6. The Characters
Benedict Cumberbatch is one of Britians finest young actors, and in my mind his portrayal of Christopher Tietjens will always be remembered as one of his greatest performances. No bones about it, he is the focus of
Parades End, so for a start you have a more engaging lead to invest in than some crusty of RADA alum, or mid-20s heartthrob with a pouting air of vulnerability that drives middle-class girls wild. Though this is in no small part thanks to the script, Cumberbatch just makes Titetjens his own, so layered and complex whilst being bland and straightforward at the same time. His evolution as a character (I wont spoil anything) so far has been glacial, and totally believable. I turn on the television waiting to see what dilemma he faces next, what indignity he must suffer- rather than turning on the television to see whether Viscount Crumpetcheeks really is rodgering that scullery maid whose lowly husband is about to go off to war, dontcha know? Both the women in his life seemed to have matured, and never seem one-dimensional, unlike many of the clichéd characters of other costume dramas- the monarch, the ever-suffering young woman, the heartbroken butler, the hen-pecked patriarch with gigantic facial hair, yadda yadda yadda Rebecca Halls Sylvia, Christophers adulterous and petulant wife, and Adelaide Clemens Suffragette Valentine, Christophers chance at true, outspoken, simpering happiness, defy the stereotypes they could so easily fallen into with ease, and surprise us at how much the change throughout.
Cumberbatch, Hall and Clemens have one hell of a supporting cast- Rupert Everett plays Christophers brother, who improves as each episode progresses, Rufus Sewell is hilarious, the ever-relaible Stephen Graham and rather lovely Anne-Marie Duff make a delightful. Geoffrey Palmer is in the next episode, so you
know its a prestige BBC drama (Easy, Geoff, I love you really), and there are countless other recognisable and talented actors in there. And they never seem like a gimmick or the result of stunt casting *Cough*Shirley Maclaine*Cough* but are there for a reason. Much like
Thor featured three heavyweights conversing like a sold-out Shakespeare production, here we see some of our best actors, old and new, truly giving masterful performances you wouldnt expect. Do you need more reason than that to see it. You do? Oh, alright then, read on