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Telly addicts

The mystery of Edwin Drood

21 replies

CuriousMama · 10/01/2012 21:54

Anyone else watching? I haven't read the book but looks like there's going to be some murder! Shock

By she's little miss popular isn't she? Can't see it meself but hey ho Grin

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CuriousMama · 10/01/2012 22:00

Sad How awful.

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Flossbert · 10/01/2012 22:01

I think they all want to kill each other, don't they?'

WitchoftheBog · 10/01/2012 22:03

Watched it but not read it either.
Was OK though, love Alun Armstrong lots!
Can't see it myself with Little Miss Popular either. Didn't like her in The Tudors either.

Cremolafoam · 10/01/2012 22:06

Bit broody for a Tuesday night non?
Loving Julia Mackenzie

CuriousMama · 10/01/2012 22:11

Yes far too brooding. But my mum rang up and insisted I watch it. I said 'is it actual law mum?' Grin I half watched it tbh.

Watched the first dvd of Bleak house last few days as I ordered it from play.com after it was recommended on GE thread. Really enjoying that.

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tethersend · 10/01/2012 22:12

Not read it... But, err... it was a bit shit, no?

CuriousMama · 10/01/2012 22:22

yes was shit.

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MorrisZapp · 11/01/2012 13:36

I liked it but I'm a bit thick so can somebody please tell me...

What was the relationship between the druggy choirmaster and the squeaky clean vicar? Were they just workmates?

Why did the Sri Lankan bro/sis come to stay?

Was the pox ridden hag at the end the choirmasters drug dealer, or his whore?

Why did little miss adorable live in house filled with other girls - what was the institution? And what was her status there?

My felicitations.

CuriousMama · 11/01/2012 16:09

No you're not thick I wondered all of those things too. Was hard to follow.

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Flossbert · 11/01/2012 20:02

I thought the hag was his dealer, down on her luck since he stopped coming to visit whilst ned was around. Long way for her to go though, just for that, I think. As for the rest, no idea, but as they all seem to be orphans little miss perfect probably is in some kind of Christian orphanage.

I quite liked it. I'll watch it tonight too I expect.

Flossbert · 11/01/2012 20:33

Oh no! It's on at the same time as one born every minute! Sorry ned!

GrendelsMum · 11/01/2012 22:42

Oh, I enjoyed it. (I love the book, so didn't realise how confusing it was.)

It is all extra confusing anyway, because Dickens died before finishing the book, so no-one knows who killed Edwin (if anyone killed him at all), who Neville and Helena are, what all the fuss about the Lady Mayoress' grave is, etc etc. It's pretty clear who's going to marry whom, though Wink

Druggy choirmaster and squeaky clean vicar are just workmates. No-one at the cathedral knows how druggy the choirmaster is.

The Sri Lankan boy has come to be the vicar's pupil, to catch up on his education. There's some explanation for it which they've entirely left out - I think the vicar's mum is into good works, and an awful conceited philanthropist that she thinks the world of is in charge of finding the twins somewhere to stay in England. There's a mystery about who they are and how they're connected to everyone else. Probably their father and their abusive stepfather have something to do with it. Maybe they're Edwin's brother and sister or something.

Helena has been sent to the same boarding school in the town that Rosa is already at. Rosa has been engaged to Edwin for years, which gives her a status amongst the other girls.

Poxy hag is the opium dealer. She's got some concrete reason for thinking she can blackmail druggy choirmaster (I think she actually comes to the cathedral after Edwin disappears.)

CuriousMama · 11/01/2012 23:25

Thanks for that GM Smile I take it you like Beowulf? Have you seen the Gerard Butler version? I prefered that one tbh. Or maybe you've just read it and love that?

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GrendelsMum · 12/01/2012 13:53

Nah, my taste in literature stops pretty short at 1660. Earlier than that doesn't do it for me Wink

I did catch 5 mins of a random version of Beowulf by accident some time last week - I had to give myself points for recognising within 10 seconds that a load of men drinking in a hall must be an adaptation of Beowulf.

DashingRedhead · 16/01/2012 06:46

Just watched and thought writer did a good job. Loved the opium soaked scenes! But Dickens never would have left Rosa unmarried at end and there needed to be back story about the father.

GrendelsMum · 16/01/2012 13:22

They've got rid of the character who Rosa marries (the vicar's old friend from school) - probably right to do that given it was so short. I liked the twist with the death, though.

Northernlurker · 21/01/2012 00:02

I thought the twist was rubbish actually. There are lots of ways to end it - Edwin alive isn't one of them imo.

GrendelsMum · 21/01/2012 20:00

Really? I genuinely think that Edwin alive is very plausible for the book as it actually ends, and I was pleased they went for it. On the other hand, I thought that him just turning up having gone to Egypt and then popped back again was very odd - didn't seem very Victorian in terms of travel times.

Northernlurker · 21/01/2012 20:31

It's clear in the book that Ned is in danger from Jasper and that Edwin is Ned. I really don't think him having evaded murder is what Dickens intended. The fate of the Landless twins is far more ambiguous imo. I thought this version was totally wet in that regard.

GrendelsMum · 21/01/2012 20:41

I'll have to go back and re-read it - I've got a copy with both the book and Dickens' notes, so can check one against the other. As I remember, though, Jasper has killed Ned according to Dickens' notes, but there's no evidence for his death in the book as it was written so far.

Do you reckon that Jasper's put Ned's body in the Sapsea tomb, then?

Helena Landless is definitely going to marry Rev Crisparkle. Not sure about Neville. Perhaps setting up in business in Ceylon, yes, but not in cheery partnership with Ned.

There must also be some mystery about them that Dickens planned to reveal - maybe more connected with the stepfather? I'm not convinced they're Ned's brother and sister, though.

Northernlurker · 21/01/2012 21:14

I can see no reason for the business with the tomb unless that's where the body is intended to be.

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