S01.E01: Episode One

[Scarlett45]

Quote

Since she was six years old, Clare has had an imaginary friend: a kind and funny man, sometimes old, sometimes young, who appears in the woods behind her house and tells her tales of the future.

Air Date: May 15, 2022. 

[MzLiz]

Wow! That was really good! It’s going to suck to wait a whole week for the next installment. 

I feel so sorry for Henry. The poor guy. 

Theo does a phenomenal job here. Both leads are well cast. 

[Scarlett45]

16 minutes ago, MzLiz said:

Wow! That was really good! It’s going to suck to wait a whole week for the next installment. 

I feel so sorry for Henry. The poor guy. 

Theo does a phenomenal job here. Both leads are well cast. 

It was really good. I like the chemistry Theo and Rose have together. I like that with a series, we get to not only explore the love story, but a lot of metaphysical, psychological and philosophical theories behind time travel. 
 

If older you, could go back and give younger you advice, words of wisdom, warning etc- how different would that make our life choices? If we are drawn to people and times and leave an emotional mark on us, would we be more open? 
 

Nit Pick- Theo James is 37- they didn’t need to “age him” to make him 36! Give him the long hair as 28yrs old Henry, and then age him with crows feet and grey for older versions of himself (after 36). The hairstyles are a good indication of which Henry we are talking to that doesn’t cost a lot of money/time on set. For Claire her hair is longer at 20 and then shoulder length. 

[Ms Blue Jay]

Are you all fans of the book?  I'm a huge fan of the book who thought that the movie adaptation (starring Rachel McAdams) was really bad.

I wasn't as enamoured with this.  So far, it's better than the movie, but.  Rose played Claire as so smug, and Theo played Henry as kind of smug too.  I don't remember that from the book then again the book was released ages ago.

I thought that it was really goofy at first, but by the end, I kind of liked it, and I was definitely intrigued for the next episode.  The book is from 2003 (I cannot believe it's been that long) so they definitely brought things to 2008 with the music choices.  Claire used a phrase that you would NEVER hear in 2003. I forget what it was.  It was extremely modern.  

FYI, I know that the author pictured Sarah Polley in the role.  That was her pick.  When I was reading the book, I pictured Tori Amos.  Then I saw the actor who played Lolly on "Hindsight", Sarah Goldberg, and her look in that show reminded me of Tori too.  Searching my memory, I think the actor I pictured as Henry was Keanu Reeves.  He's aged out of it obviously.  Eric Bana was the most quizzical choice.  

That shot over and over again of the little girl's shoes with Henry's clothes folded next to them is the famous cover of the book.

Edited May 16, 2022 by Ms Blue Jay

[Enigma X]

I liked it and read the book. Honestly, I barely remember details of the book. I saw the movie too. I liked the movie but think I liked the book better. I was skeptical of the two leads before watching, but I enjoyed this episode and them.

[Whimsy]

I liked the book better.  

I thought Clare was way too manic.  I mean, I guess for her it was a long time coming, but she was just... I didn't like it.  I actually didn't feel the chemistry between them as the younger versions (20's) but maybe when I see more of them as they settle into their relationship more.  I also thought Rose's accent was TERRIBLE.  She slipped way too many times.  

I thought Theo did great, though.  He really brought the gravity to the role. I'll keep watching, but I really want to binge it.  Maybe I'll wait until it finishes airing, like I did with the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.  

[iMonrey]

I liked this! I'm a sucker for time travel stories though. And this one has lots of it. Anyone remember a show called Journeyman with Kevin McKidd? Similar premise about a man who spontaneously traveled through time.

Quote

Theo does a phenomenal job here. Both leads are well cast. 

I do like both of them, but it's odd that both characters are supposed to be American and they cast two Brits. Why not just cast Americans? Also, I kept thinking about the fact that Leslie played Gwen in Downton Abbey and Theo played Mr. Pamuk.

[Black Knight]

Reminder: This is a no-book-talk episode thread. We have a thread available for those who want to compare the book with the TV and/or film adaptations.

