tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36119718.post3920864489184180770..comments2023-10-26T05:14:48.235-04:00Comments on The Egalitarian Bookworm: Little Dorrit, Episode 5--FINALE (Guest Blog)SarahMarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09164306815128620427noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36119718.post-16797382456417468202009-05-04T17:48:00.000-04:002009-05-04T17:48:00.000-04:00Great synopsis!
I always like to brood awhile on ...Great synopsis!<br /><br />I always like to brood awhile on these BBC Masterpiece Classic adaptations. I agree with everyone else about the let down on the love story - it just seemed to zoom in from almost no where, and I also agree with Beth Dunn that Arthur seems to get his first clue when John Chivery unloads on him. Poor John Chivery! I would very much have liked to see his part of the story nicely tied up instead of left as a loose string, but I suppose that would take away from his utter devotion to Amy. Still, it would have been nice to see some worthy young lady have an eye for him....<br /><br />I was confused about Miss Wade and Harriet, the ending plotline and Harriet's departure. <br /><br />The casting was excellent. Thanks for pointing out that the actress who played Mrs. General also played Miss Trunchbull in Matilda. I thought she looked familiar!Janishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667412152497360467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36119718.post-84481868033641311452009-05-01T22:44:00.000-04:002009-05-01T22:44:00.000-04:00I thought that Dickens kind of squelched the love ...I thought that Dickens kind of squelched the love scenes in the book, so I hoped that Davies (who we know doesn't mind a bit of invention) might actually be able to improve on them. Despite how much I came to like McFadyen in this role, I still thought he played Clennam as a bit of a puppy, particularly when he told Amy he loved her. Don't be a puppy! Be a man!<br /><br />I thought the John Chivery story and acting played out perfectly, it was probably my favourite part of this episode! And I give kudos to Davies for filling in the Fanny/Sparkler/Mrs. Merdle story, it was just the amount of lightness I think the episode needed. Lastly, in the novel, Amy keeps Arthur's family history from him, but I think it rounded out the plot properly and worked in a TV/modern context for Arthur to be informed. I think I like it better this way.Sarah O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01336602241504980801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36119718.post-70109041888429714792009-05-01T13:39:00.000-04:002009-05-01T13:39:00.000-04:00I was also a bit let down by the lack of emotional...I was also a bit let down by the lack of emotional heft in the endgame of the love story between Arthur and Amy. I can only assume that Arthur "realizes her loves her" in the moment when John is unburdening himself to Arthur, yelling and crying heartbreakingly, as is his wont, and all Arthur can do is sort of open and shut his mouth like a freshly caught fish.<br /><br />Then he falls into a fever, which is gratifyingly swoony, but then when he wakes up to find Amy there, they are both so matter of fact about loving each other, they sort of skip over the "I love you" and get right to the "I can't let you bind yourself to a tainted man," seasoned lightly with "I could never share your fortune." K is right -- too much money, too little love.<br /><br />Davies should just let Sandy Welch write the love scenes. He just doesn't ever hit the right note when it matters the most. In Jane Eyre, Welch freaking NAILS IT, in scene after aching scene.<br /><br />amiright?Beth Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09179728779067916726noreply@blogger.com