This production made me want to read the book if only to see what they really messed up. It's not a bad production, but I was definitely ready for it to end after four episodes. There were times when events seemed too episodic and unfinished. I never felt I got to know the first Mrs. Wilcox enough to believe her friendship with Meg would lead to her wanting Meg to have Howard's End. I had the same feeling with Mr. Wilcox's children. They all seemed like bitchy, spoiled brats. Paul, who was all cowed and weak leaves for Africa in episode one and doesn't return until the final episode where he behaves like a bitchy, spoiled brat. It's never really made clear WHY the children don't want Meg to have Howard's End because none of them want it and there isn't enough of a devotion to their mother shown to indicate it's her memory or something they don't want sullied.
With regard to the Schlegels, another reviewer compared them to the Gilmore Girls, which is hilarious and pretty accurate. The hyperactive non-stop, overlapping chatter was extremely grating. Helen, as a character, was extremely grating. Her interest in Mr. Bast came across very much like an A. D. D. Child playing with a shiny object. And any romantic chemistry between them was non-existent. Mr. Bast was pasty and bland. There was zero spark in him to justify a liaison. And it's a sad commentary on the performance that when, at the end, Mr. Bast is crushed by the bookcase, I was far more upset about the damage to all those beautiful books than I was about any injury to him. And casting a black woman as his wife, aside from the anachronism of it, added a racial element that is not in the original work. He's attracted to the rich, vivacious white woman and wants to discard his black slatternly wife. Rosalind Eleazar did a fine job in the performance, but the original intent of "colorblind casting" was not to just plonk whomever into a role regardless of historical accuracy. It was to make people think twice about casting white actors in supporting roles where race was a non-issue in modern productions: i.e. The local doctor, the businessman, the veterinarian, etc. Could be a man or woman of color. Mrs. Bast being black may seem progressive, but it denies the genuine struggles and suffering that took place in that era. I'm also annoyed that the script didn't wrap up what happened to Mrs. Bast. Or Tibby for that matter. Unnecessary loose threads after four hours.
Anyway, in spite of all these things, the actors (Mr. Bast excepted) all gave great performances, injecting their roles with energy even if the script let them down in terms of character depth. Hayley Atwell as Meg can certainly carry a show. I found her likeable, engaging and very interesting to watch. Matthew Macfadyen is always good. Alex Lawther as Tibby was also funny. The production is beautifully filmed and was gorgeous to watch. This may not be the best adaptation of Howard's End, but it's certainly not the worst. It's worth watching and enjoying, but it's not something I'd want to own and/or watch again.
With regard to the Schlegels, another reviewer compared them to the Gilmore Girls, which is hilarious and pretty accurate. The hyperactive non-stop, overlapping chatter was extremely grating. Helen, as a character, was extremely grating. Her interest in Mr. Bast came across very much like an A. D. D. Child playing with a shiny object. And any romantic chemistry between them was non-existent. Mr. Bast was pasty and bland. There was zero spark in him to justify a liaison. And it's a sad commentary on the performance that when, at the end, Mr. Bast is crushed by the bookcase, I was far more upset about the damage to all those beautiful books than I was about any injury to him. And casting a black woman as his wife, aside from the anachronism of it, added a racial element that is not in the original work. He's attracted to the rich, vivacious white woman and wants to discard his black slatternly wife. Rosalind Eleazar did a fine job in the performance, but the original intent of "colorblind casting" was not to just plonk whomever into a role regardless of historical accuracy. It was to make people think twice about casting white actors in supporting roles where race was a non-issue in modern productions: i.e. The local doctor, the businessman, the veterinarian, etc. Could be a man or woman of color. Mrs. Bast being black may seem progressive, but it denies the genuine struggles and suffering that took place in that era. I'm also annoyed that the script didn't wrap up what happened to Mrs. Bast. Or Tibby for that matter. Unnecessary loose threads after four hours.
Anyway, in spite of all these things, the actors (Mr. Bast excepted) all gave great performances, injecting their roles with energy even if the script let them down in terms of character depth. Hayley Atwell as Meg can certainly carry a show. I found her likeable, engaging and very interesting to watch. Matthew Macfadyen is always good. Alex Lawther as Tibby was also funny. The production is beautifully filmed and was gorgeous to watch. This may not be the best adaptation of Howard's End, but it's certainly not the worst. It's worth watching and enjoying, but it's not something I'd want to own and/or watch again.