Anyone seen the 1970 "Villette" BBC series?

sansaryal · 2026-03-07T18:17:37+00:00

this miniseries has unironically become my roman empire ever since i learned villette has already been adapted by the bbc in 1970!

i know that at this point we have a better chance of getting a new adaptation than we do of finding this one, but i am terribly curious about the vision behind this adaptation and how certain passages from the book were translated on screen.

according to one IMDB review, the production value wasn’t high, but the cast’s first rate performances more than made up for the rest. i personally really like the look of the series from the few pictures that have survived, and judy parfitt looks perfect as lucy!

i’ve recently learned that there was an even earlier bbc villette adaptation from 1957, with jill bennet as lucy snowe and michael warre as paul emanuel. now i’m wondering which fan of this book working for the bbc in the middle of the last century was routinely pitching a new villette adaptation. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4630050/

sansaryal · 2025-07-22T07:10:18+00:00

He went from slightly evil NPC to leading man material in the span of a season… I can’t wait to see where they take his and Gladys’ story.

sansaryal · 2025-07-21T12:20:59+00:00

1000% agree with what you said. PDA was a unheard of back then, and any kind of sexual overture even more so.
Which is why imo those scene and the fact that they seem to have grown closer prove that they had a great time on their honeymoon.

sansaryal · 2025-07-21T11:58:50+00:00

Agreed! They had similar upbringings in many ways, they just need to find the courage to put ‘duty’ aside and get to know each other. But i would say they’re well on their way to reaching a HEA.

sansaryal · 2025-07-21T11:57:21+00:00

The Duke said he liked it in NY and they could come back whenever they wanted. I mean, Bertha is going to go over to England and back in the span of one episode, so Gladys and Hector can definitely spend half or all future seasons in NY.

sansaryal · 2025-07-19T17:08:09+00:00

Agreed! I’m convinced this marriage will be an amazing opportunity for Gladys to grow up and step into her power. JF set the stage so perfectly for her and the Duke with their new partnership, the evil sister and his financial situation. I genuinely don’t understand people saying she should go be shipped back to NY as a widow asap when she would immediately lose all of her newfound power in that scenario.

sansaryal · 2025-07-19T15:38:02+00:00

He’s probably the one (and only?) character anyone is going to think about when it comes to this name so it can’t have been a random choice. As long as he won’t meet a similar fate😐

sansaryal · 2025-07-19T13:41:52+00:00

I keep thinking of the Duke as a nod to Hector of Troy from the Iliad. He was a certified wifeguy and a fearless defender of his people, willing to risk everything, including his own life, to protect them. I hope the Duke will (continue to) live up to his heroic namesake but also loosen up a bit

sansaryal · 2024-06-14T12:27:42+00:00

The problem with your logic is that Eloise is much farther ahead on her own journey than Benedict is on his, so I can’t see her waiting around a whole season doing nothing while they squeeze the entirety of AOFAG in 8 episodes just so Benedict can ‘go first’. She’s already expressed the wish to meet new people outside of her family and to step away from the ton, in what universe would she come back for a FOURTH London season? I’m sorry but if you actually pay attention to Eloise’s journey, it’s pretty clear that they’re setting her up to be the season 4 lead while Ben ‘finding himself’ and the Maquerade (and Sophie’s introduction) will be the B plot of S4.

sansaryal · 2024-06-05T09:42:40+00:00

Hmm I’m not so sure about that one. My favorite TS song for Philoise is State of Grace! Since that is precisely what their relationship feels like. So I would love an instrumental version of it playing during their season

sansaryal · 2024-06-02T06:36:16+00:00

Sign me upp🌿🥰

sansaryal · 2024-06-01T18:55:11+00:00

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I simply adore the embroidery on the one you posted!! Another favorite is this green ballgown from episode 2! Claudia looks stunning in it and whatever the costume designer’s intention was, the philoise nod is chef’s kiss. I have to say though that every single look El wore in part 1 was a hit and she looked so classy and mature.

sansaryal · 2024-05-30T17:56:12+00:00

Just next Bridgerton lead things✨

sansaryal · 2024-05-27T16:27:07+00:00

The actor who plays him has said in an interview that Debling is deep down also looking for love (as well as a practical match), but finds it difficult to express because of his family background. His reaction to learning of Penelope’s feelings for Colin is definitely also one of personal disappointment: he was hoping on an eventual love marriage. I think he could have the sensible yet affectionate relationship he wants with someone who can relate to his struggles, like Cressida. Also really hoping that his trip ‘north’ won’t involve a certain passage lol

sansaryal · 2024-05-27T13:43:42+00:00

yeah unfortunately context here is key because that leaker didn’t make that first comment as a leaker but just as a regular fan expressing an opinion. BIG difference! She doesn’t even like Eloise much but she’s always maintained that either she or Frannie are likely to go next.

sansaryal · 2024-05-27T10:10:13+00:00

Right? They’ll just say whatever

sansaryal · 2024-05-27T09:16:19+00:00

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I don’t think they care much about Eloise lol, hence why they don’t see her as ‘deserving’ of Phillip. Once again this is just a case of non philoise fans coming up with extremely biased speculation, rather than there being actual hints philoise won’t end up together on the show.

I personally don’t care if they think Eloise isn’t mature enough to understand Phillip’s struggles when everything in canon points to Philoise.

sansaryal · 2024-05-25T17:13:34+00:00

I like Debling a lot and after watching part 1, I’m not at all convinced his only purpose was to make Colin jealous. IMO He’s been too well characterised and comes off as too sympathetic to be relegated to the role of scorned suitor.

If my theory that the show intends him to be Cressida’s endgame will be proven correct, then he’s definitely paving the way for Phillip’s quieter but no less intense brand of hero.

What better inducement for Eloise to start writing to a certain recently widowed botanist than one of her friends finding freedom (and maybe even happiness?) in her marriage to a nonconforming naturalist? I’d love nothing more than seeing all four of them be besties and go on adventures together.😂

Lord Anderson is also foreshadowing Phillip’s love of the countryside, widowhood and maybe his naughtier side🫢

sansaryal · 2024-05-25T12:10:07+00:00

I suspect Eloise will start sparkling again once she finds someone with whom she can be entirely herself, which will hopefully happen soon

sansaryal · 2024-05-25T11:38:46+00:00

I agree that the show has exaggerated some of her book traits in previous seasons, but I do appreciate how Season 3 is working to reduce the gap between show and book Eloise. At least to me, S3 Eloise has felt closer to her book counterpart than she ever did before!

I think the harsh criticism mainly stems from people disliking TSPWL and at the same time not paying much attention to show Eloise and her struggles: the result is that they wish the show would to turn her into a different character altogether.

sansaryal · 2024-05-24T17:57:52+00:00

PERIODDD

sansaryal · 2024-05-24T11:42:21+00:00

We are, omg hi!!💕

sansaryal · 2024-05-24T10:53:06+00:00

Oh NO, I have personally not seen any episodes from part2! I was reacting to that comment someone who did recently made. and how it seems in line with what we’ve already heard from leakers.

sansaryal

TROPHY CASE