User reviews

I just finished the first episode and the excitement I feel is like no other. For the first time, I feel like the novel of Les Misérables has finally caught the eyes of some brilliant director who can bring out the full potentials of the story to light . Now right from the beginning when you watch, you can sense that there is something special about this show. The cinematography, the acting, and the outstanding story are all mixed together to exhibit a work that I might personally claim to be far better than the previous versions of Liam Neeson and Hugh Jackman.

An excellent adaption of a masterpiece is almost ruined at the BBC's attempt to take political correctness to dizzying heights. There were most probably very few if any black people in France at this time - let alone a black policeman (a sergeant at that).

If you can filter this (major) distraction out of the film, this is not a bar adaption at all. Mesmerising in its delivery and very entertaining.

Let's be honest - this is one of the best tv series for the last years may be decades. I am expecting serious awards for the show and lead actors especially Dominic West. I am giving it 9 because of some little inconsistencies but otherwise outstanding acting and directing.

First of all, having read some of the previous reviews, I would like to give my own opinion on what appear to be ill-thought-out observations.

The casting of Javert - he's black. We get it. But can we look past his skin tone for a moment and marvel at how brilliant Oyelowo is at portraying Hugo's obsessed Javert? This actor has a way of delivering his lines in a way that makes you hang on to his every word, like you're physically being drawn in - he's absolutely fantastic, a character that you love to hate and it saddens me that people can't see past his race. The point is that it's an adaptation for a modern, British audience, it doesn't have to truly mirror nineteenth century France for us to understand that it is set in ye olden times!

On a related note, the accents. They're British and at times, very cockney and I think that there is a simple reason for this. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an upper-class Frenchman and a working-class one, because I am not French. Therefore, the director has chosen to use accents that we as a British audience are very familiar with and will associate with certain stereotypes, ie. The Thenardier's, who are from a lower class, have a cockney accent and even say their few French phrases in that accent because the majority of the British Public associate the cockney accent with the working class community. I can only imagine the hullabaloo that reviewers would have kicked up if this stellar cast had attempted butchered French accents - better that they stick to what they're good at.

And for the few who have commented that there is too much sorrow and woe and suffering... What did you expect when you tuned into a show called Les Miserables! Maybe next time, you should consider watching Les Happy People.

Also, I don't know what other people were watching, but the acting in this series far outclassed any soap I've ever seen. I would like to take this moment to appreciate the always wonderful Dominic West - his portrayal of the wounded hero Jean Valjean is truly wonderful. I'm also surprised at the lack of love shown for Lily Collins as Fantine. I have been a fan of hers for quite a while but even I doubted how well she would be able to pull off the tragic Fantine, but it was amazing. I've never been more impressed with her as an actress and I think she deserves way more credit than she's recieved.

Over all, I don't think the BBC were trying to make any sort of statement, or be PC or anything of the sort. I think that the best actors were chosen to portray the roles perfectly and that the script was adapted to suit the target audience, we the British public. And I would highly recommend this series to anyone with a soul who will appreciate the beauty in it.

I have watched les miserable live in theatre and the movie aswell. But my god, what a great 3 episodes I have watched. I have watched so many tv series and I honestly think this might be the best one I have ever seen. This tv series really is packed with emotion and I have never felt sad for a character ever, like I did here. Highly recommend it. Amazing!!

Episode 1 complete, and I will definitely keep watching. Having previously been put off the story by the musical versions I was happy to see a drama available which I hope will give me a sense of the original story with which I am unfamiliar. So far the cast seems excellent and the whole thing has a big budget feel. The story is just unfolding and I hope they can keep up the quality.

A great beginning for the show, I've read the book and the first episode gave me the same vibes and I love how faithful the first episode was to the book and I hope the quality does not drop, I will definitely watch it next week.

It's everything and more!! I'd give this show 100 stars if I could!! Can't wait to watch next week, and the week after! And thank you for finally making a non musical version, thank you!!

