Tulkinghorn is so despicable that all possible suspects have good reason to go after him. George is the prime suspect because of his recent confrontations, plus his being in the area at the time. Still, we have Lady Dedlock and that French woman and others as well. He crossed so many people and was so ruthless that it will be entertaining. I read the book 40 years ago so my memories of the result have slipped away.
2 Reviews
Bucket introduced
TheLittleSongbird14 April 2020
All eleven of the previous episodes for this wonderful adaptation of 'Bleak House' are outstanding in every way. 'Bleak House' is not easy to adapt, well the same goes for Charles Dickens in general, but both versions (with there being an equally good mini-series from 1985) adapt it brilliantly. Also being must watches on their own merits, which there has always been an attempt on my part to judge adaptations on their own rather than making direct comparisons between the two mediums.
Episode twelve more than lives up to the outstanding standard of the previous eleven episodes. Following on from the shocking yet oddly satisfying events at the end of episode eleven, and building upon them, it is thoroughly absorbing throughout. And one is kept on their toes as the mystery and the investigation dominating the episode unfolds, without finding anything too obvious or confusing. It also introduces the viewer to Bucket, a character that carries the investigation with ease.
With there being a lot of suspects and many motives, almost everybody wanting one of Dickens' nastiest pieces of work characters Tulkinghorn dead, it is never obvious who the murderer is for anybody who has not read the book. There is plenty of intrigue, which builds all the way to the episode's end, and the suspense builds too.
None of the characters have lost their complexity or what made them so interesting and Bucket is a joy of a character. Cannot complain about the production values. It continues to be beautifully shot and the handsome period detail is also evocative. The Victorian era look and atmosphere are nailed, as unforgiving as much as they are handsome being much more than just sumptuous costumes and interiors, one can truly tell that the living conditions back then were dangerous. The music fits nicely.
Like before, the writing is literate and thoughtfully and coherently adapted, without being too wordy considering that it is a talk-heavy book. It manages to make what goes on, which is a lot, engaging and accessible without rushing.
Have nothing to fault the performances for, with the great Alun Armstrong pitch perfect as Bucket.
In summation, wonderful. 10/10
Episode twelve more than lives up to the outstanding standard of the previous eleven episodes. Following on from the shocking yet oddly satisfying events at the end of episode eleven, and building upon them, it is thoroughly absorbing throughout. And one is kept on their toes as the mystery and the investigation dominating the episode unfolds, without finding anything too obvious or confusing. It also introduces the viewer to Bucket, a character that carries the investigation with ease.
With there being a lot of suspects and many motives, almost everybody wanting one of Dickens' nastiest pieces of work characters Tulkinghorn dead, it is never obvious who the murderer is for anybody who has not read the book. There is plenty of intrigue, which builds all the way to the episode's end, and the suspense builds too.
None of the characters have lost their complexity or what made them so interesting and Bucket is a joy of a character. Cannot complain about the production values. It continues to be beautifully shot and the handsome period detail is also evocative. The Victorian era look and atmosphere are nailed, as unforgiving as much as they are handsome being much more than just sumptuous costumes and interiors, one can truly tell that the living conditions back then were dangerous. The music fits nicely.
Like before, the writing is literate and thoughtfully and coherently adapted, without being too wordy considering that it is a talk-heavy book. It manages to make what goes on, which is a lot, engaging and accessible without rushing.
Have nothing to fault the performances for, with the great Alun Armstrong pitch perfect as Bucket.
In summation, wonderful. 10/10
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