Bleak House (2005) BBC Series

Turgon

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A number of us were recently introduced to this BBC adaptation of a Charles Dickens novel by Laura and it is HIGHLY recommended as a great way to positively dissociate.

http://www.amazon.ca/Bleak-House-Anna-Maxwell-Martin/dp/B001P807RC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382284303&sr=8-1&keywords=bleak+house said:
Andrew Davies isn't much of household name in the U.S., but he's the king of the BBC mini-series. His skillfully adapted scripts for Pride & Prejudice (the beloved Colin Firth version) and many, many more are peerless examples of classic novels done right--cunningly edited and shaped to let all the rich emotion and sharp intelligence spill over with zip and vigor. Bleak House is no exception; it's one of the best Dickens adaptations to date. The mini-series form allows Dickens' panoramic view, brimming with eccentric characters and complex turns of plot, to sprawl out without losing an iota of suspense or momentum. Two innocent young orphans (Patrick Kennedy and Carey Mulligan) are the potential heirs to a fortune, but their fates are snarled in a monumental legal battle known as Jarndyce and Jarndyce. But the heart of the story is another orphan, Esther Summerson (Anna Maxwell Martin), whose mysterious parentage proves to be intertwined with the fate of the Jarndyce wards and the aloof Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson, The X-Files).

Dickens' story twines through an excoriating vision of the legal system to heartbreaking domestic drama to a murder investigation to near-Gothic horror, all broken into utterly delicious half-hour segments (after the hour-long opening episode). Martin is utterly beguiling, homely at one moment and luminous the next; Anderson's grippingly eerie and brittle performance will delight her fans. But to single out anyone seems absurd, because every character--from the vicious lawyer Tulkinghorn (Charles Dance, White Mischief) to the foppish parasite Skimpole (Nathaniel Parker, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries) to the simpering clerk Guppy (Burn Gorman)--is intricately drawn, all hitting a mesmerizing balance between caricature and stark emotional honesty. Bleak House demonstrates that humor, pathos, and social criticism can all be contained in one wonderfully entertaining package.
Trailer

I haven't finished watching it yet but every episode ends with a cliff hanger and there are so many caricatures of psychopath's in this series, as well as a characteropath that not only is entertaining to watch but you learn something in the process and see how ordinary people can get duped and manipulated. It's one of those high intrigue and mystery shows where a complex plot slowly starts to unravel as each episode plays out and you can't help but try and foresee what clues are being given and guess the outcome of certain events and fate of some of the characters. So it's an engaging series and definitely not one where you blank out in front of the TV Screen.

So to review:

Entertaining? Check!
Leaves you on the edge of your seat? Check!
Learn something in the process? Check!
Great topic of conversation afterwards? Check! :)
 
Thanks for sharing Turgon. This is also available in Netflix ( for those who has account)
 
It sure it my favorite series. I have watched it 3 times, and every time I get more from it. The character development, the way psychopaths are portrayed, the acting, the way it was filmed, the details in the script... the list is endless. Dickens seemed to know a lot about people, and it shows very good observations skills. The director did a great job too. And, even though it is very sad at times, it shows some aspecs of life, and of how cruel it can seem. So, I'd say it's definitely positive dissociation.

Of course, it is a bit dramatized, but in many occasions, we get to remember the characters when we meet someone, and have a point of reference to discuss and share observations.

So, another "highly recommended" vote!
 
Well, that description and trailer certainly caught my attention, thanks for starting this thread Turgon! And thank you Laura, and all others who chimed in.

The reviews on amazon Uk are also excellent!

Episodes 1 to 5 in nearly 3 hours of positive dissociation can be found on youtube here. 6 to 10 here, and 11 to 15 here.

I don't know if the series ends in episode 15, it seems to be so since, according to wikipedia, the whole series is 8hrs in length.
 
Gertrudes said:
Well, that description and trailer certainly caught my attention, thanks for starting this thread Turgon! And thank you Laura, and all others who chimed in.

The reviews on amazon Uk are also excellent!

Episodes 1 to 5 in nearly 3 hours of positive dissociation can be found on youtube here. 6 to 10 here, and 11 to 15 here.

I don't know if the series ends in episode 15, it seems to be so since, according to wikipedia, the whole series is 8hrs in length.

Thank you Gertrudes for the link. I just finished watching and looked into the online version of the end of the book and yes episode 15 is what corresponds to the final pages. As others have mentioned it is a film that one can learn from.
 
I watched it several years ago and also found it very good. Guess it's time to rewatch it!
 
Well, this discussion of Bleak House really whetted my appetite so I've ordered the DVD set.

The makers broadcast it in a series of short episodes - 30 minutes each - as this is very close to how it was originally published, which was in 20 instalments, with a 'cliffhanger' at the end of each. I'm really looking forward to watching it.
 
Well I think it is time that I begin to read Dickens. :-[ It is a shame that I never read Dickens in English and I will do this very soon and then look the series. I love British series, they are my favorite!
 
Just watched episodes 1 through 5. I agree it is VERY well done, especially for a TV mini series. Highly recommend it.

For those interested, you might want to read the book too, as some of the descriptions of the atmosphere and psychological links have to be read in the original book to have the same impact. For example, the description of Crooks place and his collection of papers, etc. Although I've read the book several times, the last time I read it was in the mid 1990's, but I remember the impact it had on every cell of my being and it's hard to describe.
 
Just finished watching the last episode of the series. If anyone has a chance, do not miss the opportunity to watch it. It came as close to capturing the full impact and spirit of Dickens' story and characters as probably possible in the adaptation. The casting and performances are just outstanding beyond words. And the overall production values are also top notch.
 
DVD set arrived yesterday, so I was finally able to view the last four episodes. :D Well worth watching for the characters, the actors playing them to a 'tee', and the ways and means of operating of the psychopaths and characteropaths / authoritarian followers. A great series. Brilliant. Thank you Laura for introducing it.
 
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