Great to explore the story without the annoying singing. Left me wanting more. Hope it continues!

Update: Great series, was waiting every week for next episode. Will definitely watch again.

Thanks BBC

This isn't an adaptation of Victor Hugo's book, it's a remake of the 2012 film, which makes it an adaptation of adaptation of an adaptation. The only things it has to differentiate it is is added violence against women (realism!), a depressingly pessimistic ending (which goes against Hugo's message), sexualisation of child prostitute Éponine (fairly certain this writer has a virgin-whore complex and learnt nothing from Fantine's story), racist casting (cringe-worthy in the case of Thénardier who becomes a slave trader), no empathy for the dispossessed (Fantine is apparently stupid for seeing becoming a prostitute as a last resort) and poor depiction of LGBT people as deviant (they are in the background of a completely unnecessary and added brothel scene, but otherwise absent). Oh, and horrible characterisation, to almost parodic levels. In fact if this series called itself "The BDSM Love Story of Inspector Javert and Jean Valjean" I'd be a lot less harsh, it does sort of work as a very boring parody.

Bizarrely, amongst this relentless "realism" Cosette sticks out like a sore thumb. She's styled like a golden-locked fairy princess, however simultaneously her love story is ruined. Rather than realising that one day love affairs only work in musical theatre and taking the opportunity to flesh out this part of the story with scenes from the novel, instead a large age difference and a couple of off-putting scenes (suggested by nothing in any other version of the story that I've come across) have been introduced making it clear this Marius does not have eyes only for Cosette. Why? Because degrading everything is what makes good TV? Writer didn't like Marius and/or Cosette? They got mixed up and accidently read a fanfiction and used that as source material? No idea, but considering the autobiographical details he added to this part of the novel Hugo is spinning in his grave. To complete the insult I'm surprised there was no implication that the couple would go on to be unfaithful and embittered with eachother, just to really hammer home that all of Fantine's sacrifices were for naught and Jean Valjean would have been better off leaving her with the Thénardiers (their children seem a lot happier with their lot in life). It would've also thoroughly stripped both lovers of their innocence rather than just the one, instead I'm left pondering why Cosette gets the opposite treatment compared to every other role.

On the topic of Hugo, I suppose this writer never considered that he didn't give his characters full names for a reason, and has decided to amend that grave error. Remember that iconic character Fantine Thibault? No? Characters with no other purpose than to be expositioned at are also invented whole cloth, it's all truly amateur. And trashy. Hugo was a Romantic poet who also wrote beautiful prose, but here we're treated instead to peeing scenes (insert pun about taking the piss here). Even when I pretended this was an original story with original characters I found all of the male characters creepy, the female characters pathetic/underdeveloped, I didn't believe in any of their relationships and I detested the pessimistic, humourless storytelling.

I can't even praise the less important parts of the production. Words were mispronounced in a way that even I could pick up on. Cosette's distractingly modern side parting annoyed the hell out of me. There are some really uncharismatic performances. It's a visual replica of the 2012 film to the point of intellectual property theft. I suppose Walder Frey was good as the grandpa, the kid actors were cute, and the outdoor scenes looked pretty. That's all I've got.

Overall for a Les Misérables adaption it's strangely un-socially conscientious, choosing to degrade the great novel rather than update it. It's a shame that this wasn't better handled, and it's a shame that many will now think this mean-spirited distortion is an accurate representation. Teachers, please don't use this for teaching except as an example of how to more or less stick to the plot but rip out the soul of the work you're adapting. Don't be fooled by the BBC's prestige, if you want a songless version the 1934 French films are much better and actually respect the source material. This one strangely enough is a reflection of the BBC as an institution - at first glance polished, but with a seedy underbelly.

(PS - Anyone heavily involved in the decision-making of this production should go on to make a version of Love in the Times of Cholera, if they haven't already.)

