Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Aiden Melton The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Candida It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

sanjin_9632 Great acting, great costumes, great material. What more is there to say about this imagining of an Pride and Prejudice-after piece?This BBC One production is well-cast right up to the smallest of roles. It is obvious that the Brits know what they're doing when it comes to their own (and admittedly very rich) material.I have to admit, it starts rather slowly, but the moment one remembers (or gets to know) the characters one is moved by the dialogue and the terrific performances.For those who haven't read either Pride and Prejudice or James' novel, this story unfolds six years after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett tie the knot. In the midst of it, contrary to Austen's classic, an officer's dead body, adding to it a murder mystery and courtroom drama (apart from the everyday, ever present 18th/19th century drama in between). Interestingly and coincidentally, this is P.D. James last novel, since the famous writer passed away three years after its publishing.If you're into Jane Austen, P.D.James, costume dramas, great acting (for a change) this is a definite must-watch for you. 7.5/10

marciama I've always been an Austen fan since I first read Pride and Prejudice at age 9. Since then I've read Pride and Prejudice in two different languages and my favorite adaptation of it is the BBC mini series in 1995. I tried to avoid the "when death comes to Pemberley" as long as possible since first I didn't want to spoil my fondness of the original book, and second the characters on the screen shots just mortifies me. I finally watched it and although the production is good, but like another viewer has mentioned, the script is anachronistic, as if someone is trying to write a Victorian time period drama but struggling with modern and even Hollywood terms. But this is not the worst of it, to me, the worst is the casting. This is a version with finally a handsome enough Wickham, but other main characters are just good actors with great voice performance and way too disappointing and falling far short for such iconic roles. Even supporting characters are rather odd choices, I had to re-watch some of it to understand what their positions, roles and characters in it. I'm sure it's not the worst portrait for Elizabeth and Darcy (and even colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana), but they sort of ruined it.

sirocco-1 you would know who Captain Denny's murderer is and why Denny was extremely angry with Wickham. You would know that the story came to a satisfying end; and there was never an estrangement between Darcy and Elizabeth; that they have two sons - Fitzwilliam and Charles; or that Mrs. Bennet never arrives at Pemberley being her idiot self, and finally you have the pleasure of reading about the Gardiners and their home on Gracechurch Street. In the book - Hardcastle never discovers the real reason Wickham was in Pemberley grounds, he never learned about Wickham's affair with Louisa Bidwell because he doesn't care - that is who his character.Death Comes to Pemberley was PD James tribute to Jane Austen and reads extremely well - finished it in about 3 hours because PD James knows how to tell a story, keeps you engaged and I have to say she skillfully continued the Pride and Prejudice story that was about 8 years after Darcy and Elizabeth marry.But alas, the PBS series made a hash of an excellent book and created something that doesn't fit the characters we know and love from Pride and Prejudice. I wonder if it was done all for an assumed need to modernize? The only reason I'm not trashing the entire series is well the acting isn't bad for what is it - otherwise if you want to enjoy an awesome tribute to Jane Austen - I highly recommend the book.

KurotsutaMurasaki Let me just preface this by saying that I am a fan of both Anna Maxwell Martin and Matthew Rhys. Anna is a beautiful, wonderful actress. I've found her enjoyable in Bleak House (2005) and The Bletchley Circle. Matthew is a talented, insanely attractive Welshman with a beautiful, robust singing voice (as evidenced in the Mystery of Edwin Drood). They are both very skilled at what they do when they are in their element.Regency England is NOT their element.There are a lot of problems with Death Comes to Pemberly. Some I can't even put my finger on.The biggest problem is that Anna and Matthew don't feel like Elizabeth and Darcy. We'll start with Matthew - he's too high-strung for this part. As the conflicted John Jasper, he works. As the Upright and dignified (but still slightly awkward) Darcy - No. He's handsome, but in a very unconventional way, which does not at all fit with tall, dark and striking Darcy. He swings about quite a lot which, apart from being improper for the time period, is simply not a way one would describe Darcy as moving.Watching Anna in this was not unlike watching her performance in the Bletchley Circle or Bleak House - the parts she plays in both of the aforementioned are women who have been through trials. That's what Anna Maxwell Martin does. But Elizabeth has spent most of her life in comfort without any greater trial than an insufferable mother and a sister running off and eloping. She shouldn't look this tired. The past six years of her life has been spent living in her dream home with her loving (filthy rich) husband. And then there's the way SHE moves in the part. Setting aside the manner in which they have her speaking, there's her body language. The way she walks and holds herself is quite simply NOT ON for the Regency. At one point she faces a pillar and leans against it with one arm over her head and her other hand ON HER HIP. It's a very masculine post and not at all appropriate for a well bred woman of the era. At another point (when she is speaking with Lady Catherine no less) she is sitting at a table, leaning forward (once again) with her hand on her waist. I half expected her to cross her legs. To top this all off, when she walks away from Lady Catherine, she swings her hips.Now let's consider Georgiana and the way she falls - sobbing - to HER KNEES in full view of the SERVANTS. This is another unladylike thing for a woman as demure and well-brought-up as Georgiana. Also it seemed like an overreaction considering the situation. Maybe she would react like that if she'd, say, just received news that her brother had died.We see Lydia (who at least was well cast with Jenna Coleman) wearing QUITE a lot of scarlet. While I'm sure well all amuse ourselves imagining her pushing boundaries without a though for convention, wearing scarlet dresses in that time period is a bit much, even for her.The story seems to waffle quite a bit as far as the "true character" of Wickham goes. Also, Lydia is way too self aware. Then of course we have magistrates talking about "tampering with evidence" and completely convoluted subplots concerning Darcy's Great-grandfather nearly losing Pemberly (?), Making Col. Fitzwilliam judgmental and of poor character (he's the frickin' nicest guy!) and Mrs. Young being Wickhams half-sister? What in the name of all that's holy?!Basically, what this all boils down to is that this is an adaptation of... well fanfiction. Published fanfiction by a well respected author, but fanfic nonetheless. And fanfiction (especially of the Mystery genre) get's way to convoluted, way too fast.