Fourteen years on and 2005's 'Bleak House' has proven to have held up brilliantly. Thought at the time it was one of the best things on television to air that year, and it is not hard at all to see why. It is also among my favourite Dickens adaptations, or at least among the television adaptations. Have always generally thought that Dickens' work lends itself better to television, with a lot of the books being long and the story and characters quite complex, 'Bleak House' is one of the books that in my mind would not work as a film for those reasons.
In Episode 10, the tension really does mount (especially between Tulkinghorn and Lady Dedlock), the intrigue increases (again especially with those two, and concerning Jardyce as well) and things become more complicated as more is revealed (like with Sergeant George's debts). Making for another superb instalment that is wholly successful at building on things already known and setting things up for what is to come.
Cannot fault the episode on a visual level. It is handsomely and evocatively designed while showing how dangerous living conditions were at the time (one actually feels that watching), all while being beautifully and atmospherically shot. The music fits well as ever.
The dialogue is literate and thought-provoking with a smooth flow and not coming over as rambling. Dickens prose is very wordy, but there isn't too much of that feeling here luckily. The story never loses interest and handles the numerous story strands beautifully, as said the tension and intrigue keeps increasing and it was rewarding somewhat to see Tulkinghorn less powerful. The heart that the Jarndyce and Esther subplot has balances out the tension well.
All the performances are very fine, Charles Dance, sinister without being pantomimic, and Denis Lawson, portraying Jarndyce with understated dignity, sharing top honours.
Summing up, wonderful. 10/10