I strongly agree that the books are better than the series. And not just for the usual reasons, such as filmed material needing to be both condensed and more visual. EG's novels are gems of characterization, with depths to her fictional people seldom seen in popular fiction. Her characters really haunt with you long after you've read each book.
As regards Nathanial Parker, he's not only physically 180 degrees different from Lynley as written (which I found really hard to get used to), he's also only got about half the man's personality to portray. I think that's as much the fault of the scriptwriters as anything else. In the books Lynley is both arrogant when crossed and charming, kind, and thoughtful in general. You can see the privileged blueblood he doesn't want to be and to which he defaults under extreme pressure, and the decent human being he wants to be and manifests most of the time.
I love Sharon Small in all her roles, and she's caught as much of Barbara Havers as, once again, these scripts allow her. Its not her fault the powers that be just couldn't bring themselves to cast an actress as homely as Havers is in the novels. That would have taken courage no networks ever have, although there are wonderful actresses who would grab a part like that and bravely run with it. I also lament the fact so much of her personal life gets ignored in favor of the storyline about Lynley and Helen. Speaking of whom, the actress who replaced the first woman to played Helen was terribly miscast.
Given they can't bother to do any better by this series I won't be too sad to see it go. If we ever do - American PBS can't seem to decide how many episodes they'll air, when they'll air them, or which one is the series finale. Which was supposed to be last Sunday night, but surprise, we've got another one next Sunday. Occording to IMDb, there are three more to air. Maybe we'll see them in summer 2008?
It seems something evil's afoot in Britain; first some nitwit cancels "Foyle's War" without even filming all the written scripts, despite high ratings and enormous popularity here in the U.S. Now Inspector Lynley hits the skids. Will no one take up Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series? There are eccentric characters aplenty if someone can just handle the screenplays correctly, and get the series nicely cast.
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Mujer_Tropical
16 years ago
Well, there goes another TV pleasure!
kinglet,I've never watched "Foyle's War", which was highly recommended by critic Matt Roush on TV Guide, so maybe I'll rent Season 1 from Netflix and see if I enjoy it. Never even read Martha Grimes. Am I missing out on something great?
The character I'd love to see come to life on the screen is Kinsey Millhone, but I believe Sue Grafton had said she'd never give permission. Too bad, as the novels are great, and the titles will have covered the alphabet by the time she writes them all. I love those books!
P.S: I didn't really mean to blast Nathaniel Parker as an actor, it's just that character is different in the novels plus, it was hard to get accustomed to his physical type. As for Havers, Ms. George has stated that she didn't want to cast Small because she was too pretty but, after watching the series, realized that she portrayed the character very well. I like Small a lot.
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trekgvh92-1
16 years ago
Nothing evil is afoot in Britain. It's quite simple, really: here in the US we don't cancel TV shows because the government can't tax us until blood trickles from a stone to pay for the production of TV shows.
And we don't pay the government for the privilege of owning a TV, either.
The BBC isn't getting any increase in their budget, so something has to give.
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Brennan-8
16 years ago
That's what I've read anyway, and I can believe it. Their programmes are in demand throughout the world.
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beat
16 years ago
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Speaking of whom, the actress who replaced the first woman to played Helen was terribly miscast
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i completely agree, she had so little to do with the helen we got to know in the beginning... really strange.
i watched the last episode on dvd yesterday, and it was clear this show was axed quite surprisingly, because so many questions were left open - it wasn't a proper ending, and i was left terribly unsatisfied.
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kinglet
12 years ago
To update: "Foyle's War" was killed off by one person, Simon Shaps. This despite the fact it was popular and profitable. It was not broadcast by the BBC, but by ITV, a commercial public broadcaster (and the oldest in Britain). Its fifteen regional franchises are currently owned by three companies. This decision was one man's folly and he was replaced not long after.
ITV must have found some change under the sofa cushions because Anthony Horowitz, the show's creator, is helming three new episodes of "Foyle's War" in Ireland this year (2012). Reportedly each is to be 2 hours long, so essentially these are TV movies. Set after WW II they take Christopher Foyle into Cold War doings. Can't wait to see these, and I hope they lead to more.
