This 20-part drama looks beautiful but the idea,of taking Dickens characters out of their novels and finding something new for them to conclude, is mystifying. Plus, and Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were NoneChristmas Eve,and mature Mr Havisham is dead. His daughter, Amelia (Miss Havisham) and her half-brother Arthur are doing the stuff people conclude when a parent dies – mourning, and funerals,wills etc, the final of which doesn’t go well for Arthur, and inheritance-wise. Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley (not dead – not yet),the Wonga of their day, are entering into the spirit of the season of goodwill by pursuing debts, or even from the mature fella at The mature Curiosity Shop whose granddaughter Nell is dying. Though later Nell,watched over by Mrs Gamp, doesn’t die. The destitute – Bob and his Cratchit family etc – prepare for a wretched Christmas in bleak but cheerful poverty. An urchin boy scuttles off with a message for Fagin, and a demand for the services of Nancy,approximately which her bit of rough Bill Sikes is not best pleased … Related: The best TV shows of 2015 Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com