Possible Spoilers below for any UK fans:
Last Sunday viewers bid farewell to the Sunday night drama Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Overall this show has had a bit of a mixed reception, mostly due to what some see as the slow pace of the show. Arguably the publicity shots, like the one above, just show aristocrats standing or sitting around. It misleads viewers into thinking this is a boring show which it most certainly is not. In fact it's a shame it had to end as it has been one of my favourite shows this year.
The series takes place in the 18th century. A reclusive magician, Mr Norrell, is trying to make magic respectable in England. Soon another, Jonathan Strange, discovers his own magic. The story follows the two men from being master and apprentice, enemies and finally to the friends. At the same time, the show deals with opposing order and chaos, as well as issues of class with the magicians intentionally and unintentionally having effects on the working classes.
The show certainly has a good cast. Bertie Carvel is brilliant as Jonathan Strange. He starts off as a Bertie Wooster type of person, becomes more tired and cynical during the War with France, then a cackling magician type and finally redeeming himself. Norrell, played by Eddie Marsan, is probably the harder character to play. He is a stuffy old conservative magician who wants to bring'respectable' magic back to England. For a long time he came across as an unlikeable character until he final episode that we get to see the more sympathetic loveable side to Norrell. The giddy child who is excited to arrive in the fairy land and the shy man who hates being laughed at for his rain magic.
The supporting cast are great too. Marc Warren is funny as the Gentlemen.Enzo Cilenti was great as Childermass. Paul Kaye was great as Vinculus. Even minor characters like Lady Pole, Arabella and Steven Black are memorable. Vincent Franklin was great here as he was in Cucumber earlier this year.
The series is certainly well directed and has an eyecatching Tim Burton/Neil Gaiman style to it. The Kingdom of Lost hope is a great spooky location.
The criticism of the slow pace of the show is misleading. Only the first episode is slow as this is setting up things for later. Each episode builds on the last and the series gets ever moe compelling.
Writer Peter Harness seems to have done pretty good job with the script. I haven't read the book yet, so I don't know how closely this series sticks to the source material, but at least I understood what was going on. Watching this series has certainly persuaded me to seek it out. A great story, writing and cast. If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend you check it out and stick with it. It's one of the best things put out on television this year.
