I will just say that as this is a 2023 BBC production, it is fair to say that my expectations for their adaptation of this classic twentieth century childrens' adventure story were not exactly high to start with and in this regard it did not disappoint.
However, starting with a positive, the beautiful location setting of this production with the picturesque coastal cottage could have been lifted directly from the pages of the original story even if it is clearly not Dorset. Beyond that, because this being the BBC in 2023, things start to go wrong very quickly.
The techno strobe electro pop opening credits for a start - who on earth thought that was an appropriate intro for a children's story set in the 1930s childrens? The horrible electronic incidental music continues throughout. Also, given the period setting, the presence of current day identity politics and race swapping, whilst no surprise, are nonetheless simply jarring and inappropriate. If you want to do preachy political stuff BBC, why not come up with something original instead of continually debasing classic literature.
In common with a lot of BBC adaptations these days, there is a near absence of any real humanity in any of it. The lead character Georgina is what we might once have called a tomboy. However, the race swapped obnoxious character presented here is simply a spoiled antisocial brat throughout. In the original books George finds Timmy the dog abandoned on the moors and adopts him - in this adaptation she simply steals him from a boat. They find a dead body on the beach which does not visibly bother any of the children one bit and is then not mentioned for the rest of the episode. There is a complete lack of any sort of emotion or feeling throughout. Even the scene where the children nearly drowned or where they became trapped in a church crypt, far from being perilous situations, gave the impression that they were just pieces of the script that had to be got through.
In fact, the acting in the whole thing is at the level of a bad amateur dramatic production particularly the villain of the piece, who for some reason, despite the 1930s setting, is dressed and has the hairstyle of a B list 1980s pop musician, is dreadfully portrayed by an actor who completely lacks the presence and gravitas for the role he is playing. Continuity errors abound such as scenes where the children's clothes revert to pristine a few minutes after they escape the cave/crypt/treasure chamber in a filthy state.
Ultimately a dull and uninspiring interpretation of a childrens classic which is not worthy of the original. Enid Blyton is no doubt spinning in her grave as we speak.
However, starting with a positive, the beautiful location setting of this production with the picturesque coastal cottage could have been lifted directly from the pages of the original story even if it is clearly not Dorset. Beyond that, because this being the BBC in 2023, things start to go wrong very quickly.
The techno strobe electro pop opening credits for a start - who on earth thought that was an appropriate intro for a children's story set in the 1930s childrens? The horrible electronic incidental music continues throughout. Also, given the period setting, the presence of current day identity politics and race swapping, whilst no surprise, are nonetheless simply jarring and inappropriate. If you want to do preachy political stuff BBC, why not come up with something original instead of continually debasing classic literature.
In common with a lot of BBC adaptations these days, there is a near absence of any real humanity in any of it. The lead character Georgina is what we might once have called a tomboy. However, the race swapped obnoxious character presented here is simply a spoiled antisocial brat throughout. In the original books George finds Timmy the dog abandoned on the moors and adopts him - in this adaptation she simply steals him from a boat. They find a dead body on the beach which does not visibly bother any of the children one bit and is then not mentioned for the rest of the episode. There is a complete lack of any sort of emotion or feeling throughout. Even the scene where the children nearly drowned or where they became trapped in a church crypt, far from being perilous situations, gave the impression that they were just pieces of the script that had to be got through.
In fact, the acting in the whole thing is at the level of a bad amateur dramatic production particularly the villain of the piece, who for some reason, despite the 1930s setting, is dressed and has the hairstyle of a B list 1980s pop musician, is dreadfully portrayed by an actor who completely lacks the presence and gravitas for the role he is playing. Continuity errors abound such as scenes where the children's clothes revert to pristine a few minutes after they escape the cave/crypt/treasure chamber in a filthy state.
Ultimately a dull and uninspiring interpretation of a childrens classic which is not worthy of the original. Enid Blyton is no doubt spinning in her grave as we speak.