Sanditon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of unfinished strings - hope they get a second season!! Sidney is gorgeous! But aside from the other modern plot points, is he an Austen hero to marry for money? Have to show why that doesn’t work out!

It's already been announced in the UK that there will be no second season because ratings in the UK were not good. Ratings here won't matter because it's only on PBS here -- a self-selecting small group to begin with.

I know you liked it PP but I have to say this somewhere since no one I knew bothered to watch it, unlike other costume dramas that my friends all watched....

I think it doesn't deserve a second season. The program had a few virtues (some good performances, some potentially interesting story threads) and just threw them away episode after episode.

Sidney's choice to marry for money? Out of character, out of the blue, and we were told about it--not shown it. Zero time spent on it. Lazy plotting and writing. Poor Miss Lambe's story was shabbily done overall; she had a fascinating background but was made a grimly one-note character (pining, angry) and essentially sold out to pay her boyfriend's debts; and it seemed that was all just an excuse for writing one exciting rescue scene to show us Sidney's A Hero, after which she was largely shoved out of the story. Lovely Stringer was never given enough to do despite being a potentially interesting case of a man trying to move up honorably in life. I ended up rooting for Esther and Lord B. despite the fact they and their "romance" were so thinly developed. I'm sure some fans will say that obviously Davies, the other writers and producers were expecting a second season in which to get Sidney and Charlotte together etc., but if that's the case, they were astonishingly naive for people who have done this for decades. No program is guaranteed to get a second chance.

So disappointed in Davies, who has done some terrific series in the past. I think his reputation as the king of adaptations blinded people and no one realized how patchy this was without enough source material from Austen (the UK coverage noted that only the first 30 minutes are based on her fragmentary novel, so the remaining faults are all Davies'). Yes, I did watch it all, mostly because of the acting, and the overall storyline of developing a fashionable resort, which was intriguing.

Agreed.

But I also believe more romance could have made it interesting. People want to see passion. Unfortunately, Sidney was too buttoned up. There’s a reason why Poldark was such a hit.

[Anonymous]

The ending seemed like a cliffhanger, and very un Austen like.

There was an interview with the actress who plays Charlotte, and the way she talked about the season finale didn’t leave much hope for more episodes. It looks to me like they really did intend to make it a multiple season series, but since the series wasn’t popular they’re pretending that they “meant to do that” with the finale.

Sidney definitely looked like he was having major second thoughts as she rode away the second time. That scene had “to be continued...” written all over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of unfinished strings - hope they get a second season!! Sidney is gorgeous! But aside from the other modern plot points, is he an Austen hero to marry for money? Have to show why that doesn’t work out!

It's already been announced in the UK that there will be no second season because ratings in the UK were not good. Ratings here won't matter because it's only on PBS here -- a self-selecting small group to begin with.

I know you liked it PP but I have to say this somewhere since no one I knew bothered to watch it, unlike other costume dramas that my friends all watched....

I think it doesn't deserve a second season. The program had a few virtues (some good performances, some potentially interesting story threads) and just threw them away episode after episode.

Sidney's choice to marry for money? Out of character, out of the blue, and we were told about it--not shown it. Zero time spent on it. Lazy plotting and writing. Poor Miss Lambe's story was shabbily done overall; she had a fascinating background but was made a grimly one-note character (pining, angry) and essentially sold out to pay her boyfriend's debts; and it seemed that was all just an excuse for writing one exciting rescue scene to show us Sidney's A Hero, after which she was largely shoved out of the story. Lovely Stringer was never given enough to do despite being a potentially interesting case of a man trying to move up honorably in life. I ended up rooting for Esther and Lord B. despite the fact they and their "romance" were so thinly developed. I'm sure some fans will say that obviously Davies, the other writers and producers were expecting a second season in which to get Sidney and Charlotte together etc., but if that's the case, they were astonishingly naive for people who have done this for decades. No program is guaranteed to get a second chance.

