The Durrells

Totally against the grain of the other reviews here I love this. I haven't read the book since school so basically I have forgotten it. That gives me the advantage of watching this as an original work (not an adaptation). And I love it, I love the characters, the actors, the direction and the cinematography. Overall it is just charming, crammed full of dry wit and it's a bit of a page turner as I can't wait for the next episode. Margo's besotted face is a delight, Leslie's imperialist stomping around with guns and suitable opaque wit is a hoot, Larry's fey artist trip just sucks you in and gets you ready for the 'Quartet', Mrs Durrell is like a real Mary Poppins and Gerry (well he, sacrilegiously, is the weak link for me, I don't really care about the animals). I usually hate this kind of family thing but with this I am a convert. So if you are not a stickler for adaptation fidelity and you want a smile on your face for an hour a week then watch this.

I really enjoyed this first season and am baffled by the bad reviews. A few people actually seem angry. This is a very charming show set in 1935 about a family who move to Corfu from England. A widowed mother with four children, all trying to grow up and find their way not only in new culture but as teenagers discovering themselves. The youngest, Gerry, is a love with his big heart for all kinds of animals, as he tries to rescue, home them, love them and learn from them. It's really a shame that some reviewers find him self centered for he is the least self centered of all the children. The island is beautiful, the characters (including the wonderful Leslie Caron) are quirky and real all at the same time. All of life comes to play in this series. I plan to watch it again and hope for a second season. It's an adventure of life, family, evolving, friendship, love and nature. A bonus for me that Gerry loves the animals and how he tends to them with so much love.

While I have some empathy to other reviewers who are disappointed this series strays from the original source materials of Gerald Durrell, I have no such concerns. I haven't read any of them. Instead, I see this as a charming, sun baked, Mediterranean-blue inspired bit of froth. The family is suitably wacky, the scenery is stunning and the script is full of good fun. Opa!

With most recent TV dramas being centred on sex, money and or violence it's good to watch a drama based on a simpler and more relaxing storyline.

Typically British and well set in a more relaxed time this is a breath of fresh air, not a zombie in sight, no over beautiful over sexed unbelievable characters looking to solve world problems.

There has been substantial criticism of this series' failure to accurately portray the source material about the Durrells. Not having read the books, I cannot use them as a comparison. So I am judging on the series itself, and comparing it to other presentations of more modern material on Masterpiece. In that light, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The actors, especially those portraying the children bring real spirit to the four quirky kids. The photography captures the brightness of Corfu, the sky and sea are brilliant blue. The countryside captures the rustic life of the 1930's. The animals add a realistic and fun realism to the family's life. Is it the best Masterpiece ever? No, because the story doesn't lend itself to high adventure and suspense. But it is an enjoyable series that kept me interested in the family's story.