house_of_eliott | Episode Discussion : Series 1, Episode 1

Wondering whether I did actually ever see the first couple of episodes of HoE, now I've watched them none of it seemed particularly familiar!

Bea is the character that stands out from the first episode certainly. She must've been named for Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing', the character traits and similar situations they share would make it too much of a coincidence otherwise?

One character I'd certainly not remembered is Molly their maid. Loved her scenes, especially teaching Evie to dance.

Evie: "I've only ever danced with Bea."
Molly: "It's just the same with a real man, except there's less to get in the way."

I don't think I'd ever seen the first episode either, I missed it on the ITV3 run too only tuning in for ep 2 so it was a first for me as well when I bought the DVD's. It *feels* very different to the rest of the show somehow, like that was the novel on screen and the rest went on from there? Almost like a pilot.

I'm not overly familiar with Beatrice in Much Ado, but I do know they certainly share many of the same characteristics so it seems likely. Plus, as another layer, she might have been named after Shakespeare within the show too, as later on she calls herself 'Benedict' when tricking Jack with his film sponsorship so maybe she knows her namesake?

I love Molly, they should have kept her in somehow!

I agree with it feeling more like the book. Molly stays with them longer in the book. It's been a while since I read the book but I seem to remember that Aunt Lydia had an affair with their father?!?

Yes, the book is very different to the show, not just in the course it takes but in tone too. Aunt Lydia in the book is a a horrible person who seduced her brother in law, and the book is full of dark sexual undertones of sex clubs and 'machines' in Dr Eliott's office for somem kind of deviant sexual behaviour! Even Jack is a visitor of one of the clubs, it's very.....different. Very very different.

I do wish Molly had stayed longer though, maybe up until they opened the House of Eliott or at least as a guest star now and then. The actress played her pefectly I thought.

I remember being disappointed by the book because I'd seen the series so much and it was so different. Lydia is much more endearing in the series despite being a little devious with the money etc.

I actually like Aunt Lydia *and* Arthur. They are both absolutely products of their time/upbrining and constrainted totally by that but they do try and do their best for the girls and even Arthur has moments of kindness (like giving Evie money for the taxi). Lydia is not a kind person, but she's not an unkind person either if that makes sense.

Very glad they altered the characters for the show, although I suppose having the relatives plotting against them and even Arthur as the *real* half brother would have made for better drama?

I love how Lydia changes from controlling to being completely humiliated by "Arthur's notoriety" leading to her trying to form a new life for herself and ending up being helpful (helping out at the mission and trying to organise a fundraiser) and quite sweet.

Arthur ends up being very creepy with Evie. Burrrrrr. I love how, in the first episode, asks her to make sure there are handles on the inside as well as the outside.

I do wonder what Arthur must have been like before the war and how the war had changed his personality. What is the buttoned up exterior hiding?

Yes, Lydia had her compuance and yet still, never *quite* learned her lesson.

Both Jack and Arthur have this creepy attitude towards Evie in the first episdoe, luckily Jack gets over it soon but Arthur is just :shudder:

I suspect that was just Arthur and the War mostly left him in it's wake, I don't think he has a sensitive soul, he'd be a pragmatist about it I think.

Arthur definitely takes advantage of the changes brought by the war. For example, he doesn't let his mother dictate who he should marry. He wants to marry who he wants, for love.

I actually like Aunt Lydia *and* Arthur. They are both absolutely products of their time/upbrining

Oh, yes, and maybe I am crazy, but I think fic about Arthur and/or Aunt Lydia's adventures in Boston could potentially be v cool. And also very funny.

But then I am probably crazy.

One of the only things I dont like about the show, other than Bea's S3 hair (*g*) is that Lydia, Arthur and Pen are never mentioned again. Well, Pen is once, but the others aren't. They were a big part of S1, huge in fact, and then they're just forgotten!

I mean, Bea and Evie *go* to Boston on their American trip, it should have been mentioned that they saw Lydia and Arthur!

I mean, Bea and Evie *go* to Boston on their American trip, it should have been mentioned that they saw Lydia and Arthur!

And there should be fic about it, yes. ;-D

Oh, I hadn't really picked up on the Benedict bit - that's very true!

Episode Discussion : Series 1, Episode 1

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