LORD OF THE FLIES - sun bbc1 9pm - TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

A group of school boys are marooned on a desert island in an adaptation or William Golding‘s classic novel Lord of the flies

A plane transporting, schoolboy crushed lands on a remote island with no adults around supervise them their attempts to remain civilise soon descends into violence.

This four part series is a first television dictation of the classic 1954 novel each episode is shown from one of the main characters with the first one devoted to piggy.

Piggy is a responsible one who wants to keep everything calm. A lot of the boys go so when they’re stranded piggy tells everyone they have to have rules but the boys don’t act well to that.

Piggy initially be friends Ralph a boy who voted leader but Ralph‘s rival Jack taught piggy about his weight and poor eyesight

Jack judges PIGGY starts picking on him. He tries to be friends with Ralph when he knows that Ralph is PIGGY‘s only thread to hold onto they really don’t like each other.

not sure if I will watch as never like the book at school but doing thread incase I do and for others who may enjoy

The Tongan boys in 1965.
I read about them in the Guardian in an article from 2020 entitled’ The real castaways ‘ by Rutger Gregman .
It’s a lovely , uplifting account . Gregman says :
‘I first read Lord of the Flies as a teenager. I remember feeling disillusioned afterwards, but not for a second did I think to doubt Golding’s view of human nature. That didn’t happen until years later when I began delving into the author’s life. I learned what an unhappy individual he had been: an alcoholic, prone to depression. “I have always understood the Nazis,” Golding confessed, “because I am of that sort by nature.” And it was “partly out of that sad self-knowledge” that he wrote Lord of the Flies.’

Cheeringly it has also been very different in real life when boys have been stranded .
I find it quite upsetting that Lord of the Flies is given to adolescents to read because it does leave you feeling that’s how kids would behave . Did same to me .
Please do search for ‘The Real Castaways ‘ by Rutger Bregman ( Guardian article from 2020 ) about the Tongan teens if you have time x

Why do you have 4/5 copies of the Same book ?

I love books /reading. But only have one copy of each one

I never read this book at school ( despite having an English degree) but its so well known, I was aware of the story and some of the outcomes. I didn't really enjoy last nights episode though the actors and cinematography were great (apart from the over use of the fish eye lens which left lots of it blurry). Young Piggy in particular is an amazing actor, especially for a first time actor - he has a great future. The reason I couldn't enjoy it was just my over riding maternal instincts - I worried about the practicalities, the Littl'uns, the bullying and the dangers. I just couldn't relax and enjoy the story, if its the kind of story that can be enjoyed. Maybe its because I have sons?
I will continue to watch it but only to complete my education. Its already too harrowing for me 😮‍💨

As I didn’t see the spoiler I don’t know what it said

obv I read the book ‘cough’ decades ago at school - if it is the bit about one of them then I can guess / but only as read the book

amazing what you remember 40yrs ago yet I couldn’t tell you who in say a miss marple book I read 10yrs ago what happened 😂

He also admitted to trying to rape a 15yr old when he was 18. Gross.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/lord-of-the-flies

Some info on the actors, location and the music. I thought David Mckenna was Northern Irish as I could hear his accent in parts.

ETA, some may want to skip the 1st paragraph.

Thanks for that. Spoilerphobes should note that the media pack is not spoiler free.

Young David McKenna (Piggy) has been through the mill, poor lad, but clearly has an absolutely devoted family. Diagnosed with kidney failure at two weeks old, he received a kidney transplant from his Dad when he was 4 and when that failed he got one from his Mum when he was 10. https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/08/star-psychologically-disturbing-lord-flies-reveals-kidneys-parents-26777391/

Yes I've read somewhere they're all inexperienced or newcomers but they were amazing. I started watching expecting to hate it but it was mesmerising. The cinematography, soundtrack and acting just brilliant.
The cast are all fabulous.

Trying hard to find a recap that doesn’t have spoilers for future episodes

It must be so hard to film something dramatic or horrific when children are involved. I remember reading about a horror film with child actors and they take such care to film it in little segments so they dont understand the full story. I guess they learned from the trauma experienced by Linda Blair in the Exorcist. I noticed lots of shots of the Little 'uns were atmospheric shots of them looking into camera.

Very politely, the name is Rutger Bregman. It's a great article. ETA the article is full of spoilers.

Oh totally

They have very strict laws

so for example last nights fire /beach scenes all done before 7pm and then edited and mixed /added darkness /tones/lightening to make it seem dark and at night

Ages 5–8

• Max performance time: 3 hours
• Total time at place of performance: 6 hours

Ages 9–12

• Max performance time: 5 hours
• Total time at place of performance: 9 hours

Other important rules

• No work before 7am or after 7pm
• Rest breaks required (at least 1 hour after every 2–2½ hours)
• Education time must be provided if filming during school days
• Licensed chaperone required unless a parent is approved to act as one
• A Child Performance Licence is usually needed from the local council

Simon.

It’s still an option as a ‘modern’ text on most gcse specs.
It is often a fab book to teach; there’s always a visceral response to it Which is good - much better than bland indifference!
I’m looking forward to the series as I loved Thirnes adaptation of His Dark Materials

Pmsl. See I’m awful with names

and why I love a decent recap

Reading about the filming of it in the paper the other day, as they could only have the children acting for short periods, the crew spent a lot of time wandering around the island capturing shots of many and various unusual things. And also caught the little’uns happily playing when they weren’t working.

Yes 3hrs a day for little uns

Or wee petals as I call them.

I kept losing them !

In the 1963 film I love "Simon's" music , beautiful clear boys choir .
I'll watch this version and the 1963 one like I did with the Original and the remake of 12 Angry Men. I am bypassing the 1990 one completely .

One reviewer in an Irish paper said that parts of it were like a David Attenborough documentary, with close ups of flora and fauna 😀
He wasn’t a fan. Sorry i can’t do links.

Humans are part of the fauna.

Ooo I really want to watch this!