Customer Reviews

The Buccaneers Episode 1

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the most pleasurable shows I have ever watched. Beautiful 19th Century women, luxurious clothes, innocence lost, castles, young noblemen, horses, carriages, arranged marriages, insanity, love.

Why is it so hard to come by? Why hasn't someone purchased it and split it up into 10 youtube chapters?

Quality of youtube is no worse than iTunes, and it's free.

Anyway, this is a must see, especially the first two episodes. When it starts to get hairy, then watch the happy first half of Gone with the Wind.

The series has a wonderful cast and a good setup, but never really manages to draw you in. If you're looking for something with a similar flavor that has more fully-developed characters and better plot development, I'd recommend Downton Abbey .

My review of 'The Buccaneers" is confined to the screen production as I've not read Edith Wharton's unfinished novel of the the same name. Some of Wharton's works have been successfully adapted for the big screen such as The Age of Innocence [with Daniel Day Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer] and The House of Mirth [with Gillian Anderson]. In The Buccaneers, we follow the adventures of a group of nouveau riche aka "New Rich" American girls - sisters Annabelle/Nan[ Carla Gugino] and Virginia St James [Alison Elliott], Lizzy Elmsworth[Rya Kihlstedt], and Conchita Closson [Mira Sorvino]. Since their New Rich status bars them entry into the Old Rich high society of new York, they go off to England in search of well-connected husbands.

The girls attract the attention of men of the English nobility who in some instances, have only prestigious titles to their names and not much else. All the girls get married but with the exception of Lizzy who makes a stable and happy marriage, the others end up being miserable with their choice of husbands. Conchita [Mira Sorvino] marries Lord Richard, a weak-willed alcoholic, Virginia marries Richard's brother Lord Seadown [Mark Tandy] who marries her only for her money, for he has a long-standing affair with an older woman [Jenny Agutter], and free-spirited Nan [Carla Gugino] settles for the Duke of Trevenick, though her heart belongs to Guy Thwaite [Greg Wise aka Mr Willoughby of Sense & Sensibility].

"The Buccaneers" is at heart the story of Nan, and her fight for the right to be her own person despite a calamitous marriage, and the restrictions that her position as Duchess of Trevenick imposes upon her. Carla Gugino shines in her role, and her transformation from an idealistic teenager into a mature, young woman who learns to deal with the harsh realities of life is very credibly done. The other noteworthy performance is of Nan's governess, Ms Test Valley[Cheri Lunghi], who portrays a woman who has had to fend for herself by working as a governess since she was 17, and at the age of 40, finds herself bemoaning the fate of women during her time, the inability to live their own lives the way they deem fit, and to not have the choice of loving whom they please.

In conclusion, this is a well-made period drama that will appeal to fans of the genre, and has lush landscapes, not to mention sumptuous costumes and of course, fine acting by an ensemble cast.

I am SO glad I watched this series. One of my all time favorites. The cast is fantastic, the story keeps you engrossed, and the time period is my favorite, so there is not a thing to complain about. 5 stars!.