I have just finished watching the first episode of this latest adaptation of William Makepeace Thackary's classic tale of fighting against the tide of traditional class prejudice in Regency England. Aside from the odd choice of a contemporary song to open proceedings, it was note-perfect. Olivia Cooke was the perfect choice to play Becky Sharp, delivering a version of the character that has never felt more right, complete with occasional knowing looks through the 4th wall. This is all the more remarkable for the fact that Olivia Cooke has not come through the traditional dramatic training for period roles, and has done a fantastic job of delivering the required 'received pronunciation' instead of her native Northern British accent. From what I've seen of her so far, she has a glittering career ahead of her.
If the rest of this series is a well made and paced as the opener, then it ought to be lauded as the finest example of the genre in quite some time.
Review of Vanity Fair
