Davies and his team have an obligation to viewers to end this mini-series without a cliff hanger. Thank you for your subversive nature. You made me laugh out loud with your Janewould have hired a hit man to take out Andrew Davies. LOL, Despicable ending!! Either follow the established format (paying tribute to Austens world) or go bonkers and add some zombies at the beginning of the series so we understand were in an altered dimension. This is also not Poldark, where the marriage is the focal point rather than the culmination. (?). finale. Gentle readers: Please feel free to post your comments and continue the conversation! Miss Lambe gave him a conspiratorial smile. If he had learned anything he wouldnt have sacrificed love to save his brother who was not made to be a businessman (Tom also kept reminding me of P.T. Good thing Jane isnt alive to see this or shed hire a hit man to take Davies out! Disclaimer: Our team makes no profit from this blog. We need closure! The wedding is celebrated by the wrong couple, or the right couple, or half the couples who are eligible to marry. Will Sidney give himself a talking to? My little Applause comment above was meant to go with Pollys comment, but no matter. You know its strange, I have not yet been able to let Sanditon go. Does anyone recall a scene from Becoming Jane where she turns to her sister, Cassandra, and mentions that she will give all her heroines a happy ending in her honor (paraphrase). But he is not attracted. Miss Lambe is a creation of Jane Austen and described as seventeen, half mulatto, and the possessor of an immense fortune. I am a proud lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. 9 September 2019Naomi Clifford. Perhaps Charlotte, having gone home is being invited by her new friend, Susan, and taken in as her ward, or Susan hears of the Parkers demise and helps them, rendering Sidneys impending marriage gone. I couldnt sleep last night just thinking of him., Georgiana is beside herself. The episode ends with Georgiana examining a locket with a portrait of a young Black man and kissing it before finishing a letter. Like throwing into the story Lady Susan! She is a wealthy heiress and was described as 'half-mulatto' and in poor health. Please tell us there will be another season to somehow redeem this nonsense, Vic. I think a better ending would have been for her to see Sidney as a mere flirtation and opt for James, but if she was destined to end up with Sidneythen DO it. Set in 1820, Sanditon season 2 sees Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) return to the seaside resort town on the southern coast of England with her younger sister Alison (Rosie Graham) in tow. While disappointed overall in the show did enjoy your comments! Esther resists, saying she cant play or sing. Or someone else will have to do it. It doesnt mean that Jane, ergo Charlotte, did not love or wasnt loved by men, but as in the movie Becoming Jane or Miss Austen Regrets, for one reason or another, none of her relationships with men led to marriage. And as written it seems Charlotte may after all marry Mr Stringer as Esther has married Babington and maybe Sidney will marry Eliza all pragmatic. The seaside resort of Sanditon boasts some familiar faces in Season 3 including Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris), heiress Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke, Empire of . I wouldve liked her being so cunning as to use it as a way learn about her heirs suitability for receiving an inheritance. When I did, I began to enjoy it, but I do not like loose ends that we were left with. Tom is so foolhardy how much will Sidneys rich wife give him before she realizes its just going to waste. They were trying to tie everything up at the last minute. Overall, Im somewhat indignant that this series is labelled as having anything to do with Jane Austen. I may be wrong about that, but I was surprised on how they ended a good story. I think Andrew Davies must have had his mind on an entirely different novel. And I actually found him more interesting this season . Sorry about the duplication my computer is acting up. Once I realised that, I sat back and enjoyed it, though, as someone else said, the comments here were far more entertaining. I do think they should ditch drippy Charlotte and Sidney and give us the adventures of Lord and Lady B, possibly in company with Miss Lambe and Mr Arthur Parker, with wicked Sir Edward lurking in the shadows. But it's Tom Parker's brother Sidney Parker (Theo James) making the biggest impression. J. OF THE COACHING AGE, VOL. Instead Davies will have Sydney go off to fight Napoleon to get away from Eliza. She was the only truly Jane Austen character in the whole series. Willoughby is said to be a man resembling the hero of a favourite story', just as Sidney is handsome and sexy. If you thought that ending would make viewers happy, you deserve a smack in the head from Jane Austen. Yes, yes