to wish Dickensian was on every night?

[kitnkaboodle]

I bloody love it! Haven't been so hooked on a TV programme for years. Everyone in my house has to keep silent when it's on! What a genius idea.

[TheSnowFairy]

We like it too and DS1 (13) and DS2 (11) probably enjoy it more than me. Compeyson is HORRID!

[SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit]

I haven't seen it, but noticed it on Iplayer the other day and wondered whether or not to watch.
Have decided now that I will!

[BrennieGirl]

I love it too! I love all things Dickens.

I'm ploughing my way through David Copperfield at the moment (it's a very looooong book!). I wish there were some DC characters in the programme.

[r3adysteadygo]

I've recorded it. Looking forward to binge watching when I get the chance.

[kitnkaboodle]

Compeyson turned into a proper panto villain tonight! Poor jip is/was a David Copper field character - but the only one so far? There must be some due to pop up in later episodes, I'm sure

[rosewithoutthorns]

Love it too! But then I love any type of period drama. If you love that then you just have to watch War and Peace.

[kitnkaboodle]

Yes - watching that too and enjoying it because I have no previous knowledge of it. I love the fact that a few actors are in both series too! Enjoying my January on the sofa!!

[rosewithoutthorns]

I also have no idea about it, haven't even got much of a clue about our wars let alone the fight between Russia and France. Stretching the sofa thing till end of February

[BrennieGirl]

kitnkabbodle I didn't realise that about Jip! David has only just met Dora where I am in the book and no mention of the dog yet.

[kitnkaboodle]

I think it would be good fun, and in the spirit of the programme, if out of the whole range of characters in DC they only used the dog!

[GoringBit]

Do you have to have a grasp of Dickens' work to get Dickensian? (I don't.) I've recorded them all so far, but haven't watched it; tbh, I feel a bit daunted by the prospect of it.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Oh tonight -Poor Bill Sykes and poor Arthur.

I just kept thinking "Arthur, tell Amelia , go home and tell her how evil he is"

Re David Copperfield I bet if a pregnant Honoria Barbary had been taken in by Betsy Trotwood Bleak House would never have happened and there'd be none of that stuff about Esther's shame.

I noted Hard Times has got a non-speaking part.

[SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman]

And frankly that's the best thing that can happen to Hard Times.

[kitnkaboodle]

Goring - no, the beauty of it is that it functions perfectly well as a story in its own right. It's a murder mystery with a detective and is pretty similar to an Agatha Christie. There are some in-jokes, but the characters are either in a kind of parallel life to their one in the books or in a kind of pre-quel to their famous stories. If you have a passing acquaintance with Scrooge or Oliver then you'll love it.
Lass - you have superior knowledge to me as I've never read BH and managed to miss the BBC version (God knows how!). So I'm now inspired to read it, as it seems to be one of The Main Ones. I'll let Dickensian play out first, though!

[Antisoc]

I'm enjoying it but the fake snow bothers me. It so fake it's distracting.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

[GoringBit]

Thanks Kit, Oliver Twist and Scrooge, I can do. I'll give it a look.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Goring I don't think you need to know the books but you will get more out of it if you do.

They have set it before A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, Bleak House and Great Expectations start.

It's creating full back stories for what happens in BH and GE in particular (and OT to a lesser extent ) and has created cross- roads where a character has options.

If you know the books you can see how generally awful end results could have been avoided by a bit of common sense and/or kindness.

[SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman]

So true about Betsy Trotwood, Lass. There'd be none of this melodramatic martyrdom from her. (Although I am feeling rather sorry for Miss Frances Barbary's disappointment in Sir Leicester.)

[GoringBit]

Thanks Lass, it sounds worth a look, albeit some references will be lost on me; I'm sure I saw BH on the telly some years ago, and is it Pip and Miss Havisham in GE? Anyway, I'll give it a try.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

BH has been on the BBC several times. The last version had Gillian Anderson as the character Honoria Barbary becomes. The previous version had Diana Rigg in the role.

Pip and Miss Haversham are in GE.Gillian Anderson also played Miss H in a recent BBC production.

[kitnkaboodle]

Lass - sorry but I'm going to be pedantic!! I don't think it's all supposed to be a prequel. For Mr Bumble it can't be a prequel as he only gets married (to the workhouse woman) during the course of Oliver Twist (or the musical at least!!). I think the chars are all at various points in their stories or, indeed, in a parallel version. But for GE it's obv a backstory, yes.

[SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman]

Yes yes, give it a try, Goring.

I've just discovered many of the writers are East Enders veterans. And that's what it is - a soap with Dickens characters! Great fun!

[member]

I have no previous knowledge of Dickens except Christmas Carol & the gist of Oliver and am enjoying.

I am perturbed at the scheduling; a splurge of episodes over Christmas (two a night on one occasion) then quite a gap before reappearing on Wed/Thurs last week. Tonight's was only 8/20 - feels like it'll be next Christmas before it concludes.

For me, Caroline Quentin is the weakest link

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

You are right about the Bumbles. I was thinking of Sykes and Nancy. There's still hope for them here but that's gone in their own book.

I don't think the Bumbles add much but maybe there is more to come of them. They are so unpleasant in OT whereas here they are just buffoons.

[kitnkaboodle]

Member - I was gutted when I realised it wasn't going to be on every night over Christmas!! I might be over thinking this, but I half suspect that they are reflecting the way that dickens' books appeared in serialised form - with big cliffhangers and the readers desperate to get the next instalment ..? Otherwise why not have hour-long episodes like all other costume dramas?