2023 Armitage Weekly Round-up #8

/ April 16, 2023

A delayed round-up this week because I had to finish watching Obsession yesterday before I wanted to delve into tumblr. I didn’t want to see potentially spoiling gifs and other content before I had seen the show myself. So, here we go.

Prior warning: There will be posts with NSFW content, so be careful where you are when you click 😉. Also, rather than link to everything individually, RAFanPage is a great go-to for a comprehensive compilation of all the photos, articles, interviews and clips for Obsession.

  1. Jumping right in with a gif set by unstablecryptid of the cushion scene. Needless to say, NSFW
  2. I think that eyewear fashion has moved on from angled specs, but here is something for all who love Armitage in glasses. Gifs by mimictears
  3. A handy compilation of some articles about Obsession, put together by rafanpage
  4. Lots of smiling RA gifs in Obsession, courtesy of garethamm
  5. An honest reaction to Obsession by inkwolvesandcoffee
  6. Middleearthpixie’s Thorin fic After the Fire goes to chapter 49
  7. NSFW gifs of the sex scenes in Obsession, put together by nicolethered
  8. A critical reaction to Obsession by mysterioustrashadventures
  9. The intro to the very first tryst, giffed by gay-bucky-barnes. NSFW
  10. And also by gay-bucky-barnes, the much anticipated FFN, for all who blinked and missed it. Needless to say NSFW
  11. The contrast couldn’t be greater with this gif 😂. Riepu10 has giffed a thoughtful Father Quart. Fully clothed 😉
  12. Linasofia has jumped right in! This is already part 2 of an Obsession-based fan fic called The Game
  13. LOL, velvetapple puts Mr Thornton in the context of the new Barbie movie
  14. 100% straight or not, here is a Lucas North fan fic by fizzyxcustard
  15. Staying with the Barbie theme, levithestripper put this Thorin manip together
  16. Aw, a Thilbo happy ending, drawn by bubblus
  17. How to interpret sin for the best possible outcome… What a Guy Wants by nfcomics
  18. Another review of Obsession by unpetitoiseau

There we go, that’s quite a bumper issue this week, and quite clearly dominated by Obsession. Great to see all that Armitage action on tumblr. Eh, no pun intended, but hard to avoid it. Eh. You know what I mean. You will notice a good few new names among the links, and I really like that. It is good to have new voices creating content, and Obsession really delivers great material for that. I’m sure we can look forward to lots of fan fic, gifs and clips in the foreseeable future 👍.

Have a great Sunday, all,

Sonja ❤️

Related posts

93 thoughts on “2023 Armitage Weekly Round-up #8”

  1. Thank you for the roundup. Those scenes look better giffed than in video if you ask me. And a houtout to Paula (riepu10) who did much if they giffing quoted in that one post.

    Like

    Reply

  3. Thank you Guylty for this round up. Obsession has definitely stirred the pot as has Richard’s introduction to his partner in his interviews. I love that he feels confident enough to do so. Though not surprised by the homophobia surrounding this. Disappointed though I am by this. If he’s happy I’m happy. I really enjoyed Obsession the complex psychological emotional rollercoaster that it is. ‘Armitage gets his kit off’ I laughed so much at that – he knows what pleases his fans🤣🥰😇

    Like

    Reply

  4. I’m sorry to say some members of a fb fan page I frequent refuse to acknowledge he is out. They seem to take it as a personal affront. I’m not sure if it’s homophobia or a shattering of their fantasies. As much as I try to talk them down off the ledge, they won’t believe it. At least they have Obsession to drool over. I’m not sure they’ll ever be able to separate the man from his art.
    I was also surprised by the number of childish comments about the FFN and masterbation scenes. Seems we haven’t evolved enough to look beyond our own prurient interests to get to the heart of the piece. Obsession certainly has its flaws, but no one can convince me that Richard didn’t leave his whole heart and soul in his performance. Except for perhaps Hannibal, it’s his most courageous role to date imo. I hope he feels satisfied with the level of rawness and authenticity he brought to the role.

    Like

    Reply

    • Now, here is a comment I can get behind. And I don’t mean the refusal to accept RA’s sexual orientation. (There is no doubt about that. He has confirmed it himself – despite the latest comments that are muddying the waters again.) But yes, I agree that he committed to the role in its fullest – as is his wont. I don’t think that he had particularly great material to work with, and some of his acting choices may have been curtailed by the direction. I am not particularly fond of applauding actors on their bravery for taking up an explicit role as such. They know what they sign up for, so whether they are brave to bare all and appear FFN or not, does not mean anything for the actual quality of performance. No doubt, William must have been a character right up RA’s proverbial street – a man on the edge, choosing the wrong path over and over again, following his base instincts into catastrophe. What a great challenge to portray such a character. RA made me hate that character so much; Farrow was so completely despicable in this show. I credit him for that.

