As a person who loves to read books, I am ashamed to admit that I've never read Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations". I've read some other of his works, but I was always trying to get to know the female classics (Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Ann Radcliffe) and neglected the male ones. This series has what it takes. Since I've never read the book, I'm very satisfied with how the events took place. They're not confusing and you can follow the story. The cast is great (I love Miss Havisham) and I love how they portrait the characters that Mr. Dickens created. I can't wait for the second episodes. I hope they'll keep the good work up! Cheers!
4 Reviews
Episode 1 very good
pawebster1 January 2012
IMDb does not seem to be allowing us to review the whole serial in one go, so here goes for episode 1. It's very good. I found the scenes on the marshes with Magwitch and Pip thrilling, even though I have seen similar scenes in previous versions.
Young Oscar Kennedy is a real find. He is excellent as young Pip in every respect, better than any I have seen before. It's a pity he couldn't suddenly age and perform the remainder, as Douglas Booth is far less good as adult Pip.
I'm not so keen on Gillian Anderson as Miss H. She seems a bit too airy-fairy and her house is not dismal enough.
Also, the script does not quite bring out clearly enough Pip's desire to become a gentleman in order to impress Estella. It's also a pity they left out Biddy, who is meant to be the down-to-earth alternative love interest that Pip could have gone for.
Despite these niggles, it's very good and highly to be recommended. It's just a pity about episode 2...
Young Oscar Kennedy is a real find. He is excellent as young Pip in every respect, better than any I have seen before. It's a pity he couldn't suddenly age and perform the remainder, as Douglas Booth is far less good as adult Pip.
I'm not so keen on Gillian Anderson as Miss H. She seems a bit too airy-fairy and her house is not dismal enough.
Also, the script does not quite bring out clearly enough Pip's desire to become a gentleman in order to impress Estella. It's also a pity they left out Biddy, who is meant to be the down-to-earth alternative love interest that Pip could have gone for.
Despite these niggles, it's very good and highly to be recommended. It's just a pity about episode 2...
Episode 1
Prismark1017 March 2021
An atmospheric rendition of Great Expectations.
Ray Winstone is a scary Abel Magwitch. You can sense Young Pip would be scared to meet such a brute in the marshes.
Gillian Anderson seems to be too attractive to be Miss Havisham. She certainly has got the unhinged part right.
Havisham is playing with her real life toys. Grooming Young Estella to toy with the Young Pip and learn how to hate men.
This first episode was better than I remember it when it was first broadcast. I think the actors playing Young Pip and Estella were very good.
Ray Winstone is a scary Abel Magwitch. You can sense Young Pip would be scared to meet such a brute in the marshes.
Gillian Anderson seems to be too attractive to be Miss Havisham. She certainly has got the unhinged part right.
Havisham is playing with her real life toys. Grooming Young Estella to toy with the Young Pip and learn how to hate men.
This first episode was better than I remember it when it was first broadcast. I think the actors playing Young Pip and Estella were very good.
fair portraits
Kirpianuscus21 December 2022
The fair portraits of characters , the atmosphere and young Pip are the basic virtues of this episode , reminding not only the book itself but the way to feel scene by scene.
Correct sounds fair to define it as a nice use of images of great Expectations, as a honest proposition to explore a familiar universe from new perspectives.
The tension and the air are the pillars sustaining this first part in wise manner.
So, good answer to expectations, well crafted key sscenes and lovely solutions of balance to obscure moments.
A very precious good point, for me, remains the portrait of Miss Havisham proposed by Gillian Anderson.
Correct sounds fair to define it as a nice use of images of great Expectations, as a honest proposition to explore a familiar universe from new perspectives.
The tension and the air are the pillars sustaining this first part in wise manner.
So, good answer to expectations, well crafted key sscenes and lovely solutions of balance to obscure moments.
A very precious good point, for me, remains the portrait of Miss Havisham proposed by Gillian Anderson.
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