The Durrells

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.

Like many others, I repeatedly devoured the books by Gerald Durrell as a child, especially the Corfu trilogy, and was very sad to discover that the author passed away in my late teens. I also read some of Larry Durrell's writing and watched a documentary "Gerald Durrell in Russia", however I did not see the 1987 TV show (nor the 2015 movie). I am not English, so the Durrellian universe was much smaller in my reality of a post-soviet CEE country; nevertheless I regard it a vital part of my growing up and it brightened many a day back then. So I was really happy when I stumbled upon the TV show on the Durrell's tonight, keen on being reunited with little Garry, mercurial Les, Larry the intellectualist, girly Margo and all the other strange, goofy and dear characters roaming the emerald Greek island . I understand that expectations are high when it comes to childhood favorite reads and after the first episode it's pretty safe to say the show did not overwhelm me either, but I really enjoyed the different perspective on the adventures and struggles of this eccentric family I feel I know almost like my own.

While in the books you watch the family story through the eyes of a young boy keen on nature, in this show it's the grown-up perspective of a mother trying to survive with 4 intense teenagers on a beautiful yet unfamiliar island with no electricity, little money and very basic language skills. It's not all blue skies, sparkling green see, dazzling sun and the perpetual summer holidays feeling the books enchant you with. But watching the show, it's easy to imagine the small and bigger dramas behind Gerald Durrell's lighthearted and funny family portrait, making it a more real and less funny account. The show seems to unravel in a somewhat bumpy and chaotic way, with some originally hilarious scenes becoming more awkward than funny and I can't help the feeling the actors are neither able to play to their full capacity nor do they seem to harmonize with each other particularly well. But slowly the familiar feeling seeps in and the moment you see young Gerry's (Milo Parker) bright eyes widen up in thrill with some odd wildlife, you know you will want to watch the next episode. As a sworn Durrell fan I wouldn't miss it!

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.

I'm almost at the end of season one and enjoying it very much. While the books are written by Gerald (Gerry), the series, so far, has gone on to expand on the lives of the entire family, and from a more adult perspective (romance!). It feels like you're getting to see more of what happened behind the scenes. Highly recommend, especially if you enjoy British TV or historical settings.

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.