Sanditon ITV

[JaneJeffer]

Anyone watching?

And floor length dresses. They just took care not to kick their legs in the air. .

Wow. Would never have imagined. And here we are running round with bloody panty liners!

I think it was Lucy Worsley or Alice Roberts who did a programme on what they would’ve worn and I was quite surprised they didn’t wear anything with a crotch, I suppose it makes going to the loo easier in pre-elastic times!

EBearhug, any plot spoilers from the book?

The first undies were split crotch, basically two legs tied on with cloth tape. I wonder how they held period rags in place, though.

I know they wore stockings, and one does acclimatise, but you'd want thick wool petticoats in winter, with no central heating or anything. (Actually, I think some women had quilted petticoats, which would probably do.)

@lululup they didnt! Underwear was starting to be worn towards the end of Jane Austen's life, but was not common and bloomers really came into their own when women started cycling at the end of the 19th century. Initially they were mainly just individual leggings with everything else open to the breeze because it was showing legs and ankles that was considered shocking. Literally crutchless panties! . Cycling was frowned upon for women (who found it pretty liberating as they could get around a lot more) and thought to be the cause of being "loose" and to possibly stimulating their feminine bits!

I must get my bike out!!!

Thanks @EBearhug I literally know nothing about Jane Austen's Sanditon, but that makes a lot more sense for the Parkers to have stayed for a couple of weeks.

Why was a Jane Austen adaptation given to a man to write in the first place? She was a rare female voice writing about contemporary upper and middle class women. If Andrew Davies wanted to shoehorn in racial and social inequality, incest (a la Game of Thrones), sex scenes and a gay character, why didn't he go off and write a historical drama all of his own?

Well, that's exactly what he did, really, isn't it?

Andrew Davies has adapted umpteen historical dramas for television and film beautifully (including the marvellous BBC adaptation of Pride And Prejudice in the 90s). I think that perhaps a mostly original script is where he falters.

Andrew Davies has adapted umpteen historical dramas for television and film

So he should have known better.

You'd think, wouldn't you, EBearhug? I was just disagreeing that a man shouldn't be trusted to adapt female authors. Quite a different thing to letting them loose with their imagination though .

I think what has annoyed me most about Sanditon is that with the Andrew Davies name on it you really do expect something a bit special, he’s known for his excellent high quality period dramas and now I’m not sure I’d watch the next thing he does.

I didn't even realise that was the last episode when I was watching it!!

The way it ended I presumed there was another episode to come!

What a rubbish ending, so she ended up with neither man? What was the whole point?

It's interesting considering the difference between adapting something and writing something original. In some respects, when you adapt a novel that is well known and loved, you are risking more criticism because everyone who has read the novel has a view of how it should be. Whilst trying to keep the spirit of the original novel, it's still subject to your own interpretation. Sometimes this is good - think Andrew Davies P&P, sometimes not so good - just thinking of the recent Agatha Christie productions which lots of people hated - I could understand what the writer was trying to do, but didn't personally like them.

I guess AD couldn't really win on this one, especially as it's neither a full JA novel or a completely original regency era drama/comedy drama which might have been able to take more liberties and attract less criticism. I think it's suffered from trying to please two sets of audiences and definitely from a rather obvious hope of getting another series - hence the dissatisfaction with the conclusion and all the loose ends.

I've just caught up on the final episode and I'm SO MAD!! I watch Jane Austenesque specifically for the fluff, romance, and happy endings. What the hell was that? 6 hours of my life I'll never get back. I had to come here to get it off my chest as dh has no sympathy and keeps laughing at me everytime I've tried to explain to him my disappointment. What a boar. ITV need to out me out of my misery and confirm a second series or a secret Christmas special

You came to the right place Ifkip - plenty of irritation and annoyance on here.

I definitely think the producers were hoping for a second series even though a lot of us now wonder if we can be bothered with it for a multitude of reasons.

I get your frustration. The dampest squib of an ending ever. Checking constantly to see if there's another series.

Ifkip I think they will do a second one even though a lot say they wouldn't watch it. They will watch because they want to see Sidney and Charlotte get married! ITV need to announce it soon though before interest dwindles.

Phew thank god a second series seems likely. Too many story threads left loose. And there was such chemistry between the two actors. Or at least the close up camera shots of the pair of them did a good job of portraying chemistry. The actor has now replaced Tom Hardy in my dreams . I will wait with bated breath and will definitely watch IF there's a firm promise of a happy ending.

I agree @Rhubarb01 they used Jane Austen’s name to garner interest, money & PR but then of course naturally ppl expected Austen which wasn’t what they got. Equally selling a non specific regency romp was going to be difficult so yes ppl were always going to be disappointed

Viewing figures were lower than I thought - 3 million isn’t great. Luckily for them, it’s not the most expensive production in existence with the dodgy cgi & wobbly sets which will be in their favour. Beecham house won’t get another series because it cost a fortune in comparison even though viewing figures about the same

Personally I’m not bothered about either of the 2 leads so am here for stringer burning his hat, realising he’s hot af & banging his way round the town 😆

Hurray, I’ve missed the discussions about Stringer’s hat 🎩! I can’t be bothered to argue with all the people who have come on here this week simply to say how much they hated the whole thing (why would you keep watching?). I want respectful mourning about the crap ending and wry observations about millinery. Thank you @Kit19 for normal service resuming...j

@englishmummyinwales yes, I’m thankful I watched it because it introduced me to the gorgeousness that is Young Stringer and I’ll be looking out for other things he’s in from now on, hat or no hat 😉

@englishmummyinwales emergency tooth extraction has kept me away but normal service resumes!

somehow I think the hat will turn out to be the key to saving sanditon! It will be picked up by fashionable society through lady Susan and stringer will switch from architecture to millinery dressing the heads of finest ladies & gentlemen in the kingdom. In the meantime, Eliza will turn out to already be married to a man she keeps locked in the attic leading to an annulment and Sidney & Charlotte will end up together

@Babybel90 fully gratuitous Leo suter

why would you keep watching? Well exactly! I enjoyed it overall even though it was far from perfect and it was a nice Sunday night programme and this thread is great where we can have a laugh.

Kit do you think there's any chance he left his hat behind when he spoke to his dad and it's gone up in flames?

@JaneJeffer I noted he had 2 separate hats....maybe one was a stunt hat?

Sanditon 2 - the hat strikes back