The Crimson Petal & The White (Series Wrap-Up)

The BBC's adaptation of Michel Faber's novel finished up last night; and I really, really enjoyed it. While the first part followed Sugar's (Romola Garai) journey to become an integral part in William's (Chris O'Dowd) life, these remaining episodes chart her move first into a house paid for by William and then into his house proper, alongside his mentally ill wife Agnes (Amanda Hale), as governess for his neglected daughter, Sophie (Isla Watt).

Again, I really do applaud the BBC for striking out with a much darker adaptation than their normal period drama fare. Whilst The Crimson Petal & The White does have moments of lightness-particularly in Sugar's interaction with Sophie-it is generally a quite dark story, especially in the latter episodes where it seems that it is not just Agnes who has a troubled mind. The grim depiction of poverty-striken London is again, wonderfully shown, as is the increasing number of 'fallen women'; despite numerous societies attempting to save them. It also details just how badly treated women were during the Victorian era; Agnes' poor treatment at the hands of Dr Cardew (Richard E. Grant) which probably increased her problems and the way men generally seemed to treat women a commodities is well shown.

The one thing I felt was quite weird about the programme was that the characters motivations were quite ambiguous. William remained a cad throughout; using the people around him and only releasing what he had when it was gone. Sugar, on the other hand, confused me. She certainly began full of loathing for her profession (which we learn she started at just 13) and men, at first it seemed that she was merely using William as a tool to gain her longed-for independence yet she is driven to distraction when he begins to treat her badly-I'd like to think that this was due to care towards Sophie as opposed to any kind of weird feelings she may have for Rackham.

Romola Garai was wonderful as Sugar, and I really hope she gets some more leading roles soon, because she's wonderful, and I find Chris O'Dowd's performance even better now that I know he's actually Irish-which makes his flawless English accent pretty impressive. Other good support comes from Amanda Hale, who I thought was brilliant as Agnes; Isla Watt who is unbearably cute as Sophie and the underused Shirley Henderson as Mrs Fox.

The Crimson Petal & The White was a really great TV series; I just need to get round to reading the book at some point!

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.