All the complaints about actors of color playing main characters that historically would have been white are getting tedious. Has anyone seen "Hamilton?" It does the same thing, and it succeeds brilliantly. The only problem I have with the casting is that the two antagonists are played by Black and South Asian men, while the (albeit flawed) hero and romantic lead are White. Also, enough with the petty villains, like the prison guards and Madame Thenardier, having Cockney accents. The class bias is deep and pervasive, and it really gets under my skin.

That said, some good acting is wasted here because of the way Javert is written. It isn't the actor's fault, but his Javert is made to be very flat. This invention that he has a sexual attraction to/obsession with Valjean is beyond unnecessary and undermines the whole theme of the novel, the theme of slavish devotion to the word of the law over basic human decency.

I thought Lily Collins was actually very good as Fantine, sweet and strong and moving. Including the backstory of her and her lover was a good move, for me. It really underscored her heartbreak. Josh O'Connor was an interesting choice as Marius. He seemed perpetually morose, very internal. Marius in the musical is such a dull character, a real cipher. At least this one had a personality, even if it wasn't a dynamic one. Cosette got on my nerves, but then she always does.

I didn't mind Marius being attracted to Eponine. It makes sense. I haven't read the book, so if this strays from the book I can understand why it bothered some viewers, but it didn't bother me. To me it showed that Marius, who is a Bourgeois, religious young man at heart, can be attracted to Eponine but not love her. She's poor, uneducated, impure, unlike the convent-bred Cosette in her pretty clothes walking in the park with her respectable-looking father. He falls for both of them, in different ways, so the privileged Cosette gets the man and poor Eponine gets nothing but lust and a sort of respect.

The pacing is slow and uneven, which would have been OK if that had been due to character development, but it's really not. Fantine has a journey, but how could she not? So does Valjean, but he's a bit too dark for me. I don't need him to be all virtue all the time, I just didn't care for his lingering.....meanness.

I think producers need to look to new, younger, talented writers. Sorry, but sometimes it's just enough with the old white guys like Davies. I didn't see War and Peace but I understand it was not great either, so why hire him again? Let someone else take a shot at it. It's such a clubby world. Open some windows and let in some air.

I found this excellent story telling. I also wanted to see a non musical version of a story of redemption and forgiveness story. So they cast a black man he if a good actor and did his character justice. The sadness and desperateness of the characters was well done. I will be watching all of this series. I just watched episode 2 and I am really liking this...Well done BBC......

I have seen Les Miserables at least 8 times in London and love it. The first episode was superb. We'll acted and directed. I found myself humming the songs in my head, at the end of the day! I have high hopes for this but feel it's going to be a real tear jerker. Derek Jakobi was excellent.

I've read the english translation of the original novel, seen the musical on stage more than once, and recently watched the 2012 movie musical. Although I haven't seen all adaptations I can confidently recommend this moving adaptation as honoring the story and characters best.

Other than that this is a very good telling of a story that has been done many times. I've seen maybe 5 versions of this and this is one of the best. Dominic West makes a good valjean though he's kind of small for playing the strongest man in the world. Liam Neeson, a very big man who played the part 20 years ago, is still the best valjean.

Reading the promotional interviews make it clear the writer was very unsuited for this project and has poor literary comprehension. On the continuing relevance of Les Misérables: "People are asking themselves 'how is it possible to live a good life in a world like this?'. You know, 'can we marry the ones we love, or are we going to have to settle for second best?'" Another charming quote: "I toyed with the idea of Javert having loveless sex with a 50-year old prostitute to 'clean the pipes out.'"

He seems very preoccupied with the musical and doesn't appear to realise Les Misérables is one of the most adapted works of all time, with many non-musical versions.

He gave Marius a "wet dream" not about Cosette but his neighbour the Jondrette girl, a teenage girl forced into prostitution by her father. Heartthrob material? Actor John O'Connor seems to be thinking of the dreaded musical when he says that Marius loves her as a sister.

Amusingly the more Hugo describes you as quiet and introverted, the more likely you are to begin roaring in Les Misérables (2018).