So disappointed in Davies, who has done some terrific series in the past. I think his reputation as the king of adaptations blinded people and no one realized how patchy this was without enough source material from Austen (the UK coverage noted that only the first 30 minutes are based on her fragmentary novel, so the remaining faults are all Davies'). Yes, I did watch it all, mostly because of the acting, and the overall storyline of developing a fashionable resort, which was intriguing.

Sidney had to marry Eliza to save Tom (and Mary +kids) from debtor's prison. It was that dire. Had he been the same Sidney pre-Charlotte, he would not have cared so much or been willing to take on more misery to save his family.

Anyway, I'm devastated with the end, as I have been since I saw it in October.

[Anonymous]

One of the worst shows I've seen on PBS. It seems like all the period dramas that they currently have are poorly written. Howard's end is a snoozefest and has so many overlapping dialogue from the characters, it's so distracting. I don't know how Vienna Blood made it to TV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of unfinished strings - hope they get a second season!! Sidney is gorgeous! But aside from the other modern plot points, is he an Austen hero to marry for money? Have to show why that doesn’t work out!

It's already been announced in the UK that there will be no second season because ratings in the UK were not good. Ratings here won't matter because it's only on PBS here -- a self-selecting small group to begin with.

I know you liked it PP but I have to say this somewhere since no one I knew bothered to watch it, unlike other costume dramas that my friends all watched....

I think it doesn't deserve a second season. The program had a few virtues (some good performances, some potentially interesting story threads) and just threw them away episode after episode.

Sidney's choice to marry for money? Out of character, out of the blue, and we were told about it--not shown it. Zero time spent on it. Lazy plotting and writing. Poor Miss Lambe's story was shabbily done overall; she had a fascinating background but was made a grimly one-note character (pining, angry) and essentially sold out to pay her boyfriend's debts; and it seemed that was all just an excuse for writing one exciting rescue scene to show us Sidney's A Hero, after which she was largely shoved out of the story. Lovely Stringer was never given enough to do despite being a potentially interesting case of a man trying to move up honorably in life. I ended up rooting for Esther and Lord B. despite the fact they and their "romance" were so thinly developed. I'm sure some fans will say that obviously Davies, the other writers and producers were expecting a second season in which to get Sidney and Charlotte together etc., but if that's the case, they were astonishingly naive for people who have done this for decades. No program is guaranteed to get a second chance.

So disappointed in Davies, who has done some terrific series in the past. I think his reputation as the king of adaptations blinded people and no one realized how patchy this was without enough source material from Austen (the UK coverage noted that only the first 30 minutes are based on her fragmentary novel, so the remaining faults are all Davies'). Yes, I did watch it all, mostly because of the acting, and the overall storyline of developing a fashionable resort, which was intriguing.

Sidney had to marry Eliza to save Tom (and Mary +kids) from debtor's prison. It was that dire. Had he been the same Sidney pre-Charlotte, he would not have cared so much or been willing to take on more misery to save his family.

Anyway, I'm devastated with the end, as I have been since I saw it in October.

I get that Sidney married Mrs. Snob to pay Tom's debts etc. But what the writers failed at was showing us even one iota of the thought process or the internal struggle or...anything. It was as if an episode went missing there. We got nothing, just so they could have a gasp-making revelation looking toward a second season they thought they'd get. He leaves saying he hopes to ask Charlotte That Question on his return, then just returns and boom, engaged. That "best self" Sidney became with Charlotte surely made him want to save dear, hapless Tom, true. But the plotting was so rushed and clunky.

[Anonymous]

If the US numbers are good enough, then Netflix or prime could pick it up and make a second season. I’m pretty sure that’s what happened with the Last Kingdom.

If they do another season, please make it more like the steamy first season of Outlander.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the US numbers are good enough, then Netflix or prime could pick it up and make a second season. I’m pretty sure that’s what happened with the Last Kingdom.

If they do another season, please make it more like the steamy first season of Outlander.

