Comments on: ‘Sanditon’ Season 3 Review – A Feel-Good Final Series for the Fans

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:50:15 +0000

In reply to Juliana. Great thoughts! Thanks for sharing.

By: Juliana

Juliana — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 23:56:36 +0000

Nice review! Regarding Georgiana, and many characters, I share most of the opinions there. But personally, I felt Charlotte’s arch was very underwhelming. She did close to nothing relevant half the episodes. Her character had little reason for being there most of the time, other than looking teary eyed and/or upset. It pains me to say, but she grew boring for me. I felt she had more potential other than being all the time defined/afected by how Alexander acted. And then, her making the same mistakes encouraging Augusta to follow impulses as she did for Georgiana in the 1st season… overall, the 3rd season became my least favourite, mainly because of the Edward/Augusta romance and Charlotte aparently loosing her spirits. She was passive, almost coward, barely the same person as the previous seasons. And then Augusta became a cliché, suddenly stripped of the intelligence and sharpness she displayed in the prior season… her personality was transformed into a shallow version of what it was. And the whole time, I could not buy in the slighest the love between her and Edward, it felt flat, no chemistry or real opportunity to develope, no reason for it existing other then the plot needing it to happen. I could not see why they liked or felt atracted to each other, what similarities or qualities they shared that justified her being so much in love. His “redemption” felt forced and artificial, he hardly felt genuine or natural beside her, it looked simply as groomer behaviour. It did not land for me. Ah, and Tom. He was not much of a surprise for me, but at least this season his big f*** up (pardon my french) wasn’t regarding money, they varied it a little bit heheh. He let Mary down once more, that much he was able to remain consistent *bitter sarcastic laugh*

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Wed, 10 May 2023 15:33:40 +0000

In reply to Lucy no. 2!. They definitely are very passionate! Thanks for your thoughts. :)

By: Lucy no. 2!

Lucy no. 2! — Wed, 10 May 2023 14:44:32 +0000

In reply to Amber Topping. Yes absolutely! Sanditon fans have got to be some of the most passionate fans in the world. Many of those who have not been too impressed with the new direction have simply tried to be supportive of the fandom by only speaking publicly on twitter on what they do like. But in private or in dedicated safe spaces, the conversations are very different and so many are still so sad for what was lost and what could've have been. Fan fiction continues to thrive three years on, with so many ideas of where the story could've have gone instead, as such it is a huge comfort but also a reminder of the missed opportunities. But it's always good to reality check that fandom does not make it the vast majority of viewership, and yes the reception when looking at general SM is mixed

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Tue, 09 May 2023 15:08:25 +0000

In reply to Lucy. Thank you! I am always honest in my reviews - whether it's a popular viewpoint or not.

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Tue, 09 May 2023 15:07:18 +0000

In reply to Lucy. It could be that the numerous voices on social media make it "seem" that way! But you're probably right. I imagine it's more mixed.

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Tue, 09 May 2023 15:06:18 +0000

In reply to Lucy.

Thank you for your well-thought-out comment! I love to hear other people’s thoughts about the show! I agree that Andrew Davies is a more gifted, experienced writer – making him better equipped to interpret Austen’s unfinished work. It will be interesting to see how Sanditon stands the test of time. 🙂

By: Lucy

Lucy — Mon, 08 May 2023 10:01:18 +0000

In reply to Lucy.

I just came back to look at your review again and wanted to make clear that this is a different Lucy to the one above
But I agree with her comments. Surely the job of a reviewer is to give honest opinions, and that’s what you’ve done. There is much to enjoy in Sanditon 2&3 but the main love story doesn’t work, sadly. We shouldn’t have to try and like it if we’re not feeling it. The impartial reviews I’ve read tend to agree with you, and if you look at comments by general viewers they are very mixed.
Charlotte finally got her HEA but seems to have lost something of herself along the way.
Lastly, Sidney didn’t mistreat Charlotte at the end of S1 – it was presented to us that he had to sacrifice their happiness to save his family. The fact that the actor declined to return doesn’t alter that fact.
But you’re right, this show has provoked a lot of discussion, creativity and even friendships, so that’s definitely something to celebrate!

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sat, 06 May 2023 21:03:42 +0000

Don’t be so sure that “most” fans love Heybourne. Perhaps it’s safe to say those that preferred S2 over S1 do. But in reality amongst those S1 that fought so hard for S2 and for many others too, Charlotte’s new love story just did not work. Inadequate build up, inadequate exploration of reasons for her attraction to him, lack of natural chemistry, his unattractive character traits, the way it became all about HIS issues when Charlotte was in pain, no evidence that he helped Charlotte learn lessons or develop, plus the fact that the real Charlotte (sprited, principled, honest) seemed to have gone permanently awol, are all reasons for this. It was heartening that Georgiana’s story concluded much more satisfyingly at least.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sat, 06 May 2023 19:38:56 +0000

That was a very fair and well balanced review, thank you!
I’m a self-confessed Season 1 fan and loved the pairing of Sidney and Charlotte. I found their story exciting, magical, enchanting, tender, heartbreaking. It would have been difficult for any new romance to surpass that and we all know that without the appeal of that pairing, the show wouldn’t have been renewed for 2 further seasons.
So Season 2 was kind of tragic for me and I approached it in a detached way and analysed it more clinically, although there were some fun moments and lines that made me laugh. But there were lots of ways they could have dealt with Charlotte’s story (grief, loss, heartbreak, recovery) better… her treatment by Colbourne at the end of S2 just made things worse. I felt depressed afterwards. Georgiana’s story wasn’t all that great in S2 either, and let’s not even talk about Esther and Edward… (why bring him back to groom a teenager? Yuk.)
So although Season 3 may be fun for all these new couples and minor characters we don’t particularly care that much about (apart from Arthur, kudos for skimming the subject of LGBT romance I guess), and thank goodness they FINALLY gave Georgiana a better storyline and addressed the issues around her character and the historical context, ultimately Season 2 and 3 do not have the same emotional appeal as Season 1, and I don’t think they ever will. I totally agree with what you say about the derivative plots, scenes and lines as well – Season 1 had its faults but Andrew Davies understood how to interpret the themes of Austen’s fragment and create a believable historical world. Seasons 2 and 3 are a strange mix of fantasy land, disturbing misogny and recycled period dramas, with very little connection to the original fragment.
We’ll see, but I’m pretty sure in years to come, Season 1 and the Sidney/Charlotte pairing will stay in the collective memory longer, not least for the way it brought fans together from all over the world. S2&3 are entertaining, but has inserting a different actor in a puffy white shirt speaking Mr Darcy’s lines really healed our hearts from that devastating clifftop ending? I don’t think so.