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.

[Groovee]

Loved it this week too.

[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.

[Clawdy]

Yes, those graphics are wonderful.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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

[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.

[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]

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.