I'd gladly pay a tax to fund public broadcasting. No more begging weeks on end multiple times a year, and no fat cat donors to tip-toe around regarding programming topics, especially Big Oil. I'm already paying for home entertainment three times; for a TV, a delivery system (cable), and whatever programming I pay additionally for as dispensed by the monopolistic cable company. One more fee to liberate PBS would be fine by me.
Here in the U.S. shows get canceled abruptly all the time, both new shows and long-running ones. Except in rare instances when a lead actor dies, it's always about money, which is what the ratings really mean. The lack of resolution for favorite shows due to the chopping block is one of the common gripes you can read right here on IMDb.
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ClaireHarriet
16 years ago
I think you really hit the nail on the head with this, I totally agree:
<snip> As regards Nathanial Parker, he's not only physically 180 degrees different from Lynley as written (which I found really hard to get used to), he's also only got about half the man's personality to portray. I think that's as much the fault of the scriptwriters as anything else. In the books Lynley is both arrogant when crossed and charming, kind, and thoughtful in general. You can see the privileged blueblood he doesn't want to be and to which he defaults under extreme pressure, and the decent human being he wants to be and manifests most of the time. <snip>
I read the books first and admittedly "fell in love" with the character of Lynley (same thing happened when I read Dorothy L. Sayers's Wimsey books as a teenager). I SO MUCH wanted to love the tv-series too (unfortunately haven't been able to see most of the episodes). But I just can't get over the fact that Parker's Lynley doesn't resemble Elizabeth George's Lynley at all, physically or otherwise. Tommy's looks (tall, blonde, aristocratic) are mentioned in the books frequently (I always imagined him as a sort of tall Peter Wimsey) and for a reason.
When I saw this series for the first time, I remember saying to myself: "Oh no, they didn't give us Earl of Asherton, Nate Parker looks more like a working class boxer!"
I'm not totally superficial, I would look beyond the pretty face IF the "soul" of the character was there. But it just is not! Blonde hair, black hair, who cares if the character is still the same.
Totally, totally miscast!
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ryanoconnor-1
15 years ago
Elizabeth George has written one or two new novels since the series stopped filming so why don't they film these?
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deforest-1
11 years ago
I'm here in New Zealand and also having trouble figuring out which is the last episode in the last series. I'm assuming it's the one just aired on the "UKTV" oldies channel here, where the second Helen ridiculously stands in front of a Serb mass murderer protecting him -- and all the police stand around flat-footed allowing her to do so, including husband Lynley. She's shot dead of course, and unlike all the emotional catharsis Lynley went through with their marital troubles, he seems almost relieved, at least resigned at the end.
Your networks in the States must be missing out on most of the best British dramas and comedies as there seems to be a very strong culture in Britain of "suspension of disbelief" where plainer-than-plain lead actors are supposed to be believed as romantic attractions. On the other hand, ordinary people do have relationships and can relate to viewing this -- unlike America where, unless playing a lowlife or a character role, you have to be drop-dead gorgeous to appear on screen, even in something as realistic and well-done as 'NYPD Blue' and 'Third Watch' (especially), in which the younger officers and recruits look like a parade of supermodels and male models.
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SkiesAreBlue
11 years ago
I haven't seen the series but read the books. Helen dies in a different way but I think it is because it would be difficult to portray the actual story to TV so the producers/writers had to come up with a different angle.
BlueSkies
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lawrenceconwayvulcan
8 years ago
British TV is governed by an number of factors. The first is what is called a public service where broadcasters have to show programmes that have an educational element to them though in the last decade this has decreased to a basic level on the BBC and to nothing on commerical channels. The commerical channels are governed by the need to attract an audience that have money to spend on the goods that are advertised during the ad breaks, so if Downton ( a programme I have never watched an episode of) Abbey had flopped in the UK then it would not lasted as long as it has. Then comes the personal views of who make the choice of what is made, the most famous case of this is when Micheal Grade tried to axe Doctor Who because of his disdain of science fiction and the same happened to Inspector Lynley Myseries along with Dalziel and Pascoe were axed by Peter Fincham who seemed to have a phobia about cop shows sadly there is no chance of Dalziel and Pascoe returning with the same actors since Warren Clarke's death however Lynley and Havers could return if anyone in a postion of power wanted to.
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