[7.0/10] I don’t have as much to say about this one. It’s largely fine, dutifully working its way through the story beats and the iconic moments. The changes and compression are all defensible given the miniseries format. What it aims to do, it does perfectly fine.
But I still can't help but feel like this is the CW version of Tess of the d’Urbervilles, one that's simplified for a teenage audience and missing the layers of the original novel. Everything has the sense of artifice to it, and I’m not sure if it’s the style of acting or the swelling music or just the overall tone. But these never feel like real people in live moments that we and they become lost in to me. Instead, I just feel like I’m at a play watching little scenes with actors putting on a performance. Of course, that's what’s happening (more or less), but the performance aspect of it is conspicuous enough that it’s hard to connect with the characters.
And I don’t know, there’s just a certain gravity missing here. The interlude at the dairy farm is the happiest part of the book, and I do think this episode vindicates that. But there’s also a charge, a little spoken, almost forbidden passion between Tess and Angel, that I simply didn’t get here.
Against all odds, I actually like Eddie Redmayne here, as he evinces a certain scruffy charm that gives him a winning quality. But Gemma Arterton’s Tess has reverted to seeming like too much to me. And their dalliance feels like a silly teenage romance more so than the profound spiritual connection of the novel. Even in a mini-series, there’s only so much real estate, but I wish we had more time with the two of them together beyond the nuts and bolts of marriage and secrets. Seeing them come together and feel for one another was always a delight, and often moving, and the famed water-crossing is really the only place where it comes through loud and clear.
Otherwise, the changes don’t really bother me. It’s kind of funny that they bring Alec to Angel’s hometown so that the two suitors can lock eyes. Angel constantly planning for Brazil is a bit of a change from the novel, but one that helps seed his destination. And Tess wanting to be a schoolteacher feels a little random, but gives her a dream denied.
My one significant complaint is that I don’t really sense the camaraderie among the dairy maids. There’s some friendship there to be sure, but one of the best parts of the novel was the sense of mutual understanding and bond that emerged among the young women. Here, they seem much more like rivals than allies, but I guess we’ll give that one space to breathe.
I don’t know. Unlike the first episode, the changes made don’t feel as drastic, and don’t either impress me or bother me. This is a solid enough rendition of the story beats, and some of the performances are quality. (Marian and Reverend Clare do particularly well.) There’s just some of the magic, and more importantly, the depth missing from this telling of the tale that leaves me cold.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2024-04-26T05:26:55Z
[7.0/10] I don’t have as much to say about this one. It’s largely fine, dutifully working its way through the story beats and the iconic moments. The changes and compression are all defensible given the miniseries format. What it aims to do, it does perfectly fine.
But I still can't help but feel like this is the CW version of Tess of the d’Urbervilles, one that's simplified for a teenage audience and missing the layers of the original novel. Everything has the sense of artifice to it, and I’m not sure if it’s the style of acting or the swelling music or just the overall tone. But these never feel like real people in live moments that we and they become lost in to me. Instead, I just feel like I’m at a play watching little scenes with actors putting on a performance. Of course, that's what’s happening (more or less), but the performance aspect of it is conspicuous enough that it’s hard to connect with the characters.
And I don’t know, there’s just a certain gravity missing here. The interlude at the dairy farm is the happiest part of the book, and I do think this episode vindicates that. But there’s also a charge, a little spoken, almost forbidden passion between Tess and Angel, that I simply didn’t get here.
Against all odds, I actually like Eddie Redmayne here, as he evinces a certain scruffy charm that gives him a winning quality. But Gemma Arterton’s Tess has reverted to seeming like too much to me. And their dalliance feels like a silly teenage romance more so than the profound spiritual connection of the novel. Even in a mini-series, there’s only so much real estate, but I wish we had more time with the two of them together beyond the nuts and bolts of marriage and secrets. Seeing them come together and feel for one another was always a delight, and often moving, and the famed water-crossing is really the only place where it comes through loud and clear.
Otherwise, the changes don’t really bother me. It’s kind of funny that they bring Alec to Angel’s hometown so that the two suitors can lock eyes. Angel constantly planning for Brazil is a bit of a change from the novel, but one that helps seed his destination. And Tess wanting to be a schoolteacher feels a little random, but gives her a dream denied.
My one significant complaint is that I don’t really sense the camaraderie among the dairy maids. There’s some friendship there to be sure, but one of the best parts of the novel was the sense of mutual understanding and bond that emerged among the young women. Here, they seem much more like rivals than allies, but I guess we’ll give that one space to breathe.
I don’t know. Unlike the first episode, the changes made don’t feel as drastic, and don’t either impress me or bother me. This is a solid enough rendition of the story beats, and some of the performances are quality. (Marian and Reverend Clare do particularly well.) There’s just some of the magic, and more importantly, the depth missing from this telling of the tale that leaves me cold.