Yesterday I was in the mood to watch a period piece because I’m a dork like that. I wanted to watch something taking place in the 1800s and that was different from the average Jane Austen-ish drama. After doing research via IMDB and Netflix, I decided to watch the BBC mini series “He Knew He Was Right.” It’s an adaptation of Anthony Trollope’s novel. Here’s the synopsis of the series from BBC Drama:
Louis (Oliver Dimsdale) and his wife, Emily Trevelyan (Laura Fraser), are madly in love. Emily’s a strong woman seeking to make her own decisions, but Louis is a fragile man who can’t stand up to her. Through mistrust and lack of communication they head inexorably for disaster. Notorious womaniser Colonel Osborne (Bill Nighy) drives a wedge between the two by visiting Emily too frequently and causing gossip. The confrontation between Louis and his beloved wife over her liaisons with Colonel Osborne drives Louis into a vortex of misery and, ultimately, madness.
The series opens in the Mandarin Islands with a shot of people in bright sunshine and light colors. At first I thought this was going to be another fairy tale ending piece, but I was very incorrect! Over a four hour period, the series takes many twists and turns. Louis and his wife Emily fall madly in love and are married very quickly. Emily had never been raised outside of the Mandarin Islands so she was considered headstrong and very independent compared to the mild mannered “women of society” in London. They have a son, also named Louis, that plays a central part in this series. Louis, the father, becomes suspicious and jealous when the womanizer Colonel Osborne visits his wife too often for his liking. Louis begins to imagine the two having an affair which slowly drives the couple apart. I had a difficult time thinking Colonel Osborne innocent because of my bias of seeing Bill Nighy play villains in other films such as Davy Jones(sexy huh?) in Pirates of the Caribbean.
Emily cannot stand that Louis does not trust her or her character. Eventually, the couple separate, but Louis dictates to Emily where her sister Nora, her and their child will live. The women are treated as property and shipped wherever Louis deems worthy. This made me extremely flustered and angry that women were thought of as such, but this IS the 1800s. Women truly didn’t get real equal rights until the 1970s in most places.
It’s very easy to sympathize with Emily and his sister Nora, but the viewer can see how Louis starts to go crazy from the jealousy and suspicion. One of the best comedic elements was the meddling great aunt who tried to play matchmaker. Another favorite part was the delicious Matthew Goode and to see David Tennant play the cowardly Mr. Gibson as a preacher.
There are a TON of period piece regulars such as Anna Massey, Geoffrey Palmer and Fenella Woolgar. Keep an eye out for the antics of Camilla French who promises to stop the two-timing Mr. Gibson “straight the heart” with a carving knife.
Overall, I really enjoyed this mini series because the scandal and gossip loving characters. The suspicious and drama reminded of the novel the Count of Monte Christo. It’s definitely worth a watch!
Currently Listening to: The Guardian’s Football Weekly
♥ – Erin
