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[Qvoth]

Tbh from the title I expected the 2 characters to be like buddy buddies and all that, but seems like they'll be enemies instead? Cool

 

[Currygan]

Tbh from the title I expected the 2 characters to be like buddy buddies and all that, but seems like they'll be enemies instead? Cool

heh

 

[kess]

If it's anything like the book, will it take nearly half the show to get past all the useless exposition and petty intrigue?

 

[subrock]

Been a while since I read the book but it seemed like they

Spoiler

jumped the first few hundred pages with episode 1

 

[arkon]

The review / recap in The Guardian made humorous mention of his accent:



I asked a friend from the U.K. if he understood the reference to Geoffrey Boycott, and he said he didn't, but that it was probably a famous cricketer because apparently that's a Yorkshire thing? Anyway, he was right.

He's a retired cricketer who now works as a commentator. Can be very forthright and often controversial. When you talk about strong Yorkshire accents he's usually amongst the names mentioned, especially in the public broadcast sphere.

 

[Kyleripman]

If it's anything like the book, will it take nearly half the show to get past all the useless exposition and petty intrigue?

The pettiness of the characters' actions is precisely why they're so hilarious, though! Mr. Norrell, for example, is a book hoarder. It's a very petty thing that basically defines who he is.

I do expect some of the exposition to be reduced or altered (esp. in regards to footnotes, references to Aureate magicians, etc.), but I would never call it useless. Everything in that book is so expertly crafted to create the illusion of an actual historical backdrop to what's happening in the story.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

The book is really painstakingly crafted to appear like a novel from the period. While that can make it seem tedious it's also a big part of the appeal for literature nerds.

I think that a TV show could only really appear like a period drama with some weird stuff happening.

 

[berzeli]

I've updated the spoiler policy since some weren't happy with it, if you're still not happy with it PM me so the thread doesn't get clogged up with it.
---------
Den of Geek did an interesting interview with Peter Harness, it is vaguely spoiler-y if you want to avoid such things.

For fans of the book who might be nervous of this adaptation, how would you sell it to them?

I would say just watch it for an hour! You might not like it, but I think after the first hour you might decide we’re on course to not totally destroy the book. We all love the book and we all know it back to front. The book itself was always put out in any meetings we had like a totem. It came with us to the BBC when we got the green light, it was always sitting on set behind the monitors, and so we’ve treated it with a great deal of reverence. We’ve tried to make it work as well as a TV series as it does as a book. Obviously there are things you’ll miss if you’re a big fan of the book, but you can just go back and read it. Part of what we wanted to do was send people in the direction of the book anyway.
...
You’ve mentioned Susanna Clarke a couple of times now, how involved was she in the adaptation?

She wasn’t very involved with the process of adapting it. We sent her a nice letter when we started, from me, Toby, and Nick the producer, and she sent a very nice one back warning us not to get involved with magicians basically. She was quite firm on that actually! She didn’t think anyone should get involved with Mr Strange & Mr Norrell because they’re so very vain and selfish (laughs), and there have been times when they’ve been awful. But from that we knew she was supportive and not long before we started shooting she read the scripts and we went out and had a very nice dinner with her before we decamped up to Leeds, and I think she’s been delighted with it. She became a fairly regular presence on set, and when they were shooting the York Minster sequence I came over with my wife and we all had a very fun few days wandering around the Minster watching everyone else work very hard, and feeling very relaxed about it!

---------
Episode 2 airs tonight

How is Lady Pole?

Spoiler

Mr Norrell takes on Jonathan Strange as his apprentice. However, it soon becomes clear that the pupil outshines the master. And something is clearly very wrong with the resurrected Lady Pole.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

I enjoyed it.

It was interesting to see Strange's natural affinity for magic and the impact it's having on Norrell. Also, the other fantasy world we see was kinda neat and a lot darker than I expected.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

Yeah, it is pretty cool how strange is naturally gifted while norrell has to study. The sand horses were in the trailer but they were even more interesting here.

 

[gunstarhero]

Holy shit - this is one of my favorite books of all time. I need this to be good! (sucks to wait till June 17)

 

[Z..]

