S01.E02: Episode 2.2

[magdalene]

I was wrong, he is the father, not the brother.  Come on, what is the big deal with the dead wife?  Why all the tedious secrets?  Was she some run-away kings daughter, or something?

I feel sorry for the household staff having to put up with the obnoxious mother.

[Suzysite]

13 hours ago, magdalene said:

I feel sorry for the household staff having to put up with the obnoxious mother.

Yes.  Why is everyone such a caricature?   It's bad enough that there's virtually no plot, not to mention how slow and secretive it is, but the characters are also flat and one-note.  If we had any other options in this current TV desert, I'd be gone.

[buttersister]

It's all so pretty. And so lame. Clearly they spent a lot of money, but just as surely, they didn't invest in the script. What a waste.

[twoods]

I agree. It’s so boring but I’m still watching because it’s absolutely beautiful. I have no idea why the aunt was such a bitch to his mom and the governess. They are all such crappy characters with zero redeeming characteristics so far.

[HoodlumSheep]

Mrs. Patmore's constant yelling is super grating. I do not like the mother at all. And no, i'm never gonna stop referring to her as Mrs. Patmore.

[Shanna Marie]

Clearly, younger brother has watched British television before because he knows Marc Warren is sure to be sketchy. No one else seems to have clued in. But younger brother isn't smart enough to know that having sex on the lawn furniture isn't exactly discreet. At least close the curtains.

I keep feeling like they're dragging out exposition just to build suspense, not because the characters have good reason not to be talking to each other.

[Kohola3]

14 hours ago, HoodlumSheep said:

Mrs. Patmore's constant yelling is super grating. I do not like the mother at all. And no, i'm never gonna stop referring to her as Mrs. Patmore.

Yeah, she's quite the opposite of our beloved Mrs. P. However, her attitudes are quite "normal' (if you can call it that) for a British subject in India at that time.  Think of it as the British version of The Ugly American.  Non-British people were considered pretty much savages. And upper class treated the lower class the same way.  

Sadly, the fears of the Indians falling under British rule came to fruition in 1858.

[TrininisaScorp]

I adore Leo Suter b/c I loved Young Stringer in Sanditon.  He's probably one of the few redeeming characters here too.  Daniel is a bit of rogue, but  he's the only one suspecting the partner of villainy. I hope he isn't just playing Chanchal b/c based on the nature of this soap-y type of thing, I would expect that she's going to be knocked up from their tryst in the canopy, and where in the world would that leave her?!  Also, the actor playing Baddill is so sweet with his soulful eyes, but I can't figure out if it disappointment he feels or whether there is a want here for vengeance against Daniel.   

Leslie Nichols is wonderful, but the character is so over the top one note in her disparaging everything "native".  I know that was the prevailing attitude against the Indian population at that time by white Brits, but, lawd, give me layers.

I think Miss Osbourne veers a bit into Mary Sue territory, but that actress was great in Endeavour, so I'm happy to see her here.

The lavish nature of the costumes are just great.  Even looking at the class differences in royalty, servants, and more common ppl in the market, you could see the attention to detail.   The sets, especially Beecham House itself are incredible. 

I see no harm in continuing to watch, but it isn't my favorite.  It is a pretty thing to pass the time, and I'm okay with that. 

[Kohola3]

22 minutes ago, TrininisaScorp said:

Also, the actor playing Baddill is so sweet with his soulful eyes, but I can't figure out if it disappointment he feels or whether there is a want here for vengeance against Daniel. 

I think Baadal is loving Chanchal from afar and Daniel has grabbed his prize.  He doesn't (at this point) seem the vengeful type but I guess it's possible.  He probably knows he doesn't stand a chance against a rich Englishman.  Daniel might not be rich himself but John seems to take care of the whole brood.

[seacliffsal]

I am so over lead actors speaking more in a grovelly whisper rather than just speaking in a normal voice.  I guess it's so they'll appear to be "sexy and dangerous."  I find the lead character (John?) boring and don't really care about his mysterious background.  How I wish this show was more entertaining as I find the visuals just amazing.  I was in India in the early 1980s and vistied/stayed at many of the locales that are being featured.  

Had no idea how close John was to the person who was killed while transporting the birthday gift because I don't recall seeing that relationship in the previous episode.  John-just tell everyone about your past and it will be amazing how many of the tensions will die down.  

I am in until the end because of the visuals-not because of the mysteries or main story line.