yes! I felt so betrayed by this final episode and turned right to you for commiseration. Theo James, who portrayed Sidney on PBS' Sanditon, has announced he's exiting the series following the UK period drama's surprise two-season renewal. When will we know if there will be a second season? I wish Sanditon had been marketed to us as a mini soap opera version of a Jane Austen classic romance rather than a continuation of an unfinished novel. Now all he has to do is tell his Da. Esthers bored and pays scant attention to the game, which prompts Lady D to complain, You are playing like a nincompoop. It really does feel that way and I am glad to read that so many other people were so sad about it too. Meanwhile, Clara witnesses a private moment between Esther . Where could it go from where we left off? Brandon. Sanditon is back for season 2! But Charlotte was no Lizzie Bennet she wasnt even Marianne Dashwood. We had no idea that they were friends, then he appears in her bedroom while she is in her nightgown??? What happens with her? This is not an ending, this is not Jane, this is STUPID! He would have been much more fun! Okay, obviously there are things in Sanditon that are triggering me to figure something out so I can revisit events and then revision.my own life. Hopefully, at some point, someone will take him to task and appoint a manager to rein him in. His marriage to Lady C, if it occurs, will be unhappy and he will regret it and let Charlotte know. Still, there are ways to provide a satisfying ending and still continue the story. They exchange smoldering looks. Anyway, I am disappointed that Charlotte didnt get her man. And so, Sidney says, What a brute I was., Charlotte, who, once upon a time was a feisty opinionated woman, says, I deserved it.. Not nearly so much fun I think. Hes so dreamy. Well said, and funny too. Its wrenching to see a story end in the middle. Lady Campion, all noxious graciousness, insinuates herself into the conversation. Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century, Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers, Lady Hester Stanhope: Traveler and Trailblazer, Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey, The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of 4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband, The Green Baize Door: Dividing Line Between Servant and Master, Dancing at the Netherfield Ball: Pride and Prejudice, Lady Hester Stanhope: Traveler andTrailblazer, Book Review: Ayesha at Last by UzmaJalaluddin, Tracing Jane Austens Royal Ancestors Via Her Parents, by RonaldDunning. What happens to Miss Lambe in Sanditon? ;-), Sorry for the duplicationmy computer is acting up. Esther and Edward realize that Clara poses a significant threat to their ambitions. I would hope Clara comes back but if its again these seething melodramatic absurdities Id just as soon skip her doing more handjobs. And also a working brain. Ill imagine your ending instead! In life this ending seems to me just what might happen. If you arent sending Sidney after the carriage to announce that hes shed Mrs. Campion & only wants Charlotte for his bride, DONT SEND HIM AT ALL!! Ive never waited to put myself in someone elses power before.. I plan to follow up this mini-series with this book. Maybe hell come home paralyzed for life (which will last exactly one episode) before finding Eliza in bed with another man. Sir, I shout at the screen, You are no gentleman!, Charlotte meekly steps inside the carriage and Sidney watches until it disappears over the horizon. The ball as far as I recall, it really was a ball and not one of the monthly Assembly Hall things that were common in many towns, and so I was very taken aback when Stringer appeared. This leaves Charlotte heartbroken and she decides to leave the town of Sanditon and Sidney behind. So there you are,Vic.It appeals to my subversive nature. With time and a little more character development she would come to understand it better. Once I realised that, I sat back and enjoyed it, though, as someone else said, the comments here were far more entertaining.. After reading through the comments, I realize that, while there are plenty of plot strands which could be developed for a second season, none of them draws my interest as much as the Sidney/Charlotte one and that one has, failing another DEM, is DOA. What is the matter with you?. Really!!?? My first thought was that they definitely set up episode 8 for a second season. However, we do accept and keep books and CDs to review. Posted in Jane Austen Sequels, Jane Austen's World, PBS Movie Adaptation, Sanditon | Tagged Epi;sode 8: sanditon, Poll | 136 Comments. Austen fans are likely quite familiar with Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Pride and Prejudice, but many may not. I had taped the series and I think I must have watched the damn show about 200 times because I couldnt actually believe what was happening to me. In that