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Death Comes to Pemberley BBC1

193 replies

bisjo · 26/12/2013 20:56

Anyone watching? It is so slow. I'm not sure I'll be watching parts 2 and 3 or even the whole of part 1.

OP posts:
tribpot · 27/12/2013 23:57

God I thought that one was tedious as hell. I don't find it remotely believable that Lizzie would be advocating a love match for an heiress of Georgiana's rank. I also don't believe that Darcy would regret his marriage - it was hardly made in a 'rush of affection' given how long the thing had been going on, and given what he did for Wickham in order to make it possible for them to marry. And Lizzie dissing Colonel F - per-lease! He was always a paragon.

I get that Darcy is concerned Wickham is going to bring up Georgiana in his testimony but it hardly seems likely.

I really thought the mysterious Freddie Delancey was going to turn out to be Denny. I get that Louisa isn't local but surely Wickham wouldn't be sowing his wild oats in his own home village?

One of the central problems is that frankly no-one (watching) gives a toss if Wickham is found guilty. It would be much more compelling if someone sympathetic were under suspicion. Like Dr Pepper it really does feel like "what's the worst that can happen?" I can't believe that Georgiana won't be able to bag a rich husband because of this, when she comes with so much capital of her own.

LIZS · 28/12/2013 08:01

We missed about 25mins due to a power cut . Didn't really matter much though ! Lots of changes to the plot for changes' sake it seems .

Ohfuckeryitsmarzipan · 28/12/2013 08:11

Fucking Lydia and Mrs Bennett! Talk about toxic family. The second bit was more dull than the first. Can I be arsed watching tonight?

LondonMother · 28/12/2013 08:25

Haven't read the book (have read P&P many times, I mean I haven't read DCtoP and doubt if I will, although I love PD James normally).

My hunch (which is all it is! This is not a spoiler!) is that the young man in the cottage has something to do with this. He's ill but unless I've missed it we don't know what's wrong with him. He probably knows that his sister has been dishonoured.

Who is the mysterious woman in the bonnet? Col F said she was the ?wife/widow of one of his men, but in that case what was she doing in the woods?

I'm quite enjoying this. It isn't superlative but it's OK. I don't think James Fleet is right as Mr Bennet. Benjamin Whitrow hit exactly the right note in the Andrew Davies adaptation. JF doesn't look clever enough to be Mr B. Rebecca Front, on the other hand, is vg as Mrs Bennet. What a gift of a part for an actress! Lydia good too.

tribpot · 28/12/2013 08:30

Yes, as the guy in the cottage appears to serve no purpose in the plot, I'm assuming hedunnit to avenge his sister, on the grounds he'll be dead before they can hang him.

Woman in the woods is the mother of a boy who was hanged for poaching when Darcy and Wickham were little. I think.

diddl · 28/12/2013 08:40

That's what I think, tribot

Only he killed Denny as he was in uniform.

The mother of the boy who was hanged then hanged herself.

The woman in the woods met Col FW at a pub later.

Has anyone read the book?

Is this at all close plot wise?

Thisisaghostlyeuphemism · 28/12/2013 08:41

But mother of the boy - mrs Riley- killed herself. I dunno who this woman is.

I don't care about wickham tis true- but I do want darcy and liz is to be all in love again.

LIZS · 28/12/2013 08:42

Sort of close, but then I suspect they've changed the book for the tv version anyway. You kind of have to know P & P well to think about who the woman is and even then the plot is improbable.

tribpot · 28/12/2013 08:47

Oh yes of course, Mrs Riley hanged herself, sorry I forgot about that. Col F met this woman in the pub about a delicate matter he is unable to reveal.

Tiredemma · 28/12/2013 08:51

Ive recorded it- is it not worth watching then?

Gracelo · 28/12/2013 08:52

I rather enjoy it.
My bet is on the sick brother as well, mostly because there would have been no reason to waste time introducing him if he had no part to play in the crime.

Thisisaghostlyeuphemism · 28/12/2013 08:56

Bizarrely, my money is on the sick boys dad.

diddl · 28/12/2013 09:01

Or the Dad & the boy takes the blame?

I have an idea who the woman in the woods might be, but can't make sense of it!

LondonMother · 28/12/2013 09:02

LIZS, thanks! I know P&P very well indeed and have jumped to a conclusion about who the woman is. Will say no more here except to say that she has clearly aged a bit in the intervening years.

LIZS · 28/12/2013 09:02

diddl , it is very tenuous.

LIZS · 28/12/2013 09:03

Indeed LM!

Scarletohello · 28/12/2013 09:04

London yes I think u r right! It's the only thing that makes sense. Phew.i don't have to watch it tonight now...

Will return to this thread tho!

diddl · 28/12/2013 09:11

LM-I think I am right, then-but can't figure why she would be meeting Col FW?

Thisisaghostlyeuphemism · 28/12/2013 09:12

You have to watch it to find out if Liszt and darcy are restored to their equilibrium!

sparklysilversequins · 28/12/2013 09:23

Sick boys/scandalously pregnant servant girls Loyal Pemberley Employee Dad dunnit I reckon. Said it as soon as I saw that first scene between him and Darcy.

I am quite liking it actually.

MrsVaughnRice · 28/12/2013 09:54

The one thing that doesn't admit if any doubt is that D & E will be all cuddles and smiles at the end. Otherwise we'd be investigating the mysterious death of PD James at the hands of a horde of outraged Janeites.

polyhymnia · 28/12/2013 11:22

Amazing thing is, I've read the book and it was so tedious that, nearly two years later, I genuinely can't remember who did it!

Usually love P D James but this one was a real turkey/ self-indulgence. No wit or humour - which is the essence of P and P - but, then again, I guess one quality James and her characters (eg Adam Dalgleish) have never displayed is any sense of humour whatsoever.

Was hoping the Beeb scriptwriters would have improved it, tightened it up, produced some witty dialogue, etc so it'd be better than the book. But doesn't seem to have happened. I suppose they had to work with the pretty thin plot and characterisation they had.

ShinyBauble · 28/12/2013 11:34

I read the book a few months ago, so not interested in the series really. Plus I rewatch the BBC Firth/Ehle series every year and they ARE Lizzy and Darcy to me now. The actress cast as Lizzy reminds me more of Kitty, or even Mary, she's too timid to be Lizzy.

Considering the Darcy's had two kids by this point, I think it's a shame they couldn't get as many of the Firth & Ehle cast back as possible.

tribpot · 28/12/2013 11:38

Trouble is, that P&P was filmed nearly 20 years ago Shock Shock Shock - is that really possible?! Personally I would welcome Pemberley+20, or even +25 so Lizzie and Darcy's children would be of marriageable age.

MissBeehiving · 28/12/2013 11:48

I think that Lydia is good in this version. She's an airhead with a calculating side - more grown up and influenced by the vile Wickham.