This is a stinker. The costumes are probably accurate and that's about it. The hairdos aren't. The morals, manners and biography are not. Casanova's been made more a comic book figure. He was actually an interesting man... quite bright, talented and far more industrious than he's made out to be in this farce. It is in fact, nothing but a poor TV show. As for the acting...Tennant can't do more than hope to appear subsequently on an episode of Lost or some such drivel where everyone always looks lost. O'Toole tried desperately...that's desperately hard... to act. Once a great actor, he now reflects the downward spiral of Masterpiece theatre. Having people speak in the patois of Eastenders offers no verisimilitude for me. "Bullocks" indeed. The screenplay reflects the depth of a puddle in the profundity of life. And who did the music? Olie the Organ grinder? It is without a doubt one of the most pathetic scores I've ever heard. Of course, he may have been inspired by the script. As for part two...no thanks. Nothing this bad could possibly improve to the point of watchability. I'm very sad to see Masterpiece theatre go. I've watched it from almost the beginning.