      Like

      Reply

      • It seems from the intimacy co-ordinator’s interview that RA did the cushion scene in one take, which in itself points to his amazing ability to get inside a chaRActer’s skin. “……this sensual, but also kind of grotesque and tragic, painful scene. It’s an incredible moment of storytelling of the obsession that his character is experiencing.” (Adelaide Waldrop)
        I have started watching Obsession again to try getting a handle on how I feel about it. Performance wise, RA did a brilliant job, because I can’t love William Farrow, as much as I’m happy to ogle his good looks and body. He’s more Francis Dolarhyde/Raymond de Merville than John Thornton/Lucas North/John Porter in terms of my emotional attraction to a chaRActer.

        Like

        Reply

        • Unfortunately I have to disagree about the cushion scene. For me it was one of the least successful scenes of the show. And it’s not the masturbation that I disliked, it is what is leading up to it. RA is the master of nuance, but this scene had no subtlety at all. I feel it should have been toned down a notch – leaving in the desperate search for her scent, but making it more believable by slowing down and savouring what he finds. I question the approach and effectiveness of the intimacy coordinator not just in this scene but in general.

          Like

          Reply

          • Not unfortunately at all – I’m enjoying reading different opinions – and I appreciate your point re lack of sublety. I guess it depends on what kind of direction RA was given, if any, or if he was simply told to follow his instinct as to what was driving the character. What was in his mind at the time, given that, as you say, he is the master of nuance?

            Like

            Reply

            • [Thanks for continuing the discussion, Mezz! ❤️ I appreciate that we can talk even though our opinions differ!] I have pondered over the direction (or lack thereof?), too. I completely believe that RA brings his own artistic vision to the characters he is tasked with. In the past we have known him to do it so masterfully, that he has imbued two-dimensional figures with so much character that a whole show got a new layer of meaning. Sir Guy is a case in point. I love that about RA – and I loved that the BBC show allowed him to do that. You are right, of course, that he must have had some kind of vision in his mind when he decided to play the scene this way. So in a way I can’t fault him – because my dislike is just as subjective as his interpretation. I just can’t shake the feeling that the grotesque, manic obsession is too heavy-handed in this scene. My *own* justification for that is that William is a top-of-the-game neurosurgeon, i.e. a brainy man. That doesn’t mean he can’t become infatuated (and making the character such a highly intelligent/capable man, is no doubt a deliberate decision by the writer to emphasis the stark dichotomy of highly rational brain surgeon vs irrational obsessive lover.) but it just makes this scene look just a tad too overstated *to me*. Also, in terms of placing the show in the area of “erotic thriller” while aiming at a mass market, the cushion scene *for me* did not fulfill the promise of the depiction of erotic sex. (Again, that was apparently intended – but then the show’s marketing as an erotic thriller was completely off.)
              I feel I am beginning to confuse matters here. But even that goes to show that the series has definitely had some impact on me.

              Like

              Reply

              • I see if I want to continue reading I should soon decide to watch the show. I could start but don’t know when I will have the time to finish it (and maybe this would turn into an issue once I was started and want to see the rest).
                Or I better really stop reading articles and comments until my new job has calmed down a bit. Again the conflict between what we wish and what would be the rational thing todo.

                Like

                Reply

                • Well, here is one thing to consider regarding your decision to watch or not: The show in its entirety will only take you 2.5 hours. (4 episodes of between 33 and 43 minutes each) Possibly even less because the end credits are calculated in that. So you can theoretically get through it in *one* sitting, tonight. Time-wise, it’s not a huge commitment.

                  Like

                  Reply

                  • Re: Comments muddying the waters on being gay – Where did you get that impression from?

                    I have, so far, watched three of the four episodes while cooking and washing up (because I already feared I might be vertane Lebenszeit).

                    Re: masturbation scene: I agree with you, especially since I’ve read some where that this particular scene was improvised and the artistic “design” left completely to RA. I can understand that he wanted to display the proverbial obsession here, but to me it seems to be over the top (which has certainly caused the ridicule on sm that someone mentioned above). All in all, I am not impressed by the whole show, like many others I would have appreciated more plot in addition to all the sex scenes (which really weren’t that raunchy considering the expectations that had been drummed up).