I didn't know about this... loved the book way back in the day, gotta give this a go!

 

[Chiaroscuro]

I didn't know about this... loved the book way back in the day, gotta give this a go!

Me too. I have read it back in 1998 or something, tine for a re-read.

 

[Kathian]

Episode 2 was really great.

 

[ngower]

I tried reading the book but the early sections (first two hundred pages or so) were mind-numbingly boring. Do these early episodes just ignore a bunch of it and jump straight into the action?

 

[Deleted member 1235]

oh man what a super nice surprise. book was a hard read, but I'm glad I did it.

 

[gryvan]

Yay a thread about it!!

So episode 1 I got extremely confused between the 2 Jonathans...I didn't know who was Segundo and who was strange until episode 2 clarified it for me.

So far the show is amazing at every point

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

Me too. I have read it back in 1998 or something, tine for a re-read.

It was published in 2004. Are you a time traveller?

I tried reading the book but the early sections (first two hundred pages or so) were mind-numbingly boring. Do these early episodes just ignore a bunch of it and jump straight into the action?

Essentially, yes. But the first episode was pretty dull. Also, it naturally won't include the footnotes which pad out the book.

 

[Chiaroscuro]

It was published in 2004. Are you a time traveller?
.

So it was 2004 them. I remember reading it in a long trip to Germany, which it did 3 times (1998, 2001 and 2004). Obviously I did not bother to go to the bookshelf and check the publishing date

 

[Haly]

How have I not heard about this until now?

HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPE

 

[Gothos]

Episode one was good, episode 2 was fucking great.

 

[a secret-boss]

Yo that beach scene though

Episode two was great

 

[Chopper]

This show is fucking crazy.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

So far the thing that I like most about this is how Norrell is performed. Just his facial expression and wig are enough to bring him more to life than I remember from the book.

 

[Ophelion]

The way that poncy aristo rolls his R's whenever he says, "Mister Norrrrrrrrrell!" makes me want to repeatedly punch him in the mouth in just the perfect way for that character. Kudos to the actor for making me hate his face so much.

 

[Mumei]

The way that poncy aristo rolls his R's whenever he says, "Mister Norrrrrrrrrell!" makes me want to repeatedly punch him in the mouth in just the perfect way for that character. Kudos to the actor for making me hate his face so much.

Yes! It's so bad, and yet so good. I loved the second episode, and as others have said it's especially interesting to see the contrast between Strange and - ahem - "Mister Norrrrrrrrrell!"

 

[Chopper]

The way that poncy aristo rolls his R's whenever he says, "Mister Norrrrrrrrrell!" makes me want to repeatedly punch him in the mouth in just the perfect way for that character. Kudos to the actor for making me hate his face so much.

Every time I look at him, I can't get that episode of The Office out of my head.

 

[Hazanko]

I'd like to watch but bbc iplayer doesn't work on ps4 anymore for some reason.

 

[Crispy75]

Never read the book, and these days a doorstop like that would sit unread on my bedside table for months.

But this show is really really good. Fantastic performances and a flawlessly realised world.

I'm much more excited for the next episode of this than I am for Game of Thrones.

 

[hobozero]

Discovered via this thread and really enjoying it so far. Getting a big Salieri / Mozart vibe from the relationship so far.

 

[Haly]

I love Mr. Drawlight's portrayal. Reminds me of Cassius from Gladiator, or that one guy from Amadeus who's very similar in appearance and character.

 

[berzeli]

Interview with Bertie Carvel (Jonathan Strange, man with the second most British name in the world)
---------
Visual effects breakdowns; Episode 1, Episode 2
---------
Episode 3 airs tonight

The Education of a Magician

Spoiler

Jonathan Strange accesses ancient and troubling magic as he fights the Napoleonic armies, while Mr Norrell battles to keep his secrets hidden, and the mysterious Gentleman enrols Sir Walter's servant Stephen to help him enchant the beguiling Arabella.

 

[Crispy75]

This gets better and better. The writing is really sharp, and the performances totally sell it.
The cursed aphasia is fantastic.

 

[GarthVaderUK]

Really enjoyed that episode!

