SusanSunflower

It was revelations of "grueling poverty" in numerous "spoiler" that startled me. There was very little evidence of this poverty -- even if it was made clear that there was a lack of money ... but really I don't remember, we have no food until it appeared in the final segment during prison visitation. Allison's mother said something about not helping out (though I wonder who is paying for son's college and other expenses). The idea that Alec was set up by a rival faction apparently has some credibility and might explain the continuing classification of various records. from the link earlier https://alexanderwilsonauthorandspy.com/2017/05/18/the-mysterious-life-of-alexander-wilson-1893-1963/ ""We know for certain that something went wrong when he was managing the trading of ship’s stores for a surrendered German passenger liner, the SS Prinzessin, and led to his arrest and prosecution in Vancouver in September 1919. He was arrested the day after his father died thousands of miles on the other side of the world while on leave from France at Minster, Isle of Sheppey. He was subsequently sentenced to six months hard labour in one of North America’s most notorious jails, the Oakalla Prison Farm, a veritable and notorious model for the gaol culture represented in the film ‘The Shawshank Redemption.’"" I was most surprised by this mention of the 1919 arrest and conviction after WWI, but before he appears to have engaged in intelligence related daring-do .... but would they have hired him if they knew .... or did they know and hired him anyway and that's their dirty little secret??? also from same source -- before -- ""We know for certain he taught English Literature as a professor at Islamia College, University of Punjab in Lahore between 1925 and 1931, eventually taking over as Principal in 1928.''

I was and remain a bit disappointed that Allison's path to conversion and "forgiveness" was not articulated in more detail. First episode or early on, iirc, there was reference to the boys being Catholic and that they'd win her over eventually ... and then nothing. Forgiveness and absolution, confession and penitance are such integral "mysteries" to the Catholic church for non-Catholics... like "til death you do part" in the marriage vows being literal, regardless of the transgressions. I'm not Catholic, but the mysteries of the Catholic faith, confession, communion and the constant devotions (as Alec with his rosary) and reaffirmation of faith are impressive to me raised atheist and sceptic. Allison wrote a religious text, iirc, so it would not have been conjecture. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46456654 (has picture of final scene of extended family)

As promised .... this site was down earlier https://alexanderwilsonauthorandspy.com/2017/05/18/the-mysterious-life-of-alexander-wilson-1893-1963/

Thank you -- yes, of course Alison came home from work to make Alec lunch. Alison has aged a little bit in the 20 years but I knew my chronology had gotten scattered. I was not inclined to feel sympathy for Dorothy until I realized that part of my own "mythology" of Alec was that he was a good guy who married and took care of the women he got pregnant ... His aggressive courtship of Alison destroyed Dorothy's marriage (which was a fraud) but was pretty in-your-face. Was he besotted by Alison or did he have another reason to complicate his life since his "I can't get a divorce" excuse was pretty iron clad. Mr. Karim seems to consider Alec a hero --- saved thousands of lives -- tell me more.

I suspect Alec may have been a bit of a control freak ... the interiors of his homes had similarities, most obviously his spartan writing desk and a lack of ornament or "pretty" except his war years lair which had an exotic air and uncertain about where he and Dorothy resided, but her home was artistic. Everything was "nice enough" but there was no sense of particular ease much less luxury. The sons too --physically and in almost military demeanor -- could be cookie cutter replicas of each other. I'm growing more curious about Gladys' life during his long absences and what Alison and sons will live on if Gladys gets his pension (such as it is assuming there is one --- or two ?) Did Alison stop working with the arrival of sons? (two incomes versus his uncertain income after the disgrace and income from the books?) I wondered too about the person (at HQ maybe) who said he came from a good family, good schools ... did they know or were they just repeating a cover-story, made up by whom for whom?

I always think of her as the 2006 Jane Eyre opposite Toby Stephens ... well-cast, she successfully embodied the intelligent and independent (and oh so scarred) Jane Eyre who would fall in love with the equally intelligent and independent (and also quite scarred) Mr. Rodchester... (Fassbender / Wasikowska version is very very good too)

I've sort of lost track of time in episode II. It appears that it's only a month or six weeks after Alec's death and yet I found myself wanting Alison to realize that she did have 20 fairly stable comfortable years as his wife and that while Gladys had more years, that may have made the shock of another wife worse .... or perhaps not. These women all dealt with a husband who "accountability" was undermined by the official secrets act and national service and patriotism. I was startled at how quickly Alison's sons leapt into action/investigation with results!!! Did Alec intend to just leave a mess behind, counting on dropping dead and not having to deal with consequences. (He was 30 years older than Alison) In many ways, imho, Alec treated Dorothy with the least respect ... I wonder if that's because she was an actress/escort and he preferred his women conventional and prim ... dumping Dorothy for the prim Alison and holding onto the very prim Gladys. Or was he punishing Dorothy for aggressively stalking/spying on him (and Alison)? She of all three had the spine to get angry and sever the relationship, painful though that was. I've been avoiding reading too much and getting spoiled, but the TV drama departs significantly from the documented reality and "reality" even at this late date has many holes, contradictions and mysteries and timelines. I'll post a great link after the conclusion on Sunday.

