The BBC’s three-part adaptation of Dickens’ three-volume novel is very good indeed. I watched it soon after I’d finished re-reading the book. Normally I do a ‘film of the book’, but I’ve seen the classic David Lean film from 1948 a few times already and didn’t fancy watching it again. The BBC series from 2011, which I saw when it first aired, happened to the only adaptation available. So, ‘TV show of the book’ it is. This review includes spoilers, although I’m not sure that spoilers count for books from almost 200 years ago and TV shows from 15 years ago!

Dickens’ characters are famously larger than life, caricatures really. They are toned down somewhat, I think, except for Pip’s sister and Orlick. Miss Havisham in particular (Gillian Anderson) has a sympathetic portrayal. A number of minor characters are missed out, but a more significant one is Biddy. This was probably to avoid any confusion of romantic interest and to make Pip feel worse about leaving Joe on his own. The eccentricities of the book are stripped out, such as the theatrical Mr Wopsle, Wemmick’s marvellous house, the chaotic family life of the Pockets (in this adaptation, Herbert is cut off from them) and the smartly-dressed boy employed to do errands.

The series opens dramatically with escaped convict Magwitch (Ray Winstone) struggling through the mud and grabbing Pip by the ankle. We have a difference here already, as Magwitch only asks Pip to bring a file, not food. Therefore, Pip bringing food is from his own kindness and a more solid reason for Magwitch to become his mystery benefactor. Pip and Joe are not part of the hunt for the convicts, either, so there can be no suspicion that Pip led the soldiers to them. By the end of the first episode, Pip is on his way to London with his ‘great expectations’ on the horizon, having made it more obvious that he believes Miss Havisham is behind the scheme so he will be enough of a gentleman to marry her adopted daughter Estella.

The second episode shows Pip falling into an expensive and lazy existence, spending time unwisely with Bentley Drummle (in the book, they are not friends), in whom he confides his understanding with Estella, thereby giving Drummle more of a reason to take Estella from him. There is a romantic scene where Pip and Estella, their chaperone having fallen asleep at a picnic, wade into the lake with bare legs, where they kiss. The book has very few meetings between them. There is also an added scene where Joe, not having heard from Pip, travels to London especially and forces his way into the club, embarrassing Pip. Joe is not quite so mild and downtrodden as in the book. The episode ends with Pip horrified at the visit from Magwitch, his benefactor revealed, who tips a sack full of money on to the floor.

In the final episode, Pip confronts Miss Havisham about Estella marrying Drummle, and we get glimpses of the misery Estella is condemned to. The scene with Miss Havisham on fire is paid more attention, but we don’t see Pip rescuing her and he is not injured so much as in the book. Pip also has a confrontation with Mr Jaggers (David Suchet) who finally loses his poise when explaining why he kept it secret that Magwitch’s daughter Estella was alive. Pip is preparing to go away with Magwitch, when Orlick attacks him at home (in the book, Pip is lured away to the marshes), but instead of needing to be rescued by Herbert, Pip beats him in a fight. It’s not shown what happened to Orlick after that. Meanwhile, we see Estella, her low-cut dress revealing a lot of bruises, thanking the horse which killed Drummle. Magwitch, after killing Compeyson out on the water and being beaten by the soldiers, dies of his injuries before he can be sentenced. The episode ends with Pip, having nothing left, returning to the forge where Joe is working alone (in the book, it’s a livelier occasion, as it happens to be Joe and Biddy’s wedding day), and is then reunited with Estella who has inherited two fortunes. This is a little more hopeful ending than the book, as they don’t speak, but clasp hands and gaze at each other… then the credits roll.

As you’d expect with a BBC period drama based on a classic novel, it’s beautifully shot with much attention to detail, although I still think everyone’s teeth should be worse (except Orlick who has rotten teeth already, denoting his evil character). There are repeated motifs of pinned butterflies to represent the situation of women in the era. It’s a very serious and dark production, lacking the humour of the book, which comes from the writing style, more than the content. I haven’t seen any other adaptations, other than the black and white film, but I may watch them if I have the opportunity.

Images are the thumbnails for the episodes on the BBC iPlayer website.