                    Completely unrelated: Wow, I haven’t participated actively in any fandom discussions since the height of the Sherlock craze (when I had too much time on my hands during uni), but y’all seem like such a nice bunch that I decided to delurk.

                    Like

                    Reply

                    • Hi Fliss – and thanks for delurking. It’s always nice to hear new voices!
                      Starting at the top, I was thinking of this quote from the April 11th Radio Times piece about him: “I love the conversation with the younger generation. I love the idea that whatever gender, sexuality, the fluidity of who you love, how you identify, is not fixed.
                      That was always a thing: if I declare who I am and my sexuality, then I’m saying it’s fixed and I don’t know that, or if I might feel something for somebody further down the line. I doubt it, but I don’t know.”
                      I am with you on the lack of actual plot of the show. Particularly the two first episodes felt stretched to me. Weirdly, there was simultaneously *too much* sex (as in: it felt like they put samey sex scenes in because they didn’t have enough plot to fill the rest of the episode), and *not enough*: Considering the amount of emphasis placed on the intimate scenes in the promo, I had not only expected *more* sex, but also for the intimate scenes to be more explicit. The much touted BDSM element was kept very discreet. A rope and two blindfolds doth not the BDSM make… (Ok, but I’m not an expert in the field, so what do I know.) IDK, I just expected something different, I guess, and I felt that the direction held the actors back.
                      LOL on the “vertane Lebenszeit”. Well, maybe, if we have some meaningful discussions about it, it won’t feel like a waste of time 😉.

                      Like

                  • Well, that sounds like the motivation I needed.
                    So by tomorrow I might be able to join the discussion.
                    I have read the book last years and have now just revisited some chapters due to what I heard from the interview. Seems to me so far that the intimicy takes up moretime in the show than in the book.

                    Like

                    Reply

                    • Hehe, I am glad if I have been able to help. I am curious now to hear your opinion – especially because you have read and revisited the book. I hope that the discussion here hasn’t spoilt you too much. Oh, and I also hope that you will feel able to voice a dissenting opinion, in case you absolutely love the show!

                      Like

              • I was disappointed by Obsession. I was expecting more eroticism given the promotional hype. I did not find the sex scenes particularly erotic, lots of grunting and rutting from Richard.
                And as for the infamous cushion scene, I think Richard may be in the running to win a ‘bad sex’ award for that scene! Just too heavy handed; it ended up unintentionally comical!
                IMO, I think Richard was miscast as the father, surgeon William Farrow; an actor with a more cerebral, upper middle class, slightly louche posh vibe would have been better suited to the role, for example, Rufus Sewell.
                I remain a fan. But having bared all for this role, I just hope Richard keeps his clothes on in his next role…

                Liked by 1 person

                Reply

                • Now, Rufus Sewell as William, that’s a thought! Yup, the grunting and rutting as well as the cushion scene all gave quite an animalistic vibe, which is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.

                  Like

                  Reply

                  • I could definitely see Rufus Sewell playing this character. He’s a wonderful actor and I’m a huge fan of his as well.

                    Like

                    Reply

                • Oooh, lots to respond to here. (I mean that in a good way!) There was sex in this show, and yes, it was central to the plot/the characters’ relationship. But it wasn’t gratuitous – because frankly, to be gratuitous, it was neither “European” enough (to use Richard’s words), nor was there really as much as the promo had made out.The intimate scenes took great care *not* to show any dangles, whether masculine or feminine. Buttocks, yes. Writhing bodies, yes. Boobs, yes. But most of the sex was captured in close ups of other body parts and/or the faces. The much mentioned BDSM element of the show consisted of three scenes during which ropes (I say rope – they were satin ribbons) and a blindfold were used. There wasn’t even much “kinky” talk which could have fleshed out the integral D/s relationship of William and Anna to much greater effect while avoiding gratuitous display of the naked form. Do I sound disappointed? Idk, but I had expected/feared so much more explicitness. As it stood (no innuendo intended), the intimacy depicted in the show was simultaneously too much and too little: Not evocative enough to properly illustrate the sexual relationship of the couple and of William’s obsession, but too much in view of an otherwise meagre plot, so as to almost look like unnecessary fillers to stretch the sparse action over four episodes.
                  Interesting thoughts re. RA potentially miscast. Even though I am not hugely familiar with Rufus Sewell’s work, I do understand what you mean. Although I do think that RA makes up for the lack of upper-class louche by his class-less (as in: not defining a particular class membership) dark, dangerous villain vibe.
                  And yes, I consider myself still a fan, too. Even though I did not like the show much (and don’t consider this role as one of his finest), he did show more of his nuanced, sensitive style in the second half of the show. I think it is a pity that the sensationalised sexual content is overshadowing the acting abilities of some of the cast, including RA. (But well, as a prude and as a fan, I would say that, wouldn’t I?)

