PBS

[magazinewhore]

Is anyone else excited about "Return to Cranford" on Masterpiece tonight? Anyone? Well, I am. Got my Snuggie all ready.

[Carolina]

Yes! Yes! I adored Cranford. I was a sobbing, weeping mess (in a good way) for about 2/3 of it.

I enjoyed tonight's episode, but I didn't find it as compelling as the original. It could really knock my socks off next week, but even if it doesn't I'll still most likely end up crying at the end.

Thoughts:
They're dropping like flies!

Poor Martha! I wish we'd gotten to see a little more of her before she kicked the bucket. What happened to the boring young new doctor who married the boring blonde (dullest storyline of the oringinal series, imo)? I guess he moved away and Martha died because of it. Jerk.

Septimus wasn't how I imagined him but he was just as awful. I'm not sure like where they're going with his homosexuality. It's fine if he's a bastard who just happens to be gay, but it seems like in this first part they showed his sexuality to be a part of his general awfulness. I wouldn't say they've crossed the line yet, but I hope the writers tread carefully here.

Philip Glenister's girlfriend (I can't recall her name) continues to kick ass.

[magazinewhore]

Considering we seem to be the only two who watched it, I'm not sure we need to hide spoilers.

I agree about Septimus, which is a great name for a villan, btw. I, too, was wondering about the homosexuality, but gay or not, fops certainly existed among the upper class during that time. I, too, found this one less compelling, but I think I remember feeling that way midway through the first series as well. The ending was the kicker for me the first time around. But there seems to be a little less at stake this time around. Except, of course for Harry.

Harry's (that's the boy's name, correct?) voice is starting to change! I was also glad to see Mary come back. I like her and Miss Matty together. And Philip Glenister's girlfriend played Louisa May Alcott in a recent PBS show. She was quite good.

Have you read any of the books? I am considering checking them out (not that I don't have 7 new hardcovers to start from Christmas).

I made AM see "The Young Victoria" earlier in the day (hey, he agreed to it) and after "Cranford," he claims he's growing ovaries.

[Carolina]

Septimus is a great name for a villain. I believe they said in the original he got the name because he was Lady Ludlow's seventh child, which I thought was funny, but it definitely suits him. I remember my heart breaking for poor Lady Ludlow, despite her negative qualities (Imagine that! Well developed characters with both good and bad qualities! Like real life!), learning that he was her only surviving child. Just a nice reminder of how hard things could be back then, even for the very rich.

It was nice to see Mary again, though I wonder what's going to happen with her engagement. The news that she was engaged and had been previously "disappointed" was kind of shoe horned in, so hopefully they'll do something more with that. She does have a good effect on Miss Matty, gently encouraging her to be brave and follow her instincts.

[Deleted]

Has anyone been watching Emma? I'm LOVING this adaptation! I've already watched pt.1 twice. I think the actress playing Emma is doing a great job in her portrayal. Oh, and Fran from Black Books is perfect as Miss Bates.

[peachybean]

I'm loving Emma too! I think the actress is doing a great job with Emma (definitely best I've seen) and I love me some Jonny Lee Miller. Plus I like that so far in part 1 they aren't obviously in love and they just don't know it yet. It feels like there are obstacles.

I'm struggling a bit with the super faithful adaptations. They are SOOO long. I think I've been too spoiled with excellent streamlined adaptations. *shakes fist at 2005 Pride and Prejudice dvd*

[Deleted]

Yeah, Jonny Lee Miller is great. He manages to make the age difference between himself and Emma not creepy. Plus he is sarcastic without coming off as a jerk. I agree that they are handling the build-up of Mr. Knightley and Emma's relationship very well. I also like their casting choice for Harriet Smith. She is definitely a little silly, but she's not a total idiot like she's been portrayed in other adaptations, and you can understand why Robert Martin might want to marry her.

I like for my adaptations to be lengthy but not TOO long (ahem, Little Dorrit). Emma has been so good so far that I barely noticed the first episode was 2 hours. I think pts 2 and 3 are only an hour each.

[Atreides]

Getting Laura Linney to host Masterpiece was a great choice. She is one of the very few actors in Hollywood to project true book-smart intelligence.

[Deleted]

I usually like Laura Linney, but I actually find her insufferable as a Masterpiece host. I read this article the other day that articulates my feelings quite well:

The curious thing about the persistence of quality on "Masterpiece" is you sense how badly PBS would like to ruin it. The introductions, by Laura Linney, are the most ridiculous twaddle about real people and real feelings, as if Austen wrote in Sanskrit about Martians. Hovering over the series is the manic fear that somehow the public is too stupid to understand Austen's characters on their own terms.

At first I didn't know why she bugged me so much with her intros, but yeah, that's pretty much it. I wish David Tennant hosted the Classics as well as Contemporary.

[magazinewhore]

I don't mind Linney. But I, too, am loving the "Emma." The lead actress is great. And I like Johnny Lee Miller as well.