Doctor Thorne (2016)

I actually first head of this new series by reading a review of it on Old-Fashioned Charm. It sounded like something I would enjoy, so when my mom casually mentioned that it would be sent on TV, I couldn't believe my luck.

To those of you who hasn't heard of it, here's a brief summary:
Mary Thorne has grown up with her uncle, Doctor Thorne, and they have always had close relations with the Greshams of Greshamsbury Estate. But when she and the son Frank develop feelings for each other his mother is very much against the match, as she wants Frank to "marry money" in order to save the indebted estate. At the same time Mary gets some unexpected news about her parentage.

If I should describe this series in one word it would be: pretty!

Everything is a treat for the eyes; the scenery and the mansions look like like they should be on post cards (and they probably are in real life), and the ladies with their pastel coloured gowns and their flower adorned hairstyles look like they have stepped right out of a painting.

The plot, on the other hand, is predictable almost to a fault. I was not even half ways through the first episode before I knew exactly how everything between Mary and Frank would resolve itself.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind knowing from the start who will end up together, but a little suspense in how they will get there is generally preferred.

                                    

While I did enjoy some of the characters - especially Frank and Miss Dunstable, I found most of them to be rather two dimensional and shallow. To be honest, I didn't really get a feel of most of the characters until episode 3, which is a bit too late in a 3 part series.

I just wish that they would have spent more time on the characters so I could get to know their motivations. If they had maybe given the series 2 additional episodes that could have been achieved, and I think I would have enjoyed it more. (Then again, I haven't read the book so I don't know if there is enough plot to fill up 2 more episodes)

                

Content wise there are mentioning of a gentleman seducing a woman and a child born out of wedlock, but that is all.

From this review you might have concluded that I didn't like this series at all, which is definitely not the case. Despite all its shortcomings I did enjoy it - especially the visuals. And if you like pretty period drama dresses you shouldn't deprive yourself the experience of watching this.