case, secondary characters Sidney and Charlotte similar to the S&S Willoughby/Marianne romance would have seemed to come to a fitting end. At any rate, if youre going to touch our beloved Jane Austens work, PLEASE give it the respect it deserves and end it like Jane would. My plea to the powers that be is to think of your audience and order up at least one more episode to tie up loose ends and provide Charlotte with the logical ending she deserves. What are you up to with Charlotte? Go over and play the piano. That would have mentally prepared me for the drama and lack of era-appropriate dialogue and situations. And for your lovely salutation. I totally agree with the hysterically funny description of Sanditon town in the finale recap above! I think they could have been very good friends. She couldnt care less about cards. Great in depth review, Vic., and I agree with your take on the final episode. I didnt edit very well either! Whether I would bother to buy the DVD if there were a next time, Im not sure, but what we saw was fun. Thoughts of Sidneys sweet talk and proposal interruptus swirl in her head. Lady Denham, the very rich, very acid-tongued dowager of Sanditon House, obtains it from a hothouse to serve as a centerpiece of a luncheon she is throwing in honor of Georgiana Lambe, an even . Stringer would not have been invited to the ball, and even if he were, it was not true to his character that he would go. Ill be back in a week.. Chapter Text. Also, Charlotte needs to go back to not being afraid of speaking her mind and maybe spend like any time with some of the ladies she made friends with in Sanditon. Charlotte, my dear CharlotteI had hoped that upon my return Id be able to make you a proposal of marriage, but it cannot bethe fact is I have been obliged to engage myself to Mrs. Eliza Campion.. I have adored Jane Austen almost all of my life. The only storyline that gave me any satisfaction was the marriage of Lord Babbington and Esther. In addition, we thank the many experts and authors who frequently contribute their posts and opinions, and who continue to do so freely or at our request. This ending left me so frustrated. We should see him as noble for taking such a hit, but instead he just seems obnoxious. We then see her saying goodbye to the Palmer family and leaving Sanditon in a lovely carriage pulled by four magnificent horses. Ugh, when it ended I was left staring at the tv searching for the TV guide. Most of the time Austen qualifies her happy ending by ironies and other astringent comments or a downright melancholy possilibility in the future (Persuasion). He despised Tom Parker and the fakey upper class! James revealed the news Friday on social . But almost anyone can know her intentions when she took up the pen. Like you, I found the death of Stringer Senior contrived, but it did not endear the young man to me. I do hope they come back for a second season. Are you still proclaiming your independence? What did I just invest my time in? Charlottes heart beats as fast as mine. Worse, how could he face his Mary? Meanwhile thanks for the summaries and time to dissect this series. I hope to review Emma as soon as it comes to my region! The music climaxes in volume. A general critique of the whole series is they dont trust us for a moment not to be bored. If you market a series as Austen then you know in advance how it is supposed end. The fragment that exists introduces us to Charlotte Heywood, a young woman who is whisked away from her family's farm to the seaside resort of Sanditon. Does she just resent being forced to go where he makes her? My sense is that cost and ratings will both play a huge part in the decision. He leaves his friend as soon as he sees Lady D and Esther enter the ball room, fashionably late as great ladies were wont to do. In series 2, he would most certainly have a comeuppance and be taken to task for his sheer stupidity and foolhardy regard to other peoples money. I love it when Story B makes it to the A list and emerges front and center. Here is a look at the official description of each episode from Sanditon according to the official website of the PBS with its airing date and time. At this point Ive eaten all my crackers and cheese, texted my Janeite friends with my observances, and poured another glass of an outstanding 94-point Fox in the Hen House wine. Premieres Sundays . I actually enjoyed the movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies better than the ending of this mini-series. I like this take on it. I agree. The night is dark and only candles light up the space when Old Stringer touches his chest, then his left arm. You cant give yourself to someone you dont love just because were the most foolish family on earth. Are they all really so selfish, unfeeling, and stupid in the end? I was left speechless after the conclusion, with one question running through my head: What did I just watch? (And so super gorgeous!) Georgiana was