Great Expectations (TV Mini Series) Episode #1.2 (2011) User Reviews

This is the weak episode of the three

[pawebster · 4/10 · 1 January 2012]

As IMDb doesn't seem to be allowing comments on the serial as a whole, I'm doing them episode by episode.

This one is by far the weakest. The biggest failing is that Douglas Booth is a pretty useless Pip. Booth is a fashion model and his perfectly made up doll-like face makes him look as if he is on a photo shoot for most of the time. His main expression, which rarely changes, is a slight pout. A country lad from the forge trying to become a convincing gentleman? Sorry, but no. Incidentally, he looks absolutely nothing like Oscar Kennedy who played young Pip so expressively in episode 1. Others have noticed that he is supposed to be plain and Estella beautiful - it's the wrong way round here. His voice is wrong, too. He too quickly masters an actorish type of standard pronunciation, which is unfortunately much too modern in style and includes the dreaded glottal stop in places (e.g. bu' for but).

Another big failing is that the script writer (why do they do this?) decided to sex the story up by including a sleazy brothel scene.

On the positive side, smiley Harry Lloyd is excellent as Herbert Pocket.

Things pick up in episode 3.

Episode 2

[Prismark10 · 4/10 · 30 March 2021]

Pip goes to London to be a gentleman and assumes that Miss Havisham is his benefactor.

Aside from helping Herbert Pocket. Pip spends his allowance without much care.

Pip plans to marry Estella not seeing that she has been well trained by Miss Havisham to break hearts.

A scoundrel Bentley Drummle mocks Pip for pretending to be a toff.

This is an episode where actor Douglas Booth's weakness as an actor becomes apparent. He is a pretty boy who is made bland and unmemorable by the others around him.

There are some nice moments with characters such as Jaggers, Denby and Pocket who make more of an impact than the main character.

good intentions

[Kirpianuscus · 21 December 2022]

The only problem of episode is represented by Douglas Booth. Investing all indulgence, it is very hard to accept him as acceptable Pip. Unfortunatelly, it is not his guilt because he tries to offer a character crafted in fair terms. But very far by admirable job of young Oscar Kennedy.

The good point - the work of Harry Lloyd. Few times I regretted than he was not saw by director as the inspired option for the main role but he gives just a nice and seductive Herbert and this is the fact who just matters.

The another sin - the spices who are too much for fair adaptation of a great, beautiful novel.

So, good intentions.