A 'sublime' Charles Dickens spin-off has captivated period drama enthusiasts and is currently available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer. The series, titled Dickensian, originally aired in 2015 and masterfully combines some of Dickens' most beloved characters, including Miss Havisham from Great Expectations and Fagin from Oliver Twist, all residing in a single Victorian London neighbourhood.
Plot and Setting
Spanning 20 episodes, the drama centres on a murder mystery. Detective Inspector Bucket is assigned to investigate the death of Jacob Marley, the business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge. The synopsis teases: 'Scrooge meets Fagin meets Miss Havisham in a riotous mix of Dickens' most loved characters - their lives intertwined on one mysterious street, and in the murder of Jacob Marley.'
Star-Studded Cast
The ensemble cast features Peter Firth as Jacob Marley, Tuppence Middleton (known for Downton Abbey) as Miss Havisham, Robert Wilfort (from Gavin and Stacey) as Bob Cratchit, Stephen Rea as Inspector Bucket, and Ned Dennehy as Ebenezer Scrooge. Characters from A Christmas Carol, Bleak House, The Old Curiosity Shop, Our Mutual Friend, and The Pickwick Papers also make appearances.
Critical Acclaim and Fan Reactions
Viewers have been thoroughly engaged by the series. One fan described it as 'very quirky but I absolutely love it. Great entertainment.' Another called it 'superb,' adding, 'Absolutely fantastic, the cast, the characters are just amazing. The very best of British and so clever to combine different characters for this series.'
A third reviewer praised it as 'one of the best, most entertaining productions I've ever seen - seriously! Weaving together our favourite characters from Charles Dickens' many stinging social commentaries into a delightful take with an enchanting surprise ending, and all done with superb casting and impeccable costuming and sets. A perfect 10 in my book. Please, sir, I want some more.'
Others echoed these sentiments, with one calling it 'original and powerful,' and another noting it was 'even better second time around.' One fan wrote: 'This series brought Dickens to life in such a refreshing way. It was fun to see all the different books being brought together. The dark retelling is superb. And omg what acting!! I want more!'
A viewer described it as 'sublime,' stating: 'If you never heard of Charles Dickens or read any of his works, you would enjoy this programme immensely. If you are familiar with the works of Dickens, it is nothing short of magnificent.'
Cancelation and Legacy
Despite the overwhelming praise, Dickensian was canceled after one series. A BBC spokesperson called it a 'difficult' decision, adding: 'We are incredibly proud of Dickensian and would like to thank all those involved in such an ambitious series. We sometimes have to make difficult decisions to make room for new shows and it won't be returning for a second series.'
Creator Tony Jordan, a former EastEnders writer, had previously scripted 60 episodes, hoping for more commissions, but only 30 of Dickens' 2,000 characters were used. He admitted being 'disappointed' but expressed pride in the series, saying: 'We are hugely proud of what we achieved in the first series of Dickensian and would like to thank everyone who helped us create a truly special and unique drama.'
Fans have urged for its return, with one saying it 'should never have been cancelled by the BBC,' while another noted, 'There easily could have been a season 2.' Dickensian remains available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
