This meme celebrates an awesome adaptation related to a weekly category. Any format of adaptation (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. Awesome Adaptations was created by Alisa Selene at PictureMeReading.
An Awesomely Humorous Adaptation
Title: Jeeves and Wooster
Adapted from: Jeeves and Wooster books by P.G. Wodehouse
Adapted from: Jeeves and Wooster books by P.G. Wodehouse
P.G. Wodehouse!! One of my favorite authors - I love his Jeeves and Wooster stories soooo much! They are delightful - light and refreshing, like ice cream for the mind. The turns of phrases, the setting, the characters, and the dear scrapes the main characters get themselves into make for fun reads, and the atmosphere of the books are so particular that it is wonderful when an adaptation can get it right. And this TV series from the Nineties got it completely right.
Each episode of the series usually adapted two stories, and wove them together beautifully. The misadventures of Wooster's friends and the ingenious ways Jeeves gets them out of trouble made every episode entertaining. One of the highlights of the series of course were the stars. Hugh Laurie was just so perfect as bumbling, well-meaning Bertie Wooster, and it was wonderful how Stephen Fry made Jeeves - who is almost inhuman in the way he exercises his intellect - delightfully fatherly and supportive (except when Bertie didn't do what he wanted). This show is really an intellectual pleasure because while we have slapstick and farcical situations, there are also gorgeous word plays and interesting personality archetypes.
Even though I adore the actors so much, I think the real draw for me is the atmosphere of this world. It's a simpler, happy view of England in the thirties - where nothing bad really happens, and friends and family are important to Bertie. This is a show that I love to watch for it's comedy and it's sense of joy in life and it is a true delight!
Each episode of the series usually adapted two stories, and wove them together beautifully. The misadventures of Wooster's friends and the ingenious ways Jeeves gets them out of trouble made every episode entertaining. One of the highlights of the series of course were the stars. Hugh Laurie was just so perfect as bumbling, well-meaning Bertie Wooster, and it was wonderful how Stephen Fry made Jeeves - who is almost inhuman in the way he exercises his intellect - delightfully fatherly and supportive (except when Bertie didn't do what he wanted). This show is really an intellectual pleasure because while we have slapstick and farcical situations, there are also gorgeous word plays and interesting personality archetypes.
Even though I adore the actors so much, I think the real draw for me is the atmosphere of this world. It's a simpler, happy view of England in the thirties - where nothing bad really happens, and friends and family are important to Bertie. This is a show that I love to watch for it's comedy and it's sense of joy in life and it is a true delight!
I am MIND BLOWN. I didn't know there was a TV series! Going on the hunt for it right now!
ReplyDeleteOh really?? I'm glad you will finally get to watch it! It is definitely worth it!
DeleteMy mum was a HUGE fan of the tv series and the books growing up so I heard a lot about PG Wodehouse although strangely I've never read any of his books! What do you make of them doing a 'new' Jeeves and Wooster? I can't remember who wrote it but I just wish authors would come up with their own characters!
ReplyDeleteWell they translated the show from the books so well, I'm sure you will enjoy reading them too! I know I always picture Hugh and Stephen in the roles now when I read them! I'm not very interested in new Jeeves and Wooster though - mostly because Wodehouse's writing is so particular that I don't think any one can really capture it. Some fanfiction type books are fun (like retellings of classics) but I think some things should be left alone!
DeleteAidan showed me this show and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteOh good, cause I thought this is something you would love - anything with Hugh and Stephen is the best though!
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