If I had to say what the main theme of this series is, both of its seasons included, I'd say the oppression of women. I find myself wondering whether it was greater in 1950's Germany than that decade in the U.S. With the story revolving around a family of women, a mother along with her three adult daughters, I'm fascinated by the script which has each daughter handling her relationship(s) with men differently. Overriding all of them is that grand old social more of "what will the neighbors think"? The happiness of each daughter as an individual is not nearly as important as being seen as good, virtuous, and proper, i.e., living within the societal norms.
The show is done so well that as other reviewers have said, watching it is often an emotional roller coaster. Observing these young women be subjected to not only the domination of them by their men, but the support and enforcement of that domination by other other women, I find myself feeling so grateful for the freedoms we have today that many women take for granted. I'm sure, for example, that a woman first starting out on her own today would find it incredible that back then a married woman couldn't get her own credit card or (at least in some places) not be able to eat in a restaurant alone without being seen as a prostitute.
Everyone should watch this show, both for how entertaining it is as well as educational. Special mention for the music which is like a character in itself. The blues number done by the youngest daughter who's also the rebellious one, played by Sonja Gerhardt, is terrific. Her acting is also excellent, as is that of the other main roles.
