On Sunday we left the Dorrits just as they learnt they had inherited a large fortune. Now let's see what happens to them over the next half of the series, and whether Arthur ever solves the mystery of his father's last words, and whether Rigaud ever gets his just desserts.
(Warning: spoilers, and you'll probably be very confused unless you've seen the series)
The Dorrits and their new-found wealth leave for Italy, without a word of gratitude to Arthur (except from Amy. She and her uncle are the only decent members of that family).
The Dorrits' departure
"Look back at me..." Wait, wrong series!
Meanwhile Rigaud joins forces with Miss Wade, who wants to ruin Henry Gowan, who's gone to Italy with his wife. While in Italy the Gowans and the Dorrits meet and become friends, and unfortunately Rigaud is there too.
Also in Italy is Mrs. Merdle, whose son Edmund Sparkler is in love with Fanny Dorrit, and whose husband has started a bank. Mr. Dorrit decides to invest all his money in Merdle's bank. Terrible decision there, Mr. Dorrit.
While in Venice Amy and Pet Gowan (nÊe Meagles) become friends. Henry Gowan is still friendly with Rigaud, who Pet dislikes and Amy distrusts. Rigaud finally leaves, but only after murdering Gowan's dog (noooooo the poor dog đĸ).
Back in London, Arthur has become the business partner of Daniel Doyce, an inventor. He tries to help Doyce patent his inventions by going to the Circumlocution Office. The Circumlocution Office, as its name suggests, is Dickens' satirisation of government offices and red tape. The satire is every bit as immediately understandable today as it was in the Victorian era.
Edmund Sparkler and Mrs. Merdle
Mr. Merdle
While in Venice Amy and Pet Gowan (nÊe Meagles) become friends. Henry Gowan is still friendly with Rigaud, who Pet dislikes and Amy distrusts. Rigaud finally leaves, but only after murdering Gowan's dog (noooooo the poor dog đĸ).
Back in London, Arthur has become the business partner of Daniel Doyce, an inventor. He tries to help Doyce patent his inventions by going to the Circumlocution Office. The Circumlocution Office, as its name suggests, is Dickens' satirisation of government offices and red tape. The satire is every bit as immediately understandable today as it was in the Victorian era.
Arthur going into the Circumlocution Office.
After failing to get any help from the Barnacles at the Circumlocution Office (yes, the family who work there are actually called Barnacles!), Arthur convinces Doyce to invest his money in Merdle's bank. This is a decision that will come back to haunt Arthur. Shortly after this, Doyce goes to Russia to try selling his inventions there, and leaves Arthur in charge of the business.
Rigaud goes back to London and visits Mrs. Clennam, demanding she give him money or he'll reveal her secret. Arthur sees him and becomes suspicious.
Fanny marries Edmund Sparkler. Mr. Dorrit has a mental breakdown and imagines he's back in the Marshalsea. He dies shortly after this. Amy returns to England alone.
Then Merdle commits suicide (a rather gory scene that you might want to skip) and it's revealed that his entire bank was a scam. All the money is lost, including the Dorrits' inheritance and Doyce's money. Doyce is still in Russia and knows nothing about it, and Arthur is put in the Marshalsea for debt.
John Chivery sees that he gets the Dorrits' old cell. There's a truly heartbreaking scene when he confronts Arthur, and Arthur finally realises Amy loves him.
Then Arthur takes ill, and Amy comes to nurse him. Aww đ
When Amy leaves the Marshalsea one day, Rigaud finds her and gives her a letter, telling her to return it to him if he reappears, or to open it if he doesn't.
Rigaud goes to Mrs. Clennam. He reveals her secret and how it involves Amy, and threatens to tell everyone if she doesn't give him money.
Mrs. Clennam goes to find Amy and tell her everything. While she's away, her house collapses and kills Rigaud. Good riddance!
After this, Amy tells Arthur what Mrs. Clennam told her. (No, I'm not going to say what it is!) She also tells him that her father put all his money in Merdle's bank, and now she is as penniless as Arthur is. Then the door opens to reveal... Daniel Doyce, back from Russia! Arthur (reasonably enough) assumes his friend will be angry that he lost their money.
But his fears are groundless. Not only does Doyce forgive him for making a mistake, he earned enough money in Russia to clear Arthur's debts! Yay! (This is a moment that always makes me cheer đ)
And now for the best part, the moment that I'm always waiting for at the end of a period drama:
Rigaud goes back to London and visits Mrs. Clennam, demanding she give him money or he'll reveal her secret. Arthur sees him and becomes suspicious.
Who wouldn't be suspicious of that creep?
Fanny marries Edmund Sparkler. Mr. Dorrit has a mental breakdown and imagines he's back in the Marshalsea. He dies shortly after this. Amy returns to England alone.
Mr. Dorrit's death
Then Merdle commits suicide (a rather gory scene that you might want to skip) and it's revealed that his entire bank was a scam. All the money is lost, including the Dorrits' inheritance and Doyce's money. Doyce is still in Russia and knows nothing about it, and Arthur is put in the Marshalsea for debt.
John Chivery sees that he gets the Dorrits' old cell. There's a truly heartbreaking scene when he confronts Arthur, and Arthur finally realises Amy loves him.
John: I didn't do it for you, I did it for Amy! Because she loves you!
Me: *sobs* đđ
Then Arthur takes ill, and Amy comes to nurse him. Aww đ
When Amy leaves the Marshalsea one day, Rigaud finds her and gives her a letter, telling her to return it to him if he reappears, or to open it if he doesn't.
Rigaud goes to Mrs. Clennam. He reveals her secret and how it involves Amy, and threatens to tell everyone if she doesn't give him money.
Mrs. Clennam goes to find Amy and tell her everything. While she's away, her house collapses and kills Rigaud. Good riddance!
After this, Amy tells Arthur what Mrs. Clennam told her. (No, I'm not going to say what it is!) She also tells him that her father put all his money in Merdle's bank, and now she is as penniless as Arthur is. Then the door opens to reveal... Daniel Doyce, back from Russia! Arthur (reasonably enough) assumes his friend will be angry that he lost their money.
But his fears are groundless. Not only does Doyce forgive him for making a mistake, he earned enough money in Russia to clear Arthur's debts! Yay! (This is a moment that always makes me cheer đ)
And now for the best part, the moment that I'm always waiting for at the end of a period drama:
đ
THE WEDDING!! And it's exactly as cute and adorable as it should be! đ
So, what are my thoughts on the series?
Easy. I love it, and it's in my top three favourite Dickens adaptations. There are so many sad and dark parts, but there are also parts that are just adorable! There are some scenes I skip, but that's unfortunately far too common in period dramas. But overall, it's a very good series and I definitely recommend it!
Is it available online?: Yes, on Dailymotion. (The link goes to Episode 1, but all the other episodes are available there too.)
Is it available online?: Yes, on Dailymotion. (The link goes to Episode 1, but all the other episodes are available there too.)
Rating for this half: 9/10 for Amy and Arthur's romance alone, and 8/10 for everything else. (That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with everything else, it's just that Amy/Arthur are so cute!)
Overall rating: 8/10
Coming on Sunday: a review of either Cranford or Our Mutual Friend (1998).
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