ABC's New Series Pan Am

In the first episode of the new ABC series Pan Am, the copilot says to the pilot in reference to the Pan Am stewardesses, “You see that table over there? That is natural selection at work my friend. They don’t know that they’re a new breed of women. They just had an impulse to take flight.”

I take this series as a romanticized period piece of the 60's, somewhat like Mad Men. I think women have taken many steps in American society to be equal to men, but sometimes have a ways to go. Okay, so women should be just as independent and respected as men, but have you ever noticed, we are still living in a patriarchal society. However, as long as shows such as Mad Men and Pan Am are taken as period pieces, I'm fine with them.

I actually like that one of the four main stewardess characters, Lauren, decided to break free of her life controlled by her mother, run away from her wedding and travel the world as a stewardess becoming independent. The sad thing is that the stewardesses have a rigid dress code and will be grounded for breaking it, are weighed, and are not allowed to be stewardesses once they are married.

Lauren's sister, Kate, was already a stewardess and seems to be a disappointment to her mother, however, she is an inspiration to Lauren. Kate is invited to be a CIA spy and she accepts. Her confidence in herself makes her the most outgoing of the four.

The french girl, Colette, finds herself on the same flight as a man (and his wife and son) who she thought she was in a relationship with and was in love with, but on the flight found out he was married. I feel sorry for her as she was so happy, but naive. The man is sorry the situation is ruined, but unapologetic, though he does lip service a "sorry". The wife seems to be unaware until she makes a parting comment to Collete implying that Collette is a home wreaker.

The final stewardess is Maggie, who lives in The Village--is she bohemian then? She is grounded for breaking the dress code, not wearing a girdle, having a ripped stocking. However, when there is a last minute stewardess need on the flight, which is flying for the first time, she is called in. The Pan Am guys in charge even send a helicopter to make sure she is at the airport on time. Is this because she is a great flight attendant, or because Pan Am cannot cancel a flight? Hopefully, it is both.

I am looking forward to watching the future episodes, which air on ABC Sundays 10|9c