MovieChat Forums > The Casual Vacancy (2015) Discussion > My request to the BBC/JK Rowling

My request to the BBC/JK Rowling

posted 9 years ago by ktotheoc-1
7 replies | jump to latest

This is a magnificent book - one of my favourite books. It's fantastically realistic, horrifying, and truly tragic. Iv read it so many times and find something different every time.

What I want to request re: this series is this - please please please PLEASE, BBC, don't fuc it up. They've already p!$$ed me off somewhat by casting the relatively svelte Michael Gambon as the "extravagantly obese" Howard, and the beautiful and eloquent Keeley Hawes as the tarty-dressing, saggy-breasted Samantha Mollison.
Seriously, please please don't let this series get sucked into the pile of dramas that started out as incredible stories, and got so changed beyond recognition that by the end you've got Hollyoaks-esque beauties playing drug addict scallies, whole storylines and subplots are dropped, and the whole thing just ends up getting a 5.2 on IMDB.

I seriously hope this lives up to expectations and manages to carry across the tension from the book - from the simmering resentment, middle-class desperation and casual racism..... to those nerve-wracking "OHHHH SH!T!!!" moments at any dinner, meeting or party where feelings build up, tension is practically crackling, and you just KNOW sh!t is gonna get real at any given moment.

Iv been waiting for a tv/film adaptation for so long now. Please BBC, please don't cock it up.

"A day without laughter is a day wasted" - Charlie Chaplin

[–] sirjeremy 9 years ago

I really dislike that the ending's changed - I agree that the adaptation needs to be tragic and dark - and now wonder if the writer hasn't done more 'cleaning up' of J.K.R's wonderful book. We'll see tomorrow.

I also agree that the Gambon casting is dubious (but I know he's wearing a prosthetic belly) and I'd have preferred a different actress as Samantha, someone not quite so attractive.

[–] NomadicWriter 9 years ago

I really dislike that the ending's changed - I agree that the adaptation needs to be tragic and dark - and now wonder if the writer hasn't done more 'cleaning up' of J.K.R's wonderful book.

The ending was changed with J.K. Rowling's blessing though. She seems to be quite satisfied with how the adaptation was handled.

As for me, I really enjoyed tonight's opening episode. Tough, uncompromising and a gripping bit of telly.

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[–] eglaisher 9 years ago

It's been a while since I read it so fortunately I won't be comparing every moment with the book. Of course there will be differences. But I loved the first episode.

[–] lynxx55 7 years ago

Ep 1 is easily rated at 8, but the other two episodes certainly don't match in intensity.

[–] Craig09111990 9 years ago

I'm a bit worried about how the ending is going to be changed, but so far this has been a rather faithful adaptation of the book. I was surprised to see Barry getting some extra scenes at the start, but maybe they did that to expand the adaptation. But it gave a bit of extra depth to the cast.

[–] Prelude-in-C-maj 9 years ago

They fcked it up. 

[–] lynxx55 7 years ago

Yes, they did. The biggest mistake was killing off Rory Kinnear.