It’s not every day that we are graced with a TV show with a primarily female cast that consists of strong, complex women. Even though The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart has male characters (which are necessary for the show’s plot), only a few are friendly and respectable (the police officer and Charlie). Other than that, the show centers on women, their stories and their power to overcome violent obstacles.
While the show’s title hints at its main character, Alice Hart (Alycia Debnam-Carey), the story wouldn’t be the same without the flowers surrounding her. Without their safety, knowledge and love, Alice’s life wouldn’t be the same, and the series ending would have probably left us quite disappointed. However, among these women, the one who stands out the most and whose story probably sticks with us quite strongly is June Hart.
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June Hart enters the scene as Alice’s grandmother, showing up when her parents are gone to bring her home, help her heal and raise her. As the show continues, we discover that June is full of secrets and lies that should make her a dislikable or even a hated character. But the truth is that every episode gives us a reason why June Hart had to lie, keep secrets and hide a big part of her life. These reasons, tied with the lies we uncover, also reveal that June is the glue that keeps the show together, connecting every character and their stories.
Sigourney Weaver does an incredible job bringing this character to life and portraying her emotions, from anger and sadness to joy and relief. Not many shows allow a woman in her 70s to play a character that isn’t defined by being a mother or a grandmother.
Although June Hart is both a mother and a grandmother, these aren’t the only things that define who she is. She is also a protector who has taken in hundreds of women throughout her life to help them escape abuse, emotional despair and any violent circumstance that put their lives at risk. June has kept her mother’s legacy alive to give a home to the flowers where they can heal, grow and put the pieces of their life back together. In the end, her daughter Candy will be the one to continue her legacy, but without June Hart’s guidance, she wouldn’t have found her place either.
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June Hart is also a survivor. Throughout The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, we suspect that something must have happened to June for her to be so wary of men beyond the partners who have hurt the women under her care. Toward the end of Season 1, we find out she was also attacked, and her son was the product of an assault. This revelation says a lot about who June is, why she sent Alice’s brother away and why she is so determined to keep the flowers safe.
Her past and present are two things that make her such a strong and complex character, making her stand out from the rest of the women. She is an excellent example of resilience and not letting someone else define what you do with the rest of your life, which is extremely important on a show that wants to give voice to victims who have been silent.
If seeing an older woman be a badass isn’t quite common, seeing one who is also queer seems like an anomaly, but it is the kind of representation queer individuals are looking for. It’s the kind of representation that tells younger generations that you can be queer, lead the life you want, overcome adversity, find love and stay alive. June Hart gives us a glimpse of all that in The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.
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One of the most incredible things the show does is portray the love story between June Hart and Twig (Leah Purcell). These two older women, who have been companions for most of their lives and found each other after life had mistreated them, raised children together and worked daily to keep the flowers safe. They aren’t afraid to be honest with one another, to point out when they have made a mistake and to be stern when necessary — all coming from a place of love.
Even though June has lied to Twig, the other woman finds it in her heart to forgive her and be there in the last days of her illness. Besides the motherly love portrayed on the show, June and Twig’s relationship is the only romantic connection that is genuinely pure, has no violence and lasts until the end. A lot of times, queer love is portrayed in a negative light, but in The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, it is the only one that comes entirely from love and affection without abuse or perpetuation of violence.
Most people believe that the best character on the show has to be the good one, the main character, the one who always does things right, but the truth is that there is a lot more value in a complex character who shows their flaws and can overcome them. June Hart is precisely that kind of character. She may not be the perfect mother, grandmother or lover, but she shows up when she needs to and ultimately takes responsibility for her actions.
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Although the show is mainly about Alice’s story, that story wouldn’t be the same without her grandmother. June Hart is the heart and soul of the show, connecting every plot line, every flower and every story. Without her, the show wouldn’t be the same. Hopefully, more series like The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart will allow older women to be represented beyond stereotypes and showcase queer love stories and the love that brings them together.
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