Dickensian

[EElisavetaOfBelsornia]

Anyone else watching? I am really enjoying it, and have either read more Dickens than I realised, or at least the right books.
I had always imagined Little Nell to be a bit younger though.

Yes I was wondering how they intended to do it.

I suppose for Bleak House the details didn't matter.

I'm sure she'd let Arthur back in the house & give him an allowance, although I an see how as the man that would be insulting.

Or was there some clause preventing that?

I wonder what his small share in the brewery actually meant in terms of income for him?

Seemingly nothing according to how he lives!

Yes I don't understand why he is so poor. He should have an income from the brewery.

I think the actor is doing a terrific job with the part. He started as a pretty but selfish and petulant boy. He's still very pretty but the petulance has gone.He is now scared and very out of his depth.

I really like the way Sykes, Nancy and Fagin are played as more complex characters than is usually the case for them.

Totally agree Lass - I love seeing more of the back story.

I like how it's 30 min chunks - somehow makes it easier & more enjoyable for me to watch.

I'm still filled with glee at the writing. Someone really knows their stuff.

Mrs Gamp "knows a doctor at the Union" - the Union Workhouse, of course, formed by the Poor Law Union.

And I've just been reading a C19th newspaper report on a bankruptcy hearing - they might as well have been talking about Mr Barbary. The business was to be saved by a shipment; but his ship was damaged, and the insurers didn't pay out because the captain had been trading on the side; his old contacts lent more money; something else happened; a creditor sued and he ran up legal costs defending; the suit made other creditors lose confidence and sue. And always, always, he's waiting for his ship to come in. Suddenly I really understand that phrase!

I'm loving this. Took me a while to get into it but now it's really flying. The plotting and characterisation are fantastic. And brilliant acting - love Pauline Collins as Mrs Gamp. And Stephen Rea as Inspector Bucket.

Love Dickens and love this new lease of life for all those characters.

I'm actually in love with Pauline Collins. How have I not realised her marvellousness all these years?

She was just a name I was dimly aware popped up regularly. But first her Miss Flyte and now this...

I've just re-watched her in Agatha Christie's Pale Horse purely to enjoy the contrast with Mrs Gamp.

I'm going to be really when this series ends. I love it. I agree that Stephen Rea and Pauline Collins are fantastic.

I love it too! It's just so blooming good.

That little boy tonight. I'm sure he was Oliver but did I miss a reference to his name?

No bakeoff I don't think you missed it. I was listening very hard and I didn't hear it. I think they deliberately didn't mention any name.

Tonight was great.

Yes it was great- can't wait for the next episode.

I wish it was possible to travel in time back to the 19th century, get Charles Dickens and bring him to 2016 to watch this.

That was quite a strange thought to have wasn't it?

It can't have been Oliver, Oliver was born in the country workhouse, Mr Bumble named him

Ridiculous thought, Gruntfuttock, and I definitely didn't say similar watching the Emma Thompson S&S last week.

The Bumbles are out of sync with their book. They aren't married until after Oliver is born. I noticed that Mrs Bumble seemed quite gentle with boy after Bucket left.

Oh and tonight, nice touch that Arthur was proud of how well his sister handled the shareholders' meeting. Grow a back bone boy!

Compeyson's wife was a shock. Is he different with her (he seemed genuinely affectionate with her somehow) or is he stringing her along too?

I have a feeling that she might get bumped off, Jon.

You are probably right, CeeBee.

That little boy tonightsad. I'm sure he was Oliver but did I miss a reference to his name?
I also assumed this was Oliver even though he was born in the workhouse. I think Fagin said that some of the boys (people trafficked) had come from workhouses to be sent abroad to work in mines. Bucket has mentioned once or twice that he and his wife had not been blessed with children, I think they will adopt 'Oliver'.

I wondered if the little boy could be Oliver too. But there was definitely no mention of his name. I was intrigued to see that the actor's name is Leonardo Dickens. I wonder if he's any relation?

The Montalbano music, that's what the title music reminds me of. Glad I have finally figured it out.

Oh that's what it is! Thank you, Igneo that's been bugging me.

The BBC website has precis of the next 2 episodes if you can't wait.

I think it is Oliver. There was an interview with Tony Jordan in The Telegraph which indicated they weren't, unlike what we thought at the start of the thread, going to stick rigidly to the plots.

They have so far apart from Nell not dying, Jip being in entirely the wrong place, the Bumbles' premature nuptials and Silas Wegg not being a tavern keeper.

On the other hand Honoria is pregnant.

I think it's obvious who the killer is.
Frances deserved the censure she got and poor Honoria!
I hope Amelia will dump Compeyson now.

We have a few departures now from the books.

I have no idea who the killer is. I won't mind if it is Compeyson but I don't think it is.

I don't want it to be Sykes. The alternative version of a happy ending for Sykes and Nancy is quite appealing. Apart from the Bumbles, who are just irritating, I like all of the characters too much for any of them to be a murderer.