Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations has once again been brought to life, this time in the form of a limited series by Steven Knight. Despite the challenge of adapting a classic novel that has been made into numerous movies and shows over the last century, Knight has managed to craft over six hours of deeply engaging storytelling that is both new and familiar. The story follows the life of an orphan boy named Pip, whose future is shaped by the deceptive machinations of Miss Havisham, a woman clinging desperately to her trauma. Pip’s life is entwined with a colorful array of personalities who are similarly entangled in the brambles of Miss Havisham’s schemes. The limited series premieres with a pair of two episodes that swiftly navigate the audience through Pip’s early years, delivering them to the precipice of his rise to wealth and relative mediocrity.
The series has been updated for modern audiences without sacrificing the historical context or the literary allusions that Dickens often employed. The largest area of improvement lies within the way the series frames its female characters, who are not just pawns or angels of the hearth. Even Estella, who is forever a tool of Miss Havisham’s cruelty, is given more agency over her fate, breaking free of the chains that would have seen her abused for the benefit of others.
The series features some of the best historical costume designs of this decade, keeping true to the fashions of Victorian England and utilizing the full breadth of patterns, textures, decorations, and styles that were often on display during this period of transformative fashions. The beauty of the costuming lies in the attention to detail, with designs keeping keenly aware of the differences between upper, middle, and lower classes.
For those who have studied Great Expectations extensively, the series may miss some of the loftier concepts, particularly the compulsion to repeat. However, beyond the exceptionally well-crafted scripts, the visual and narrative symmetry between Miss Havisham and Estella is a highlight of the series.
Overall, Knight has done an excellent job in creating an adaptation that is both engaging and respectful of the source material. The series showcases the duality of man as an ever-evolving thing, with vivid, visceral images of water and flame, two forces that can give and destroy. Despite being a story with characters that are not truly good or pure, the anchor of Joe’s steadfast belief in his nephew provides a sense of hope amidst the misery.
In conclusion, Steven Knight’s adaptation of Great Expectations is a smartly crafted limited series that manages to stay true to the source material while updating it for modern audiences. The attention to detail in both the script and costuming provides a rich viewing experience that showcases the beauty in the chaos of life. Despite the challenge of adapting a classic novel, Knight has succeeded in creating something that is both new and familiar, with engaging storytelling that will captivate audiences from start to finish.