kidnapped and was very nearly trafficked outside of the country's borders, so that her kidnapper could marry her and use her fortune for his own means. If we had a season two to look forward I really do think wed get something happy out of it but we will never know. I am sure something happens and Sidney becomes free to be with Charlotte. We'll own up to our mistakes and will make the corrections with a polite smile on our faces.) The first 7 episodes of Sanditon made me believe Davies was treating his adaptation in the style and parameters of Austens other works. I like the combination of Georgiana and Otis, there could be a lot more to come there, but of course with her considerable wealth do you want her to let a prolific gambler get his hands on her money without some serious vetting and real communication. Absolutely agree, particularly about the ridiculousness of the Parkers not objecting to Sidney sacrificing himself. Miss Lambe ( Crystal Clarke) arrives in the seaside resort of Sanditon under the protection of Mrs Griffiths, a middle-aged white woman whose other "charges" include the English Miss. For some reason, the elder Stringer, instead of attending the ball, works late by candlelight on a stepladder to complete the Crescent all by his lonesome. We dont differ as much as it may seem. Take your pick. Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.. One thing we do all have in common, though is our love for Jane Austens writing. Her disdain for him is understandable as she is young and does not yet comprehend what she so narrowly escaped and anyone in her situation would resent being so far from home with no-one she can relate to and with the ever present reality of systemic racism and the real threat of slavery. Anyway, Charlotte and young Stringer would be nice with their similar backgrounds etc, except for the fact that there is Syndey and he is going through something from what Charlotte is teaching him that could make for a dramati c and compelling love story. Please, no second season, no final episode One season was painful enough Thanks again! Shes not half the woman you areif he doesnt see that he doesnt deserve you.. Wasnt that nice?. Yes, Greg Wise as Willoughby in 1995s Sense and Sensibility You expressed yourself beautifully and I like your take on this series. There is the suggestion that Sanditon will rise again, but will it be less posh than originally envisioned? And that version of Sidney (rather more Tilney than Darcy) is far more appealing to me :-). i am praying there will be either a second set to this series or, at least a final tying up of so many loose strings. The show can be watched on PBA stations in the US and have a total of eight episodes available. I went into this looking at it as Austen inspired Davies drama with extremely low expectation and I still feel let down by the ending. And poor Charlotte. Agree, let it die! I am trying to move forward but Im kind of stuck, I hope Mr. Davies does something to wrap things up cause its really bugging me and I dont feel like its my story to tell but I LOVE these characters and he better fix it. I thought that they were strongly hinting that Arthur is homosexual, and that he was also confessing that to his sister when he said know nothing about ladies not for me lifelong bachelor. Of course, it could be interpreted eithe way. This is the first time Ive been labeled as honored. Usually people give me less agreeable monickers, many of which cannot be printed in a family friendly blog. "Do we have a rebel in our midst, Captain Fraser?". Thanks for mentioning it. I loved the ending for Lord Babbington and Esther. Yuck-patooey. If that had not happened would Lady D have even had a reason to survive to the next episode? Did anyone else not really see the Sidney/Charlotte connection? Even though parts of Sanditon didn't entirely feel like Jane Austen herself, it was wholly entertaining novel and very delightful to be back in an Austen inspired world. Tidy up all those loose ends? Shes so delighted with the newsso pleased for himso gushingthat he must be disappointed with that overenthusiastic reaction. This! She knocks on Mrs. Griffiths door to visit Georgiana and espies Sidney nearby talking to Tom. Please believe me there was no other way to resolve Toms situation. Please say you are not., Well, uh, maybe, perhaps. The midsummer decorations are more than adequate and the beau monde & villagers look smashingkudos to the costume and prop departments. ITV cancelled the British period drama series after the first season due to poor ratings in the UK, but the show had decent ratings on PBS. Sidney rides off in the sunset to London to find funds. They must give us a respectful Jane Austen ending!! Later in the series, Georgiana gets kidnapped to be a man's wife because Otis had mentioned her when he had debts to pay, and after she is safetly back home she breaks it off with Otis because she can't trust him anymore. They