[Ms Blue Jay]

4 hours ago, iMonrey said:

I liked this! I'm a sucker for time travel stories though. And this one has lots of it. Anyone remember a show called Journeyman with Kevin McKidd? Similar premise about a man who spontaneously traveled through time.

I do like both of them, but it's odd that both characters are supposed to be American and they cast two Brits. Why not just cast Americans? Also, I kept thinking about the fact that Leslie played Gwen in Downton Abbey and Theo played Mr. Pamuk.

I wondered the SAME THING.

[Anela]

Theo sounds like Brad Pitt, and he's distractingly in shape. 

I wasn't feeling any chemistry with the younger versions, until they got to his apartment. Her argument was with someone she'd known a long time. I don't understand why he wouldn't want to know something that happens when they've met at different times, but he would tell her that they're married in the future. Maybe if he hadn't told her that, she wouldn't have seemed so aggressive at their first meeting. 

Their first meeting, and "I'm not brushing, I'm grooming" and his discomfort - I did think it was creepy that they first met when she was so little, and that her crush built up like that. 

 

I also wish that we had the whole season to binge - or even three episodes, like the others. I almost didn't watch, because I wasn't in a great mood, but I enjoyed it.

[Anela]

https://www.cinemablend.com/television/after-reviews-call-out-grooming-in-the-time-travelers-wife-writer-steven-moffat-responds-to-the-criticism

Quote

That’s not what the story is in the book or the film or the TV show. He’s married to her. He meets her as an adult, he falls in love with her, he gets married to her and then he’s flung back in time, through no fault of his own, and is confronted with the childhood version of the woman he already loves. Even more so in the TV show version, he absolutely makes it clear that he’s just a friend.

 

[Ms Blue Jay]

4 hours ago, Anela said:

Theo sounds like Brad Pitt, and he's distractingly in shape. 

Well it's certainly a lot of nudity!  LOL!  I don't blame him.  I wonder if he uses any body doubles.

[nomodrama]

4 hours ago, Anela said:

Their first meeting, and "I'm not brushing, I'm grooming" and his discomfort - I did think it was creepy that they first met when she was so little, and that her crush built up like that. 

This is one of my favorite books, I've re-read it several times over the years and as I've grown older my perspective has changed from thinking this was all super romantic to feeling like Claire was really robbed of a normal life but never did I feel like there was anything creepy or even "grooming" like happening. 

I was beyond excited to find out that this was going to be a series. I like the movie but I think it felt rushed, a series gives more time to focus on the details, though I'm not sure how I feel about the interview format that is happening. It will be interesting to see how that goes. 

I love Rose Leslie, but I agree she is playing Claire a bit smug. I'm not sure if I've ever felt that coming from the book, though her upbringing would certainly warrant it. I've not been a huge fan of Theo James' past work....but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Putting this next part with spoilers because I'm not sure the rules when it comes to book referencing.....

Spoiler

Why is he so old looking in the interview?.....he doesn't get that old in age in the book. 

I had no idea about the Downton Abbey reunion.....I didn't realize that Theo was Mr. Pamuck.....mind blown! 

[Anela]

1 hour ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

Well it's certainly a lot of nudity!  LOL!  I don't blame him.  I wonder if he uses any body doubles.

I understand - I remember an actor in the past, making the comment that everyone went to the gym, when their pilot was picked up - but I'm not that athletic (due to health issues, and a lack of motivation), and I start to wonder how he got so in shape. Diet, workout, etc. 

18 minutes ago, nomodrama said:

This is one of my favorite books, I've re-read it several times over the years and as I've grown older my perspective has changed from thinking this was all super romantic to feeling like Claire was really robbed of a normal life but never did I feel like there was anything creepy or even "grooming" like happening. 

I was beyond excited to find out that this was going to be a series. I like the movie but I think it felt rushed, a series gives more time to focus on the details, though I'm not sure how I feel about the interview format that is happening. It will be interesting to see how that goes. 

I love Rose Leslie, but I agree she is playing Claire a bit smug. I'm not sure if I've ever felt that coming from the book, though her upbringing would certainly warrant it. I've not been a huge fan of Theo James' past work....but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Putting this next part with spoilers because I'm not sure the rules when it comes to book referencing.....

