Gday all, after one episode, I am moved to this review - *Spoilers for episode 1, series 1*
The Hollow Crown is a magnificent TV drama series by the BBC from 2012, covering some of the historical Wars of the Roses in c.1400 England, as the Houses of York and Lancaster vied for the throne. It's an excellent production, as one would expect from the BBC - with some great actors and great acting, and top-quality production values. Be warned that each of the seven episodes is movie length, more like Sherlock than Game of Thrones (which it obviously apes.)
So it's more drama and politics than action and battles - we see some knights on horses galloping, a few be-headings like in Game of Thrones, some sabre-rattling and spear-shaking, but most big action occurs off-screen. The BBC has clearly scrimped on costs by keeping to a small cast, with low tech sets, and no CGI. Actually, this series could well be adapted for stage.
Although admittedly, I've only seen one episode so far - in which the weak & effeminate Richard II (with allusions to St Sebastian wink wink) loses to Bolingbroke who eventually becomes Henry IV, by way of Herford and York. There is an odd fascination with noble titles and details of the Royal Court, which leads me to my main point - this production is really let down by the writer, who-ever he was.
This chap may have a heart of gold, but his writing is rather stuffy and traditional and very old-fashioned too. I had to knit my brow in concentration because he plays fast and loose with his spelling (I view sub-titles,) and his grammar sets my teeth on edge. But to give the devil his due, he wields a wonderful pen - although sometimes it can be too much of a good thing, as his speeches do carry on a bit. It's almost as if the BBC were required to use his every word, when he clearly needed a firm editor.
I wonder ... did the BBC use dialogue from some unknown old-fashioned English poet and prince-ling wanna-be, whose words didn't cost too much ?
Really though - the problem here is plagiarism, shocking as that may sound. Firstly, the whole thing is just a watered down Game Of Thrones rip-off - noble houses battle for the throne back in the old days of knights and armour - royal dramas and intrigues and battles and murders etc. (But no dragons or magic or sex please, we're British.) He even copies, bald-faced, GoT language with 'your grace' this, and 'my lord of that'.
Even worse - some of his words and phrases are actually found in the Authorised Version of the Bible itself ! He'll plagiarise even American Edgar Allen Poe for a handy turn-of-phrase - like 'quoth he' - clearly a genuine Poe. Even Lewis Carroll gets ripped-off when they call a mirror a 'looking glass'. Shameless.
I fear this series will make a laughing-stock of this author, who appears to be trying just too hard to use the Queen's English - but I ask you - WHICH Elizabeth ? (Haha, get it ? ;) )
Still, perhaps there is method in his madness - he might get some fair play in this brave new world, this new global theatre of the internet, even if he has seen better days.
Kapyong
The Hollow Crown is a magnificent TV drama series by the BBC from 2012, covering some of the historical Wars of the Roses in c.1400 England, as the Houses of York and Lancaster vied for the throne. It's an excellent production, as one would expect from the BBC - with some great actors and great acting, and top-quality production values. Be warned that each of the seven episodes is movie length, more like Sherlock than Game of Thrones (which it obviously apes.)
So it's more drama and politics than action and battles - we see some knights on horses galloping, a few be-headings like in Game of Thrones, some sabre-rattling and spear-shaking, but most big action occurs off-screen. The BBC has clearly scrimped on costs by keeping to a small cast, with low tech sets, and no CGI. Actually, this series could well be adapted for stage.
Although admittedly, I've only seen one episode so far - in which the weak & effeminate Richard II (with allusions to St Sebastian wink wink) loses to Bolingbroke who eventually becomes Henry IV, by way of Herford and York. There is an odd fascination with noble titles and details of the Royal Court, which leads me to my main point - this production is really let down by the writer, who-ever he was.
This chap may have a heart of gold, but his writing is rather stuffy and traditional and very old-fashioned too. I had to knit my brow in concentration because he plays fast and loose with his spelling (I view sub-titles,) and his grammar sets my teeth on edge. But to give the devil his due, he wields a wonderful pen - although sometimes it can be too much of a good thing, as his speeches do carry on a bit. It's almost as if the BBC were required to use his every word, when he clearly needed a firm editor.
I wonder ... did the BBC use dialogue from some unknown old-fashioned English poet and prince-ling wanna-be, whose words didn't cost too much ?
Really though - the problem here is plagiarism, shocking as that may sound. Firstly, the whole thing is just a watered down Game Of Thrones rip-off - noble houses battle for the throne back in the old days of knights and armour - royal dramas and intrigues and battles and murders etc. (But no dragons or magic or sex please, we're British.) He even copies, bald-faced, GoT language with 'your grace' this, and 'my lord of that'.
Even worse - some of his words and phrases are actually found in the Authorised Version of the Bible itself ! He'll plagiarise even American Edgar Allen Poe for a handy turn-of-phrase - like 'quoth he' - clearly a genuine Poe. Even Lewis Carroll gets ripped-off when they call a mirror a 'looking glass'. Shameless.
I fear this series will make a laughing-stock of this author, who appears to be trying just too hard to use the Queen's English - but I ask you - WHICH Elizabeth ? (Haha, get it ? ;) )
Still, perhaps there is method in his madness - he might get some fair play in this brave new world, this new global theatre of the internet, even if he has seen better days.
Kapyong