Four Seasons

I've read Rosamunde Pilcher's books and loved the Shell Seekers the best. This one didn't seem to adapt very well on the screen. Great actors but maybe bad direction and a few times I picked up on things that made me think it was for the American audiences. One item is that it is not allowed in the UK is to have an outdoor wedding with a clergy officiating. The scenery was magnificent though.

I was looking forward to some British drama, but this is certainly not on the level of British Productions. The camera angles and choppy editing make it all look rather cheap. The best part is the stunning setting on the coast of Cornwall, however the interiors just don't have the look of a nice English cottage or a grand hall.

I'm getting older, I have to pay more attention to what I spend my time doing, watching. I saw Franco Nero was in it, and it peaked my interest. He's just so doggone handsome. That's what I get for being so superficial.

So, 20 minutes of Franco Nero at the beginning of the 1st episode, and intermittent shots of the breath-taking Cornish coast dispersed among the next 6 hours of the series is absolutely all this lugubrious, stilted, awkward show has to offer... Well, wait, now Tom Conti give an endearingly laid back performance. Juliet Mills is charming as a curmudgeonly and sassy grande dame. And that's it. The three female leads, all German actresses, are maddeningly boring, the ingenue trying very hard to be charming and delightful one minute (smiling with her tongue showing ever so slightly), and neurotic and existential the next. And yes, as another reviewer wrote, she looks 14 years old. And she never met a plunging neckline she didn't like.

Finally, that insipid stereotypical 1h990s British musical score, sounds like the same composer who wrote the score for the original House of Cards (which is fabulous, btw).

Why on earth hire three German actresses to play the leads in this story about the British landed gentry?

Well, what's done is done. Luckily, the only people who are at risk of seeing this are those that subscribe to Acorn, so most of the population of the US does not risk of wasting 6 hours of their dwindling years on this half-baked series.

Very strange production. Bad casting, bad acting and even worse directing. The younger female lead looked and acted about 12, hence no chemistry with her male counterpart. The director thought by showing her cleavage in every outfit, no matter where she was or how inappropriate, would make her look more mature. It didn't work. Many of the other cast members seemed like extras rather than actual actors.

There are a few highlights, however. Of the few believable and enjoyable characters Juliette Mills (Lady Florence) stole every scene and Tom Conti (Charles) deserved credit for being one of the few truly likable and natural characters. I came to like Senta Bergen (Julia) and also thought Frank Finley (Alex) did a fine job.

Lots of over acting and stilted bogy language. Michael York's (Stephen) scenes were over the top.

If you enjoy sappy, predictable love stories with pretty scenery (Hallmark or Netflix-style) you'll probably enjoy this. And hey, I watched the whole thing despite my review. I had to see it through.

A very enjoyable soapy family drama. Domestic Abuse, Cheating boyfriend v. lovable boy next door, suicide, long lost grannies coming home, shocking twists, evil grandpa, and financial shenanigans, a stunning last will and testament, plus much much more! Senta Berger shines as the wise and attractive grandmother who gets a second chance at love with a charming and funny Tom Conti. I couldn't take my eyes off her nose though. The director could have chosen more flattering angles. Michael York is very effective as the powerful older son of the family patriarch who oozes menace out of every pore. What made this 4 part yarn hold together though, in my opinion, of the sweet young daughter played by Emma Watson look-alike Paula Kalenburg. She had to endure many jolts to the system both good and bad but carried on with aplomb. Confrontations and promises of confrontations abound keeping tension and suspense in play. There are two major shocks in the last two parts that put the icing on the cake.