BBC viewers were outraged last night when the final edit of Great Expectations ended – with a different ending than Dickens wrote.
Steven Knight’s adaptation, starring Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham and Fionn Whitehead as Pip, has been mired in controversy over changes to the story, including its depiction of opium addiction and sadomasochism.
Episode one was watched by 4.4 million viewers, but 2 million were knocked out by the penultimate episode, ahead of last night’s finale.
In the Dickens classic, Miss Havisham’s wedding dress is burned in a tragic accident that leads to her death – but in the BBC reimagining, Miss Havisham sets fire to the dress on purpose as part of a revenge twist and emerges unscathed.
Angry viewers took to Twitter, with some calling the show “an abomination” and others insisting “it’s not right to ruin the ending,” and claiming the show “makes a mockery” of Dickens’ penultimate completed novel.
BBC viewers were outraged last night when the final edit of Great Expectations ended – with a different ending than Dickens wrote
Not too happy: viewers were outraged by the choice to change the ending
After burning the dress, Miss Havisham is seen saying, “I am stronger than you.” I am stronger than this house. I am stronger than fire.’
Comments from irate viewers included, “What an abomination?” The only way to describe BBC’s Great Expectations. The last episode they even changed the ending.’
‘Why? Why? Why. Total RUBBISH… Why would anyone think changing the ending of Great Expectations would be a good idea?!… Right, I avoided Dickens for years. Finally read Great Expectations and loved it. It’s a PERFECT story. Why the hell would they change it??? And this ending?? Complete b*****ks.’
“It’s not right to spoil the ending of a famous novel. It makes a mockery of the story when Pip & Estella don’t end up reuniting. Dickens himself realized this. 3 times the BBC screwed up GE adaptations.”
One tweeted: ‘@bbc once again raises his arrogance in a horrendous adaptation. Too bad… BBC 1’s so-called Big Expectations are actually bad expectations. Utter nonsense. A waste of license payers’ money.’
Written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, the series stars Fionn Whitehead as Pip and Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham.
The drama has been embroiled in controversies over wakery allegations and the inclusion of opium addiction and sadomasochism, such as caning
Others wrote: ‘Who ordered this rubbish?… Well, call me a traditionalist if you will, but that last episode of the new ‘Great Expectations’ on BBC last night took way too many liberties with the story for my taste. I spent most of it saying “that’s not what happened!”. Much prefer the latter.’
“I’ve been reading Dickens since I was ten and watching TV adaptations and movies of his work since I was eight, in the 1950s. I’ve never seen anything this bad, terrible script, wooden acting from different actors, I hate it! What a turkey!’
“Agree, some of the acting was terrible – I felt like I was reading Am Dram actors. Struggling to watch it and get engaged/keep up with storylines.”
“Let’s just say examiners grading essays on #GreatExpectations will find it pretty easy to tell which candidates have read the book and which have just seen it on television…. I don’t even know why I keep watching #GreatExpectations . ‘
Fionn Whitehead as Pip with Shalom Brune-Franklin as Estella in the BBC adaptation of the Dickens classic
“I think I just want to get to the end. This adjustment is not an improvement. If the intention was to attract a younger audience, I don’t think it will. I’ve taught the novel several times over the years, and this is too much.”
However, some were more complimentary, writing “I love it, I noticed the character Jagger was so much like the character in taboo played by Tom Hardy and then realized that Tom Hardy produced Great Expectations.”
Enjoyed every episode. Great cast, okay, they changed the ending, but why not.’
In the penultimate episode, viewers were shocked to see Mr. Pumblechook, played by Matt Berry, being bare-bottomed over a bed by housewife-turned-dominatrix, Mrs. Gargery, played by Hayley Squires.
Miss Havisham was portrayed as an opium addict who smokes with Estella.
The show was also criticized for repeated references to the British Empire’s connections to the slave trade and use of profanity.