Critics have a history of getting it wrong with Les Misérables and that trend continues here. 1/10 for competent directing and some lovely shots.

The acting and casting was good but the story was changed too much to call this Les Mis. Disappointing that Jean Valjean's character and motivations were changed too much. Javert was well acted, but again the character was written here too shallow. Enjolras was overplayed and made to appear more valiant than Hugo wrote him.

Should have given the story another name but not Hugo's story. Davies, the rewriter, should me made to apologize publicly and the Director should go back to horror movies only.

This version is captivating. While the musical version has some excellent music, I have never been able to get through watching it. I found it overly dramatic and distracting. I love Dominic West in The Affair and decided to give this version a try and am glad I did.

I am amazed by so many complaints about the supposed "liberal" political correctness of the casting. Nobody seems to mind the cockney accent, but a l ot of people got irritated by black actors. As in "Romeo and juliet", it's all just a different formalistic interpretation. Where it gets unpleasant for me, is how ethnicities are associated with characters. The heroic, strong, knight-like caucasian main hero played by Dominic West. The innocent, beautiful blonde girl in need of protection, played by Ellie Bamber. The black policeman antihero played by David Oyelowo. The scoundrel Thénardier played by Adeel Akthar with Pakistani and Kenyan descent. The freckled, red-haired teen-prostitute played by Erin Kellyman. Maybe it's just coincidence, but the scale of it is at least insensitive. It looks like a racist film makes a mockery of BBC casting guidelines.

Not sure how culturally aware filson-88347 is, but both France and Britain have been multicultural for centuries; coloured people from Africa and the Far and Middle East were integrated into both countries' societies well before Les Miserables was written. That aside, I loved it and can't wait for the next episode

Having only seen the first two episodes this review may be a little premature but the tone does seem to be set. The adaptation looks good and has played out relatively well so far but some points of detail/style I really struggle with. These include how physically clean and healthy Fantine and her friends/colleagues (and their clothes) are during the romance with Felix and his friends. They were fairly poor seamstresses and the way their scenes are shot in soft light etc. Too romanticised for my liking. Also, give us more of the context: show us Fantine finding out she's pregnant as an unmarried woman, giving birth to Cosette, being subject to prejudice and discrimination before leaving Cosette with Madame Thénardier... This wouldn't take long to do but would add a great deal.

Also, whilst Dominic West is a great actor and performs well, the casting of him as Jean Valjean is problematic. It's absolutely crucial to the plot and the character that Jean Valjean is more than a man in terms of strength and capable of feats that are almost super-human. Whilst West has been to the gym, he looks like that: a man that has been to the gym. He doesn't look like someone imbued with the incredible strength that Jean Valjean needs. I don't believe it in him. He's no more physically imposing than those that surround him and this is difficult for me to get over.

The cleanliness/hygiene of some sections of the film make it feel a little dated to me and too 'BBC' - it needs to be darker, dirtier, more realistic. Lose the romanticism and give us some realism please BBC - that's how to make an adaptation of Les Mis great instead of good, in my book at least.

The accents and lack of French language (the odd 'Monsieur' etc feels weird) are, however, obstacles to the authenticity of the series and, for me, get in the way of the story and the context (as an aside and again for me, the race or ethnicity of the actors certainly does not get in the way). Whilst I can understand the BBC not wanting to produce a French language show that is shown in English speaking territories with subtitles, some half decent French accents would make it feel much more real to me. Les Mis is about, in, and of France after all.

Good work but I think the BBC could do better....

The characters all look wrong and are portrayed wrong. For example my favourite, Inspector Javert... his symbolic function is simply nonexistent. Instead of the law he is now singularly, manically, obsessed with Valjean, and the implication is that being homosexual is bad. Are these really the timeless themes that have kept this story relevant for hundreds of years? The male characters are all supposed be sexual naifs, but even if they weren't I find this view of the male psyche that is projected onto them to be degrading.