"Dickensian" - BBC1. Wonderful !

[Nick Armstrong]

“It is indisputable that the being whose capacities of enjoyment are low, has the greatest chance of having them fully satisfied; and a highly endowed being will always feel that any happiness which he can look for, as the world is constituted, is imperfect. But he can learn to bear its imperfections, if they are at all bearable; and they will not make him envy the being who is indeed unconscious of the imperfections, but only because he feels not at all the good which those imperfections qualify.

It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, is of a different opinion, it is only because they only know their own side of the question.”

Anna - want to join me?

[Serial_Apologist]

Anna - want to join me?

Both together now - one, two, three...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QW85kfakJc

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Can't believe more don't like Dickensian. What do you reckon ferns?

Well - I'm enjoying it more than Barbi and others, but less so than you and Anna. As the story progresses (and there are fewer references to the novels) I'm feeling more involved and interested. I watched the first episode twice - the second time in response to your enthusiasm, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with the rest: I kept getting distracted by discrepancies with the novels (Satis House isn't in London; nor was the Workhouse run by the married Bumbles; [and they can't have been married "twenty years" as stated in a later episode] if it's the day of Marley's death, then it's seven years before the events of A Christmas Carol - so Tiny Tim will be Miniscule Tim; "Mr Heep" began his apprenticeship with the Wicklows at the age of about 13 - and not in London). But as the story gains momentum, there are becoming fewer of these and I'm becoming intrigued by how it will develop - and there have been some lovely moments of humour, and the sentimentality of the snowcouple was worthy of Dickens himself (I've just read The Cricket on the Hearth - old Chuck couldn't half write crubbish when he didn't put his mind to it!) and some inventive "back story" writing.

And the Fagin group is terrific - I can understand people's frustration that they haven't been used in a "straight" adaptation of Oliver Twist; but I'm puzzled by the reference to "an Eastenders vanity project": I don't watch the soap - are Anton Lesser, Peter Firth, Pauline Collins, Caroline Quentin and Stephen Rae in
Eastenders? Ten hours' worth of material? Hmmm,

[BBMmk2]

Perhaps it accounts for the greater preponderance of smiles upon the faces of the broadminded?

I'm usually broadminded! :)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh - and I've greatly enjoyed the splendid tosh that has been ITV's Jekyll and Hyde for the past couple of months; but for those of us eager for a "proper" adaptation, there is this coming up in the New Year (and with Stephen Rae in the same costume he wears in Dickensian [about 36secs in] - so there's frugal!

[Nick Armstrong]

Well - I'm enjoying it more than Barbi and others, but less so than you and Anna. As the story progresses (and there are fewer references to the novels) I'm feeling more involved and interested. I watched the first episode twice - the second time in response to your enthusiasm, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with the rest: I kept getting distracted by discrepancies with the novels (Satis House isn't in London; nor was the Workhouse run by the married Bumbles; [and they can't have been married "twenty years" as stated in a later episode] if it's the day of Marley's death, then it's seven years before the events of A Christmas Carol - so Tiny Tim will be Miniscule Tim; "Mr Heep" began his apprenticeship with the Wicklows at the age of about 13 - and not in London). But as the story gains momentum, there are becoming fewer of these and I'm becoming intrigued by how it will develop - and there have been some lovely moments of humour, and the sentimentality of the snowcouple was worthy of Dickens himself (I've just read The Cricket on the Hearth - old Chuck couldn't half write crubbish when he didn't put his mind to it!) and some inventive "back story" writing.

And the Fagin group is terrific - I can understand people's frustration that they haven't been used in a "straight" adaptation of Oliver Twist; but I'm puzzled by the reference to "an Eastenders vanity project": I don't watch the soap - are Anton Lesser, Peter Firth, Pauline Collins, Caroline Quentin and Stephen Rae in
Eastenders? Ten hours' worth of material? Hmmm,

Sage and shrewd, ferns. I must say the chronological discrepancies disturbed me not one whit!

The writing's good it seems to me. My favourite exchange so far has been

- I’ve got ‘arf a pork pie

- Where’s the other ‘arf?

- Some I ate, some I used to bait the rat traps

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/dec/26/dickensian-agatha-christie-and-then-there-were-none-review

I've been enjoying the debate in the comments under that crit...



.

PS I disliked the Jekyll & Hyde adaptation..! De gustibus....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The writing's good it seems to me. My favourite exchange so far has been

- I’ve got ‘arf a pork pie
- Where’s the other ‘arf?
- Some I ate, some I used to bait the rat traps

Tony Jordan - of Hustle, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, and Eastenders.

[mangerton]

I'm just catching up with this thread. I must say I agree with Anna and Cali. Suspend disbelief, don't worry about timelines and all is well.

Is that the cast complete, I wonder, or will other characters put in an appearance later? I'd love to see Mr Gradgrind meet Sam Weller.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm just catching up with this thread. I must say I agree with Anna and Cali. Suspend disbelief, don't worry about timelines and all is well.

Is that the cast complete, I wonder, or will other characters put in an appearance later? I'd love to see Mr Gradgrind meet Sam Weller.

...as long as we don't get Simon Callow 'doing' Micawber I shall be reasonably happy

[BBMmk2]

You were saying Simon Callow, and I was thinking of Simon Cowell! Doh!

[antongould]

.... Loving it ... and yes I am the Treasurer of the Rumpole Fan Club ...

[Nick Armstrong]

.... Loving it ... and yes I am the Treasurer of the Rumpole Fan Club ...

... we're looking for a new chairman, if you're interested, anton

Haven't seen the New Year episode yet...

[teamsaint]

... we're looking for a new chairman, if you're interested, anton

Haven't seen the New Year episode yet...

the devil makes work etc etc.....

[mercia]

oh dear, they've named Miss Havisham's dog Jip, so presumably she leaves it to Dora Copperfield in her will (or perhaps Dora left it to Miss Havisham in the prequel)

...... or perhaps it's Jip II, son of Jip I

[Ferretfancy]

oh dear, they've named Miss Havisham's dog Jip, so presumably she leaves it to Dora Copperfield in her will (or perhaps Dora left it to Miss Havisham in the prequel)

...... or perhaps it's Jip II, son of Jip I

Cloned maybe?