I miserabili

I found this excellent story telling. I also wanted to see a non musical version of a story of redemption and forgiveness story. So they cast a black man he if a good actor and did his character justice. The sadness and desperateness of the characters was well done. I will be watching all of this series. I just watched episode 2 and I am really liking this...Well done BBC......

I'm not going to say much, it's all been said by other reviewers but I have to make one comment - the reason some of them have cockney accents is to point out they were from the poorer areas of Paris, exactly the same was decided for the musical. It is often the best way to demonstrate class structure.

An excellent adaption of a masterpiece is almost ruined at the BBC's attempt to take political correctness to dizzying heights. There were most probably very few if any black people in France at this time - let alone a black policeman (a sergeant at that).

If you can filter this (major) distraction out of the film, this is not a bar adaption at all. Mesmerising in its delivery and very entertaining.

Reading the promotional interviews make it clear the writer was very unsuited for this project and has poor literary comprehension. On the continuing relevance of Les Misérables: "People are asking themselves 'how is it possible to live a good life in a world like this?'. You know, 'can we marry the ones we love, or are we going to have to settle for second best?'" Another charming quote: "I toyed with the idea of Javert having loveless sex with a 50-year old prostitute to 'clean the pipes out.'"

He seems very preoccupied with the musical and doesn't appear to realise Les Misérables is one of the most adapted works of all time, with many non-musical versions.

He gave Marius a "wet dream" not about Cosette but his neighbour the Jondrette girl, a teenage girl forced into prostitution by her father. Heartthrob material? Actor John O'Connor seems to be thinking of the dreaded musical when he says that Marius loves her as a sister.

Amusingly the more Hugo describes you as quiet and introverted, the more likely you are to begin roaring in Les Misérables (2018).

Critics have a history of getting it wrong with Les Misérables and that trend continues here. 1/10 for competent directing and some lovely shots.

Episode 1 complete, and I will definitely keep watching. Having previously been put off the story by the musical versions I was happy to see a drama available which I hope will give me a sense of the original story with which I am unfamiliar. So far the cast seems excellent and the whole thing has a big budget feel. The story is just unfolding and I hope they can keep up the quality.