A belated but much appreciative review of Sanditon, folks - the Jane Austen unfinished novel, completed by Andrew Davies. Well, not completely appreciative, because I didn't find the narrative satisfyingly complete, meaning, I didn't like the ending.
But before that, Sanditon on the screen offers a Jane Austen story updated with more sexuality and a social relevance that goes beyond romance and class. As one of the actors mentioned in the commentary after the episodes, the setting by the Regency-era sea in the south of England almost feels like a Western. Except there's no gunslinging. Just a lot of building a town out of mud, or turning a town built in the mud into a colorful resort.
There's plenty of romance, unrequited and otherwise. What's the opposite of unrequited, requited? Yeah, I guess so, as in returned. But there's nothing quiet about Sanditon and its inhabitants, who bubble with passion, dreams of a better tomorrow, and firmly believe that a good regata or ball can always make things better. The costumes are fabulous, as is the acting of everyone. Rose Williams is especially wonderful as Charlotte and Theo James as Sidney.
[spoilers follow]
Which brings me to the ending. I don't care for unhappy endings. Davies expanded on Austen in lots of good ways, but I always loved the ending to Pride and Prejudice. Sidney's sacrifice may have seemed to be necessary to save his brother's dream, but there had to be another way. My wife actually suggested a good one: Georgiana's money. And for that matter, why was Lady Denham unwilling to help after the fire? Surely, she saw that it wasn't Tom's fault. Was she punishing him for not getting insurance?
All of this can be answered in a sequel. I know, there's no sequel planned. But, hey, if you've gone to the trouble of brilliantly fleshing out and extending a Jane Austen story, if you have the inspiration and talent to bring it into the 21st century while leaving it two centuries earlier, why not go the extra mile of giving it a brilliant Jane Austen ending? That's what sequels are for.
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