The Crimson Petal & The White

The Crimson Petal & The White is a BBC adaptation of a novel by Michael Faber. It tells the story of Sugar (Romola Garai), a high-class, educated prostitute who 'never disappoints'. Despite her profession, Sugar hates men, especially when her close friend dies after being apparently violently attacked. Into her web falls William Rackham (Chris O'Dowd), a foppish 'writer', whose wife Agnes (Amanda Hale) suffers from severe depression, and who is pretty much lacking in everything.

This first episode details William's first encounters with Sugar and his growing attachment to her-apparently believing that he is falling in love with her. This is rather drastically contrasted with Sugar's own feelings towards him, which come in the form of various imagined murders. In addition, we see Agnes' attempts to get better outside of the ministrations of the rather creepy Dr Curlew (Richard E Grant). Another strand of the story seems to involve William's brother Henry (Mark Gatiss) who is courting the widowed Emmeline Fox (Shirley Henderson) and is keen to help her in her mission to save 'fallen women'.

I must admit it's refreshing to see the BBC tackling some non-traditional novels as part of their 'Books' season; Crimson Petal is by no means a Downton Abbey. It doesn't gloss over the seedy aspects of London, with the areas around Sugar's boarding house wonderfully brought to life; looking like something out of Oliver Twist. Plus, Marc Moran's direction is remarkably 'trippy'; lots of close up camera angles and fading in and out.

As Sugar, Romola Garai seems to be having a lot of fun, but also manages to bring a sense of vulnerability to Sugar-she obviously doesn't want to be doing what she is doing. Chris O'Dowd's William is utterly vile, I had zero sympathy for him, but I don't think we're supposed to-this is a man who sells his wife's jewellery in order to pay for sex! My favourite performance was definitely that of Amanda Hale as Agnes; she brought just the right amount of frailty to her role, without pushing it over the edge.

I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of this; I particularly want to see how Sugar and Agnes' relationship develops; and I'd quite like to see William get his just desserts.