Great Expectations adaptations defended by fans after BBC show was savaged for sex scenes
Fans have defended the BBC’s latest adaptation of Great Expectations after the show was trashed for its “unnecessary” sex scenes and foul language.
Despite being panned by critics, some viewers remain enamored with the sexed series, with one author claiming that Charles Dickens – who wrote the novel in 1861 – would have been “great at it.”
Written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, the series stars Fionn Whitehead as Pip and Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham.
In Sunday’s third episode, schemer Mr Jaggers (Ashley Thomas) trained Pip to mercilessly climb the social ladder.
And on Twitter, one viewer wrote, “To all those complaining about this, if adaptations of the classics don’t keep up with the times, they become irrelevant. Dark, disturbing… Dickens would have loved it’.
Love it: Fans have defended the BBC’s latest adaptation of Great Expectations after the show was trashed for its ‘unnecessary’ sex scenes and foul language (Olivia Colman portrayed as Miss Havisham)
Cheeky: Despite being panned by critics, some viewers remain enamored with the sexed series
Adaptation: Written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, the series stars Fionn Whitehead as Pip and Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham (Fionn Whitehead, right, pictured with co-star Shalom Brune-Franklin)
While a second wrote: ‘So glad I stuck with it – brilliant episode. Great acting, sets and costumes – not like the book, but who cares!’.
And a third commented: The BBC Great Expectations 2023 is brilliant. Besides, I believe Dickens would have approved it. The updates and adjustments that fit the times nevertheless convey the same essential message.’
With another addition: ‘You’ll love Great Expectations – It’s gritty and dark but interesting!’.
It comes after the Dickens Fellowship destroyed a scene in the series where Mr. Pumblechook was bare bottomed over a bed of housewife-turned-dominatrix Mrs. Gargery.
Screenwriter Steven has sexed the story with a nod to topics he believes the author alluded to but was unable to explore in 19th-century Britain.
“Come up now,” Mrs. Gargery, played by Hayley Squires, beckoned, taking off her wedding ring, grabbing a whip, and asking, “Are you ready?”
‘You know what’s coming, don’t you? Turn around,” she said before punching a naked Matt Berry, who plays Pumblechook, ten times as he hunched over her bed.
Explaining the decision to embellish the story, Knight said he was trying to imagine “that Dickens was now writing the story and having the freedom to go to those dark places” and asked, “What would he do?” ‘
Convinced: One viewer stated that author Charles Dickens (pictured) – who wrote the novel in 1861 – would have thought it “great.”
Great television: And one viewer wrote on Twitter: ‘To all those who complain about this, if adaptations of the classics don’t keep up with the times, they become irrelevant. Dark, disturbing… Dickens would have loved it’
But the Dickens Fellowship, a worldwide association of people interested in the classic author’s life and work, accused Knight of being “insincere.”
Honorary general secretary Paul Graham claimed that Knight was simply embellishing the story to “generate viewers,” adding that Knight’s explanation was “slightly preposterous.”
He said, ‘How can he put himself in Dickens’ shoes and say what he would have done? I think the scenes just seem unnecessary. I don’t know if Dickens would have put in a spanking scene!…Pumblechook is essentially a comic character with no hint of sexual deviance…’
A previous episode also saw Miss Havisham set up an adult Pip, played by Fionn Whitehead, to lose his virginity on his 18th birthday.
The spurned spinster, played by Olivia Colman, tells him, “On the occasion of your 18th birthday…you must be proficient in all things.” Horse riding, dancing, boxing and sex.’
Thoughts: An ‘unnecessary’ scene was quashed by the Dickens Fellowship, who said there is ‘not a trace of sexual deviant behavior’ about the character Pumblechook (pictured)
Shocking stuff: A previous episode also saw Miss Havisham set up an adult Pip, played by Fionn Whitehead, to lose his virginity on his 18th birthday
She then introduces him to Mrs. Gibbons, from the local congregation, and says, “Behave as you please with Mrs. Gibbons…have fun.”
Knight has also added “opium addict” to Miss Havisham’s repertoire, with the character regularly seen smoking a pipe.
Mr Graham said there is ‘no evidence in the text itself that she smoked opium’, adding that laudanum would have been a more likely addiction for her class at the time.
“Making her an opium addict goes a step further than it took to show she was addicted to something,” he said. Dickens could have included that, but he didn’t. This is clearly a radical interpretation.’
Knight, who previously adapted A Christmas Carol for the BBC, has expressed interest in tackling A Tale of Two Cities next. But Mr. Graham roared, ‘Let him [Dickens] only! He does the whole canon… if you try to mess with the classics, you’ll be very lucky if you improve upon it.’
Written in 1860, Great Expectations follows orphan Pip, who is taken on as a companion for Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter Estella (played by Shalom Brune-Franklin) before moving to London after receiving money from a mysterious benefactor.