                  Like

                  Reply

                  • I so agree with your assessment of the sexual content in Obsession. Somehow, even with an intimacy coordinator, they managed to miss the mark. I was surprised that it was Richard who devised the cushion scene…How did he manage to screw it up?! 😉
                    I don’t we think we are prudes. I think we are discerning viewers who recognise the flaws preventing Obsession from being a good drama series with depth of characterisation, worthy of the cast and production rather than the disappointing, deficient and somewhat cringeworthy piece it proves to be.
                    I didn’t feel there was enough exploration of Anna and Williams’s characters to give a better, more satisfactory insight into why they did what they did. The series hints at it with Anna towards end but I could have done with a few more hints and a bit more resolution. Why would she think it acceptable to carry on with the son and father at the same time?
                    The character of the son was poorly sketched too. So naive. Why would he still want to ask Anna to marry him after her odd abrupt behaviour in Paris?
                    As for the character of William, it was not possible to discern why he betrayed his son in the manner he did other than midlife crisis and a raging hard-on! I think that’s where casting an actor with that slight air of louchness and upper class ennui, arrogance would have helped.
                    I am currently watching “Anatomy of a Scandal” on Netflix. IMO, this is a well acted, quality drama full of intrigue with a gripping story. Makes me realise how far Obsession falls short…

                    Like

                    Reply

                    • I’d like to think that that is the case – that we are trying to assess the show for what it aimed to be. I don’t feel any glee at all but am disappointed that the show did not sustain my expectations and sad that it has received so much negative feedback.
                      Even with the sex the central element of W and A’s relationship, a little more background at the beginning of the story would’ve made it more comprehendable for me. What is it that draws W in so quickly? Why is he so completely led by lust for A from the moment he lays eyes on her? 2 seconds of sexy eyes and flirting just did not convince me. I kept thinking “would a father really maliciously risk hurting his son so much and so carelessly”? It did not make sense *to me*, based on what the show otherwise told me about his relationship with A. I felt the show continuously asked me to suspend my disbelief. And yes, Jay’s character felt somewhat one-dimensional, too.
                      I haven’t seen Anatomy. Might have to check that out then.

                      Liked by 1 person

  5. Apparently, we’ve reached the end of the thread, so I have to reply as a new comment. You’ve put it more concisely than I ever could, especially the comment on how there was too much and too little sex at the same time. I have now finished up with the fourth episode and have to say, I didn’t expect that plot twist at the beginning. And even though it surprised me plot-wise, I barely felt any empathy with the characters – a clear sign that I wasn’t at all emotionally invested in the story.
    Oh, and also re: the FFN scene. I am basically reiterating what others have said, there was just so little point to it. Being European, I don’t have any problems with nudity and I like to ogle a fit body as much as the next (wo)man, but it didn’t add anything to the story, except that the tabloids could speculate if RA was using prosthetics (which btw if it really is a thing to have penis prostethics that must be one of the weirdest jobs ever). An example where FFN was an integral part of the plot is Emma Thompson in Good Luck to you, Leo Grande. I don’t know if you watched the film, but it ends with her in front of the mirror, a middle-aged women, completely naked, and it symbolizes the end of a journey towards, idk, maybe self-acceptance or self-love and it leaves a real impact. The scene in obsession reeks more of fan service. Ha, never thought I would ever be “complaining” about such a thing.
    Also, you’re absolutely right, I’m really enjoying these discussions and that is definitely not wasted time 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    • [Sorry about the comment thread issue. Not sure why that happened. It might be a new feature of “jetpack” (WordPress) to avoid threads staggering into tiny columns.)
      So, yeah, that really was a twist. I briefly felt empathy with W – but since he relentlessly kept pursuing A, my empathy quickly vanished.
      Yeah, the FFN. I’m German, too, so a male member on TV is really nothing shocking to me. (Ok, I haven’t lived in Germany since the early 2000s, and maybe things have changed, but I remember very clearly that male full frontal nudity was a normal thing on German TV and not at all exclusively reserved for “erotic” films. It may not have been present in late afternoon shows but it certainly popped up – very naturally – in things like Tatort or TV films. It certainly was a reflection of a society that attempted to free itself of this taboo, and to show nudity simply as a naked body – not necessarily a sex thing.) I can’t really fathom why there even is speculation about prosthetics.
      Funny that you mention Emma Thompson and Leo Grande. That is *exactly* the example I have on my mind, too. FFN that is entirely ungratuitous but fully serving the plot. That scene was so raw and *necessary* for the film. And there was no objectification in it. Real impact, as you say.
      I am glad that you are enjoying the discussion. And whether a film is bad or good – art is meant to spark debate. In *that* respect, this show is scoring quite high 😉