are curious to find out what happens with Charlotte, Sidney, Miss Lambe but unfortunately cannot do anything but use their imaginations . Although a happy ending is not necessary, there are several loose ends. Also, Charlotte was 22, and she never seems quite that age in this series. Sanditon (1817) is an unfinished novel by the English writer Jane Austen.In January 1817, Austen began work on a new novel she called The Brothers, later titled Sanditon, and completed eleven chapters before stopping work in mid-March 1817, probably because of illness. Davies needs a while other season to wrap up these loose ends. (sigh, hopeful,) I spend way too much time trying to figure things out, much of that having to do my own healing and restructuring my own understanding of events so that I can facilitate a new vision for myself to move forward. Oh well, for that matter, everyone else was allowed in there too. Good for you, Lizzie. Tom Parker is happy. So now Charlotte has lost both Sidney and James. We do deserve one more episode. Preparing a series 1 with only the *hopes* of there being money available to pay for a season 2 is much like the Parkers building a seaside town without any insurance or visitors. I have only just happened upon this excellent recap of the series I watched just a couple of weeks ago and found wanting in many respects. When the arrival of two eligible bachelors signals a potential change in status for the Bennet sisters, their marriage-minded mother is sent into a frenzy, and the lively, witty Elizabeth Bennet goes head-to-head with smoldering, haughty Mr. Darcy. Let's watch the announcement of the series Sanditon Season 2 Episode 5. I suppose the wedding will be episode one of season three followed by Sydney getting killed in a carriage accident the next day. In your comments you write independentcourted by men which is fully understood by women of the 21st Century. Vic, thanks for all the summaries and dissections. Lord Babb had more personality in his little finger than James, king of the friend zone. Sanditon fans got the kind of very good news that once seemed like it was never coming earlier this year: not only is the period drama returning for a long-awaited second season, but received an . I am thinking of Persuasion now, and though this is a reverse situation, where the man chooses to marry for money (for whatever reason) instead of for the love of his life there arises an opportunity for a do over. That is a plausible ending if there is another episode for Sanditon. Good work! At least hes gutsy enough to tell her in person of his actions. Miss Georgiana Lambe (played by Crystal Clarke) is a wealthy heiress from the West Indies who is most certainly not afraid to speak her mind and make her opinions known. Ultimately, on the other hand, the decision to . The worker men would nit have been allowed in the gentlemans rowing contest. She is just there because they paid this actress. Across the ball room, Charlotte and Sidney exchange glances of frustration, but she cant refuse Stringer, for she was not engaged to dance with another gentleman. Three minutes 26 seconds!" Marriage and children was never a vision I had for myself. And, Mary Parker, having taken Charlotte under her wing, should have told her not to wear her hair the same as she would have in the farm yard. At the beginning of the finale, there appears to be a clear path to happiness for our heroine as a marriage proposal from Sidney (Theo James) to Charlotte (Rose Williams) seems imminent. James Stringer sought him out before the ball to tell him about his acceptance letter in the apprenticeship program, Dad is not pleased. The series was called Sanditon, not Sydney and Charlotte, so if he wanted to develop a series that has several seasons he should have made it focused on the stories of the inhabitants of the town. The opportunity is there for a real love story, but not until she grows up a little and he commits to being honorable and seriously understanding his responsibility to protecting her and her money. We will never know for certain how Jane Austen would have developed the character of Sanditon 's Miss Lambe, who nonetheless attracts critical attention as Austen's only character of color. My idea of a good mini series is the dialogue of clever, well informed characters, who have a great deal of good conversation, true to original writings. Click on this link. Charlotte and Sidney clash over Miss Lambe's illicit meeting with Otis. While the actors did an amazing job in their roles, I admit to being disappointed by the ending. I understand. How are your wedding preparations? she asks, her face immobile, as if injected by botox. Read the review of the book at this link. So the series is highly inconsistent and that goes with having different writers. Sidney rang the bell at the front door, which was opened by a silver-haired, smartly dressed butler, who led them through an immense marble hallway