Andrew Davies' Sanditon

I was wondering if anyone saw the recent TV production of Sanditon, and how you felt about it. It seemed much more Andrew Davies than Jane Austen to me. I found the ending unsatisfying, to say the least. It seems like all the characters I cared about ended up not being very happy at the end.

Thoughts?

I hated the ending. It was so unsatisfying I wondered if a second season is planned, to wrap things up. It's been years (decades, really) since I read Sanditon. I need to revisit it, but I'm certain a great many liberties were taken with the text.

>2 jennieg: Yes, essentially Andrew Davies used the basic characters and setting, and then made up the rest. Sanditon only has only a few chapters, and we only get introduced to the characters (including Miss Lambe). I hadn't read it in decades either, but re-read it just before the series started.

The nasty people (Lady Denham & her heirs) were just way too nasty for me. This subplot seemed very un-Austen-like, even though these types of people and events are hinted at in Austen, they aren't so front-and-center as they were in this series.

Otherwise, I rather liked the dialogue, the acting and the settings. I also liked the way we always see events through Charlotte's point of view. I thought that was well done. The story line was OK until the end.

I think if a "happy" ending wasn't in the cards, then at least they could have shown Charlotte go back to her home, be reunited with her family; be "older and wiser" while being happy to be home where she is loved. But the shot of her alone in the carriage going home was just such a let down. Plus we never get any idea of what happens to Miss Lambe, who played a big role in the prior episodes.

I have read online in the past few days that they were hoping for a second season, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen, mostly because they didn't get enough viewers in the UK. I don't know how popular it was in the US, but the last I read they were hoping for good enough numbers to find a backer to fund a second season. Seems unlikely with such an awful ending.

I enjoyed it until the end. I think Masterpiece Theatre (the tv show that features this sort of thing here) has a steady audience, but not what you would call blockbuster, especially for a minor Austen work. Seems unlikely that they'll drum up a lot of cash on this end.

>4 jennieg: Yep, you are probably right. Do you plan to see the new Emma movie? I will probably wait until it is on DVD.

I read Sanditon in college and again before the adaptation broadcasted on "Masterpiece." The premiere combined Episodes 1 & 2, covering the uncompleted novel in the 1st half of the show. I liked the shorts at the end of each episode, featuring interviews with Andrew Davies and the Sanditon cast.
The finale definitely was disappointing. It could've ended similarly to Northanger Abbey, Sidney visiting Charlotte at her home after some time. In Sidney's case, he's a widower with a young child.

I downloaded the digital only soundtrack album of the show and have been enjoying that. Ruth Barrett is the composer.

>6 princessgarnet: Oh, yes, that would have been a good ending. And I totally agree that the behind the scenes interviews were interesting and did add to my understanding of the choices made for the series.

Interesting that you mention the music; I was unimpressed with the music, except for the music during the boat race, which I thought was perfect (maybe it was used during the cricket scene, too?).

I was so disappointed afterwards that Tuesday night I binged on the entire 5+ hours of the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle Pride & Prejudice to lift my spirits. I love the music and how it is used in that production, like the fun themes for Mr Collins and Lady Catherine! Or the smouldering Beethoven that Georgiana is playing during that famous Darcy/Elizabeth "Look."

My DVD also has extras, including clips with the same scriptwriter Andrew Davies, although a mere 25 years younger.

>6 princessgarnet: I went back online and listened to some of the music, and I like it. Thanks for mentioning it. It is very Celtic, which I love. But for some reason I either didn't notice the music while viewing, or felt that it often didn't match what I was seeing. Listening to it now it makes me feel more like Poldark than Sanditon. Just me, maybe.

I would have sworn I responded to this a couple of days ago. I'd love to see it in the theater, but I don't know when that might be. I'll probably end up seeing it on DVD, too.

Here's an interview with Ruth Barrett about the show's soundtrack:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/sanditon-composer-ruth-barr...
Enjoy!

Also, by Ruth Barrett, the digital only soundtrack album of "Victoria" seasons 2 & 3 is available on Youtube and iTunes.

>10 princessgarnet: thanks!

Oh, I loved this show's soundtrack so much!  And I can't see the show ending where it did; there must be a sequel in the works.

>12 justjukka: I hope so, too!

Unfortunately, PBS announced there are no future plans for a 2nd season.

There is no second season because the first (unsurprisngly, in my view) slid in the ratings in the UK as it went on towards the final episodes and the economics of a second season did not add up - especially for its UK channel, which is a commercial one.

I just started watching this last week. It is available to stream on the PBS app using my Firestick. I am enjoying it, but I think Jane herself would get the vapors if she could see what they did with her tale.

Update if you hadn't heard or missed it: There's a 2nd & 3rd season forthcoming!
The rundown so far:
-Rose Williams is confirmed to reprise her role as Charlotte Heywood.
-Production will be taking place in or around Bristol (UK) later this year.
-Theo James announced he won't be returning--he's already down for other projects.