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grav_ityI saw the cold open for Jekyll in the summer of 2010, and for some reason I don't remember, never got any further (even though I thought it was very good). I was in Jordan at the time, which probably explains it, because that was when my portable hard drive died, and so I couldn't get files from anyone.
ANYWAY!
THE HOBBIT happened, and I was reminded that James Nesbitt (Bofur) had been in Jekyll, and I thought about maybe watching it.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tessagratton assured me that it was excellent, and even though Moffat and I don't exactly have the best relationship with television, I gave it a go.
At six episodes (and a definite Ending), Jekyll is a pretty easy show to get through. In addition to Nesbitt, there's Gina Bellman (who is AMAZING), and a wonderful collection of Who actors, including Lady Christina, the scientist from "The Cold Earth" and Agatha Christie.
It's more of a sequel than an adaptation, which I appreciate, and it suffers none of the self-love that Sherlock seems to wallow in (also it is much less problematic in terms of female characters, though honesty compels me to tell you that it is also much less pretty), and while it is fairly convoluted and complicated, it doesn't have outright time travel, so it doesn't get ahead of itself like Who does, on occasion.
Nesbitt does a fabulous job. I was concerned for a bit in the second episode that I was going to have a panic attack (much like when scary!Methos appeared in Highlander and nearly turned me off of James in Sanctuary), but Tessa talked me off the edge and I kept on, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of thing I like, in that it directly ADDRESSED the idea of consent and identity, instead of playing them for laughs (looking at you, Fringe). It is, as she said, a story about love, and really there's nothing I like more than that.
Everything else I want to gush about it basically a spoiler at this point, so let me just say that the relationships were all brilliantly put together. It was very neat to see the ideas that will show up later in both Sherlock and Who. I won two separate bets with myself while watching, though since I've seen Moffat's other stuff, I'm not sure it was entirely fair. Needless to say, the complaints I usually have about Moffat's work are entirely not here, and even though it wasn't exactly sunshine and puppies, it was very, very good.
Oh, and the puns. The ridiculously predictable jokes and THE PUNS. It was amazing.
++
I have no idea how I am going to tag this...
ANYWAY!
THE HOBBIT happened, and I was reminded that James Nesbitt (Bofur) had been in Jekyll, and I thought about maybe watching it.
tessagratton assured me that it was excellent, and even though Moffat and I don't exactly have the best relationship with television, I gave it a go.At six episodes (and a definite Ending), Jekyll is a pretty easy show to get through. In addition to Nesbitt, there's Gina Bellman (who is AMAZING), and a wonderful collection of Who actors, including Lady Christina, the scientist from "The Cold Earth" and Agatha Christie.
It's more of a sequel than an adaptation, which I appreciate, and it suffers none of the self-love that Sherlock seems to wallow in (also it is much less problematic in terms of female characters, though honesty compels me to tell you that it is also much less pretty), and while it is fairly convoluted and complicated, it doesn't have outright time travel, so it doesn't get ahead of itself like Who does, on occasion.
Nesbitt does a fabulous job. I was concerned for a bit in the second episode that I was going to have a panic attack (much like when scary!Methos appeared in Highlander and nearly turned me off of James in Sanctuary), but Tessa talked me off the edge and I kept on, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of thing I like, in that it directly ADDRESSED the idea of consent and identity, instead of playing them for laughs (looking at you, Fringe). It is, as she said, a story about love, and really there's nothing I like more than that.
Everything else I want to gush about it basically a spoiler at this point, so let me just say that the relationships were all brilliantly put together. It was very neat to see the ideas that will show up later in both Sherlock and Who. I won two separate bets with myself while watching, though since I've seen Moffat's other stuff, I'm not sure it was entirely fair. Needless to say, the complaints I usually have about Moffat's work are entirely not here, and even though it wasn't exactly sunshine and puppies, it was very, very good.
Oh, and the puns. The ridiculously predictable jokes and THE PUNS. It was amazing.
++
I have no idea how I am going to tag this...
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no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 12:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 01:22 am (UTC)I still haven't been able to watch that last episode...then it'll be really over...
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 02:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 01:09 am (UTC)I know when I'm beaten.
BTW are you still going to the Storywell Thing tomorrow night?
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 01:09 am (UTC)It was cancelled.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 01:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 11:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 01:42 am (UTC)I think I was also watching the wrong version. The writeup on the Wiki page makes me think I somehow stumbled upon the Uncut Director's Edition with Extra Swearing and Raunchy Bits.
Of course, I also spoiled myself for the entire series so there probably isn't much point in actually watching it now...
no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 01:48 am (UTC)But yes, it gets better. It deals with consent and identity much better than I was expecting and Claire is AMAZING. I've decided that the way to really sell Jekyll and Hyde is that Jekyll has to be the nicest person ever, and Nesbitt really makes that work, even when it's kind of harrowing.
Also, their first date is priceless. Just. Priceless.
(Also, I've now read the wiki and it leaves out all the good character parts.)
It's a love story. It's weird and scary and creepy, but it's a love story.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 01:32 am (UTC)I actually watched "Jekyll" when it aired several years ago, and I did like it. I remember thinking Nesbitt was basically the main reason it as amazing and the last shot that chilled my blood and I remember it all these years later...
But it was a great miniseries. Truly outstanding acting. :D So glad you got to see it!!! :)
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 04:12 pm (UTC)(That was also, fwiw, where I won a bet with myself, because prior to that there had been about 14 lines about how bad the coffee was, and I know how to read Moffat's tells.)
The acting, just, yes.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 04:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 05:42 am (UTC)