towards the palatial morning room. We cannot leave things as they are. In the next scene we see Esther and Lord Babb sitting side by side in a curricle (a dandys vehicle, much like todays ultra sleek sports car for the uber rich). The ending by another lady is lovely. The P&P-like turning point that Davies was playing for didnt quite work for me. We discovered she had a secret love called Otis who was a good man but flawed because. I also was really bothered that all the other Parkers let Sidney take all the weight of the financial burden. As to the ending, i wouldnt have minded if she didnt end up with Sidney. He clearly would like to marry but feels himself inadequate. I found it odd that with all the Parkers money troubles no one thought, even for a minute, of Miss Lambes 100,000, considering that she was under Sidneys control. People have assumed Lockhart father was a partner of lambe's father rather than relative. I love this, Maureen: I am seeing a transformative experience for Sydney Parker in Sanditon. Is there a next part, my addled brain asked? But why did the siblings not council Sidney who they all knew now loved Charlotte, No, dont go to Lady Campion. The opening sequence reveals that Sidney has died of yellow fever while in Antigua. Jane Austen characters are supposed to learn from each other and grow, so that by the end of the story the heroine and hero are made better by each other. Miss Lambe is described in Sanditon the novel as 'half mulatto,' and a wealthy heiress who may be sickly. 1903. Inquiring readers: This is a long recap. We learn his name was Isaac. Then Charlotte drops a bombshell Sidney is a wonderful man. Episode #1.5: Directed by Lisa Clarke. Its been a pleasure reading your thoughts, pro, con, or indifferent. How old is Charlotte Heywood in Sanditon? Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jane Austen's World with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Davies went overboard in modernizing and sexing up Janes wonderful characters. Tony, you encouraged me to watch the series for what it is. You can see below from Jane's text the mentions of Miss Lambe: In Janes stories all the heroines get a good ending. I agree. (Gasp!) Downton Abbey did such a great job of providing a completed story each season. As for my feelings about the final episode: Boooo, Andrew Davies!! Also bad work for leaving some characters storylines hanging (Miss Lambe, for instance; what happens to her?). And if Davies wasnt going to do it, then at least grant Charlotte the dignity of riding off into the sunset on her own, perhaps visibly gaining new confidence in herself as she goes. Lets hope that the powers that be listen to their faithful and erudite fans. She and Charlotte chatter like close girlfriends are wont to do, giggling and exchanging highly personal information. But Im commenting because I wanted to say thank you for the excellent blog posts along the way; I enjoyed them more than the series! Regency manners require her to accept this invitation or bow out from dancing for the rest of the evening. You may think yourself the savior of Sanditon, but you have done so at the price of your character.. We were left going huh? after investing all that time in it. Like Downton Abbey it deserves more from these fine actors and actresses. Bleh. Reaching episode 8 I was in shock that Davies switched the DNA of what we know to be a Jane Austen novel with traditional endings based on the character development presented. The character Miss Lambe, a West Indian heiress, is "a real effort to represent someone in a very difficult situation at the time," said Crystal Clarke, right in "Sanditon." Credit . Demand that final episode everyone. Informed minds want to know. I find it odd that so much money was spent on costumes and a few lush sets and so little on the town of Sanditon. BTW: I was always amazed that if the pond scene had been actualized how quickly could a gentleman have possibly changed from wet clothes to dry in a flash to reach the embarrassed heroine before she escaped with her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, Tom fights to save Sanditon and his marriage, and Edward and Clara hatch a cunning plot to seize Lady Denham's legacy . What about borrowing all or part of the money from Georgianna? My favorite part of this is Dont send him at all!!!!!!!!!!! Sentimentality such as in the scene between Tom and his wife and then Sidney and Charlotte on the cliff grates on me by its untruthfulness. Thanks for reading my posts. How could Sidney have done this? Just let it drift over the horizon, and be done with it. You and the wine deserve an award for suffering through it and then doing such a great job evaluating and of course, not giving away the ending. Despicable ending did I really suffer 8 episodes so he could dump her for that pretentious twit of a widow? Wouldnt she at that point be as sharp-tongued as she was in her first balcony scene with him?