The Buccaneers

I haven't read the Edith Warton novel this is based on but I enjoyed the 1995 miniseries much more than this one even with all its flaws. I can see by some of the reviews that people don't realize this based on a historical fiction novel set in the Gilded Age (late Victorian) not set in an alternate universe (à la Bridgerton). Wharton was born in 1861 so she wrote from first hand experience. The original novel was unfinished so it has been open to reworking and finishing since her death. It seems someone decided Wharton's excellent writing needed the "Bridgerton treatment". I've seen some other historical fiction series that were able to incorporate modern music and language in a way that fits with the tone and style of the story but this is definitely not one of those. The music seems like they just picked random pop songs that don't fit with anything. Also insults the viewer's intelligence by hitting you over the head with the feminist theme in modern language as if we can't figure it out on our own.

I absolutely hated this when I started watching it. It felt like a rip-off Bridgerton. And in many ways it is. It was Bridgerton but not as good. I almost stopped watching. But then something odd happened. Partway through episode two, I began to enjoy it a bit more. A storyline of sorts began to develop. Someone's said the acting was bad. It wasn't. In fact, there are some good, well-known actors in the show. What irked, initially, was probably more the fault of the director than the actors - the vacuous cheerleader type vibe, which didn't sit well with 1870s England. It was also a mistake copying Bridgerton and using a modern music score. That jarred. And where it worked in Bridgerton, it didn't here. But even so, as the story and characters (along with their secrets) developed, I found myself pretty hooked on this. Is it historically accurate? Nope. Is it slightly the wrong side of light and frothy? Yes. But it's also quite addictive. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't watching it and wanting to get back to the characters. There's also a darkness (particularly with one character) which helps to take the edge off the fluff. It's not a long series and, by the end, I wished it had been longer. I really hope a second season is on the way.

Whilst I do love a modern injection to a period piece, There are so many things wrong with the direction and writing, and oh so obvious modern production lighting. Its just not believable. Men and women would never bathe together in a pond, or dance informally at a private party unless they were a bunch of Pre-Raphaelite Bohemians or it was a planned orgy (not the case here... but there is a TV series idea in that notion!) Furthermore, the lack of knowledge about the period , context and the class system oozes out everywhere... the overused, over familar speech "hey" (a mark of disrespect in those times) , "I'll call the authorities" implicating phone usage ( call upon, call out for, notify etc) , notable southern english accents that would be considered lower middle class/upper lower class at the time, hugging a champagne flute with your entire hand (vs holding at stem) and well bred gentle folk pointing at people (key characters and background) would be considered lower class or at least improper behaviors . That they ( are meant to) have heritage, class and money , this separates them from the other people in society, UK or USA. The make up however was a surprise, a saving grace... brava!... more period correct - barely noticable!

By keeping it period, with some modernity, the intended re telling of story would have much more punch.

No wonder there's so much disdain and lack of appreciation for how people lived in the past. Stop making films about old world history as though it's today's teenagers playing dress-up. Use of current music distracts from immersing oneself in the time period.

The 1995 miniseries with Carla Gugino, Mira Sorvino, Greg Wise, Michael Kitchen and Cheri Lunghi is so much better than this drivel. Carla is wonderfully cast as is James Frain.

Learned recently that this story is loosely based on Winston Churchill's mother.

The original version is 6 episodes long and enthralling from beginning to end.

Not great at first, definitely trying hard to be Bridgerton, but still entertaining. The worst decision the creators of the show did was cast Alisha Boe, I'm sorry but she brings down the quality of the show making it feel very "High School" and she plays almost the exact same character as she does on 13 Reasons why. I feel the show would have been much better without her. Other than that, the rest of the casting is great. I love all the characters and the actors do a great job bringing their characters to life. It's very unrealistic but so is any show of that theme. The storylines are good and catchy. The costumers are ehh. Nan, Guy, Theo, and Lizzie are all easy to love and get into.