauty of platonic female relationships. In an era where a generation of men were fighting a war, it showcases the fact that women had themselves to rely on.
A League of Their Own also takes great care to increase the diversity in the show. A criticism of the original film is that it was incredibly white-washed, even when faced with the Black, Latinx, and others’ contribution to America’s pastime.
In the source material, the representation of Black stories was nothing more than a brief (but iconic) moment that could be easily missed if one is not paying close enough attention.
Chanté Adams’ incredibly endearing Max Chapman is frankly worthy of an entire series of their own. What Adams does is present a character who is entirely lovable, joyful, and captivating from the moment we meet her.
Max’s journey is among the most compelling. It is yet another reminder that the experience of exploring one’s gender and sexuality is not confined to modern times.
Through Max, viewers are asked to reflect on the intersectionality of oppression that has existed for generations in America. This is an important story to tell, and Max, in particular, is in a prime position to have her story explored in a follow-up season.
There are so many nods to A League of Their Own‘s origins, and yet these are never cheesy or overdone. In particular, the way that the show finds a spot for Rosie O’Donnell, this time as bar owner Vi, is truly something special.
This is such a heartwarming way to bring back an important actor from the original film. O’Donnell proves what made her great in the film. O’Donnell’s heartfelt performance is among the strongest of the supporting cast.
So much of A League of Their Own is also devoted to righting the wrongs of the source material. As much as the original movie was a venue for Tom Hanks to flex his acting chops, his character was often… problematic.
Nick Offerman obliges audiences by giving a classic comedy routine and then immediately leaving to allow the women to have center stage. His character is made all the more likable by this decision.
Gone is Pauline Brailsford’s Miss Cuthbert, whose sexual assault is played for laughs and who is never given the respect she deserves. In her place is Sergeant Beverly, a classic, sassy Dale Dickey character.
Sergent Beverly is no pushover, nor is she a machine without a heart. She’s a wonderfully complex, hilarious broad who keeps the Rockford Peaches from total chaos and destruction at their own hands while undisputedly looking out for them.
Even on a minute level, the training montage is such a brilliant tribute to the movie. It’s an updated, new take on a moment that captures the humor and joy that’s essential to this story.
This version of A League of Their Own also leaves the Rockford Peaches with far more freedom and agency over their own romantic lives. It’s clear that marriage is not the only option for these women, as it always should be.
If there is any disappointment to be had with A League of Their Own, it’s perhaps in the Jewish representation that comes through Shirley Cohen. Make no mistake, Kate Berlant gives this role her absolute all.
The Jewish experience in America is vast. This has been true ever since there has been a Jewish presence in the United States.
It’s a shame that rather than choosing from this massive catalogue of options, A League of Their Own falls back on tired stereotypes of Jewish neuroses. Rather than provide commentary on how this is borne of trauma, it’s all played for laughs.
There could have been so much more to this character. There are certainly many Jewish stories to be told in the 1940s in the United States. Berlant makes a strong case that she can carry this character. Hopefully, she’ll get another chance to do so.
A League of Their Own as a package is a wholesome period piece that skillfully combines humor, heartbreak, and the best of sports. It’s a binge-worthy summer watch.
This series is everything a re-make is supposed to be. The best of the source material is elevated by the expansion that the show provides. With a blend of old and new stories and characters, this is a near-perfect combination.
There are plenty of opportunities to tell more of these stories. The case for a Season 2 and beyond has been definitively made.
What did you think of A League of Their Own Season 1? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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A League of Their Own Season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.
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Justine Kraemer
Justine is an unashamed fan of too many TV shows and movies with a particular love of all things Marvel. She balances her love of massive massively popular shows with hidden gems that are just waiting to be discovered.