Comments on: Sanditon Season 2 Review: Why the Romantic Period Drama Was Worth Saving

By: Ros Williams

Ros Williams — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:39:38 +0000

Also – no way would Colonel Lennox, who has a good status as Colonel and doesn’t like paying bills so will want a rich wife to pay them for him, waste his time on a girl who has NO MONEY AND NO PROSPECTS FOR ANY!!! Going on P&P, no lack of women fancying a scarlet coat…

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:37:16 +0000

In reply to Ros Williams. Thanks for your thoughts on the show! I always love reading other peoples' views on it!

By: Ros Williams

Ros Williams — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:17:06 +0000

Thanks for your interesting review!
My problem coming to Andrew Davies’ Sanditon was twofold. I was never quite happy with Darcy diving into a pool in P&P and definitely not with Charlotte coming across naked Sydney in Sanditon – poor Jane Austen, she didn’t deserve this silly prurience. However, Sanditon S.1, though not quite Austen, and not as good as that completed book by “Another Lady”, was very watchable. S.2 ditto though much less Austen but I’d rather have what we got than nothing.

Casting. Charlotte totally miscast. Such a waste. Immature and indiscreet and the simpering when she looks up at men is embarrassing. Bored rigid with her in S.1. Worse in S.2 as bored rigid with Colbourne too. Governessing would not be accepted by Austen for “a lady”, this is not Jane Eyre! Better if she had taken up Georgiana’s offer. As for Colbourne, urk. The character is an emotional mess and I can’t imagine him ever making a woman happy. But I do like his “daughter” and most especially his niece, so it would be right for Charlotte to encounter the family and visit them and “help the girls”.

Aspects I very much like – all the Parkers. I liked Sydney very much but the idea of him falling in love with silly simpering Charlotte was ridiculous. I couldn’t believe any of their “romantic scenes” and it was and is my feeling he was wise to say the relationship had gone far enough – it shouldn’t have started at all. I always felt the actor couldn’t believe in what he was forced to act. didn’t believe in it. Big mistake to try to pair these two – it needed a more mature Charlotte and a less cynical Sydney. Killing off Sydney probably the only option therefore.

Stringer? He wouldn’t “do” in Austen’s period of deeply strict (and really ugly at times) pernicketty class divisions, as we saw him in S.1, but for sure make him a huge success in London with plenty of money and he can return to Sanditon in triumph aka Anne’s sea captain in Persuasion. I wasn’t interested in this pair but he’d I expect do well for Charlotte and if you like that, OK.

My favourites in S.2 All the Parkers, Georgiana, Lockhart (the actor a top favourite of mine and I love his interpretation here), Augusta, Esther, Lady Denham, Clara, Edward, Colonel Lennox (what on earth did he see in Charlotte when there’s lovely Georgiana…?), Captain Fraser

Wishes for S.3. No more Colbourne. Sure marry Charlotte off to a successful Stringer. A nice beau for Augusta. Priority wish: Lockhart (I heard he will be in S.3) to prove he regretted his attack on Georgiana, it’s definitely LOVE ans respect since he met her, and they marry.They are ideally suited – both adventurous, want to travel, rebellious against stuffy society. No way would some society moneyed bore suit Georgiana. She and Lockhart find her mother. If S.3 marries her off to anyone else, they have ruined the whole series for me. What for naughty Edward? Something really nice for Arthur Parker and Tom Parker to be a huge and lasting success – and secure at last. Maybe that rich lady in S.1 whom Charlotte met will return to be his patron?! Beats me what she saw in Charlotte, but Tom is LOVELY and deserves to be secure at last.

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:12:01 +0000

In reply to Taya. It sounds like we're definitely on the same page. It was entertaining enough but it lacked wit and an original story.

By: Taya

Taya — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 14:30:04 +0000

Oh, it was as if I was reading my own thoughts on the screen!
I enjoyed season 2, sure. But it lacked the wit and passion of the 1st one. Not a single butterfly moment throughout. And all new male cast was slightly dissapointing to me (even wanted to stop watching after 1st episode, but decided to continue and didn’t regret it, all in all)
1st season had original plot, so exciting for Jane Austin fan who rewatched and reread everything there is multiple times. But this one was like rewatching the memories of all those movies. Still enjoyable, but nothing special. That being said I will watch season 3, just don’t have a lot of hopes for it.

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 16:36:43 +0000

In reply to Lita. It seems he was still a producer on the series but handed over the writing to someone else. I'm not sure why; perhaps he had other commitments. I agree, he is definitely the stronger of the two writers, but season 2 is still enjoyable overall. I did like Sidney though!

By: Lita

Lita — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 14:56:07 +0000

I enjoyed Season 2 but missed Andrew Davies’ writing and wit. Why was he replaced?
I’m happy with the way the story continued because I never liked Sydney’s personality, too sullen and critical all the time to make a wife happy.

By: SHW

SHW — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 01:26:02 +0000

I didn’t even know the fight was won for a S2 so had to catch it on AMZ (binged on one very appropriately rainy afternoon) and pleased to find S3 is scheduled. I personally enjoyed S2 better than S1 because the tawdriness was toned down and the plot better played up; and the Austenian “must hide my feelings” vibe was strong throughout, in that Charlotte had to publicly temper her grief as she said it wasn’t her place; additionally her world weariness was reflected in that while she wasn’t falling for Colonel Lennox, she def has a type (broody, misunderstood, tortured, tall, dark and handsome)! I believed the Charlotte/Xander romance better than I did the Alison/Cpt Fraser (though a nice secondary). The latter gal’s falling in/out/in love with two boys in one season echoed a little of Lydia (but far less obnoxious, whew). I’d like to see how BLH is allowed to develop Colbourne in depth; so far I’m loving how he portrayed him as a self-aware, fallible man who endeavors to be better at the arrival of his barely admitted muse in Charlotte. His repulsion of Lennox was nicely measured which speaks of excellent self-control despite being rightly indignant (balanced perhaps with the inner monologue that reminds him he partly contributed to that scenario?). He’s a comfortable Darcy figure with some nuance in that he denies opening himself fully to Charlotte in fear of repeating his past mistakes, and that deliberate pause would earn my respect. Looking forward to a happy ending for all the lovers in S3!

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:07:30 +0000

In reply to Mca. Thank you! Yeah, I'm hoping the same. :) Maybe I'll start to see what everyone else loves so much about Charlotte and Colbourne.

By: Mca

Mca — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 21:37:26 +0000

Very balanced review . I too I’m hoping S3 will develop their chemistry more because for me it was lacking . I only found this show this year and I adored S1 and I’m still trying to find closure on the ending … lol