The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

The show is better than the book. That's something I say rarely, but it's my honest opinion. The beginning of both book and show are breathtaking, but fall apart mid way through. After fumbling a time-jump so badly it nearly lead me to quit watching, the show writers take the pig's ear that is the 2nd half of the novel and make it look like a silk purse.

While the show's transition from young child to young adult Alice isn't particularly well done, it's far better than the book's. After the abrupt book transition to Alice as a young woman the story goes to pieces. I understand that both show and book are character-driven (if you're looking for a fast-moving suspense or action drama, don't bother with this show) but in the book the characters stop developing in any way after the time jump. The show stumbles for an episode or so then picks up the threads the book author dropped and do their best to weave both the character and plot arcs into a coherent and compelling narrative.

The soundtrack is fantastic if you like otherworldly modern indie music. The acting and scenery are very good. If you enjoy a bleak, slow-burning character study that blossoms in sparse sunlight, then this Australian drama is worth a look.

The scenery is NOT dark and dim. Someone's TV settings need adjusting. No, this was never meant to be a plot driven "action" movie so if that's want you want, skip watching it. Otherwise if a mystery down under interests you, watch this series. It's beautifully filmed. The acting is top notch. Most people who aren't Aussies won't notice Sigourney's wavering accent.

I will admit that episodes 1-3 out the 4 available at the moment were more interesting. The actress who plays young Alice is appealing and believable. Kudos to Alyla! I am unable, however to warm to the older Alice at this point and I hope that changes. All the flower designs and flowers themselves are beautiful. As wells as the beach scenes.

The strength is the acting of Sigourney Weaver as June, the head of Thornfield. Her transformation from Episode 1 to Episode 7 is truly amazing. She runs Thornfield, and it is a haven for abused women, yet misunderstood by the locals. It is a flower heaven, and in it the flowers tell a story. They are one with nature. Clem is June's son, and he married Agnes, and Alice is their daughter. After a fire, Alice comes to live at Thornfield. But June knows some terrible secrets, yet keeps them from Alice which does not serve either of them well. Alice leaves and cuts off all contact. Yet, the loss of Alice leaves a hole in the heart of June, and her stubbornness eats away at her. Episode 7 is very powerful, and ties a lot of loose ends and some of those loose ends make some of what happened earlier even more potent. Alice thinks she has found happiness far away, but that is only a mirage and she finds out how powerless she really is. There is a lot of complexity in the whole series, and in many ways that is good, as those problems may be solved in one TV episode, but in real life rarely wrapped up neatly. And both the flowers at Thornfield and the scenery throughout the episodes are truly wonderful.

I loved the series, it filled me with different emotions, good and bad, and also it filled me with an unexpected tranquility within the storm of emotions. Finally a story we can all learn from!

It is a drama, with tense and exciting moments that take you to the end of the story quite quickly, I was not bored at any time.

It also has very unexpected and epic moments.

All the actors are very good, and I've always loved S. Weaver. In this series she is wonderful, realistic, stupendous, magnificent, everything one asks for from a good actor, here you have it!

The series maintains the emotion and tension until the very end, I was sorry that it ended, that's the truth. Everything makes sense from beginning to end and the way of life of these women is something that touches my soul. The photography, the stories and meanings of the flowers, simply fascinating. Australia and its wonderful landscapes! And the fantastic houses! Wow!

The theme of the series is very important and treated with a lot of energy and respect. Best thing I've seen on the subject of abused women so far.

If you only like action series, without a theme, don't watch this one.

You see, my enthusiasm is endless. I recommend it without a doubt.

A little slow in a few places, which gets an 8 from me, but one can almost overlook that when the good stuff starts happening.

A word of warning. There are 7 episodes. As of tonight August 25, only 6 have played on Amazon Prime. Prime doesn't tell you there are 7.. If you haven't started yet I suggest you wait until the 31st and binge all 7 because number 6 is a real cliffhanger.

I was looking for something that wasn't cookie cutter detective mysteries and was hooked by Prime's description: "After losing her parents to a mysterious fire, nine-year-old Alice Hart is raised by her grandmother June on a flower farm where she learns there are secrets within secrets. But years on, an unearthed betrayal sees Alice forced to face her past."

Sounded like one of those gothic mysteries in the tradition of Du Maurier's Rebecca and Bronte's Jane Eyre. Well, it sorta is, but with modern issues.

The acting is great, the cast superb, the scenery gorgeous, and the story line disturbing, but necessary.

Sigourney Weaver plays against type in her character June Hart, a manipulative, controlling matriarch, who unsympathetically tries to hold her "family" together, often to their detriment.

I'm writing generalities. Others have been more specific.

See it.