cathyannemoore-66196

I watched and enjoyed this series of dramas when it was first broadcast and again now over twenty years later. Watching the second time had the added interest of seeing and realising just how good the cast were then and how most of them have gone on to appear regularly in our screens and are still acting now. Sarah Lancashire, John Sim, Philip Glenister, Lee Ingleby to name but a few. It also is a reminder of the fashions, cars and homes twenty years ago, it is a good period piece. The stories are largely believable and quite a lot of them are left open ended which doesn't detract from how compelling this series is to watch.

Why would any actor or actress sign up for this dreary piece of film making? Surprisingly a cast of very talented actors did. I wonder what they think of this film in hindsight?

I must admit to nodding off a few times and having to rewind. I really do not get the plot. It took me about 20 minutes into the film to work out the relationships between the characters. Still don't get how Helena Bonham Carter's character was supposed to be related? The sound quality is poor. The scenery would have been lovely with better film quality. I have nothing good to say about this film. Rather a waste of my time.

I have scored this series 10. This despite the fact that I think Gina McKee was either miscast or misdirected as Irene. As other reviewers have said her performance is not convincing of a beautiful alluring woman. Many of the women in the cast are far more vivacious and no less attractive than she is. Especially in the second series McKee looks and behaves more like the elderly Forsyte aunts. So even though Irene is the central character there is more than enough in the rest of the production to compensate for her overall dull performance.

The costumes, especially Fleur's, are exquisite as if no expense spared. The interior Victorian and Edwardian sets are beautiful. I loved the countryside filming locations and was not surprised to find out they include Cheshire my home county.