Jahrmarkt der Eitelkeiten

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.

ITV are no slouches when it comes to the adaptation of classical novels, and I am delighted that Vanity Fair is proving to be a first class series. Thackeray's sharp wit and sometimes cynical view of human behaviour is portrayed with skill by a top class cast.

There is hardly a false step anywhere with Becky doing all she can to convince her tv audience and her companions in the Crawley household that she is the Queen of all she Surveys. She is ably assisted by a nimble cast, notably Martin Clunes as the roguish Pitt Crawley and Frances de la Tour as the irrepressible Miss Crawley. I don't know if a series as good as this needs the modern music and I am hoping ITV won't spring the BBC's favourite trick of changing the ending of the story.

Mary Gumsley

This modernised version should NOT be compared with either the movie or the other tv series version! It's completely different with both heart and soul!

I rather doubt there will be a better version.

So far Becky is a delightful little minx and Amelia is innocent and sweet, both actors playing their parts, very well!

There are so many brilliant actors, too many to mention. It's captivating, entertaining, funny and heart wrenching, can't wait to watch the rest

The author of Vanity Fair intended a novel without a hero, according to wikipedia. At first protagonist Becky Sharpe seems like a heroine - a smart, strong-willed woman aiming at success - but her flaws soon become apparent, and they are many. And most of the people she meets are either no better, or better but much dumber.

Becky is neither all bad nor all good, although her bad qualities are sometimes very, very bad. To me it seems Becky is doing her best in a society in which the only option for a woman - no matter how smart - to achieve upward mobility is through marriage, and Becky is a character who should be wheeling and dealing but instead spends her time on seduction and plotting. (I don't know if that's how she comes across in the book.)

Olivia Cooke is wonderful as Becky (she has a cheeky, sardonic quality reminiscent of Phoebe Waller-Bridge), and the rest of the cast is excellent.

Highly recommended.

Glitzy, cutting and in this day and age relevant.

The casting is superior as is the dialogue and costumes.

Whilst I adore the film, this dramatisation is giving more depth to the story. I for one cannot wait for the third part. Welcome addition to a boring Sunday night.