I agree. Episode 8 in particular (which is the half hour in which Lady Dedlock confesses to Esther) is probably my favorite - the scene between them is so achingly sad, partly because you can see how distraught Lady Dedlock is in her extremely repressed way - for her to break down like this after holding it all in for so long is so heartbreaking. And Esther has been so longing to discover the truth of her parentage, and now she knows, but she can never reveal it to anyone. So incredibly sad.
And on the other side, we begin to see just how monstrous Tulkinghorn is - that he would punish a man who is already beaten! I didn't think it was possible to hate Tulkinghorn any more until this episode.
That is my biggest problem - the fact that Jarndyce keeps someone who has (really, let's be honest here) NO redeeming values about him whatsoever. If he hadn't been around, then he couldn't fob money off Esther & Richard to pay off his debt collector. Similarly, he wouldn't have been within Richard's orbit so that Skimpole and Voles could prey upon poor Richard like two vultures.
I love Mr. Jarndyce and I think he's such a lovely man, but it's terribly irresponsible to put his wards at risk by exposing them to such a man! Ugh. I chalk it up to his eternal good-natured and forgiving character.
I guessed the secret from the first episode, to be honest (I'm sure it's all in the original text, which I have not yet read) - but remember we are looking at this with our modern eyes, and we are already very used to these sorts of literary conventions. Lots of Shakespearean conventions are quite conventional and predictable, but it's the "how" it happens that makes it more interesting and gripping. I knew that the two confrontations would eventually have to take place: between Lady Dedlock and Esther, and also between Lady Dedlock and Tulkinhorn, but how it came about was incredibly emotional in both instances.
Lady Dedlock's sense of failure and grief over her daughter is as palpable and stirring as is her horror at the trap that Tulkinhorn has sprung about her.
Yes, Tulkinghorn is such a villain, and I hate him increasingly with such a passioin - but he is balanced on the other side by the goodness and generosity of a man like Mr. Jarndyce. Thank goodness for that!
Excellent as always. I imagine you haven't got too many more to go in the US now? We just have one week more to wait for the dvds. I feel like I've been waiting forever! Thank you again for all your hard work.
Thank you so much - you're so sweet! You're right, there are only two more Sundays worth of episodes. Every week I tell myself to write these recaps up early, but somehow, it never happens so I end up writing these Sunday night anyway. :)
And stay tuned, as I made some icons, as well. I'm not really a graphics person, so I don't know how good they are, but I felt like the fandom needs more icons! I'll probably post them tomorrow.
Another great summary/review! Argh, I'm just mad that I totally forgot to watch it last night. Hopefully it'll be availible to DL or I'll buy it from amazon soon.
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The DVD will be out soon - you only have a couple weeks left to wait, and we should encourage BBC to release more of their programming in North America! Especially when it is THIS good. :)
You asked what exactly Tulkinghorn's motivations are in regards to Lady Dedlock - I think the answer can be found in what Tulkinghorn tells Clamb about Sargeant George:
Tulkinghorn: I choose to foreclose on the debt because I wish to do it. And because I can do it
( ... )
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I am dying to know how it all ends!!!
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And on the other side, we begin to see just how monstrous Tulkinghorn is - that he would punish a man who is already beaten! I didn't think it was possible to hate Tulkinghorn any more until this episode.
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And Skimpole, too. I can't understand why Mr. jarndyce keeps him around. I mean, he's already caused enough trouble with Ada and Esther.
Sigh. I can't wait to get the DVD. I think I'm going to preorder it on Amazon!
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I love Mr. Jarndyce and I think he's such a lovely man, but it's terribly irresponsible to put his wards at risk by exposing them to such a man! Ugh. I chalk it up to his eternal good-natured and forgiving character.
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Lady Dedlock's sense of failure and grief over her daughter is as palpable and stirring as is her horror at the trap that Tulkinhorn has sprung about her.
Yes, Tulkinghorn is such a villain, and I hate him increasingly with such a passioin - but he is balanced on the other side by the goodness and generosity of a man like Mr. Jarndyce. Thank goodness for that!
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(The comment has been removed)
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And stay tuned, as I made some icons, as well. I'm not really a graphics person, so I don't know how good they are, but I felt like the fandom needs more icons! I'll probably post them tomorrow.
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Done. :)
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(The comment has been removed)
You asked what exactly Tulkinghorn's motivations are in regards to Lady Dedlock - I think the answer can be found in what Tulkinghorn tells Clamb about Sargeant George:
Tulkinghorn: I choose to foreclose on the debt because I wish to do it. And because I can do it ( ... )
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