      Like

      Reply

      • I think the speculation about prosthetics was clandestinely launched by Netflix to generate buzz. I have no proof, of course, but I had (anti-)predicted this possibility the week before Obsession launched.
        The background is that in Sex/Life (the previous “sexiest show in Netflix”) there is also a shower scene where one of the male MCs characters lets it all hang out, as it were. (I haven’t seen the whole show bc I found it boring, but there was discourse about it on SM.) Anyway, apparently this appendage was so impressive in size that (I believe) real speculation about prosthetics ensued. This was also fueled by the fact that the actor who played the MMC in question is now dating the actress who was the FMC irl, who was previously otherwise married. That’s what I gathered anyway (I love me some secondhand drama.)
        Now, not to put too fine a point to it, I believe Netflix took a leaf out of that book and might’ve floated this idea on the dl.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  6. The FFN scene in Sex/ Life was the most memorable thing about that series. If it was real and not a prosthetic, it was definitely something to behold!!
    In comparison, I don’t think Richard was wearing any prosthetic, or a merkin, in his FFN scene.

    Like

    Reply

  7. I couldn’t agree with you more Guylty. There is only so long I can suspend my disbelief before the whole ediface comes crumbling down….
    Whilst Obsession was disappointing to watch, I have enjoyed reading and participating in the discussions, exchange of views, and critical analysis surrounding Richard’s role in it. IMO, it has served to reinvigorate interest and discourse about Richard and his work among his fans which can only be a good thing.

    Like

    Reply

    • Agree, Zigzag. I think it is quite telling that we are still discussing the show, several days after its release. I always think that there is nothing worse than indifference. This show has definitely not left me indifferent. I admit I feel somewhat protective of RA and am not enjoying the focus on his performance in the – by now infamous – cushion scene. To me, it misrepresents his capabilities. Here’s hoping that bad PR is good PR… But I do enjoy exchanging opinions about the show which go beyond pithy remarks.

      Like

      Reply

      • Absolutely! Reminds of the old “there is no such thing as bad press”. But yeah, RA has drifted towards the infamous territory (eher berüchtigt als berühmt) with that performance, and I agree, Guylty, that for his sake I would have liked a different conversation on his acting capabilities. I work under the presumption that everyone in this conversation is still a fan and that one weird wank performance didn’t change this (though it gave us certainly a lot to talk about).

        Like

        Reply

        • Maybe we can go without WWP from now in. Not that I would be personally opposed to an aesthetic display of such, but I don’t think he’s the one to do it. Maybe that’s a reason he went a bit hard on that scene? It’s gotta be almost more intimidating than a couples sex scene to film. More vulnerable. Maybe going slightly grotesque offered an extra layer of protection like armor?

          Like

          Reply

          • I mean, I am the first to admit that I would like to know how *else* he could interpret a WP without the first W. 😁 But I doubt it’s high on his list. OTOH there is no doubt that autoerotic scenes will be harder to play – much more out there than sharing a scene with a partner. Not sure whether the armour argument applies here. He still had the IC on hand to offer choreography and protection. She obviously felt it was relevant and appropriate for the character and the scene…

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

              • Sometimes this whole things feels to me as if they were working off a different script than the one that we perceive in the show. Also: If you listen to RA’s (very interesting) interview with BBC Sounds today, it becomes quite clear that he based his portrayal of W not solely on the script but actually went to the book to find W’s redemption and conscience. Good idea, except we, the viewers, mostly do *not* have that background. I wonder whether some of the “non-comprehendability” (Nichtnachvollziehbarkeit) of the character stems from that?

