I quite enjoyed it actually, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. You can see the transitions in bbc drama in the past ten years, we have qone from quite tame to more flamboyant. I would like to see how acurately they keep to the original story.
I liked it, it was good entertainment.
I wasnt really expecting it to be accurate and I think it lived up to my expectations, although I agree with the review in the guardian who said it was a bit carry on (but in a good way).
Having enjoyed "Casualty 1909" I was hoping to see another quality costume drama from the BBC. I watched "Desperate Romantics" and it left me feeling confused and disappointed. I felt the acting was way over the top and I didn't care for any of the actors - the one who played Rossetti really irritated me! The John Ruskin character was the only one I felt was believable. I will continue to watch it but so far I'm not impressed.
shareI really enjoyed it more than I expected. I don't care if it's reasonably camp and 'carry on' because that style works quite well with this show.
We shall see if it goes down hill, but as far as first impressions go I thought it was quite good and an enjoyable programme. Especially since there's usually not a lot on tv on Tuesday nights.
Very disappointed. Camped up and inaccurate. The story of the PRB is compelling enough without turning it into 'Carry On Painting.' What a pity the BBC have never released on DVD the 1970s series 'The Love School' which was a much better retelling of the Pre-Raphaelite's story.
shareI just wanted to point out, for argument's sake, that in the press release it was stated that this series was not neccessarily written as historically accurate. Much like the BBC's "Tudors".
First impressions? I really liked it, i think it's camp humour (esp. the aftermath of Hunt losing his virginity) is in a similar vein to the BBC's Casanova (starring David Tennant), and i think that makes for great TV. A light-hearted programme that doesn't use too many brain cells; it's Tuesday evening, you've survived Monday and Tuesday at work, it's nearly midweek, and you just want to unwind before you can start looking forward to the weekend again. Perfect for a Tuesday night in.
And Aidan Turner, Rafe Spall and Ian Puleston-Davies (Lizzie's Dad) were all looking stunning in their 19th Century get up :0)
'I just wanted to point out, for argument's sake, that in the press release it was stated that this series was not neccessarily written as historically accurate. Much like the BBC's "Tudors". '
I would have preferred it if they had been more accurate, though. I don't know, maybe its just me, but I often feel an 'accurate' story has more punch, it uses real feelings - you can tell when a story has been 'sexed up' to fit someone else's storyline. Also, I did feel some scenes were a bit gratuitous, especially Ruskin's.
But, on the other hand, no-one's made a drama about the PRB for ages, if ever. It has a sense of humour, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and it does highlight some of the most interesting British art that usually gets ignored as twee and irrelevant.
Totally loved it
It was exactly as I expected too; a little Plunkett and MacLeane modernism, Casanova naughtiness, authentic looking settings, beautiful costumes , funny, irreverent and bloody great art to boot.
So it's not true to the real stories. What is ?? This is not a documentary. It's entertainment.
And as for Aidan Turner..... I could do all manner of bad things to him.
Several times over, and for a very very long time.
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It looked like it was made by a trendy English teacher who puts on productions of MacBeth in Da hood to get down with the kids.
shareIt looked like it was made by a trendy English teacher who puts on productions of MacBeth in Da hood to get down with the kids.
No it didn't. It looked like it was made by a group of people who knew how outrageously the key players in the PRB behaved and who were able to represent it in a way which made it interesting, amusing, and entertaining to the majority of the audience.
Sex, drugs, and art are not the preserve of the ghetto nor were they invented in the 1960s.
Agreed with you 110%. I thought all the players, some of whom I had never seen in key rôles, were very watchable. I rather watch somewhat "inaccurate" shows of interesting real historical figures than predictable contemporary crap. Bravo. And encore. BTW - I like Aidan Turner, though I think he was scenery chewing a bit ;-)
shareLoved it. I happened to stumble across the first episode while I was in London for a few days and I was actually hooked right away! a pity I'll have to wait for the series to come to Norway, or else I must find some place to see it on the internet. I need to know what happens next!
~I Don't care if you don't want me, I'm your's, I'm your's... right now~
I loved it, it was way better than I thought it would be! I LOVE the music, trying to find out who composed and whether there'll b a soundtrack!! :)
shareTropical Smoothie -
Amazon.co.uk are taking pre-orders for the DVD.
It's released on September 21.
Good buy if you have a region free DVD player.
The production deserves to be seen at is best.
Although I did not expect to like it, I did. It was rather funny, interesting, generally well-acted and different from a lot of TV now as it was a historical-set programme unlike the oh so modern tripe like Doctor Who. It had a few inaccuracies but was good entertainment and did stick to the general history of the characters. And now I miss it; I hope it gets another season.
"Namu-myoho-renge-kyo"
Rather funny? - Very funny in places. I do enjoy proper historical things but this was a refreshing change. Just loved the fact it was so tongue in cheek. I thought the last episode had gone all serious with Lizzie's death and Rossetti looked one down from throwing himself in the grave after her.....but then...poems.....they go dig them up again....had me creased up with laughter that did....
(Historical Men Behaving Badly for the noughties)
I absolutely loved this series. The PRB is one of my favorite art movements (especially the works of Rossetti & Millais (his early work)). The timeline is out of whack and it's full of inaccuracies....but it's entertainment. Would have like to have seen William Michael in place of the fictional (and quite annoying) Fred character.
I'm just sad the series is finished. I guess a visit to the Tate is in order. :)
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I discovered the existence of the show by browsing a site which posts pictures of costumes reused in diverse period pieces. I immediately went "WHAT!!! they've made a fiction piece about the Pre-Raphaelites and I didn't know???" I am now watching ep. 4 and I love it. First of all, because I'm very easily convinced as long as there are costumes. Second, because I find the casting and performance of the key characters flawless. I was not at all convinced by Aidan Turner's vampire in Being Human, and it's nice to see him in something different (I find him much better at being talkative, witty and boisterous than stern, depressed and tortured). My only minor gripe with the show so far is Edward Burne-Jones is not a main character, and he's my favorite painter at the time. But I guess a story involving Burne-Jones and Morris would be a different tale, possibly an entirely different series. Still, since they weren't going for historical accuracy, I wish they'd taken more liberties so as to include more of those two characters.
edit: there's been a wonderful exhibit at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris entitled "Beauty, Morals and Voluptuousness in the England of Oscar Wilde", gathering many different things, from paintings to costumes to interior decoration, giving a rather stunningly profuse image of the Aesthetic Movement from the 1860s to the last years of the 19th century; several works by Rossetti and Burne-Jones featured prominently, alongside Morris, Whistler etc... Don't know if any of you have had a chance to visit, but it was really wonderful.
=254&cHash=0f172b1fea"]http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/events/ex hibitions/in-the-musee-dorsay/ex hibitions-in-the-musee-dorsay-more/article/beaute-morale-et-volupte-28 910.html?tx_ttnews[backPid]=254&cHash=0f172b1fea
"Occasionally I'm callous and strange."