Watched part I last night. Very impressed how this "small" true story successfully filled the screen and the time alloted without making it a soap opera or history lesson. Well done. Even the sons were distinctly sympathetic in their own way. I did keep wondering who knew what and when given the husband was obviously a valuable asset who likely relied on some logistical support to fulfill his role as stellar husband and father and eventually author. Appreciate the hell out of the period middle-class production values and wardrobe(s) and wondered how well off both families were relatively speaking -- big houses on nice streets, sons in or anticipating college, etc. Looking forward to part II

don't forget that current Masterpiece and other pbs shows are available streaming ..... without Passport (current shows are also usually available on Roku) https://www.pbs.org/show/mrs-wilson/

Guardian: Top-secret Christmas card sent to Bletchley Park codebreakers rediscovered https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/15/top-secret-christmas-card-sent-to-bletchley-park-codebreakers-rediscovered

Delighted to know Spiro survived the Durrells of Corfu --- Checkov's Gun .... Spiro's brakes ... possibly not WWII, which was vicious throughout Greek region. I would have liked a post-arrest check in with Sven .... life without Viggo and the reaction of his neighbors..

In the opening scene, Lucretzia was hilariously freaking out watching Spiro and Luisa advanced in proximity ... I'm pretty sure she tipped off Mrs. Spiros. eta: Did Spiros gets his brakes fixed (after refusing help from Luisa)? It felt like anvil-flinging last eposide and then nothing so I'm hoping that death defying (or not) driving isn't in his future.

Meh, manipulative is not kmowing if Spiro intends to fight for his marriage and access to his children and/or if his wife gave him any reason to hope reconciliation is possible. Not knowing how old they are --- 13 and 14 year old boys are not the same as 4 children under the age of 10. Why ruining Spiro's marriagle (n part, by hid neglect) would greenlight an "affair" is beyond me ... except she knows he.sleeps.alone. (or so we assume). Louisa doesn't seem like a libertine to would leap into bed with a grieving Spiro .... (again, not sympathetic to me) ... the IRL Louisa was much more sympathetic and vulnerable and "likeable".... imho ... and her out of control children were the product of her inability to cope and exert discipline. Obviously, YMMV. Spiro and Louisa could have been carrying on wildly for months (to the shame of Mrs. Spiros). I'm not anti-sex but I'm not sure Louisa isn't something of a prude in these matters and/or that others would have warned her about preserving her "reputation" among the locals.

Such manipulative writing ... they've (MP) have done this before and it's part of why for me they've lost trust There is a wife, there are children, but how many and how old and where they are is a mystery. IME, after a few years association (given holiday cycles and human events) various "statuses" become apparent. The recluse may be a recluse or may have a "secret". Someone may have a spouse but be separated -- but that becomes clearer with holiday invites and presents for children. People can be deliberately deceptive --usually not for purely matters of privacy. I found Spiro oddly boorish and was confused why he was forcing himself on Leslie and then Larry. His wife "changed" or maybe he neglected her or -- just maybe -- she got tired of pitying glances from folks who assumed she was tolerating her husband's affair with Louisa. Did Louisa and Spiro go off unchaparoned by a child or another adult? Given Louisa's rather fragile mental state I'd have expected Larry to check out Spiro's "intentions" and status. I think we're supposed to like him (and maybe think he has boundary issues) for loaning the Ferrari's money he couldn't afford to lose. Where does this money (savings/nest egg) come from that it's even available to be lost? Anyway, where is the Spiro family living and who is buying their groceriees (and why not just kick Spiro out to sleep in the car? ). Strange episode altogether with miserable (inarticulate but brilliant) Gerry at the center. Those mosquitoes were the size of moths. I've never heard of such a thing (but likely a hazard for caged animals who need mosquito proof shelters. So, Spiro and Louisa can have a near-miss (possibly having discovered everyone assumed they were "doin' it" all along -- afternoon delight in the convertible -- oops, too late. With Louisa, one doesn't know if she wants to be enfolded in those big brown arms (who wouldn't?) or to marry him and provide a father for her children (Spiro?) and Larry strupping the young girl in the closet ... If Gerry's 13, how old is Margo?

