Black Narcissus Review: 3 Ups And 5 Downs Review

Alas, now we move onto perhaps the biggest flaw of the production - the pacing. The 1947 original came in at a spritely 101 minutes, moving deftly through its three act structure with both balance and tension. While one could argue that there is a three act structure here, with three episodes, yet after the nuns locate to the Mopu Palace and the initial mystery is posed, events slow down considerably. In fact, they practically grind to a halt.

Clodagh busies herself with the necessary construction, keeping one eye on the wilful Sister Ruth and the other on Mr. Dean's jawline and we are introduced to the Prince, and for the second episode, that's about it. Nothing much really happens apart from everyone complaining about how difficult everything is, with little or no action to clarify this state of affairs. At the end of episode two, Father Roberts is making his way to the palace in a storm, so Clodagh braves the weather to find him on the road. Exciting! Cliff edges, hypothermia, ghosts, yetis? Nope, by the time the cliffhanger (this could have been literal) is resolved in the opening moments of episode three, it seems that he is safe and sound and having a cheeky brandy by the fire.

Anyone on the edge of their seats by this point had either just sat that way or was asleep, it's that much of an anticlimax. With Ruth going a little potty (but not much) and a few replacement nuns here and there, episode two should have been cut altogether, making for a snappier, faster paced and possibly even mildly thrilling experience.