  Reveal spoiler

Why is he so old looking in the interview?.....he doesn't get that old in age in the book. 

I had no idea about the Downton Abbey reunion.....I didn't realize that Theo was Mr. Pamuck.....mind blown! 

I loved the book, too, but I'm coming from the perspective of a woman whose sister got involved with a much older man, and he basically was all she knew. At least Claire dated other men. I'm bothered by the fact that he told her they got married in the future. He didn't want to know anything, but he told her they were married. 

Edited May 17, 2022 by Anela

[Ms Blue Jay]

17 minutes ago, Anela said:

I understand - I remember an actor in the past, making the comment that everyone went to the gym, when their pilot was picked up - but I'm not that athletic (due to health issues, and a lack of motivation), and I start to wonder how he got so in shape. Diet, workout, etc. 

I'm curious too.

[Whimsy]

7 hours ago, nomodrama said:

This is one of my favorite books, I've re-read it several times over the years and as I've grown older my perspective has changed from thinking this was all super romantic to feeling like Claire was really robbed of a normal life but never did I feel like there was anything creepy or even "grooming" like happening. 

I was beyond excited to find out that this was going to be a series. I like the movie but I think it felt rushed, a series gives more time to focus on the details, though I'm not sure how I feel about the interview format that is happening. It will be interesting to see how that goes. 

I love Rose Leslie, but I agree she is playing Claire a bit smug. I'm not sure if I've ever felt that coming from the book, though her upbringing would certainly warrant it. I've not been a huge fan of Theo James' past work....but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Putting this next part with spoilers because I'm not sure the rules when it comes to book referencing.....

  Reveal spoiler

Why is he so old looking in the interview?.....he doesn't get that old in age in the book. 

I had no idea about the Downton Abbey reunion.....I didn't realize that Theo was Mr. Pamuck.....mind blown! 

I agree.  I never thought he was "grooming" her so that word choice in the script was very bad.  They should've realized the other connotation.  I did, however, feel like Henry never gave Claire a chance as soon as he told her they were married. 

I also felt it was a little rushed, but I think it's for the non-book/non-movie people to quickly catch on to the premise.  I hope it slows down a bit more after this episode.  

Re the book talk- there's a thread for that and we're not supposed to talk books at all in the episode threads, but I agree with you about your spoiler.  That confused me too. 

[Mrs Shibbles]

I think the “grooming” line was the show’s way of addressing/ eliminating the possible creep factor of a grown man visiting a little girl given the current social climate. 

Edited May 17, 2022 by Mrs Shibbles

[iMonrey]

Quote

I agree.  I never thought he was "grooming" her so that word choice in the script was very bad.  They should've realized the other connotation.  I did, however, feel like Henry never gave Claire a chance as soon as he told her they were married. 

It's just an inevitable paradox. That's what makes it so fascinating, to me anyway. From his perspective, he first meets her when he's 28 and falls in love with her and marries her. At some point after that, he's flung into the past and meets her as a child. He doesn't tell her immediately he's married to her in the future, but there are many subsequent meetings over the years and eventually he does. Would they have never married if he hadn't told her they were married? Would she never have married him if she hadn't already met him all those times throughout her life? It's a classic chicken or the egg conundrum.

[catsitter]

I was quite put off Henry by the way he beat that guy up to get his clothes. Also I was confused by the bit at the beginning where they were seemingly being interviewed about the time travel thing. Is it supposed to be a secret from everybody or not? He seemed loth to tell his friend in the library about it. If it needs to be kept secret, why? And if it does need to be kept secret, why would they do the interviews? 

Rose Leslie's accent still isn't great.

[Black Knight]

9 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Would they have never married if he hadn't told her they were married? Would she never have married him if she hadn't already met him all those times throughout her life? It's a classic chicken or the egg conundrum.

