Although I had heard about it when it was first broadcast, I never had the opportunity to see this series, and I was finally able to view it recently. I had expected a story akin to Downton Abbey, but was disappointed to find that it moved much, much more slowly. I come down hard on The Walking Dead for its endless, tiresome monologues, but BR is mostly monologues, whether it's voiceovers or characters going on and on about their problems. My main issue with this series is that I can't figure out the main character, Charles is a sponge who absorbs everything around him, the only time he shows any fire is when someone brings up religion. And in a broadcast TV show that dares to show a topless actress, the vague, suppressed nature of Charles's relationship to Sebastian is rather quaint. So whatever happened to Sebastian? Here comes a twenty-minute monologue from Cordelia to explain. How and when did Charles marry Celia? I don't think I missed an episode, but the details of their marriage are delivered via more monologues. You get another extended monologue by the fountain between Julia and Charles. The death scene in the final episode stretches on for nearly an hour, accompanied by more monologues. I get it already, you like talking.
John Gielgud, as Charles's fussy, acerbic father, provides some of the best scenes in the series, and I literally laughed when he sarcastically told Charles that he was "worried" about Sebastian's health.
I can appreciate the level of detail, the costumes, the sets, and the clever way that Marchmain's death contributed to the breakup between Julia and Charles, but in the end I didn't care for Charles, and the end result of his life's decisions mean nothing to me as he complains dryly about being "middle aged, homeless, and loveless". Coming from a sponge, the sentiment rings false. Oh well, I'm glad I finally saw this series.
I can appreciate the level of detail, the costumes, the sets, and the clever way that Marchmain's death contributed to the breakup between Julia and Charles, but in the end I didn't care for Charles, and the end result of his life's decisions mean nothing to me as he complains dryly about being "middle aged, homeless, and loveless". Coming from a sponge, the sentiment rings false. Oh well, I'm glad I finally saw this series.