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The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012)

an amazing adaptation of a unfinished Dickens drama

The Mystery of Edwin Drood starts with an arranged marriage between Rosie and Edwin watched enviously by Edwin's uncle John Jasper the restrained choirmaster who wishes to posse Rosie and in the dark of the night frequents opium dens. I loved the contrast between the upstanding choirmaster and the sinister side of Jasper who was played beautifully by Matthew Rhys who I hope to see again soon. He was the true star of the television programme but I also enjoyed the performance from Freddie Fox and Tamzin merchant who played the part of Rosie extremely well! Though Hiram Grewgious's assistant and Durdles were at times a screen stealer's. I found it extremely enjoyable and I believe the transition between the true Charles Dickens and the screenwriters was seamless. The ending where Jasper wasn't the killer of Edwin junior I think was true form for a drama where it would have been too simple for me anyway for it to have been anything less! The drug induced dreams and opium den scenes were well mixed with scenes of normality of a choirmaster which was interesting. Overall I thought it was pulled off very well and I thoroughly enjoyed it especially the scene were Jasper believes Edwin to be a ghost thanks to his drug-addled mind was wonderfully played as well as the scene where Jasper tells Rosie how he will pursue her to the death was creepy and well-acted. I would recommend this and I'd like to thank the BBC for yet another awe-inspiring period drama and for finishing a Dickens so wonderfully!