That'll ensure I don't tune in. "Sanditon" was already too preoccupied with incest and rutting on the drawing room floor. Not saying there was no sex back in the day, but the show was so pleased with itself for being "racy" that it didn't do things like, oh, tie up plots that got dropped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the US numbers are good enough, then Netflix or prime could pick it up and make a second season. I’m pretty sure that’s what happened with the Last Kingdom.

If they do another season, please make it more like the steamy first season of Outlander.

That'll ensure I don't tune in. "Sanditon" was already too preoccupied with incest and rutting on the drawing room floor. Not saying there was no sex back in the day, but the show was so pleased with itself for being "racy" that it didn't do things like, oh, tie up plots that got dropped.

I thought they did a good job of spicing it up a bit more than the typical Jane Austen movie. But I do agree I'd like more shows like OUtlander, with such frank and joyous sex scenes, from the women's viewpoint and pleasure. Outlander really stands on it's own in that regard.

I appreciated Sanditon. I liked that they injected the entrepreneurial shift that occurred during that time. Really highlights how marriage for the upper classes was about money - how else could you make something of yourself. The foreman's storyline, while minor in this season, could really build in future seasons. I actually hoped he was the long game love interest for Charlotte. Sydney was super delicious, but I needed to see more development from him to believe he was in love with Charlotte.

I also appreciated Ms. Lambe's character. So much spunk and force of character.

The more I think about it, the more I realize this was the prologue season, and that the writers intended the story to be more Downton Abbey in length, rather than a stand alone Jane Austen one season show.

[Anonymous]

Plus this dance scene with Sydney & Charlotte! Best one I've ever seen. Love that they smile in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp3xt9Z1zZ4

[Anonymous]

I don't see room for a second season. Once couples got engaged in that era, a legal contract was formed. It's not as if Sidney could change his mind even if he wanted to. It would be scandalous, even prison-worthy, for him to break off his engagement to Campion to marry Charlotte. Their relationship is over.

The whole thing was so un-Austenian that we were disgusted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see room for a second season. Once couples got engaged in that era, a legal contract was formed. It's not as if Sidney could change his mind even if he wanted to. It would be scandalous, even prison-worthy, for him to break off his engagement to Campion to marry Charlotte. Their relationship is over.

The whole thing was so un-Austenian that we were disgusted.

My DH said Sidney's new bride might have a tragic accident very shortly after the wedding....

Not that we'd come back to watch, though, because the show lost our good faith pretty early on. Kept watching in hopes it might improve. Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see room for a second season. Once couples got engaged in that era, a legal contract was formed. It's not as if Sidney could change his mind even if he wanted to. It would be scandalous, even prison-worthy, for him to break off his engagement to Campion to marry Charlotte. Their relationship is over.

The whole thing was so un-Austenian that we were disgusted.

My DH said Sidney's new bride might have a tragic accident very shortly after the wedding....

Not that we'd come back to watch, though, because the show lost our good faith pretty early on. Kept watching in hopes it might improve. Lesson learned.

To modern audiences, Charlotte taking him back after the death of his wife would be less of a love story. He still didn’t choose her over money.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of ways the storyline could go. Plus the writers are Austen in spirit but not following every social more of the time. Look at how Sydney & Charlotte walked alone on the cliffs-never would have happened.

Mrs. Snob could see Sydney was in love w/Charlotte and they could eventually call off the engagement mutually. Could be done deliciously over the season-lots of Sydney yearning scenes or whatever. Other investors could be found for Sanditon. The prince regent is obviously being set up to visit. I actually thought the writers did a good job setting up future seasons.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know where I can stream it? I missed a few episodes in the middle and have the last two on DVR.

[Anonymous]

Sidney had to marry Eliza to save Tom (and Mary +kids) from debtor's prison. It was that dire. Had he been the same Sidney pre-Charlotte, he would not have cared so much or been willing to take on more misery to save his family.

Anyway, I'm devastated with the end, as I have been since I saw it in October.

Wait. What? Where was this ending? Not in Season 1