The Minaturist

I've just watched this tonight. I felt it was better paced than the book, which seemed to cram everything into the last third or quarter.

The meeting between the miniaturist and Nella put a different spin on it. I read the book as 'magic realism' where you have to accceot what you're told, which I'm not very good at!

It was indeed very beautiful.

Yes, you're right, the miniaturist never got paid for all the extra miniatures she made. They were exquisite. I've been to the World in Miniature in Oban, but I don't remember anything as amazing as the things we saw in the programme. That lute was beautiful.

The writers could have done a better job with that part of the story.

Yes. Wilma that was what I thought from the meeting too, but how did that help with money ( am being super practical here) think of the time and effort to create all those things and send them free of any charge.
It was the weak point in the book.

lemongrove I don't think the actress was very convincing tbh, but my understanding is she had second sight, but no control over it. When people found out they pestered her for more information, but she couldn't give them any. Her way of coping was to make miniatures of her visions and anonymously send them to the people involved. I think she thought it would help them in some way to have a sign or a warning. But of course, that's not what happened. They freaked out at receiving the objects and then in turn that influenced how they perceived other things, a 2+2=5 kind of thing.

That's how I rationalised what happened anyway and it would be great if others said what they think that part of the story was about. The writers made up the meeting between the miniaturist and Nella - in the book they never meet. I think she kept the parrot because she was lonely.

Although the book was a massive success, it does have a lot of negative reviews and accusations of hype. The general consensus is that TV adaptation is better than the book itself.

Why did she have the parrot, and not give it back sooner?

Just finished watching the second part.Very good, but....
The explanation from the miniaturist wasn’t convincing.
So she ‘saw’ things, why make them and send them to people who don’t want them, didn’t order them, and who never pay for them?

Jane I agree. One of the best things about the story was how unusual it was, so I Googled where the idea came from. On Wikipedia it says

She came up with the idea while on holiday in Amsterdam, where she viewed Petronella Oortman's doll house at the Rijksmuseum, and undertook extensive research on 17th-century Amsterdam, studying books, cookbooks, Dutch Golden Age paintings, maps, and wills.

Wikipedia gives quite a bit of information about the author and the book, including the fact that 11 publishers bid for the book and the winning bid was in six figures. What a triumph for a debut novel.

The Miniaturist

I agree with OP the best thing on TV this Xmas.

What a peculiar thing to write about. I did enjoy watching it and thought it was all so beautifully filmed but I couldn't help myself from wondering what had set the writer off on this most odd story. Had she seen some miniature items? Did she have a particular interest in 17/18th century Holland? Did she ponder on difficult relationships? So many questions about this intriguing book. I enjoyed watching it but doubt if I'd have read it.

Only watched the first part so far.I liked it, thought it was very well done in every way.

I thought it was wonderful. It was beautiful to look at and an intriguing story.
Definitely TV at its best.
Haven't seen Romolo Garai in anything for ages. Not since "The Crimson Petal and the White" in fact.

I enjoyed it but felt there could have been more ,although I know this is where the book ended.

Made a change from our usual viewing.

Very faithful to the book which I read quite recently and passed on to my husband who didn't get round to reading it, possibly because it wasn't his cup of tea, but then surprised me by saying he thought the tv drama was excellent. As others have said beautifully shot and loved the houses lining the canal, haven't been to Amersterdam, but thought it looked similar to Copenhagen where we went this year.

No further episodes loopyloo - that's where the book ended. There was a lot more graphic detail in the book but the ending was the same.

Yes, enjoyed this but are they planning further episodes? I too thought he may have escaped somehow.
But I liked the message that things can change. And that women can sort things out.

Petra - yes, I thought he'd somehow be saved at the last moment, that maybe Franz, Otto, Cornelia or Nella would leap in with a knife. Or even the English actor!

I wasn't really paying attention Wilma, so I might have been mistaken. I, too, need to watch it again as I sort of just had it on but let it wash over me...

Argh, so he could have cut the rope as he went into the water....
I did enjoy it but was left with the question of who and why the minustures were sent.

Tegan I didn't see a knife, just the feather from his hat. Might watch that bit again.

We'll watch Little Women on catch up, but for me The Miniaturist was the best thing on TV this Christmas. I don't know if I would read the book now though. I also loved Rat Highwayman!

We were staying away from home, so didn't watch a lot of TV and there's probably other stuff we'll watch on catch up.

SPOILER ALERT
....when she gave him his clothes in prison, I thought she also gave him a knife?

Having read the book I'm interested to see the adaptation, obviously I know what's coming, it's not a happy tale, but I thought it was a good read. I've recorded it, we've had our son and girlfriend staying since Boxing Day and haven't watched any tv. Looking forward to catching up with this and Little Women

I just wanted the servant to jump in and cut the rope and save him

It was worth watching just for the accuracy of the costumes and interiors. The way the camera often allowed a character to walk through into another room and briefly turning the scene into a painting. We did have to turn the sound up and I still missed several lines which may have been crucial to the plot but on the whole I really enjoyed it. Oh, the powers of observation! When I went to fill the kettle afterwards I wondered if anyone was watching! I was really grateful that too deaths weren't drawn out and in slow motion as often happens. I felt the ending petered out rather than concluded, as if a second series would be promised.

No chance of seeing this here outside the UK unless they dub it and televise it, or it is released on DVD. However, as I found the book didn't live up to the hype, I won't be rushing out to buy the DVD.