I feel it's a bit of a personality test. Claire obviously loved the "destiny" aspect, but not everyone would. I will always side-eye Henry for telling her, though. I read a lot of science fiction, and usually in the time travel stories, the future people try very hard to avoid telling people in the past anything about the future, ironically usually because they actually view that as a way in which they might risk changing the future (which needs to remain unchanged to avoid time travel paradox or whatever). There are enough people who are contrary enough to try to do something differently ("try," because in some time travel stories the future has a way of always re-railing).

[Haleth]

23 hours ago, Whimsy said:

I never thought he was "grooming" her so that word choice in the script was very bad. 

I think it was deliberate.  It set off alarm bells for him to tread lightly with child Claire.  No matter what their relationship would grow to be he had to keep some distance between them.

[Whimsy]

32 minutes ago, Haleth said:

I think it was deliberate.  It set off alarm bells for him to tread lightly with child Claire.  No matter what their relationship would grow to be he had to keep some distance between them.

I guess, but I don't think the word "grooming" was so much in every day terminology back then like it is now.  

[iMonrey]

Quote

 I read a lot of science fiction, and usually in the time travel stories, the future people try very hard to avoid telling people in the past anything about the future, ironically usually because they actually view that as a way in which they might risk changing the future (which needs to remain unchanged to avoid time travel paradox or whatever).

Yeah and one of the other common "rules" for time traveling is not to run into your past/future self lest the universe implode or something. I'm happy to see that notion dispensed with here. I've often wanted to go back in time and advise my younger self. 

Henry apparently has no control over where or when he goes, so the fact that he is consistently thrown back to Claire's past seems like destiny. He also knows that when he first met Claire (from his perspective, at age 28) she told him that he told her they were married in the future. So he already knows he is going to tell her that at some point because he already did it, from her perspective. 

[Enigma X]

For a person who hates time travel stories (me), I sure like the overall story line gist of many different forms of art based on time travel (this book, Doctor Who, Sliders, Outlander [the book], Quantum Leap, Dark, and more). But much of what is being discussed here is why I hate time travel stories. Le sigh... I know I am contradicting myself (much like time travel).

[Ms Blue Jay]

23 hours ago, catsitter said:

I was quite put off Henry by the way he beat that guy up to get his clothes.

Yes, I felt the same.  The show revealed that Henry sees this as a disability and that must be why he feels justified and entitled to other people's things.  It's hard for us to wrap our mind around though, because it's so out of the realm of possibility in our world and obviously we see time travel as a privilege.  

[Scarlett45]

On 5/17/2022 at 3:16 PM, iMonrey said:

It's just an inevitable paradox. That's what makes it so fascinating, to me anyway. From his perspective, he first meets her when he's 28 and falls in love with her and marries her. At some point after that, he's flung into the past and meets her as a child. He doesn't tell her immediately he's married to her in the future, but there are many subsequent meetings over the years and eventually he does. Would they have never married if he hadn't told her they were married? Would she never have married him if she hadn't already met him all those times throughout her life? It's a classic chicken or the egg conundrum.

The theory of time travel where it is a loop, and everything that happens was destined to. The other big theory is where time travel is like tree, and each change makes a branch. 

[Scarlett45]

2 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

Yes, I felt the same.  The show revealed that Henry sees this as a disability and that must be why he feels justified and entitled to other people's things.  It's hard for us to wrap our mind around though, because it's so out of the realm of possibility in our world and obviously we see time travel as a privilege.  

Beating up the guy was unnecessary and showed that Henry has a lot of anger and some serious personality defects. I didn’t feel this way when he stole clothes out of the laundry mat- I mean he’s NAKED, he’s got to do something to survive until he gets snapped back. 
 

I can wrap my head around his seeing this as a disability- because he can’t CONTROL it at all. Anything you cannot control can disable you. Who wants to just pop up NAKED in random places and have no idea when you’ll get “home”? No control over where you go or whom you’re going to encounter? Flying would be a cool super power, but I don’t just want to levitate against my will. 

On 5/17/2022 at 4:56 PM, catsitter said:

I was quite put off Henry by the way he beat that guy up to get his clothes. Also I was confused by the bit at the beginning where they were seemingly being interviewed about the time travel thing. Is it supposed to be a secret from everybody or not? He seemed loth to tell his friend in the library about it. If it needs to be kept secret, why? And if it does need to be kept secret, why would they do the interviews? 

