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| The real Sanditon - image from breansandscaravans.com |
I like Jane Austen's books, but I wouldn't say I was a fan as such. I read Pride & Prejudice at school because I had to, and similarly Mansfield Park was one of my OU degree set books. I've read the others, too, and also the recent reworkings by Val McDermid and Joanna Trollope, and watched the various TV and film adaptations, though more because I felt I ought to than because I particularly wanted to (Colin Firth notwithstanding).
All this to say, I'm not offended by the prospect of Andrew 'Randy Andy' Davies turning Jane Austen's 24,000-word first draft of a few chapters into an eight-part series. I watched the first episode having told myself it was 'based on an idea by' rather than an adaptation. Given Davies' past record and having heard him interviewed on the radio, I psyched myself up for Fifty Shades of Austen.
It speaks volumes that I'd forgotten it was on again last night. The problem for me was that it felt as though AD had gone through a Pick 'n' Mix of characters from all JA's books and come up with a perfect set of grumpy dowager who has a guarded interested in our feisty heroine, a well-meaning but deluded male lead and his long-suffering wife, a louche brother, a simple brother, a scheming woman after the dowager's fortune, and a few 18th-century caricatures thrown in for good measure. Sorry, but I thought it was all a bit so-what.
I also thought the CGI was rahter in your face. You can 'see the joins', as it were.
But what do I know. Sanditon will probably run into several series and win loads of awards, not least for Anne Reid who will win the prize for 'Best Actress Who Is Slowly Turning Into Maggie Smith'.
I must be out of touch because I didn't know about this show. Dear Husband and I have been watching The Sinner on Netflix. It's pretty good!
ReplyDeleteI'd stick with that if I were you.
DeleteI watched episode 1 but it didn't grab me and, like you, I forgot it was on this Sunday, so didn't watch. Don't think I'll bother with it again.
ReplyDeleteI think my mum nailed it when she said it was 'modern, dressed up in old frocks'.
DeleteI tend to agree with most of your summing up, Julia! I love several of Austen's books and watched the first episode with an open mind, understanding this was more of an AD production than JA. Found the setting a bit odd at times but will continue watching for Anne Reid and Kris Marshall. Quite liked the 'hero' when he was in Divergent.
ReplyDeleteI can't look at Kris Marshall without seeing him as Colin in 'Love Actually'.
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