Julian Fellowes' Titanic Miniseries--anyone watch?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/22/12 at 8:14pm

Episode one aired last night here in Canada, with the next three to air subsequent Wednesdays. It looks like ABC in the US is airing it in April, and I'm not sure if it's aired in the UK yet (it was a UK/Canada co-production). Did anyone else watch? I liked it, and liked the time structure, though for good and bad I definitely get a Downton vibe (and Gosford Park for that matter) with the class differences, the "downstairs" crew and servants, etc, but I suppose that's a fair take on the Titanic.

[romantico]

Posted: 3/22/12 at 8:18pm

I am looking forward to seeing it. I would imagine they would promote it rather heavily here in the States before it airs. I wonder if a character named Patrick Crowley will appear in this Titanic mini series.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 7:13pm

Guys! Please! No spoilers!

This doesn't air on UK TV 'til Sunday evening.

I want my soul to be kept pure until then.

And no conjecture either; Patrick Crawley indeed!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 9:07pm

I read that in season 2 Shirley MacLaine shows up!

Oh, sorry Scripps...

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 9:36pm

You mean, like, the ship doesn't sink at the end of series one?

Now that is an original take on the story!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/24/12 at 2:32pm

I believe Fellowes has said series two takes place on an increasingly shrinking iceberg. The upstairs/downstairs aspect has a lot of scuba gear involved.

S hit, I ruined the show for everyone

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 3/25/12 at 7:57pm

Looks good, I definitely will be watching, though from the trailer it looks very like Titanic, the movie.

Eric, when you say you like the time structure, what do mean? Is it told through flashback or something?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/25/12 at 8:31pm

Yes it skips around--it's not all flashback by any means.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/30/12 at 1:41am

Well episode two was a HUGE improvement--really the Americans are smart (I rarely say that, i know) to air two episodes at a time, as it really made the first episode come together. Because of how each episode seems to be structured--each basically going from just when the ship is done building to the climax of the crash, after the first episode you do feel a bit lost--so much is alluded to but never explained, characters make appearances and you have no idea who they are.

This is really what makes it brilliant as the next episode fills in some of those holes as it focuses on other characters as they intersect with scenes and characters we already saw--it sounds gimmicky, but really works adding suspense that wouldn't be there otherwise--we all know the ending save for who lives and who dies I guess--and also helps give a sense of just how many different lives and stories were all going on at once on that massive ship.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 4:22am

The first episode did feel rather odd - the ship seemed to start sinking before the characters were well-established and I only realised they were playing with the time-lines when they showed the and-in-next-week's-episode sequence at the end.

It was scheduled on UK TV directly opposite the final episode of the new series of Upstairs Downstairs (which continues to be atrocious) and Homeland. I can't find a thread on here for Homeland but that's definitely my first priority of the three.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 4:34am

It really does come together, or start to, though I still get the impression that every storyline could use an extra episode. Homeland's great--it would probably be my priority of them as well.

[romantico]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 12:06pm

When will this be shown here in the USA?

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 12:48pm

I googled it- It's on Apr. 14th and 15th.

[romantico]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 12:54pm

Thanks. I'll be sure to watch.

[Almira]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 1:16pm

I'm leery of Julian Fellows and his conservative slant on master/servant relationships.

He'll probably have the steerage passengers contentedly placing the guests from the captain's table into lifeboats, followed by scene where the music swells and the crew honorably and fearlessly sink to their deaths knowing they've done the "right" thing.

or...

He'll have a third class passenger (a radical left-winger, of course) crack the skull of a first class passenger's child, throw the body into the ocean and take her spot on the lifeboat for himself, all the while spouting quotes from Emma Goldman.

Just a guess.

Updated On: 3/31/12 at 01:16 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 3/31/12 at 1:58pm

Titanic enthusiasts might be interested in Saving the Titanic, a drama (or docu-drama?) told from the point of view of the men deep down in the boiler room. Looks like it could be good. PBS tomorrow night.

Preview

[redmustang]

Posted: 4/2/12 at 3:57pm

Airs on ABC in the USA:

Saturday, April 14, 8P - 11P (1st 3 episodes back-to-back)
Sunday, April 15 9P - 10P

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/2/12 at 5:37pm

"I'm leery of Julian Fellows and his conservative slant on master/servant relationships."

I don't have a particular problem with his writing, and I don't have a problem when a bit part actor gets a lucky break with a film script, and I don't have a problem when that leads to other writing success but I do have a problem when he gets a (Conservative) seat in the House of Lords; other higher achievers having been over-looked.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 7:15pm

Reminder that this airs tonight and tomorrow in the USA.

8:00pm on ABC

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 4/16/12 at 12:05pm

I watched the series this weekend. It wasn't too bad, but I have to say I was expecting a bit more. I found a lot of the characters rather unlikeable, to be honest, especially the earl- he was supposed to be a "good guy" but instead came across as arrogant and irritating. In the end, the only two characters I really cared if they made it were his daughter Georgiana and her love Harry. Oh, and the Italian waiter Paolo. I was a bit miffed that the story saved the annoying earl but killed nice Harry (at least I think they did...it wasn't too clear who lived and who died beyond a handful of people).
Also, I think the actor who played Harry was Ted from Pan Am. Anyone else think so too?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/16/12 at 12:31pm

I enjoyed it- but was surprised that Molly Brown got so little air time. And where were the Strausses? They are, by far, the most touching story and you didn't even get a glimpse of them like you did in Cameron's film.

I liked how they took actual lines and used them in the film- the "Look, there goes your brand new nightdress you were so proud of!" is one of my favorites, but I always imagine our Phyllis's' delivery!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/16/12 at 12:44pm

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but man, did they make the captain out to be non decisive...

[StockardFan]

Posted: 4/16/12 at 1:02pm

I had it on for a little while last night, but I was reading.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/16/12 at 7:39pm

I enjoyed it overall, though it was dull at the start. It definitely got better as it went along - only the last part was as good as I hoped it would be. I didn't really give a crap about most of the characters, but still, I'm glad I watched.

SPOILER The characters were so uninvolving I have no idea why Lady B*tch was saying "I'm so sorry" to the American actress in the lifeboats in the end. And why have her husband survive...it was a nice moment when she said "I will look after both your daughters", but I guess she will have no need to. I would have preferred the Italian guy to survive and live happily ever after with that Cockney maid. Why do all romances have to be doomed?