                Liked by 1 person

                Reply

                • The script didn’t show OR tell us enough about these characters. That’s what it boils down to for me in the end. You can make viewers go along with a lot of things, but you’ve gotta take them along.

                  Liked by 1 person

                  Reply

                • I think this is the right point for me to join back the discussion.
                  My first impression was that the show is fitting the book. With the book I struggled a bit for the writing style and the way of only indicating things in long sentences. I prefer a more direct writing. I was wondering how some scenes of the show would be if you do not know the book. Can the viewer understand the actions of the characters or their motives. And even with the knowledge from the book some scenes felt unlinked to me, but partially the book is the same, jumping place/situation.
                  I don’t really get the point that the show is made from the female point of view. I did not experiences so much of a difference to the book apart from William not narrating the story. And it was already mentioned by someone that the show misses like this some of the thoughts and motives William has. In the show he looked a bit like stumbling around without brain, while in the book it is clear that he is thinking and deciding. There is a difference also in his discussions with his wife. The book contains quite clearly his thoughts about how to avoid discussions and especially intimacy with her, up to a point where he rejects his wife in the bed room. The show stay quite superficial on this.
                  I fully agree also on Guylty’s comment early on concerning music. In large parts it is overdone with dramatic music. Actors are not that bad and viewers too stupid to understand the gravity of the situation without very dramatic music. Or in other parts it is extremely cheerful (to indicate when W feels happy after meeting A?), which is also too much from my point of view.
                  Overall I liked the first two episodes better than the end. And same for the intimate scenes. Before watching I was wondering if the trailer already gave away too much. Which partially is confirmed now. Nearly every encounter of W&A seemed to be represented in a few seconds of the trailer.
                  On the one hand I felt before and still feel like I am kind of the target group of the show (which would not have been the case ten years ago in my thirties – whatever this tells about me), on the other hand my brain for some scenes just switched to logic mode and declared what I saw unrealistic. Even being obsessed, human beings to my knowledge don’t get into a state to have sex every time you are more or less alone, and this need for sex being so urgent that you fall to the ground right at the spot ( I am thinking about the scene after the engagement party). And even if the book describes from W perspective the relationship like an addiction, it does not go to this level.
                  Overall I expected more from the show but I am not too disappointed. And there is still the fun around it in reading interviews and comments.

                  Like

                  Reply

                  • Hi NF – glad you came back to share your impressions with us. Your first paragraph already touches on something that has become increasingly clear to me. RA, for instance, relied on the book for the conscience, thoughts and backstory of the character. Without having read the book myself, I am missing essential information that would have make me understand the series much better.
                    I agree that I did not really see the show making a point of pushing a female POV. They did successfully refrain from objectifying the female main character. But the show did not make me feel sympathetic to her at all. She wasn’t the only guilty party of the story, so that was good, but her motivations and actions were explained too late in the show and almost as a quick resolution.
                    I also struggled to find the depiction of obsession and sex realistic, but I put that down to the aforementioned lack of deeper understanding of the characters. I just wish they had spent more time at the beginning on sketching them out. Maybe then the urgency of their sex would’ve felt more convincing and logical.

                    Like

                    Reply

                    • Exactly, they could have taken the time.
                      The run time is quite short for a 4 part series. If they decided on 4 episodes why not take the time for some more dialogue and insight to the characters.
                      Or make it only two episode, like one for the rise of the relationship and one for the fall of Williams whole life.
                      In the last chapters of the book there is also more about Williams life after the whole thing, if there would have been the need for more material.

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • Yes, I agree about the gaps in explaining things better. I think they even went from an initial order of 3 to finally 4 episodes. And those were sitcom shirt, not drama length. The story would have majorly benefited from some context.

                      Like

  8. I’m watching the fourth episode and I can’t understand why everybody is still talking to William. How his wife, his father in law, his daughter can tolerate his presence? What a scumbag

    Like

    Reply

      • I think this is one of the things you need the book for. In the book W is already a politician and Anna slips away from the scene of the accident without being identified. So with help from the father in law they try to hide from the public that his affair was with Anna and reduce the public scandal for the sake of Ingrid. The deal is that after the funeral W resigns and leaves to never see Ingrid again. The phrase of the father in law in the show is (if I remember correctly) “but today you will sit with us”. And then he enters the church for the funeral. I believe this represents that it was arranged to avoid the scandal and behave normally for the funeral.

