@beeryusa
I though Marc Warren was perfect as the sneaky, sinister Gentleman---even thought he acted like a typical gentleman, there was always something lurking underneath the surface of the character you never quite trusted, especially as he gradually started to show who he really was,and what he was about. I didn't like the fact that the fate of both Lady Pole's and Stephen Black's characters were left hanging at the end---I would have liked to have seen both of them given decent endings----especially since they were both being used and manipulated by the Gentlemen for his own ends. Since both of them played such large parts in the plot throughout the series, I thought their story arcs deserved better than to be just left up in the air.
I also thought Stephen Black's character (Ariyan Bakare) was intriguing simply because I've seen hardly any British shows or films (other than the film BELLE) that even deal remotely with the fact that Britain had slavery at one time (even though they did end it at least 28 years before the U.S. did----it was still legal at the time JS&MN is set in.) It was nice to see the series dealing with the life of a black man in 19th century Britain for a change---that made show even more interesting (and fun) for me to watch. That part where the Gentleman shows Stephen his origins on a slave ship was remarkable and eye-opening in itself. Not something you would usually see in a fantasy-based series about magicians, of all things. I also didn't see anything wrong with Marsan being cast as Norrell---he was actually fine in the part, and made what would have normally been a typical stuck-up, arrogant,unlikeable,insufferable 19th century English character more likable and human. (I'm American, so that's what I saw him as,lol. I also felt like he could have at least thanked Childermass for saving his life (considering hat he almost got killed because of it) but he didn't even tell him that.)
Also, what was the deal with the character of Lascelles? Why was he hating on Childermass so hard, and to what end was he trying to control Norrell? He obviously had some kind of vested interest in pitting Strange and Norrell against each other, but for what purpose? That's what I couldn't quite figure out. Also how come we don't see all that much of the Raven King, whose resurgence is supposed to be the end game for all English magic? He gets this big buildup as a mysterious, unknown character throughout the latter half of the series, yet only does a cameo appearance? I mean, come on. I also like Vinuculus, the crazy, eccentric stranger/prophet dude who told Strange,Norrell, and Black about their destinies---He was a trip unto himself,and just plain fun to watch because he was so insane, but sane enough to know what was happening around him.
That all being said, I enjoyed the heck out of this series---it was a truly magical experience in itself. I have to admit, I wanted to see the Stranges reunited, and find out what happened to both him and Norrell---that's the only parts of the show I didn't like,which made the ending pretty bleak for me.
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beeryusa
8 years ago
I don't think Britain ever allowed slavery within the British Isles - not since the Vikings ruled Northumbria anyway. Britain allowed it in the colonies, but I don't think it was ever allowed in England. There may have been no official law against it, but the church did not look kindly on it and historian John Gillingham opined that from about 1200 slavery in the British Isles was non-existent. However, there was no specific law against it until Somersett's case in 1772 held that no slave could be forcibly removed from Britain. This case was generally taken at the time to have decided that the condition of slavery did not exist under English law.
The Raven King appeared even less in the book, as I recall. I think I mentioned earlier that I didn't like his portrayal in the series at all. In the books, he's a very subdued character - not at all the flamboyant character he seems in the show.
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