Rose Leslie's accent still isn't great.

Maybe something changes (socially or with Henry himself) between 28 year old Henry who’s keeping it a a secret and the middle aged Henry (with the mostly grey hair).

[Whimsy]

I think showing Henry at 28 who beat up the guy for the clothes shows how angry Henry was at that time. Seeing Henry the same day at a much older and calmer time in his life shows that he starts to grow, settle and is not so angry at the world. Probably due to Claire being a constant (as an adult) in his life. 

[Bill1978]

I remember when the movie came out thinking it had an interesting premise, but then it got mixed reviews and I forgot to make time to watch it and now in 2022 there is a TV series. So I have no idea what is going on but after this episode, I am going to have to try really really hard not to watch the movie to see what happens. Cause I'm guessing it involves more than just Henry jumping around in time before he presumably dies and we all cry buckets of tears with Claire.

I really enjoyed it, I really appreciated the little tidbits of future/past events that were then shown to us so we could understand Henry's time travelling experience. I thought they were well done. I admit I chuckled at the grooming line - you just know they through that in there to acknowledge and ward off the Twitterverse. But they also made it very. very clear that older Henry has no intention of being anything more than an 'imaginary friend' to young Claire.

That wig they put Theo James in for older Henry makes him look like Dermot Mulroney and was a bit distracting. I wasn't a fan of Claire-20's outburst at Henry-28 having a girlfriend. What did she expect Henry to do, sit around and wait for her? Although I do get the whole thing of he should have told her he had a current girlfriend but still...

I like how Henry is allowed to interact with himself and not cause any major time travel mumbo jumbo time continuum crap that often occurs in time travel stuff. I also appreciate the rule that time travelling causes you to lose your clothes. I am more than happy to have Henry time travel every 5 minutes and see where he travels to. Cause I am shallow. Just don't do any plot exposition until he is clothed.

[LadyIrony]

Never read the book but I do love the movie. I thought it was going to be a comedy take on it when it started, the way the interview style started off had that feel to it for me. I stuck with it and it paid off, I am enjoying it. Rose Leslie comes off more as a crazy girlfriend than Rachel McAdams vulnerable lovelorn girl. 

I do feel like they may over do it with so many Henry's turning up in the same time period, seems to me there might be some element of sub conscious control over it after all. Not to mention we do know he turns up many times in the forest behind Claire's house. 

I think seeing his savage side is critical to the story, it's not an easy life for him. He appears naked in random settings and often at night. Most people's reaction to a naked guy would be that he is nuts and we have also seen a lot of Alpha male posturing where guys just want to fight him. It adds a danger to his condition rather than just always appearing in the forest and having the clothes there for him that Claire leaves. 

Edited May 23, 2022 by LadyIrony

[Scarlett45]

51 minutes ago, LadyIrony said:

I think seeing his savage side is critical to the story, it's not an easy life for him. He appears naked in random settings and often at night. Most people's reaction to a naked guy would be that he is nuts and we have also seen a lot of Alpha male posturing where guys just want to fight him. It adds a danger to his condition rather than just always appearing in the forest and having the clothes there for him that Claire leaves. 

I agree. I don’t blame Henry for it, but I can see how it would make him hard to be in a relationship with. 

[Quickbeam]

I really enjoyed it. The leads are excellent. I let the time travel physics flow over me. I’m good at hand waving away problematic stuff. 

[LadyIrony]

On 5/22/2022 at 9:45 AM, Bill1978 said:

I remember when the movie came out thinking it had an interesting premise, but then it got mixed reviews and I forgot to make time to watch it and now in 2022 there is a TV series. So I have no idea what is going on but after this episode, I am going to have to try really really hard not to watch the movie to see what happens. Cause I'm guessing it involves more than just Henry jumping around in time before he presumably dies and we all cry buckets of tears with Claire.

I really enjoyed it, I really appreciated the little tidbits of future/past events that were then shown to us so we could understand Henry's time travelling experience. I thought they were well done. I admit I chuckled at the grooming line - you just know they through that in there to acknowledge and ward off the Twitterverse. But they also made it very. very clear that older Henry has no intention of being anything more than an 'imaginary friend' to young Claire.

