Which is not to say perfect but certainly a very good effort.
I just finished watching it a second time and am developing a serious crush on Michelle Dockery. She played an almost perfect Susan of my imagination. A strong, attractive woman: cold, cynical, and subtly sexy in a stern way; was what I had in mind and this pretty much delivered.
Death's voice casting was very good and Albert wasn't bad. I do think it would have been neat to use some effects to show Death from the point of view of most mortals who cannot see him "properly". Also, as I mentioned on the comment board, I think Tony Robinson could have been a good 'Albert' given his significant "sidekick to a dark figure" experience. The biggest disappointment was definitely the Wizards who were portrayed too much on the "Bumbling Fools" end of the spectrum. I see them more as lazy but also powerful and very suspicious men. IIRC Ridcully is the only Arch Chancellor to last more than one book in the highly "competitive" world of Wizards.
The story was quite close to the book given the limitation of the medium. I would have actually cut some more peripheral sections and tightened things up a bit at the risk of incurring the wrath of the very orthodox Pratchett fans. You will never please the most radical anyhow. For example why not skip the shower plot completely? Ditto for the "Oh God of Hangovers".
Anyhow enough kvetching. Great first outing!
I just finished watching it a second time and am developing a serious crush on Michelle Dockery. She played an almost perfect Susan of my imagination. A strong, attractive woman: cold, cynical, and subtly sexy in a stern way; was what I had in mind and this pretty much delivered.
Death's voice casting was very good and Albert wasn't bad. I do think it would have been neat to use some effects to show Death from the point of view of most mortals who cannot see him "properly". Also, as I mentioned on the comment board, I think Tony Robinson could have been a good 'Albert' given his significant "sidekick to a dark figure" experience. The biggest disappointment was definitely the Wizards who were portrayed too much on the "Bumbling Fools" end of the spectrum. I see them more as lazy but also powerful and very suspicious men. IIRC Ridcully is the only Arch Chancellor to last more than one book in the highly "competitive" world of Wizards.
The story was quite close to the book given the limitation of the medium. I would have actually cut some more peripheral sections and tightened things up a bit at the risk of incurring the wrath of the very orthodox Pratchett fans. You will never please the most radical anyhow. For example why not skip the shower plot completely? Ditto for the "Oh God of Hangovers".
Anyhow enough kvetching. Great first outing!