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Jan. 22nd, 2009 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meganlynn09Ah, so I watched the BBC's Wives and Daughters(1999) yesterday and I liked it. It was different, but I loved the main character, Molly.
I really liked how Justine Waddell played Molly, was very real. I had minor problems, like how EVERYONE fell for Cynthia, and yes while Keeley Hawes is beautiful, I thought Justine/Molly was very beautiful as well, it was weird to see how people just overlooked her.
Same with the Hamley brothers. Roger was definitely more attractive to me than Osborne. Physically, as while I adored Roger, he lost a little of his luster when he fell for Cynthia so fast. And I so adored the friendship Molly and Roger developed and how he was so earnest in his affection for her, even if he felt she was like a sister.
Although it did feel tedious at places, I sort of welcomed the slow pace. But, when I think about it now, it could have been spread over the 4 episodes better.
And the ending felt odd. While I think I've been spoiled recently, there was practically NO physical affection shown between Molly and Roger and it was just so fucking odd. It would have been lovely just to have an embrace, but not even that. The proposal scene I could understand, but the party shown after that, and then they're ALONE in Africa, still, nothing. That was weird to me.
I really liked Osborne, he was so heartbreaking. He loved his father so much and obviously adored his wife so much. That was well done. Except as much as my heart went to his father, I twitched when that bastard talked about seperately Osborne's wife from their child. I...don't think he went though with that though, I forget.
I...don't know why I'm babbling about this when I'm not sure any of you have watched this!
I'm not sure if any of you would be interested in watching it, although![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cah215, I should tell you since you loved North and South that this was based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote the novel that N&S is based on :D
I'm currently looking for another to watch. *shrugs* I'm in the mood. I keep watching the news all the time now and it's a lovely way to unwind.
I really liked how Justine Waddell played Molly, was very real. I had minor problems, like how EVERYONE fell for Cynthia, and yes while Keeley Hawes is beautiful, I thought Justine/Molly was very beautiful as well, it was weird to see how people just overlooked her.
Same with the Hamley brothers. Roger was definitely more attractive to me than Osborne. Physically, as while I adored Roger, he lost a little of his luster when he fell for Cynthia so fast. And I so adored the friendship Molly and Roger developed and how he was so earnest in his affection for her, even if he felt she was like a sister.
Although it did feel tedious at places, I sort of welcomed the slow pace. But, when I think about it now, it could have been spread over the 4 episodes better.
And the ending felt odd. While I think I've been spoiled recently, there was practically NO physical affection shown between Molly and Roger and it was just so fucking odd. It would have been lovely just to have an embrace, but not even that. The proposal scene I could understand, but the party shown after that, and then they're ALONE in Africa, still, nothing. That was weird to me.
I really liked Osborne, he was so heartbreaking. He loved his father so much and obviously adored his wife so much. That was well done. Except as much as my heart went to his father, I twitched when that bastard talked about seperately Osborne's wife from their child. I...don't think he went though with that though, I forget.
I...don't know why I'm babbling about this when I'm not sure any of you have watched this!
I'm not sure if any of you would be interested in watching it, although
cah215, I should tell you since you loved North and South that this was based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote the novel that N&S is based on :DI'm currently looking for another to watch. *shrugs* I'm in the mood. I keep watching the news all the time now and it's a lovely way to unwind.
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Date: 2009-01-23 08:10 am (UTC)I agree with you on all points. Cynthia was pretty sure, but Molly was no means plain in comparison to her, and Molly's personality was so much more...I don't know how to describe it. Honest.. real... truly beautiful inside out? How did Roger not see how shallow Cynthia was in comparison?
I loved this mini-series myself. Osborne and Molly were both amazingly acted. I could really feel both of their character's emotions. And I was also bugged by the lack of the kiss or some other affection (besides the handhold in Africa) at the end, too. Maybe I got spoiled by the North and South train scene. :p
But the end of Wives and Daughters was never finished. EG died before it could be finished. It was concluded with a summary of what might have happened that I think could have been so much more.
Hmmm... I'm thinking of something to suggest... There's tons of Jane Austen out there (the 2007 Northhanger Abbey is great fun) as well as the latest Persuasion. Our Mutual Friend (1998) is also good and closer in tone to Elizabeth Gaskell's stuff.
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Date: 2009-01-23 03:50 pm (UTC)Yes, I believe I was spoiled by North and South as well.
I've seen most of the recent Jane Austen work, quite adored Northanger Abbey. And hehe! You must be a mind reader, as I'm currently acquiring Our Mutual Friend and watching it. I'm glad it's recommended though :)
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Date: 2009-01-24 08:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-07 10:48 pm (UTC)The train scene spoils everybody. I bought the DVD to see what the fuss on amazon was about, with everyone falling over, swooning. Then I fell over and swooned. :p
Northanger Abbey turned out to my favorite of all the recent explosion of Austen adaptations. The quirkiness was win.
Mind reading is good. I ought to add that to my resume. :p
And I hope you enjoy Our Mutual Friend! :D
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Date: 2009-02-13 03:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-24 04:04 am (UTC)Maybe I'm odd, but I just don't find Keeley Hawes that attractive. She's okay, but not someone I'd turn around to look at on the street, and she doesn't really "sparkle". I think the casting was a little off on that.
And Roger is one of my all-time favourite romantic leads, at least in this adaptation, because Anthony Howell is so good at playing him so innocently and dorky that you can kind of believe he'd get swept off his feet if a girl like Cynthia is supposed to be paid attention to him. That said? When he smiles, it's like the entire world lights up! It's such a shame that, while he's very good in Foyle's War, AH keeps getting roles in which he doesn't smile. It's possibly the greatest waste of an actor's assets I've ever seen.
I think the not-touching works wonderfully when they meet in the rain and there's no way they could kiss because, contagious. It's almost better than a kiss, because it's so clear that's what they want. I do understand the desire to get more resolution, but I can come to terms with it. And that little bit when they're in Africa and she's wearing trousers, their body language is so easy and natural, it is clear that they've gotten to know each other quite well, shall we say.
Now I'm going to have to watch this again, you know!
If you've run out of romances and don't mind something older/from the 1970s, you might want to get hold of Poldark. It was apparently quite the rage when it went out, and my mother and I really enjoyed it. Obviously, it's not as slick, but it's also a lot less "polite", and some of the actors are really very, very good.
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Date: 2009-01-24 06:28 pm (UTC)Yes, I do find Keeley pretty, but the way everyone fell over Cynthia, I do think there's a question in the casting. Actually, her looks were quite perfect for the other miniseries she did at almost the same time, Our Mutual Friend - which I really liked as well.
Roger was adorable and I quite liked him. You are very right about his smile :D
You are, of course, right about the not-touching. I said it, but I've been spoiled by more recent adaptations and yet I did love the rain scene because they were so itching to embrace.
Oh, that sounds intriguing :D I'll be looking into that.
BTW, do you think it's required of British actors to appear in at least ONE period drama, because holy cow who hasn't been in some of these?! Especially the '90s adaptations.