That wig they put Theo James in for older Henry makes him look like Dermot Mulroney and was a bit distracting. I wasn't a fan of Claire-20's outburst at Henry-28 having a girlfriend. What did she expect Henry to do, sit around and wait for her? Although I do get the whole thing of he should have told her he had a current girlfriend but still...

I like how Henry is allowed to interact with himself and not cause any major time travel mumbo jumbo time continuum crap that often occurs in time travel stuff. I also appreciate the rule that time travelling causes you to lose your clothes. I am more than happy to have Henry time travel every 5 minutes and see where he travels to. Cause I am shallow. Just don't do any plot exposition until he is clothed.

There is some mention of that or similar in the film as well. It is clear that young Claire sees Henry as a pseudo boyfriend of sorts, something to practice her flirting and communicating with males with. Because he is so mysterious and known only to her it also allows her to form the idea of him being a fantasy or perfect male type. What is interesting is if there is any "Grooming" at all going on it is  Claire grooming herself for this guy! I won't ruin the film for you but there is some interesting interactions in it as well. 

What would be fun is if Henry appears somewhere where nudity is acceptable! Like he turns up nude in an art class or on stage as a male stripper etc. It would make a nice break from the "hit the ground running" approach! He could just take a break and go with it!

[PurpleTentacle]

If Henry can remember every day he travels back to his child-bride and dictates a journal to her, wouldn't it be a good idea to also memorise when he starts his travels and give those dates to his younger self, so he isn't surprised every time? He'd always know and could stick 100 bucks up his butt before it happens. No more arriving totally broke in another time.

On the show overall: The acting is very good. I really like Rose Leslie. The plot is okay. But the premise is seriously, seriously creepy. They tried to make light of it at some point, but it still squicks me out. Let's see if I can get over it.

On 5/17/2022 at 2:03 PM, Whimsy said:

I never thought he was "grooming" her so that word choice in the script was very bad.  They should've realized the other connotation.

They did realise. They just tried to make light of it, with that line. It did not work.

Edited May 25, 2022 by PurpleTentacle

[ottoDbusdriver]

On 5/16/2022 at 11:17 AM, iMonrey said:

I liked this! I'm a sucker for time travel stories though. And this one has lots of it. Anyone remember a show called Journeyman with Kevin McKidd? Similar premise about a man who spontaneously traveled through time.

I remember Journeyman -- it was pretty good, but was cancelled after one season back in 2007.

I enjoyed this. Never read the book or saw the movie, but I'm kind of curious 'how' and 'why' Henry is travelling through time.

And the detached feet at the end of the episode in the alley -- that was definitely ..... different.
Interesting to note that old Henry was sitting in what appears to be a wheelchair after he disappears while making the recording -- is that because he already lost his feet ?
 

Edited May 28, 2022 by ottoDbusdriver

[PWHCHCH]

Interestingly one of their encounters in the notebook was September 11 2001. Wonder if that’ll be important later. 

[LadyIrony]

On 5/26/2022 at 4:24 AM, PurpleTentacle said:

If Henry can remember every day he travels back to his child-bride and dictates a journal to her, wouldn't it be a good idea to also memorise when he starts his travels and give those dates to his younger self, so he isn't surprised every time? He'd always know and could stick 100 bucks up his butt before it happens. No more arriving totally broke in another time.

On the show overall: The acting is very good. I really like Rose Leslie. The plot is okay. But the premise is seriously, seriously creepy. They tried to make light of it at some point, but it still squicks me out. Let's see if I can get over it.

They did realise. They just tried to make light of it, with that line. It did not work.

Within the story itself Henry is always proper with Claire. I feel Claire, even from a young age has her eyes and heart set on him. She is grooming him and although it's still weird I guess that is how they feel they are getting around the whole issue.

Claire seems to be the only constant in his life. Although I do find its odd that it's always 43 y.o Henry turning up in the woods. I know it's a silly premise but they could have tried harder to make it more plausible.

