Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slow, atmospheric Dickens adaptation has sex, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Great Expectations
What's the Story?
In GREAT EXPECTATIONS young Philip "Pip" Pirrip lives with his nasty aunt and kindly blacksmith uncle. He's exceptionally bright and dreams of a better life. When rich, eccentric spinster Miss Havisham plucks him out of the village to entertain her and her adopted daughter, Estella, he's nervous but intrigued at the opportunity. Estella has been influenced by the cruel, bitter Miss Havisham, and the two of them torment Pip, all the while helping him turn into the gentleman he hoped to become. As Pip grows up, he faces a variety of challenges in London, and many Dickensian plot twists and turns ensue. Will he turn against his roots to find success? And will his relationship with the hot-and-cold Estella turn to romance?
Is It Any Good?
This adaptation adds some edge to Dickens' popular but often plodding tale of rags to riches. If you didn't expect to see What We Do in the Shadows' Matt Berry get whipped by a sadistic Mrs. Joe, you've come to the wrong Great Expectations. The book's implicit dirty games and strange fantasies come to life here, which certainly livens things up but frankly feels like a bit of a stretch.
Dickens loves to tell a long story with a ton of plot points, and this series is no different: It takes its time with just about everything. Many viewers' main reason for tuning in may be the usually fantastic Olivia Colman's turn at Miss Havisham, but she's surprisingly listless and not quite right for the role. Dickens superfans may want to give this version a try, but even with its attempts to be scandalous, it's still pretty snoozy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about adaptations. Why do you think this particular story has been told so many times?
What do you think about adaptations that make changes to the original text? Are they necessary for modern audiences? Why, or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 26, 2023
- Cast : Olivia Colman , Fionn Whitehead , Shalom Brune-Franklin
- Network : FX
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Integrity
- TV rating :
- Last updated : May 13, 2023
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