        Like

        Reply

        • That’s a very good example for lack of background knowledge that would’ve made the show more meaningful and logical for me. I am somewhat baffled that the makers thought it was ok to leave so much of the characters’ internal thinking out. Maybe they were immersed so deeply in what they were making, that they forgot about giving the audience some more insights…

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          • I liked what RA described in the BBC interview (thanks for the tip—very worthwhile) and I believe that is the show they *wanted* to make. Alas, they didn’t.

            Like

            Reply

            • I agree with everything, but I liked the Hitchcock-ish music a lot,albeit it wasn’t a subtle hint, more a big finger pointed for us to understand that that was not only cheesy and boring sex, but EVIL! Feminist pow my ass, by the way

              Like

              Reply

  9. Thank you for the summary! I’ve now seen all the relevant bits (umm!) and caught up on the discussion. Having already decided I wasn’t watching it’s meant I’m up-to-date. Cheers, Guylty!

    Like

    Reply

    • Hehe, that’s a good outcome, too. It’s by no means a must-see, and since it mentions a few tough themes (even if only in passing), it really isn’t that easy to digest, anyway.

      Like

      Reply

  10. Delurking because I apparently can’t suppress the urgency to talk about the show’s issues. Some of them may be present in the book but then it could have been better adapted. I think some setup for the affair was desperately needed, to get a feel for William’s dissatisfaction and the initial attraction between them. Then the audience could have seen how the temptation just overwhelmed William in a more organic way, not to encourage sympathy with him but to at least understand what’s happening. Maybe they relied to heavily on some initial spark, and I’ve seen critics note the lack of chemistry, but IMO they didn’t give them much chance, because chemistry is also in the build-up. (Plus, some short moments of casual intimacy and a little lightheartedness outside of the sex in their affair might have helped that along too. Their affair just seemed strenuous).
    I think it was mostly a writing issue? I think the writer is a playwright and it was her first TV script, but I’m not sure about that. It might explain the pacing issue. I also think the direction wasn’t great, surely they should have let RA know if the masturbation scene didn’t work. I was actually okay with the acting in general, I found RA and Indira a little more compelling than the younger actors, but then again I liked them to begin with.
    I’m really bummed about the outcome though. I had high hopes because the directors’ last film was quite good and I love Indira Verma. I also hoped the exposure would be good for RA, as it looked like a better-quality production than the Harlan Coben stuff which is kinda becoming quite low rate (I actually enjoyed The Stranger but they’re decreasing in quality and even RA doesn’t sound enthusiastic about that next one). And despite what he says, having sex scenes on TV must feel a little vulnerable, so the criticism seems extra punishing. At least his body looks good and I’ve not seen any complaints there 😉 It’s a shame because it had potential to be better even if the material is certainly not to everyone’s taste and the story is quite thin to begin with. Oh well, he seems to be getting a lot of enjoyment out of the book release and his writing. Maybe it’s nice to have work in which your person is a little less central and exposed after such a long acting career.

    Like

    Reply

    • No need to apologize for the length. I agree with you, there is a distinct lack of some sort of explanation why A was so attracted to W and vice versa. Yes, there is such a thing as instant attraction, but it felt like there was a middle part missing (even PWP fanfics have some sort of exposition in most cases, btw the more I think about the sex scenes, the more they do remind me of a PWP). What I find baffling in this context is that (if I remember correctly) they showed W as having a normal (?) sex life with his wife at the beginning, no hint of dissatisfaction there. “Strenuous” is a good descriptor for how the relationship between A and W felt, but I guess, from a different angle you might also call it “obsessive” (as in, not really seeing rhyme or reason for this behavior) and that’s apparently what they were aiming for.

      Like

      Reply

      • Oh yes that’s true re “obsessive”. (I now understand why RA was so hung up about that notion in the promotion, there is so little else there to latch onto). Maybe that was a fatal flaw though, because to me it was too removed from recognizable interpersonal behaviour. There were some hints there that William felt unfulfilled despite having it all (including the great wife). That doesn’t make him more likeable to me but gives it a little more depth. Just to say, I didn’t hate the show overall. It was nicely shot, it just could have been a lot better and the affair could have been a lot more passionate.