Edited June 5, 2022 by LadyIrony

[Ms Blue Jay]

On 5/15/2022 at 11:50 PM, Ms Blue Jay said:

FYI, I know that the author pictured Sarah Polley in the role.  That was her pick.  When I was reading the book, I pictured Tori Amos.  Then I saw the actor who played Lolly on "Hindsight", Sarah Goldberg, and her look in that show reminded me of Tori too.  Searching my memory, I think the actor I pictured as Henry was Keanu Reeves.  He's aged out of it obviously.  Eric Bana was the most quizzical choice.  

I see that Sarah Goldberg is on "Barry" now.  I have never watched Barry so I keep forgetting.

Edited June 13, 2022 by Ms Blue Jay

[LadyIrony]

On 5/16/2022 at 1:50 PM, Ms Blue Jay said:

Are you all fans of the book?  I'm a huge fan of the book who thought that the movie adaptation (starring Rachel McAdams) was really bad.

I wasn't as enamoured with this.  So far, it's better than the movie, but.  Rose played Claire as so smug, and Theo played Henry as kind of smug too.  I don't remember that from the book then again the book was released ages ago.

I thought that it was really goofy at first, but by the end, I kind of liked it, and I was definitely intrigued for the next episode.  The book is from 2003 (I cannot believe it's been that long) so they definitely brought things to 2008 with the music choices.  Claire used a phrase that you would NEVER hear in 2003. I forget what it was.  It was extremely modern.  

FYI, I know that the author pictured Sarah Polley in the role.  That was her pick.  When I was reading the book, I pictured Tori Amos.  Then I saw the actor who played Lolly on "Hindsight", Sarah Goldberg, and her look in that show reminded me of Tori too.  Searching my memory, I think the actor I pictured as Henry was Keanu Reeves.  He's aged out of it obviously.  Eric Bana was the most quizzical choice.  

That shot over and over again of the little girl's shoes with Henry's clothes folded next to them is the famous cover of the book.

Not having read the book I quite enjoyed the film. I thought Rachel was a good choice, kind of innocent looking. I find Rose Leslie to be harsh looking for the role and I agree she does play Claire as smug. 

Someone like Tori Amos would have been great for the role, kind of old school, whimsical looking, Sarah Goldberg and Sarah Polley also would have been good. 

Zooey Deschanel would have worked too. 

In Australia Eric Bana was known for playing comedy characters on skit shows so it was surprising to see him get roles in big budget Hollywood films. Same with Rebel Wilson who was not very well known in Australia and also did skits on comedy shows. Eric seems to have shunned the limelight though whereas Rebel looks for it lol. 

Edited June 15, 2022 by LadyIrony

[Ms Blue Jay]

15 minutes ago, LadyIrony said:

In Australia Eric Bana was known for playing comedy characters on skit shows so it was surprising to see him get roles in big budget Hollywood films.

That's so interesting.  I definitely think of him as a big hulky action star.

[LadyIrony]

10 minutes ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

That's so interesting.  I definitely think of him as a big hulky action star.

This is Eric playing one his characters "Poida" (Peter) the joke might be lost in translation but "Poida" is what we call a Bogan in Australia, or a Redneck to use American terminology, an uncultured person. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl_6jABTmS0

Edited June 15, 2022 by LadyIrony

[Anela]

4 hours ago, LadyIrony said:

Not having read the book I quite enjoyed the film. I thought Rachel was a good choice, kind of innocent looking. I find Rose Leslie to be harsh looking for the role and I agree she does play Claire as smug. 

Someone like Tori Amos would have been great for the role, kind of old school, whimsical looking, Sarah Goldberg and Sarah Polley also would have been good. 

Zooey Deschanel would have worked too. 

In Australia Eric Bana was known for playing comedy characters on skit shows so it was surprising to see him get roles in big budget Hollywood films. Same with Rebel Wilson who was not very well known in Australia and also did skits on comedy shows. Eric seems to have shunned the limelight though whereas Rebel looks for it lol. 

The book was apparently written with Sarah Polley in mind, but she hasn't acted since she's had children. I'm reading her book, right now.