Any fans of Matthew Macfadyen out there? You may want to check out Ripper Street, a BBC production coming to BBC America this Saturday January 19th at 9 pm. Called CSI Victorian London by The Telegraph, this is apparently a fairly gory but interesting and well produced crime drama, which just happens to be set in the 1880s.
There seem to be mixed reviews on this one. Some are really loving it, others are not so impressed. It is airing on Sunday nights in the UK right now and Mr. Selfridge, the much lighter-hearted story of the great retailer (ITV and Andrew Davies) is beating it out in ratings for the after Sunday dinner crowd. Any Brits out there who can weigh in on Ripper Street?
Parade's End, which airs on HBO on Tuesday February 26th is another one which is hard to make out. There are fabulous reviews and others ones which are lukewarm. Sumptuously filmed by the BBC, this adaptation of a classic English novel about the Great War may draw a few of us viewers just to see the gorgeous chameleon Benedict Cumberbatch. Apparently his fans in America (The Cumberbitches) will be thrilled. It is also packed with other stars such as Rebecca Hall, Rupert Everett, Miranda Richardson, Rufus Sewell, etc, etc. Too many to list!
I caught a snatch of this on YouTube before it was yanked and I liked it. However one viewer called it Parade Never Ends, so perhaps it drags toward the end. Again, anyone seen this and like to weigh in?
I am going to stick my neck out and predict that Mr. Selfridge, an ITV production written by the wonderful Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House, Sense and Sensibility) will be a little more universally appealing than the previous two offerings. Described as Downton in a department store, this one follows Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) "The Showman Behind the Retail Empire" of Selfridges.
This one airs on PBS in March in 10 episodes (!!!) so all of a sudden, the winter looks shorter to me. Lots to look forward to.
The Bletchley Circle doesn't air until April 21 on PBS, but this story of 4 former code cracking ladies from Bletchley Park who find post-war Britain very dull and so move into solving a murder sounds like fun. Anna Maxwell Martin (Bleak House and Becoming Jane) is always wonderful to watch. We get the second season of Call the Midwife around the same time in the spring as well.
Not a period drama (but truly my cup of tea), Quartet is a light dramedy about the residents of a "retirement castle" (it is truly sumptuous) for classical musicians. The entire supporting cast are actually talented retirees and the stars are some of the best "experienced" actors that Britain has to offer. Dustin Hoffman directed this one and apparently had his hands full keeping Maggie Smith in line. I will be seeing this soon and will post a review.
Anyhow, there you have a sneak peek at some coming attractions. Anything else you are looking forward to that I neglected to mention? Or opinions on the above? Please comment below. We ALL want to hear from ALL of you!
Hi Jenny:
ReplyDeleteIn case anyone is interested, I noticed that space channel in Ontario is broadcasting Ripper Street as well. I think it premiers on Saturday. I'm also not sure if Matthew Macfayden is enough to entice me to watch this one. Just the fact that it's on "space" suggests that it's going to be over the top gory. I may try to watch one episode and see how it goes. I'm just barely able to watch Elementary sometimes. But JLM is just too good to miss:)
On another note, I'm home sick and watching some of your recommendations. Yestreday I watched "Enchanted April." It was lovely. I've also been wathching "Call The Midwife." Also very good. Thanks again.
Hi Olga! I hope you are feeling better, but it is lovely to have something good to watch when you are under the weather. The Space Channel...really? How odd! Thanks for the tip. I may see how long I last watching it. I am such a wimp!
DeleteI do like Jonny Lee Miller on Elementary. I just look away occasionally! Thanks for stopping by to share!
In England last Autumn, I watched a Period Drama called The Paradise, shown on the BBC which is lovely. I haven't seen Mr. Selfridge but I think they both similar. I love The Paradise and Mr. Moray! Hope I get The Paradise on DVD for my birthday on Tuesday. I also hope it comes to Canada for you to enjoy, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, I just noticed that I didn't reply to you here. Glad to hear that you love The Paradise. I will have to watch both that and Mr. S and have a comparison blog post. Have you seen Mr. S yet? You must be happy that there will be a second season of The Paradise!
DeleteThe Paradise was an excellent piece of drama I agree. Mr Selfridge is onto its third ep in the UK and is slowly building up, just wish they'd get on with it though, some scenes tend to drag a bit. (I'm reviewing it on my blog: http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk for anyone who doesn't mind spoilers.)
ReplyDeleteParade's End I couldn't get into at all, even with the presence of the enchanting Benedict. It was very predictable in places, even the ending was such. The WWI scenes were ok though don't expect many people to watch this for those.
Hi mila! It does sound like the Brits are enjoying The Paradise a bit more than Mr. Selfridge, but I will happily watch both. Thanks for the link to your blog!
DeleteI just saw that Ripper Street has been renewed for a second series. As has The Paradise previously. Oh, and the BBC are going to make a series out of "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell", which is a Regency fantasy.
ReplyDeleteLRK
Oooooh, thanks so much for the heads up on all of these. At this point I really like the look of The Paradise. Can't wait!
DeleteI know - isn't it great? - especially considering just a few years back BBC said they were "done" with costume drama and would only make 20th century stuff? Now, if they'd only do a few classics as well - and maybe a few Georgette Heyer's. ;)
DeleteLRK
The Paradise is really great! I haven't watched Mr Selfridge on principle as ITV have really copied the BBC with it, like they did with Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs (the BBC had announced The Paradise first apparently, but it wasn't going to be aired until after Mr Selfridge or at the same time so they moved the air date till the autumn to stop the ratings disaster of Upstairs Downstairs happening again!).
ReplyDeleteI watched Parades End, and I'm not sure what I make of it. It wasn't your typical Sunday evening period drama, and I found it quite an ordeal to watch, particularly as i wanted to hit all the characters to stop them being so stupid. I also found myself liking Sylvia a lot more than her husband- she had some spirit!
I watched the Bletchley circle and loved it, a lot more than Ripper Street, which seemed to need gore to attract people to it instead of a good storyline and I never made it past the first episode. I was really sad about that cos I was looking forward to it!
Something you should look out for is the BBC drama Dancing on the Edge. It's written by Steven Poliakoff, so another drama a bit like Parade's End in the way its not the most comfortable thing to be watching. He's written a lot of interesting shows, including Glorious 39 which has Romola Garai, Bill Nighy and Eddie Redmayne in (amongst others). It's not got the best reviews from critics but I liked it. It's about a black jazz band in the 1930s and their rise to fame amongst the 'british upper class'.
Hi Anon! I keep hearing such great things about The Paradise. I may have to read the book while I am waiting! I liked the beginning few episodes of Mr. Selfridge but as Andrew Davies only wrote the first 3 I will reserve judgement as to whether the whole series stands up.
DeleteThanks for the thumbs up for Bletchley Circle (coming soon to PBS) and Dancing on the Edge. The latter is getting mixed reviews but I will give it a go when it comes here. Thanks again.
By the way, I know what you mean about Parade's End. Such an unusual story. And yet I kept watching even though I was down in the dumps by the end. So riveting and yet so....so....words escape me.