Comments on: He Knew He Was Right (2004) – A Darker Period Drama Featuring David Tennant

By: Autumn Topping

Autumn Topping — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 21:26:00 +0000

In reply to rosie1843. I definitely appreciate Trollope's more realistic look at relationships, and I do think we are meant to sympathize with Laura and Louis. Louis seemed to have a mental break. Their relationship was truly tragic.

By: Rissi

Rissi — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 19:41:00 +0000

In reply to rosie1843.

I think it’s true that Louis and Laura’s relationship is less about the “fairytale” (which is where Austen’s characters lean towards) and more about the fate of life intervening. That said, I never had much sympathy for Louis if I’m honest. I think he had a kind of obsession that wasn’t healthy. But, overall, I found this drama really interesting! It’s one I’d intended to watch for years, and am glad I finally did. 🙂 Do you have a favorite Trollope adaptation, Rosie?

By: rosie1843

rosie1843 — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 20:48:00 +0000

Today this is considered one of Trollope’s best works (according to the making-of DVD feature), but I’ve recently read (whether truth or fiction) that this was considered a failure by Trollope himself as he felt the leads weren’t sympathetic and instead, thought the people surrounding their lives were more interesting. There is some truth to this. I was caught up in Nora’s romantic liaison and found the stories of Mr. Gibson and his connection to the French family (one of his parishioner families) quite humorous, and then there was the story of an equally selfless and sweet character, Dorothy and her charming love story with Brooke.

I’ve always felt sympathetic toward Laura Trevelyan’s struggles with her husband. I never hated Louis Trevelyan, but I suspect that Victorian England’s sexist society and his own insecurities had led to the downward spiral of his marriage. I hate to say this, but in a way, I found Laura and Louis’ relationship more fascinating than any created by Jane Austen, because it seemed a bit more realistic.