shallowness (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shallowness) wrote2020-03-16 06:15 pm
shallowness) wrote2020-03-16 06:15 pm
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instead of the news, let's discuss...
Belgravia – episode 1
ITV launched its latest offering in the period drama/Downton Abbey slot, Belgravia being adapted from a novel from Julian Fellowes. Straight off, it’s not very good, which might not normally matter when I’m in a ‘Monday morning tomorrow’ slump, but the normal working pattern is going to change very soon, so I may have less patience for it, but on the other hand, I might welcome even this distraction.
Basically what was keeping me going was sympathy for Tamsin Grieg’s Ann(e?) Trenchard 90 per cent of the time. If we were not graced with Grieg’s Elinor Dashwood, then let us have this less well-written version. The only reason I was unsympathetic was her great love for her daughter Sophia, who I thought was a nincompoop, even allowing for teen brain.
Sophia kind of had Edith’s storyline but without the years of earned sympathy for always being second to Mary and repeatedly rejected by men. And if the big thing is going to be about telling the Duchess of Harriet Waltershire about her grandson, well, he’s still going to be illegitimate, so I can’t see them being able to acknowledge him, although his likely age makes sense of the leap forward in time. The Waterloo setting just made me grumble about the fact this wasn’t a Heyer adaptation, because the dialogue was pastiche at its best, and gobs of exposition at its worse.
Phillip Gleinster is fine as Mr Trenchard, the merchant who’s made a success of himself. It’s obvious their daughter’s mistakes (enabled by him) and death have ruined their relationship, plus their living son married a (rich) downer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ann(e?)’s beloved dog dies in a freak accident…because Fellowes.
While there’s plenty of snobbery between the proper nobility and trade (rich or not), we only had one scene downstairs, which is even less than in Victoria, and feels odd in something by the pen behind Gosford Park (I so need to rewatch that) and Downton.
ITV launched its latest offering in the period drama/Downton Abbey slot, Belgravia being adapted from a novel from Julian Fellowes. Straight off, it’s not very good, which might not normally matter when I’m in a ‘Monday morning tomorrow’ slump, but the normal working pattern is going to change very soon, so I may have less patience for it, but on the other hand, I might welcome even this distraction.
Basically what was keeping me going was sympathy for Tamsin Grieg’s Ann(e?) Trenchard 90 per cent of the time. If we were not graced with Grieg’s Elinor Dashwood, then let us have this less well-written version. The only reason I was unsympathetic was her great love for her daughter Sophia, who I thought was a nincompoop, even allowing for teen brain.
Sophia kind of had Edith’s storyline but without the years of earned sympathy for always being second to Mary and repeatedly rejected by men. And if the big thing is going to be about telling the Duchess of Harriet Waltershire about her grandson, well, he’s still going to be illegitimate, so I can’t see them being able to acknowledge him, although his likely age makes sense of the leap forward in time. The Waterloo setting just made me grumble about the fact this wasn’t a Heyer adaptation, because the dialogue was pastiche at its best, and gobs of exposition at its worse.
Phillip Gleinster is fine as Mr Trenchard, the merchant who’s made a success of himself. It’s obvious their daughter’s mistakes (enabled by him) and death have ruined their relationship, plus their living son married a (rich) downer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ann(e?)’s beloved dog dies in a freak accident…because Fellowes.
While there’s plenty of snobbery between the proper nobility and trade (rich or not), we only had one scene downstairs, which is even less than in Victoria, and feels odd in something by the pen behind Gosford Park (I so need to rewatch that) and Downton.
no subject
Yes, Anne totally reminds me of Elinor Dashwood -- I kept looking at her and thinking there was a certain familiarity about her but couldn't come up with who/what it was. She's the only likeable character in the entire episode. Sophia (what a weird way to pronounce her name) was an idiot though she certainly didn't deserve to die.
So is this series going to be mostly about Anne, her bastard grandson, or someone else entirely? There are supposedly six episodes to this and I think I'm gonna not cheat and find a summary because it'll most likely ruin any little enjoyment it may bring these days. Gosford Park and Downton were far more interesting to begin with.
no subject
This may well work in its favour.
Sophia (what a weird way to pronounce her name)
Yes! I forgot to mention that.
though she certainly didn't deserve to die.
No, but childbirth at that time was a better explanation than 'tragic broken heart', which is what I was thinking.
is this series going to be mostly about Anne, her bastard grandson, or someone else entirely?
I'm mostly waiting to meet the bastard grandson before commiting, although as it's based on a novel, I'd think it would be Anne, whereas if it had been written directly for the screen, I might expect each episode to focus on one character..