        Like

        Reply

        • On behalf of pwp (writers), I apologize for the comparison (though there is decidedly less (fewer? is butt countable in this instance?) RA butt in most ffs. In my defense, I was rather thinking of the random and gratuitous succession of sex scenes with minimal pauses in between in PWPs, not the depiction or rather description of the sex ifself. 😉

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          • 🤣🤣 I’ll take gratuitous sex over the almost grim happenings in O. It was their only plot point in favor/as explanation of the affair (as far as we viewers could see) and it didn’t even look enticing. 🫢

            Like

            Reply

    • Hello Costerika – and welcome. Glad you have delurked, and gifted us a long comment. No need to apologise for such – it’s great that you are sharing your thoughts. Most of which really chimes with me, btw.
      I think you are spot on about the lack of a set-up of the affair that gave us more insights why particularly William falls so easily into the affair. The only set-up we got was his professional success, his happy marriage, his lovely relationship with his kids, the comfortable lifestyle and the overall feeling of “this is a man that has got it all”. So he is somewhat sketched out as an unlikely character for an affair. What is it then that Anna brings to the table? We know nothing about the mystery woman – and are asked to believe that two sets of eyes connecting over a crowded room and some vague flirting does the trick. The books seems to provide more insight, but that shouldn’t be a prerequisite to understanding and enjoying a TV show imo.
      As regards chemistry – I never really know what that actually is? Whether two people look good together? Well, W looked good with A as such. Do people say they didn’t have chemistry because they disapprove of the illicit, clearly wrong affair? But I agree that there is just not enough fleshing out of the affair in the early stages. I understand that it is all lust and no love, but somehow I just don’t get what the two characters take from it. Or maybe I understand that A enjoys the power and the control, but what does W get from it, a man who actually has it all? He is clearly being manipulated, but follows down the path of destruction. Why? I think this is where the show fell down. Had they established the reason for his descent into obsession, everything else that followed would’ve made sense.
      I also had the impression that the writing wasn’t quite up to scratch. There was not enough meat in the first two episodes (which they could have easily filled with more exposition on the main characters and their affair). The second half was more substantial. I also think that the writer in particular created a lot of expectation in the promo, talking so much about the female POV etc. She succeeded in giving Anna more agency, and she certainly divided the guilt and the responsibility for the affair between both characters. But for much of the show I still had the impression that we always saw Anna in relation to the two male characters, and not as the plot driver in her own right. I just wish the writer had told the story from Anna’s POV – that would’ve made a big difference. As it stands, I don’t think this is a feminist retelling of the story, even if in the end Anna is the one who clearly understands and accepts the guilt whereas W is still obsessed…
      As for the direction – I felt it was too heavy-handed. Particularly in the first half there was a lot of “meaningful staring out of windows”, which completely underused RA. Imo the show tried too hard to be a great psychological study and to make a point, to the extent of slapping exaggerated music on that I found frequently distracting. All through the show it acted like a sledgehammer, as if I had to be told “now comes a really dramatic part”. I just wish they had toned everything down a bit and given the actors more room for nuance.

      Like

      Reply

      • The problem was that the dramatic music was almost nonstop and so overused it lost any dramatic effect and instead was just annoying.

        And the show is an autonomous piece and needs to stand on its own. The makers can’t expect previous knowledge of the book or Binoche film to fill in the gaps. Heck, if I hadn’t obsessively (*g*) read/watched so much promo, I’d have been even more lost.

        Like

        Reply

        • It does make me wonder, though, how I would have perceived the show, had I read the book beforehand. Maybe I would have found the progression of the plot more believable.

          Like

          Reply

      • Thanks for the warm welcome!
        And I agree with basically all your points. I was lulled in by the writer too, but whatever she intended didn’t really come across. I didn’t really see much of the feminist retelling aspect of it. I suspect there are probably lots of in-built problems in the book (I’ve only read a summary). I’m not sure Anna’s trauma response to her struggles turning her into some kind of self-destructive manipulator is particularly realistic or nuanced from a feminist point of view. But if you do a rewrite, you could have fleshed things out a bit more.
        To me it sounds like they had some interesting intentions, but it didn’t make it to the screen, which makes it all the more frustrating. If the sex had at least worked, that would have created something to buy into. (I wonder whether the idea to focus on the frantic type of sex backfired a bit in that respect, because it again made the characters feel a little hollow.) Maybe I need to listen to the BBC interview, but then it will just frustrate me even more that the end product didn’t come out better!

        Like

        Reply

        • (Sorry for late reply!) Yep, I actually fully believe that they had good intentions. It’s just that they did not come across to me, and that is a problem. It is not my job as the audience to have prior knowledge of a book that a show is based on. It’s the makers’ job to give me enough background and characterisation to believe the action. I feel as if they got side-tracked somehow.

          Like

          Reply

Let me know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.