Historical Fictionistas discussion

Great Expectations - BBC Sunday evenings
Is anyone watching this latest adaptation of Dickens’ great book? I am finding it slanted towards gratuitous violence and there is a lack of depth to the characters. Pip is too contemporary in his outlook which at times is over confident, rather than doubtful and hesitant in his early years as portrayed by Dickens. I shall keep watching!

On principle, I decided not to watch it after reading about how it had been mauled. You are confirming my misgivings, thanks.

Nice to get a heads up from UK watchers. It’s bound to hit our PBS channels next fall, so I will be forewarned. I do not remember the book being overly violent! Sigh.

I gave it a chance but the 3rd episode finished it for me. I can just about put up with it being a bit grittier but they have now diverted too far from Dicken's work. For me the most important part of the story is when Pip is confronted by Magwitch and told that it is he who is Pip's benefactor. The makers of the new version have, in their wisdom, decided not to show that part.

For those in the US that aren't aware, the 'writer' of the series (actually the person who adapted it for TV) penned a violent, but very successful BBC series called The Peaky Blinders. I suspect the Beeb are looking to introduce the audience that liked Peaky Blinders to Dickens. This isnt a bad thing to do, but stands the risk of disenfranchising those that like Dickens work for what it is.

Pippa wrote: "For those in the US that aren't aware, the 'writer' of the series (actually the person who adapted it for TV) penned a violent, but very successful BBC series called The Peaky Blinders. I suspect t..."

I loved Peaky Blinders, but this sounds like they're doing Dickens dirty. I've seen a few ads for it and they look good, but I think I'll pass.

I’m all for bringing the classics to a new audience and I like my historical fiction dark, down and dirty so I was expecting to love this. For me, Stephen Knight’s adaptation was let down by a weak ending (no spoilers here!) and several of the main characters. It’s loosely inspired by Dickens’ novel: the characters are there; the plot starts recognisably in the marshes, and then goes off the page early in great loops and sweeps of fancy. Mr Jaggers is brought front and centre and steals every scene (I suspect Mr Dickens himself would approve of this devilish makeover.) Bentley Drummle, too, is moulded into an absolute masterpiece of the monstrous. Hugely disappointing are Pip and Estella (no chemistry between them (imho) and each rather 2-dimensional). Even more than hugely disappointing (epic fail here!) is Miss Havisham. This is possibly the dullest reimagining of that poor lady I have ever encountered. No blame can be placed on Olivia Coleman’s shoulders: as an actress she is faultless. I just couldn’t bring myself to give a fig about her back story, and her late transformation is not a winning plot twist. Sigh. Not a patch on Gillian Anderson’s greatest of all time Miss Havisham (fragile, childlike, mentally ill).

Worth watching for the entertainment value, and for the satisfaction of being able to shout at the screen and compare it with Dickens’ actual story. (No, Mrs Joe Gargery! What are you thinking?!)

On reflection, I'll invest the time in reading the book rather than watching the series. Each to their own ;-)