I bet you can't read the title without at least one bar or measure of music from Les Miserables entering your brain. Literally, every time I even hear the title "Les Miserables", I get "One Day More" stuck in my head for an hour or so. I love the musical (only the 25th anniversary concert from London, though) so I was a little skeptical about the new adaptation on Masterpiece that premiered April 14. I tried and failed in the past to watch the non-musical adaptation with Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush, and I couldn't make it past the first ten minutes. But, the previews looked so enticing that I thought I'd give it a try. I'd even tried to start the book this year, but only got to about page 26 of 908 (or however many pages the novel actually contains). I was pleasantly surprised by not only the quality of the adaptation, but also how its lack of Broadway-style music didn't detract from the overall presentation.
The cast has so far been superb. Dominic West as Valjean, David Oyelowo as Javert, and Lily Collins as Fantine. Dominic West reminds me a lot of Hugh Jackman...only with a little more depth in his acting. Episode 1 was a great illustration of how the old man (the convict/criminal Valjean) fights with the new man (the redeemed/converted Valjean, will expound on that in a sec), and how a small act of seemingly foolish kindness and love can turn someone's life upside down. I guess I'm new to who David Oyelowo is-I saw him in United Kingdom with Rosamund Pike and thought he was a very talented actor, and a shame I haven't seen more of his work lately. As Javert, he's giving a very subtly crafty performance and it'll be interesting to see how that develops over the next 4 episodes. Lily Collins' Fantine is a little more complicated-I've never been a fan of the character, maybe because of the way Anne Hathaway portrayed her. Here, though, we get to meet a young woman who makes some wrong choices and they're costly. Yet, despite her poor choices and the consequences thereof, she does try to do the right thing(s) by Cosette. I never felt like the musicals portrayed her desperation clearly enough. It might be because the musicals are not able to really delve into each character's backstory the way a miniseries can.
We see though, that Fantine is forced unwillingly into a life of prostitution. This is after she goes to great lengths to make money by other means (by selling her hair and teeth), and only when pressed by the Thenardiers to send an extravagant amount of money to "take care of" Cosette. Episode 2 left us with Fantine on her death bed, Valjean being cornered by Javert and trying to determine whether or not running is the answer, and Javert playing a cat-and-mouse game with Valjean by telling him that the real Valjean has been captured and is awaiting trial. Valjean's struggle between his "old" self of a convicted criminal and his "new" self of a criminal trying to make a life for himself outside of his prison, comes to a head at the end of Episode 1. He steals 40 sous from a young boy who simply drops it on the road. Valjean cruelly tells the boy to move along and refuses to give back the coin. As the boy disappears down the road, shouting, "You're nothing but a dirty thief!" all the way, Valjean is overcome with remorse. He calls to the boy, but it's too late. Presumably, it's this interaction coupled with the kindness of the Bishop that finally helps Valjean to pursue an upright life. And we learn in Episode 2 that Valjean never actually spent the 40 sous that he stole from the boy, nor did he sell the silver candlesticks gifted to him by the bishop in episode 1. Valjean's struggle, that continues throughout episode 2 and presumably will continue until episode 6, is a beautiful though messy depiction of how the old man and new man in Christ are constantly at war with one another. We may be saved by grace when we become believers, but unfortunately it doesn't mean we don't have to struggle with our choices or the consequences those choices may/may not bring. and, Valjean struggles with the concept of love and kindness, especially that of love and kindness of God in the middle of a dirty, ugly, evil-riddled world.
I had someone tell me on Facebook that they just couldn't imagine the story without the "uplifting" musical numbers. I agree, the music is phenomenal and I'm not by any means trashing the musical version. However, I think the musicals gloss over and overlook certain important interactions between characters. The time we spent with Valjean in the Bishop's house is a good example-I've felt like the musicals rush past how revolutionary the Bishop's treatment of Valjean really was. A revolutionary treatment that Jesus exemplified in His earthly ministry (while not overlooking sin). If you are a Les Mis fan, I encourage you to watch Masterpiece's adaptation. I think you'll find it worth your time.
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