lots of men are continuously flirtatious and have "work wives" that sometimes stray into infatuation or even romance. I felt in this episode Spiros was flinging anvils at Louisa to put such ideas OUT of her head, realizing how jealous she was of the Ferraris ... typical head-in-clouds self-centered Louisa (as, arguably when was with Sven). Getting to the bottom of the Ferrari's secrets and getting rid of them -- coup (particularly since they were broke and were not enrich Spiros. Still in her magical thinking way, Spiross' affection for her and her brood is earned by their special-ness while the Ferraris were there new -- to be loathed and envied -- rich kids in town .... until they weren't. I couldn't remember if the Ferrari daugthers were aware their brother was actually taking the fall or has also just discovered their father was using him as a cover for his crime. I have expected murky circumstances of their mother's death.

I would think that Spiro's "it's a job" attitude wrt the Ferraris, "just like you" would put a quick damper on any romantic notions (at least judging from Louisa's recognition that while Spiro might not want her ending up with Ferrari, he didn't think of her "that way"

Anyone else confused as to the Ferrari's future back in Italy (where the father is in debt and -- if honest -- is liable for a hit and run traffic death)? I may have missed reference to just how long ago the wife/mother died, leaving this poorly coping despot in charge to traumatize the daughters, but perhaps more seriously the son (unless that was all resolved by finding a friend in Larry). There was a whiff of moral triumph in making this man "face the music" but his kids seemed likely -- unless extended family steps in -- to be ruined and shamed and destitute. Vile as he was/is, no one seemed to have the tiniest sympathy or advice on how to deal with this horror of a dead wife, a questionably suicidal son, two traumatized daughters and no money. Keeping the daugthers on Corfu might have been a charity -- the son needing to clear his name and -- if of age -- be put in charge of "the family". Stavros looked stunningly handsome while Louisa looked-- given the beauty of Keeley Hawes -- look formidably unkind and petty (but gratified that Mr. Ferrari & Company were even worse than the worst of the Durrells of Corfu.

That's part of the "mystery" of Leslie's popularity and endless redemption story lines .... now he's a policeman and not quite so embarassingly stupid and reckless, but he's still likely a "catch" with his English family, money and connections (he's got one of the few salary paying jobs) ... not some indistinguished local nobody who might well never NEVER score with the ladies (much less several). My vague memory is that Leslie never amounted to much, so all of his various "leaf-turning" amounted to little. Leslie -- born of local stock, impregnating young women -- would be lucky to escape waking up from a very bad beating to find himself the star of a shotgun wedding. Leslie, son of the nice English lady, gets paid to be a policeman ... because? And yet, there's a hint of recognition at the "privilege" that comes with having even the modest fortune and/or prospects of the Durrells. Margo alarms me by walking a fairly thin line between respectable and "bohemian" in a landscape of male farm worker types. Portraying local peasant types of "honest as the day is long" and somehow too charmed and fascinated not to victimize Marge or Jerry. We know or have learned that Jerry and Larry grow up to become "stars" international figures (and presumably make money enough) as if that redeems them. I don't want the show "darker" or "political" but a little self-awareness would be welcome ... Louisa's aimlessness and vacations from vacations from parenting. I suspect Larry (in particular) orbits home to keep an eye on Louisa and the other kids, but there's no reason, for example, that Gerry's education could not be fobbed off on Leslie, Larry AND Margo -- assuming they know anything and can spell.

I dunno. I thought they were hitting Louisa's drinking pretty hard last night (after previously largely avoiding the ugly true story of her drinking and depression and breakdowns, etc.) I thought we were nearing the end of the final season and discovered my error (there's a 4th season filming) )which I'm still adjusting to, having my usual difficulty with the "penniless" Durrells slumming on Corfu while well dressed and groomed and "carefree". I miss the doctor's wife in season 1 whose appraisal of Louisa (as full of airs and pretensions and uselessness) added tartness. Another season may well mean that "Margo's secret" is also explored (along with Louisa's drinking) which could bring a bit of unwelcome grimness to the story. (I was actually feeling affectionate about the show before discovering there was yet another series to come)

