Bleak House: Season 1

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 65 Ratings

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9.0

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9.0	User Score Universal acclaim based on 65 Ratings

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Bleak House

Now Playing: Bleak House

Season Details & Credits

BBC-1 | BBC | Season Premiere Date: October 27, 2005

Starring: Gillian Anderson, Phil Davis, Denis Lawson

Summary: Masterpiece Theatre tackles the Dickens classic for the second time with this miniseries (adapted by Andrew Davies) airing in six weekly installments.

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E15. Episode 15
Air Date: December 16, 2005
tbd
S1:E14. Episode 14
Air Date: December 15, 2005
tbd
S1:E13. Episode 13
Air Date: December 9, 2005

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Matthew Gilbert

It's hard to know where to aim the praise first. Read full review

100

David Hinckley

Fabulous in every respect. Read full review

100

Gillian Flynn

Dark, textured, and lively--this is how Dickens is done. [20 Jan 2006, p.66]

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

The only bleak aspect to this miniseries is that it doesn't last forever.

John Leonard

Splendid television. Read full review

Alessandra Stanley

As pleasurable as its tale is grim. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Those who wade through the slow-going first three or four hours of this stately production will be richly rewarded by the engrossing final four. Read full review

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User Score

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9.0

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User Reviews

JanetF.

Jan 29, 2006

I have TIVo'D and holding on to this one. It bears watching over and over.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

[Anonymous]

Jan 24, 2006

I love it! Very well done! Gillian Anderson is wonderful and gorgeous! Charles Dance is so evil and Anna Maxwell Martin is wonderful as Esther.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JennetP

Feb 2, 2011

BH is my second-favorite Dickens novel, so I put off watching this miniseries for 5 years, lest it disappoint. I needn't have hesitated. No the adaptation is not completely faithful, but it captures the essentials: the range of characters (good, bad, and purely eccentric), the dynamicBH is my second-favorite Dickens novel, so I put off watching this miniseries for 5 years, lest it disappoint. I needn't have hesitated. No the adaptation is not completely faithful, but it captures the essentials: the range of characters (good, bad, and purely eccentric), the dynamic storytelling, the social critique (here focused on the legal AND class systems). And it does more. It's a fair criticism of Dickens that his characters, for all their quirky vitality, are a little one-dimensional. But great actors can enrich such characters, and this series has so many that I almost hate to single anyone out. Much has been made of Gillian Anderson, and she is indeed excellent, but, for me, the standout has to be Anna Maxwell Martin as the young orphan at the center of events. She could easily have been too good to be true; instead, she is admirably kind but also confused, wise, wry, and naive--in other words, profoundly human. But no one works in a vacuum, and it's obvious that the casting, script, and direction have all contributed to her performance, as have the other actors. The scene between Anderson and Martin on the Ghost Walk is a perfect example of two achieving more together than one could do alone.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

AliciaG

Feb 17, 2006

I absolutely love this miniseries. It is the only televison show to ever make it into my day planner. My only request is more Guppy!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AnonyMous

Mar 6, 2006

Truly wonderful, the best thing I've seen on television in years. I'm depressed that it's over! To the person who rated it a 1: the author is Charles *Dickens* -- not Dickson. I guess I can see why you didn't like it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Brenda

May 1, 2007

Awesome show! I just wish I could have viewed it in one sitting instead of waiting for more each week. I am buying this on video! (and I only OWN one other film - LOTR-so I"m not into purchasing such things). LOVED IT!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

robertt

Jan 21, 2006

I´s too dark. I didn´t like the camera work and I didn´t like to wath Gillian 'Scully' Anderson as Lady Dedlock. Tho only star that i gave to this went to Charles Dickson, the writer himself. Dont´waste your time. Go watch Deseparate Wifes. LOL

0 of 6 users found this helpful

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Seasons & Episodes

93

Series Overview
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: November 24, 2005
Season 1

93
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 27, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E15. Episode 15
  Air Date: December 16, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E14. Episode 14
  Air Date: December 15, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E13. Episode 13
  Air Date: December 9, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E12. Episode 12
  Air Date: December 8, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E11. Episode 11
  Air Date: December 2, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E10. Episode 10
  Air Date: December 1, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E9. Episode 9
  Air Date: November 25, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E8. Episode 8
  Air Date: November 24, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E7. Episode 7
  Air Date: November 17, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E6. Episode 6
  Air Date: November 11, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E5. Episode 5
  Air Date: November 10, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E4. Episode 4
  Air Date: November 4, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E3. Episode 3
  Air Date: November 3, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E2. Episode 2
  Air Date: October 28, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E1. Episode 1
  Air Date: October 27, 2005