Dickensian
I'm not a great fan of TV adaptations of Dickens books - they've all been done to death by now.
But I did think this was a very clever idea - a new drama based on a whole assortment of his characters coexisting. Has a very strong cast and the first couple of episodes were promising. Not sure whether it will hold my attention for 20 episodes but I'll
persevere for now. A welcome contrast to so much of the rubbish on TV this Christmas. 
Comments
-
I think its a very interesting idea although I don't like having two episodes with an hour inbetween. It is quite challenging and you do have to have your wits about you to keep up with the characters.
David
0 -
It is confusing having Tuppence Middleton playing both roles - surely that is not her real name!?! Is she hoping we will all assume she is related to royalty in real life ?
Alison
(PS,All the best people live nr Faversham artyboo)
0 -
I revel in the BBC's adaptations of Dickens and have many of them on DVD. So I started to watch this with great interest but I just couldn't get into it at all. I found it awfully slow and so confusing. I'm afraid I gave up after 2 and a half episodes.
0 -
Isn't Miss Faversham hoping to be ravished by some Russian prince? Or have I got a little confused again? (Same actress, 2 TV roles at the same time!)
Bit like Gregory Fitoussi appearing in Spin and Mr Selfridge then.
0 -
Why all the negative comments ??. I think the acting and the sets are very good. After all it is just a TV adaptation of some Dickens characters. Its not meant to be a factual documentary.
Its not hard to follow, just record both episodes and watch them back to back.
K
PS It beats all those stupid reality programmes for interest.
K
0 -
I have to agree it is a bit slow going now, as the initial background story supposedly running throughout - Marley's murder, is going nowhere fast and the ravishing of Miss Haversham is also stop/start almost going backwards at some points. I can understand if some people don't stick with it all the way through, I find myself watching while I'm on my laptop too...not a good sign
Perhaps if they had not introduced all the well-known characters at once in the beginning it might have been a bit better - watching and waiting to see who appears next would keep the momentum going?
Alison
0 -
That Merryweather Compeson is turning into a nasty piece of work isn't he? But will poor Ms Havisham let him have his wicked way...? Time will tell!
BTW isn't Caroline Quentin great in this.
In normal circumstances we only meet Miss Havirsham much later in her life so its an interesting take to see how maybe she gets to that point. Perhaps there will be a different take on the parents of Estella compared to Great Expectations?
David
0 -
Yes, David, I agree it's one of the more intriguing features of this series that we are seeing characters in a slightly different light to the books. I think it's one of the Beeb's better recent offerings.
0 -
Missed so many of the episode I've lost the plot
We just set the recorder to record the whole series so that we can watch when we have time.
David
0 -
Well, it reaches its climax tomorrow night. I have to say I think it's been one of the Beeb's better efforts. Very imaginative, well produced and well acted. And it's made me want to read some Dickens which years of English teachers singularly failed to
do 50 years ago!
0 -
I think its been a clever series. We all know what the outcomes are but the way we reach those outcomes has been the cleaver bit. A lot has got to happen in the final episode and it will be interesting to see how that is handled. I imagine there must be more than enough material to have a second series?
David
0 -
I think its been a clever series. We all know what the outcomes are but the way we reach those outcomes has been the cleaver bit. A lot has got to happen in the final episode and it will be interesting to see how that is handled. I imagine there must be more than enough material to have a second series?
David
Write your comments here...We think it is some of the best acting on the TV.
0 -
It ended last night and I thought the door was left open for another series?
David
0