 

[royalan]

To my American posters: where are you guys watching the episodes? Because BBC America hasn't actually started airing the series yet.

 

[bistromathics]

I am really not a fan of fantasy or magic or anything of the sort. But that Magician's thread fore the syfy show got me into the books for some reason, and I've downed almost two of them in the last week.

How many Jonathan Strange books are there? Just one? Is it worth reading before checking out the show?

 

[More Fun To Compute]

There is one book but it's a fairly long and challenging read. If you like period novels by Austin and Dickens then there is no question that you should go straight to the book.

 

[Tizoc]

Maybe I missed it but did Mrs. Strange meet the Raven King in Ep. 2?
From her early interaction during Ep. 3 she likely treated him as a resident of the area?

But man dat ending for Ep. 3

Spoiler

CHILDERMASS! THE SEXY IS GONE!

Norrell really needs to stop all this shady BS he's being such a jerk.
I'm really curious why the Raven King wants to make Stephen a king, just the entire concept of it makes me wonder he'll go about it.

 

[Vinegar Joe]

The BBC have really been putting out some visually striking shows in recent months, and this one is probably the show stopper in that regard. And I'm not just talking about the special effects - the sets, the costumes, the lighting - everything looks just spot-on and the attention to detail is stunning. Puts a lot of other series I'm watching at the moment to shame.

The show itself isn't quite as good as it looks in all honesty, but I'm still enjoying it a fair bit.

 

[Future Foundation]

I am really not a fan of fantasy or magic or anything of the sort. But that Magician's thread fore the syfy show got me into the books for some reason, and I've downed almost two of them in the last week.

How many Jonathan Strange books are there? Just one? Is it worth reading before checking out the show?

Just the one, though the author - Susanna Clarke - wrote a series of short stories set in that same universe. It's called The Ladies of Grace Adieu, and I've heard its pretty good, as is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell.

 

[Platy]

Love how dark this is getting ... the slave ship scene was way too powerfull

 

[Tizoc]

Does Marc Warren play the role of The Raven King? He's listed as The Gentleman in the credits.
If he is, then he is giving a fantastic performance. Anytime The Raven King shows up he instantly steals the scene and that moment becomes HIS.

 

[Crispy75]

Does Marc Warren play the role of The Raven King? He's listed as The Gentleman in the credits.
If he is, then he is giving a fantastic performance. Anytime The Raven King shows up he instantly steals the scene and that moment becomes HIS.

I wasn't aware that the two names were for the same person? Has that information been provided in the show?

 

[iapetus]

Does Marc Warren play the role of The Raven King? He's listed as The Gentleman in the credits.

Can't really answer that without getting spoilerific.

Spoiler

The Raven King and The Gentleman are two very different characters.

 

[Tizoc]

^I ended up reading it anyway and...OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
This just got MORE interesting!

 

[a secret-boss]

Such opposite from episode 2
This is more darker. Really good episode

 

[Kaladin]

When you search for Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell on Amazon now, it gives you a listing for the Amazon Instant Video page, but when you click on it the link is dead.

Quit teasing me dammit, I want to give you my money!

 

[Gambit]

This thread made me aware of the BBC show and that it is based on a book. So I sought out the book and have decided to finish it before watching any of the show. Saturday I got the book and just now I finished the second volume.

It's very good and very English. I love the footnotes and the contrasting characters of Strange and Norrell. To my surprise, I also like many of the other characters like Vinculus and Childermass.

Hope the third volume is as good as its name promises.

Anyway, thank you Gaf-thread for the recommendation

 

[Kyleripman]

This thread made me aware of the BBC show and that it is based on a book. So I sought out the book and have decided to finish it before watching any of the show. Saturday I got the book and just now I finished the second volume.

It's very good and very English. I love the footnotes and the contrasting characters of Strange and Norrell. To my surprise, I also like many of the other characters like Vinculus and Childermass.

Hope the third volume is as good as its name promises.

Anyway, thank you Gaf-thread for the recommendation

It only gets better as it goes!

 

[Cornballer]

- BBC America put the full pilot up on their youtube account