DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
'Doctor Thorne' Is Just the Antidote to 'Downton' Withdrawal
May 20, 2016  | By David Hinckley  | 4 comments
 

If you need an antidote for Downton Abbey withdrawal, and who among us does not, try Amazon’s new Doctor Thorne.

This three-part British series, based on the Anthony Trollope novel, drops Friday on the streaming service, with a satisfying sweep of Victorian elegance and cliffhanger romance.

Did we mention it was written, or rather adapted, by Julian Fellowes, who wrote Downton?

Set in the 1850s, Doctor Thorne largely revolves around Mary Thorne (Stefanie Martini), a lovely young woman of about 20 who was raised by her uncle, Dr. Thorne (Tom Hollander, top, with Martini).

While she has no personal riches, she spent much of her formative years at the estate of the Gresham family, which did.

The Greshams are run by the domineering and rather unpleasant Lady Arabella (Rebecca Front), who somehow has raised a kind and considerate son, Frank (Harry Richardson).

Doctor Thorne opens with a series of polite, rather formal social interactions much in the style of Jane Austen. From these it is clear that Mary and Frank are in love, though Mary fears his social rank would render her unworthy as a wife.

Frank’s family feels the same way, it turns out, because they have a secret. They’re broke. Years of gambling and reckless spending have forced them to mortgage 90 percent of their holdings to Sir Roger Scatcherd (Ian McShane, left).

The only way they can buy them back is for Frank or a daughter to marry money, big money.

Specifically, they’d like Frank to make a play for Miss Dunstable (Alison Brie), a rich American who playfully collects marriage proposals from Brits who want her cash.

Frank actually gets along quite well with Miss Dunstable, having told her up front that he’s in love with Mary. This appeals to the side of Miss Dunstable that would like to believe in romantic love, not a fiduciary union.

Meanwhile, the course of events makes the Scatcherd debt increasingly urgent for the Greshams. It also finally makes Mary aware of a secret about her parentage that we viewers knew from the start.

All these secrets tumble together with some very bad behavior and some rather noble behavior to rearrange the social, financial and romantic playing fields.

In large measure because it’s only three episodes long, Doctor Thorne has neither the sweep nor the soap of Downton Abbey. That’s not a mark against it, just a gentle warning to fans who might be tempted to compare any British period drama to Downton.

Doctor Thorne is striking on its own, with lovely visuals and beautiful costumes. Its cast is large enough that a few players inevitably feel two-dimensional, though Fellowes gives solid nuance to most of those about whom we care most.

From its early breezy Austenesque air, Doctor Thorne turns somewhat darker through the middle passages. As in many stylized period dramas, we viewers know what we’d like to happen, and then must wait and see if there’s any way it can.

You won’t be sorry this doctor is in the house.

 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
YLWWA
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: 
4 Comments
 
 
You might be satisfied with buying best carbide inserts from our website. We are dedicated to supplying the very best and newest best carbide inserts at a reasonable cost.The first-rate carbide inserts Store make sure that you are in relation to modern trends and the latest creations in the up-grade class.
May 31, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
The products offers unparalleled elegance appealing only the the most demanding of clients, the ones that demand only the finest.All the original details, style and mechanisms have been exactly to in our product. But the most unbelievable thing is their price - The bests from our site are manifold much cheaper., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Mar 7, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Our product will help you improve your productivity, lessen your budget in maintenance and repair. In selling machining inserts, Estool will make sure that you will get enough profit in our products., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Feb 28, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Estool cermet inserts can be used for turning, milling, threading, and grooving. It is suitable to use for the vapor deposition method to deposit a thin layer of harder materials on the surface of the blade to improve cutting performance., welcome to our website to learn more about carbide inserts:https://www.estoolcarbide.com
Jan 29, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: