Will Anybody Be Watching Birdsong Tonight?

[NannyPlumIsMyMum]

I'm off to bed early tonight to watch CTM and then I'm looking forward to Birdsong. Will anybody else be watching it ?

I was far more impressed by the acting this week, maybe it was just the buttoned up young Englishman effect last week that made him seem a bit wooden, a much more intense performance this time round.

Oh thanks ladybeagleeyes and showofhands, that's a nice ending. (smug emoticon that i deducted that...though my tears). I'd like to read the book but I fear i would just constantly ball my eyes out. I really liked the tv version though. The BBC is brilliant.

It is one of my favourite books ever. I think they did it well.

Thumbs up from me - I'm exhausted now. I thought this week's was better than last week's too. Eddie Redmayne was fantastic. So many, young hot talented actors we have in this country.

Ormirian and Jajas, I know, the horrendous experience that generation went through is just heart wrenching. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. Utterly tragic. Then you get the youth of today...who don't know they are born.

Really enjoyed it very powerful ,beautifully shot with beautiful lead actors.
I will search out a copy of the book now as I have never read it.

Incredibly moving tonight.."half of England gone.." Found the stories of the other soldiers in some ways more moving than the main love story though. Very well done.

Found the part where the Sgt Major was doing the roll call after the Somme very poignant.

What TV adaptation didn't show was Jeanne wrote to Stephen whilst he was at the front and he increasingly came to depend on her letters.

He was meant to be a cold fish, who comes to feel intensely for his men. He never takes leave and is thought to be some kind of lucky mascot as he comes back from the dead.

Eddie Redmayne is he in anything else?
For watching intently and drooling

Still thinking about it the next morning, which is always a sign of a good drama. I agree that the love part was less gripping (in both book and film) than the war part.

ER was in that recent film My Week With Marilyn. I deleted Birdsong from our recordings as didn't enjoy the first episode but reading this might give Episode 2 a go on Catch Up or even get the book.

Joseph Mawle (tunneller) was brilliant and gorgeous too! I wasn't overwhelmed by Eddie, a bit too wet for me. I too sobbed uncontrollably particularly when the letters were being read out just before they went over. Those poor young boys. Whole families decimated, women at home left widows. The pain injured soldiers injured and have seen stories where the men came home with total disfigurement - there was no plastic surgery then or help for PTSD. I wasnt bothered with the love story, it totally lacked something far too much staring and no speaking, it didnt draw me in.

I feel sadden that I had little knowledge on the Great War, I have always been interested in WW2, cant wait for my boys to be older when we can go to france and see the tunnels and the war graves.

I feel so emotional this morning.

I wept so much I have puffy eyes today. I studied WWI at Uni and to be honest, they didn't even scratch the surface of the horror in the adaptation of Birdsong, but it gets me every time. Definitely not going to see Warhorse!

mynameis, he was in The Pillars of the Earth (TV miniseries thing), which I loved and which he was fantastic in. He's also very good in the film Savage Grace.

I really enjoyed last nights episode. Its years since I read the book and had forgotten lots of the details.

I thought the roll call in the woods after the Somme - when there were no replies to all those names - was heartbreaking.

Now also have a serious crush Mawles.

After watching last night and recently seeing War Horse I found the war scenes extremely moving. I think we all need reminding from time to time what was sacrificed for us all.

Thankyou LadyClarice I will check those out when DP is out so I can drool to my hearts content

I didn't like the book, but was looking forward to the series. I was really disappointed 'though, mainly because of Eddie Redmayne's wooden acting and blank expression through out (even though he's so beautiful). All that staring and plinky piano music didn't help either. Joseph Mawle (Firebrace) was excellent though, and the war scenes really well done.

I agree with Sovery about Testament of Youth - it really brings home to you how young they all were, and how hard it was for everyone. We've got no idea how lucky we are.

Testement of Youth was a series on BBC many years ago.
Wasn't Vera Brittain Shirley Williams mother?