Anyone going to try The Durrells (aka My Family and Other Animals)?

[YesThisIsMe]

These books were a huge part of my childhood, but a lot of people look blank when I mention them.

We saw a preview yesterday and we enjoyed it but felt that the people who'd brought 6 year olds might have been cringing a bit at the sex references, and Mother's gin-fuelled existential crisis.

[EvansOvalPies]

True Augusta!

My Mum can't even remember Sven, but I'm sure I read about him somewhere in the books. Can't remember the romantic interest in Louisa, though. I did read the books many years ago (whilst still at school, and I'm now in my late 50s) so my memory is probably very hazy indeed. Perhaps I read about him elsewhere at a later date. And, of course, that trilogy had it's own aspects of literary licence, as it was written by an adult from childhood memory, and children see things with different eyes. It's just because of the announcement at the beginning of the episodes saying "Based on My Family" so I was (perhaps wrongly) expecting it to be a little closer to those books. If it isn't, the producers shouldn't have referenced them. IMHO

Maybe Nancy will return in the next series, they will marry and move to their own dwelling??

I can't decide whether or not to watch. It could be really interesting, but the poor script is not grabbing my attention, I keep yawning with boredom. It is such a shame, as I was really looking forward to it.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

As I said, it's closer, but there's a lot of literary licence nevertheless. At least this series mentioned Nancy and had her living with Lawrence; she wasn't mentioned in "My Family and Other Animals".

[EvansOvalPies]

And remarkable that although short of money, Louisa Durrell (Keeley Hawes character) appears to have exactly the right (pristinely-presented) outfit, and lipstick, for every possible social occasion. Some artistic licence permitted, but it would be a little more believable if some of the clothes were a little 'tatty', whilst appearing to be presentable, IYSWIM.

[EvansOvalPies]

Well, not entirely closer to their lives on Corfu, as Lawrence was married to Nancy (his first wife) and lived elsewhere on the island, not in the same villa

[AugustaFinkNottle]

I don't think it was in any shape or form meant to be an adaptation of "My Family and Other Animals", otherwise that would have been the title. It was called The Durrells and was closer to the reality of their lives on Corfu than Gerald Durrell's books, albeit that it did go in for quite a lot of literary licence on that as well. If they want to bring the Magenpies in I imagine they may do it in a later series.

I did think it was a pity that they didn't use the book's names for the puppies, though. IIRC they were Widdle and Puke.

[EvansOvalPies]

The little actor who plays young Gerry is wonderful though, and I'm very surprised he hasn't been given more screen time. He is just about the most believable of them all so far, so wonder why he is in the background.

[EvansOvalPies]

I thought it was a terrible adaptation, actually, and am very disappointed, as was looking forward to it enormously, being a huge Gerald Durrell fan. The disclaimer at the front credits says 'Based on the Novels by GD', I think it should say 'Extremely Very Loosely Based Indeed on the Novels by GD'.

I watched until the end, hoping it would pick up and start bearing some resemblance to the actual GD books, but it barely did. For instance, I cannot remember Spiro having any kind of romantic inclination towards Louisa Durrell - he just took the family under his wing because it made him feel important. Also, as I remember it (my own disclaimer - I haven't read the book for many, many years so am prepared to be corrected) Theo was employed as Gerry's tutor, and Gerry went to Theo's house for his lessons. He kept lots of birds in his apartment, and I'm sure it was his mother that Margot cared for, who has now become the Contessa in this adaptation (??) That last bit I'm not entirely certain of.

Furthermore, the Maggenpies have not been mentioned once!!!!

I have all of GD's books in the loft somewhere - am going to hunt them out and re-read them, as this series has seriously annoyed me! It's been awful and I don't think I can bear to watch the next series.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

If they're going to try to bring this back to something resembling the family's real history, I assume Louisa and Sven aren't going to get married. Pity.

[Clawdy]

Yes, those graphics are wonderful.

[Momamum]

Big thumbs up to the person or team who did the opening graphics. Glorious !

I googled the children; I've the Alexandra Quartet on my shelves, I know that Gerald Durrell was a famous naturalist, but the other two didn't achieve the same fame those two brothers did.

Really enjoying it, tho.

[Groovee]

Loved it this week too.

[gingerboy1912]

Really enjoyed this weeks episode

[Clawdy]

Keeley, not Keele!

[Clawdy]

Margo and Leslie are great, but the mother's romance is not ringing true for me. I really like Keele H, but the character she plays is getting a bit irritating.

[Groovee]

I'm only just watching on catch up. I love it x

[Beeziekn33ze]

Margo was wonderfully inane when she did her day's work experience at the doctor's. Hilarious!

[diddl]

Just watched ep4.

God, Leslie is such an obnoxious twat I hoped that he was going to get some punishment!

[NadiaWadia]

Talking of Poldark (sorry to hijack thread) does anyone know when it is returning? I'm sure it must be over a year since the last series ended.

[SirChenjin]

No - according to what I could find on google, Sven was actually gay in RL and the series makers have come under fire for making him straight. I suspect that they decided to give us something nice to look at on a Sunday evening until Captain Poldark and his scythe returned to our screens.

Excitingly, Sven is actually Swedish in RL. He's from Stockholm! I know!!

[Davros]

Did the Sven situation exist in RL?

[SirChenjin]

Love love love this series. The constant bickering is par for the course when you have multiple teens in the house, multiple animals running around the place and no money, surely?

Sven is hitting the spot perfectly in the post Poldark period.

[Inkanta]

Yes nice filming and scenery but the constant bickering gives me a headache. Not very relaxing and I had to switch over on Sunday night.

[BlueChampagne]

Why hasn't Louisa got any grey hairs is what I want to know!

Also Corfu in the '30s seems surprisingly untraditional for Greece.

Much more a study of the family dynamic than a dramatisation of My Family & other Animals (plus the other 2? Corfu books).

[ChessieFL]

It's available on DVD sweetpea

[Sweetpea021]

The Hannah Gordon/Brian Blessed version has been removed from YouTube. I'd watched the first two episodes and it's not even showing in my viewing history.