'Little Dorrit,' part four

This is, I think, the least interesting installment. They could have cut a few things and spaced some other things better. (And of course it doesn't help that this is the only installment where Amy and Arthur are never together.) But we'll get into that more later. 

Fanny is a total hoot with Mrs. General. And I think her father is scared of her. She's one of the characters they got exactly right (with one small exception that I'll note in a minute) -- everything from her part-motherly and part-condescending relationship with Amy, to her insufferable pride and tactlessness, to her occasional secret wistfulness is just how it was in the book. And Emma Pierson couldn't be doing a better job. Don't ask me about the weird makeup, though. I've seen various complaints about it on the Internet, but I can think of no explanation for it.

Sparkler's sharing his secrets with Amy -- showing again that she's one of those people to whom the helpless and hapless are instinctively drawn -- is kind of cute. I like poor Sparkler, even if Amy's not much of a fan. He's one of those blundering young buffoons you can't help but like, especially if you've grown up on a steady diet of P. G. Wodehouse.

Oh my gosh, oh my GOSH, get Mr. Dorrit in the toga!! I'm dying laughing. Costume designer, whoever you are, I love you.

Okay, people, can we please stop harping on Pet and Arthur now? It's over! It's so over it never even got started.

And Blandois, quit grabbing women by the chins (not to mention other parts). It's really disgusting.

Flora is determined to match up Arthur with everything in a dress, apparently. Arthur's face is priceless when he's left alone with Mr. F's aunt. He looks like a scared six year old. Not that I blame him. I'd have eaten the crust if I were him, out of sheer terror.

EVERYONE wants to match Arthur up! What is this, The Dating Game? Knock it off already!

Oh man, the chill coming from Henry after the baby's birth went to my very bones. Yikes. If I'd had a child by a man like that (with your standard Victorian drug-free birth, too), and gotten that reaction, I might just go the stereotypical-Victorian-heroine route and die of a broken heart.

The "Amy's acting like a servant" theme has its uses, as I noted before, but they're starting to beat it to death. Now, here's the "exception" about Fanny that I mentioned earlier: This dancing scene is a little off. I don't for one minute believe that Fanny would ever want to go back on the stage. She's got way too much of her father in her -- not enough to be paranoid, but enough to consider her past occupation beneath her. It does make for a fun scene, I'll say that, but not a very believable one. 

Anton Lesser as Mr. Merdle is really very good. I wish they could have used some of Dickens's language here about how the Barncles "cling" to everything, and the doctor's diagnosis of Mr. Merdle's "complaint." It adds so much. I'll have to try to get some of that up here this week.

Here's an example of what I was talking about with Fanny and Amy: Fanny is excellent in this scene at the dressing table where they talk about Sparkler and about love in general. They both are, actually.

Arthur is so incredibly sweet with his mother, bless him. I wish I had that kind of patience with unkind people.

Fanny and Edmund's wedding scene is perfect -- so hilariously typical of both of them. (I would have liked to see Amy as bridesmaid, though. I think we can safely say by now that her dress would have been purple, so there's not much scope for imagination there, but I still would have liked to see it.) At least they give a reason here for leaving Amy in Italy, wretched reason though it is. In the book no one ever even considers taking her, and she doesn't dare ask to go. 

Although it's a drag not having the two leads together, I'm glad they're keeping the letters going. It would REALLY be a drag to have no connection between them at all.

The scene at the bank is brilliantly shot, with all those men disappearing into its giant maw. I'm betting that most people are starting to guess where this particular storyline is heading. My mother guessed even before that scene, and after it, I don't think there can be much doubt left.

The Flora/Mr. Dorrit scene is ALMOST worth it just for "Here he is in my bosom." *Snort* Almost. But this Blandois stuff is getting really tedious. Here's where I think they could have cut some. For instance, there's no real reason I can see for including the scene between Mr. Dorrit and Mrs. Clennam, unless for the thrill value of seeing Amy's and Arthur's respective parents meet -- and honestly, it's not much of a thrill.

(I'm going to take a moment here to dispel a rumor I've seen floating around: Amy and Arthur are NOT related in any way. You do realize that if they were, we'd all be rooting for incest. So get your minds out of the gutter, rumormongers!)

Tom Courtenay is so good as Mr. Dorrit starts to break down. My heart can't help aching for him, poor foolish man. I like the way they show him obsessing with Mrs. General more and more as his paranoia grows -- as if, if he could just get back to that paragon of propriety and cement his connection with her, everything will be all right.

And we draw to a close with Frederick touching on both the basis of Amy's character and the theme of the whole show: "You take me as I am."

Next week, as we reach our thrilling conclusion: Secrets, lies, and general mayhem!

Comments

[ForeverFan]

Firstly, I just want to say that I have been reading this blog for several weeks now and I really appreciate your thoughts on Little Dorrit, and all Dickens in general. :)

Secondly... I now know why I wasn't as 'into' the story last night as I usually was....it wasn't boring, but it just wasn't as interesting as the previous episodes. The characters were all well acted, I think, especially Fanny. I agree that the scene with her wanting to go back to dancing didn't seem believable, it was really funny, but it just didn't really seem to fit in. I would of dearly liked to see Mrs. Merdle's reactions to Fanny & Edmund's marriage, but there wasn't any. :( (or perhaps it was cut from the PBS version for time constraints...) Anyways, I missed that. I also liked Arthur telling Rigaud he was a scoundrel (my brother kept wishing for a duel between them) but I felt that it seemed a little bit...out of place? It wasn't in the book, and I'm not sure if Arthur would of really come right out and said that after just meeting him. Even if he did know that Rigaud was a murderer...

Anyways...all that to say I'm really enjoying reading your entries on Little Dorrit! :) Keep it up!

[Integrity]

So I am not the only one who did not enjoy last night's installment as much as the others! I found myself checking the clock every 15 minutes or so wondering when it would be over.

There are so many story lines and loose ends...I'm certain next week's episode will be better.

Love your blog. Cheers.

[Kevin Quinn]

To your earlier note re: Panck's verbally out dueling Flora, Flora's garrulous side is much better shown in this episode...

Nice touch: "paragon of propriety": what's next: "prisms & prunes"?

Thanks for illuminating the Cinderella angle: I missed most of that too.

[christopher harris]

Madness, madness, madness... This episode brought to the forefront the impending madness of Pere Dorrit and that of Mr. Merdle. I really liked how Davies' script made Mr.Dorrit's psychological breakdown so incredibly palpable. I also agree with you, Gina, that the narrated 'correspondence' between Amy and Arthur is so touching and loving. And Pancks...Well, Pancks is just getting better and better. I am sorry to know that there is only one episode left...Boo-Hoo. Great blog entry, Gina! Cheers!

[Christy]

I so despise Mr. Dorrit! He was portrayed magnificently, and I hated him passionately through the entire show. And I loved Frederick, especially when he finally stood up to his brother and niece, albeit mildly. Good on him!