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Review: Sanditon (2019 mini-series)
When I first heard that Andrew Davies was adapting Jane Austen's unfinished novel Sanditon into a TV mini-series, I was excited. His version of Pride & Prejudice (BBC, 1995) is my favourite period drama of all time and I have enjoyed some of his other adaptations too, so it all sounded promising. Then I heard that, since it was an unfinished novel, he felt he could be a bit freer to do what he wanted with it and that he planned to 'sex it up' a bit. This concerned me, not because I'm at all prudish about sexual content as such, but because, for me, that sort of thing just doesn't belong in Austen!
Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try when it aired...
Episode 1 was... confusing. It was sort Austenesque in it's way and I liked several of the characters, but it was clear it was going to be more sexual in nature than a normal Austen adaptation would be. I was okay with it, if I separated it from Austen in my head and let it be it's own thing, except for the brother & sister that seemed to also secretly be a couple! Thankfully, that was explained - they were step-siblings so it wasn't half as disturbing as it seemed!
As the episodes went by, I actually got quite invested in the plot and the characters and looked forward to seeing the next instalment. I was glad when Lady Denham pulled through from her illness and kicked out the horrible Edward Denham and nasty Clara Brereton. I was happy to see Esther change for the better and get free of Edward. I wanted Tom Parker to make Sanditon a success and I felt badly for Miss Lamb when things went wrong for her. Most especially, I was really looking forward to Charlotte and Sidney getting their happy ending - no such luck!
Now, I know I said I separated this from Austen in my head (because some of the sexual stuff would definitely not be Jane approved!) but I had at least expected, after eight episodes of to-ing and fro-ing, with the Elizabeth-esque headstrong girl (Charlotte) and the Darcy-esque rich man (Sidney) going from hating each other to loving each other and finally getting into a position where they could be together that they actually would, you know, get together. And yet, no. The series ended with her going home in a carriage in tears and him set to marry a woman he didn't love but needed money from. What the heck?!
I was stunned when the credits rolled and not at all in a good way. I'm assuming they're angling at getting a second series to fix it all, but quite honestly, I don't trust them now and probably wouldn't watch if they did. What a horrible mess. Also, just when the nice Mr Stringer got the career opportunity he wanted, his father died after they had an argument, and now he won't take the new job. Plus half of Sanditon burnt down just when things were going well. I mean, why? It has to be a ploy for another series, but like I say, the show just burnt it's bridges with me, because I am done. As with most things, I shall probably resort to fanfic for a fix-it ending and that'll be that.
tl;dr - Better than I thought it could be to start with, more sexual than Jane Austen would've made it, but in the end, an utter disappointment!
Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try when it aired...
Episode 1 was... confusing. It was sort Austenesque in it's way and I liked several of the characters, but it was clear it was going to be more sexual in nature than a normal Austen adaptation would be. I was okay with it, if I separated it from Austen in my head and let it be it's own thing, except for the brother & sister that seemed to also secretly be a couple! Thankfully, that was explained - they were step-siblings so it wasn't half as disturbing as it seemed!
As the episodes went by, I actually got quite invested in the plot and the characters and looked forward to seeing the next instalment. I was glad when Lady Denham pulled through from her illness and kicked out the horrible Edward Denham and nasty Clara Brereton. I was happy to see Esther change for the better and get free of Edward. I wanted Tom Parker to make Sanditon a success and I felt badly for Miss Lamb when things went wrong for her. Most especially, I was really looking forward to Charlotte and Sidney getting their happy ending - no such luck!
Now, I know I said I separated this from Austen in my head (because some of the sexual stuff would definitely not be Jane approved!) but I had at least expected, after eight episodes of to-ing and fro-ing, with the Elizabeth-esque headstrong girl (Charlotte) and the Darcy-esque rich man (Sidney) going from hating each other to loving each other and finally getting into a position where they could be together that they actually would, you know, get together. And yet, no. The series ended with her going home in a carriage in tears and him set to marry a woman he didn't love but needed money from. What the heck?!
I was stunned when the credits rolled and not at all in a good way. I'm assuming they're angling at getting a second series to fix it all, but quite honestly, I don't trust them now and probably wouldn't watch if they did. What a horrible mess. Also, just when the nice Mr Stringer got the career opportunity he wanted, his father died after they had an argument, and now he won't take the new job. Plus half of Sanditon burnt down just when things were going well. I mean, why? It has to be a ploy for another series, but like I say, the show just burnt it's bridges with me, because I am done. As with most things, I shall probably resort to fanfic for a fix-it ending and that'll be that.
tl;dr - Better than I thought it could be to start with, more sexual than Jane Austen would've made it, but in the end, an utter disappointment!