my local #2 PBS station (I have two, #1 more flush with funds and showing things in first run) is showing this and I must say I am enjoying it better a second time after the "shock" of various things has worn off. I still don't understand where this Jo sprung from, but that's true of most of the characters (who are hard to distinguish from some sort of paperdoll/stereotype -- the pretty one, the curmudgeon with a heart of gold, etc.) which is a weakness, because -- even if it's not mandatory that Jo be your favorite -- you should like her (and all of them). Amy similarly keeps reminding me of the irredeemably nasty-girl on Little House (and I never watched Little House) ... her ending up with Laurie becomes a horror, not a matter of settling well. Anyway, it's better than I remember, if overly dark (in a shallow way) ... I'm not sure why it's not as good as they wanted it to be. Emily Watson and the father and Gambon and even John seem to be flesh and blood. I felt Lansbury (who I love) was wasted behind all that make-up and sangfroid (the giving of the pearl necklace and other moments lacked punch emotional depth)

Joan and Endeavor reminded me a bit of the dilemma in Far From the Madding Crowd between Bathsheba and Gabriel Oakes (whom she does finally marry at the end of the story). She is "everything" he hopes for in a wife -- intelligent, lively, hard working, ambitious like himself. She sees someone unexciting and unpromising with the affrontery to suggest marriage as-if-she-would marry the first man who asked her. [deleted paragraph -- too error-filled to keep with apologies -- but I don't think he had much experience with a welcoming home to "come home" } The relaxed companionable Thursday family must have felt like some Norman Rockwell drawing of a "perfect family" where everyone cared about each other with affection. I thought they were done with Joan and Morse, with him recognizing that she's far from ready to settle down, particularly in a marriage "like her mothers" ... unfortunately we haven't been given much reason to find her interesting or think she's be a "good match" for Morse now or in the future. from Far From the Madding Crowd (quoting Gabriel): ""At home by the fire, whenever I look up, there you will be. And whenever you look up, there I shall be."" I suspect that's sort of predictability and domestic "bliss" is exactly what Joan wants to avoid ....

yes, in the age of virulent #metoo, to cut the context of Bright's affections for Trewlove is unconscionable ... sad, even tragic ... as if everyone were somehow on a par with the worst of us. I stopped watching the major-networks' true-crime programs when I began to feel complicit in the violence-towards-women as stellar programming meme ... yes, it seemed -- in the end -- it was always the husband who "deviously" murdered the wife to avoid having to "lose money" or stature in a likely, even pending, divorce .... almost a how-to ... with hints about what to do to avoid getting caught .... like the featured hubby. OH, 10, 20, 30 points to the writers for avoiding writing Trewlove as Damsel in Distress and giving the actress a solid role to bank on in her resume .... I never expect beautiful women actors to be treated with dignity and respect (as actors) -- my bad.,

No idea what Win knew or what Joan eventually might have told her. It was a shock to realize she might in anger use Joan's secrets to hurt her husband. She didn't. but she almost did. But it doesn't answer the question of what "secret" Win knew (and yes, I thought she was largely in the dark about sex, money, pregnancy, life style, etc.)

Worrall has a wonderful face and presence. I "totally" believed in her throughout, even as I realized how unlikely it all was, she was credible .... good job!! Yes, I think the headmaster assumed his promiscuous daughter was guilty (enough of something) to desperately need an alibi. The writers really to believe the world is filled with deeply-concerned-about-the-well-being of their daughters (if not their sons) --- rather touching. No one has mentioned Win's near betrayal of Joan -- yikes. Thursday didn't tell her and likely still hasn't told her everything about the loan ... as he waxes sage and forgiving about Joan's (secret to him) past .... I hope Endeavor is not forced to understand that Thursday falls a bit short of "best husband in the world". I don't particularly want Endeavor and Joan to have a relationship, but I'd like it both were left with "happy memories", no regrets and a clean slate. Yes, Morse and Trewlove: Morse can like women without immediately being determined to shag them (sooner rather than later). Anyone else suspect his dislike of Fancy was built on Fancy so perfectly playing the part, with his impeccable suits and perfect shoes and hair cut.... a perfect undertaker of a policeman (much like Thursday) ... Morse's "excuse" to be different, even an iconoclast has been and is that he's "more clever" (he's less secure than he pretends)

I thought there was an Ivory connection to Icarus but I'm certainly not finding one documented ... could also somehow be the "runty" kid seeking Ivory's approval/protection and STATUS (Dad figure) but ending up in terrible trouble because Ivory was really a most serious bad guy ... The nurse was played by Madeleine Worrall (Mrs. Seymour) who seemed terribly familiar but is mostly a stage actress ....