Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

Dickensian

(194 Posts)
Gagagran Thu 07-Jan-16 20:47:12

I really think this is so good a series that it deserves a thread of its own despite being mentioned in passing in another thread.

Everything about it is excellent from the costumes, the scenery and dialogue. Above all though is the perfectly cast characters - all of whom seem to look exactly as they should! I think Inspector Bucket is my special favourite but all of them have the faces and bearing and delivery of the lines exactly as they should have.

The clever knitting together of so many Dickens' characters is brilliant and I shall be so sorry when it ends. I think the great man himself would be very pleased if only he could see it.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Feb-16 23:14:44

I don't think I have read Bell Book and Candle. I don't know where I got that from. grin

phoenix Fri 12-Feb-16 23:10:43

For some reason I thought it might be M.R. James, or Poe, but it seems it was Van Dryten? confused

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Feb-16 23:04:32

confused I might have been thinking of The Chimes.

It's a bit similar. hmm

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Feb-16 22:50:31

I think so phoenix. I had it in a paperback with some other Christmas stories. Think another one was called The Cricket on the Hearth. Didn't get far with that. Oxfammed the book years ago.

phoenix Fri 12-Feb-16 22:45:38

Was Bell Book & Candle a Dickens book?

Tegan Fri 12-Feb-16 21:35:45

Why would anyone leave their house and take a rolling pin with them?

Pittcity Fri 12-Feb-16 21:31:52

It can't have been her, so who nicked her rolling pin?

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Feb-16 20:07:55

wink

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Feb-16 20:07:44

But I can't google them all by 8.30. sad

Pittcity Fri 12-Feb-16 19:45:59

No need to be well versed in anything except Google nowadays jingl grin

nigglynellie Fri 12-Feb-16 18:56:55

Roses, I laughed out loud at the fate of Inspector Bucket!!! He certainly did look very down at heel when he re emerged!!!
Thank goodness, I've been really worried about that baby to the point that I've been thinking that Frances might do away with her!, let's face it she's mad enough!! If baby is more than likely Esther, the she clearly survives!!!!
The Pegottys from David Copperfield lived in an upturned boat, but they're not featuring in Dickensian.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Feb-16 18:39:11

Are we all supposed to be well-versed in Dickens to appreciate it then? The few of his books I read years ago, I have mostly long forgotten. I do remember Miss Havisham, and a family living in an upturned boat. And then there was Bell, Book and Candle. God knows what that was all about! hmm

WilmaKnickersfit Fri 12-Feb-16 18:32:03

Lily I agree and that's the point really. Will baby Esther become the Esther from Bleak House or not? Will the whole series turn out to be a prequel of the various Dickens novels? We don't know how Jacob Marley died in A Christmas Carol and given that his ghost didn't appear until seven years after his death, perhaps he was murdered. Will any other characters end up with a different fate? Will Bill murder Nancy before the end of the series? Questions, questions. grin

Personally I think baby Esther will become Esther from Bleak House, but I am excited to find out. wink

merlotgran Fri 12-Feb-16 12:38:12

If you really want to find out what happens to the baby just Google Bleak House and look at Wickywhatnot.

Lilygran Fri 12-Feb-16 12:37:35

If they don't travel too far away from Dickens and if the baby survives, won't it be Esther Summerson from Bleak House? Lady Dedlock's guilty secret? As Pittcity says?

Elrel Fri 12-Feb-16 12:25:39

Roses - I wondered whether the baby would be Miss Havisham's ward Estelle too.

WilmaKnickersfit Fri 12-Feb-16 12:08:29

Now that we're talking about the baby, my mind is boggling at what Frances is going to do next! shock Just as we thought she would change her ways and live a more happy existence, she goes and does... what? I hope we find out tonight and the plot doesn't move to another part of the story.

rosesarered Fri 12-Feb-16 11:54:57

Was sad to see that poor old Inspector Bucket had been thrown off the case and sent away to Moscow where he is now living a hand to mouth existence.
grin

rosesarered Fri 12-Feb-16 11:52:05

It could be Estelle ( brought up by Miss Haversham to hate and manipulate all men.)That's the baby, had it been a boy ( are we sure it isn't?) it could then be Oliver.

Tegan Fri 12-Feb-16 11:38:49

Maybe she'll leave it on the Bumbles doorstep?

Pittcity Fri 12-Feb-16 11:14:30

I meant that there is more than just the baby living in this story that is hopefully still to come...

Pittcity Fri 12-Feb-16 11:12:23

I thought she picked the baby up meaning to take it to her sister and then changed her mind indicating other plans. I don't think she is evil enough to kill it but doesn't want her sister to be happy because she isn't.

Tegan Fri 12-Feb-16 10:20:12

I thought the acting last night was superb; I was totally absorbed [and traumatised by the end of it]. I'm glad of the 'spoiler' as it means I can function properly today #still traumatised

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Feb-16 09:58:32

Err. You just did Pittcity! That was a spoiler. grin

So long as she doesn't just shut the cupboard door and leave the baby in there.

Pittcity Fri 12-Feb-16 07:54:56

We knew the baby would live because the child, Esther, is being brought up by her Aunt in Bleak House. I won't spoil it for those who don't know the story.
It seems Dickensian is prequelling the books well and beginning to tie up the loose ends. Fabulously thought out and brilliant acting.