David meets Steerforth again, years after they met at that horrible school. It's obvious from the start that Steerforth has grown up to be a character very like Wickham, but David doesn't see this.
After this David finds Mr. Micawber, and in the process accidentally introduces him to Uriah Heep.
David, Mr. Micawber... and Heep
David and Steerforth visit Dan Peggotty and his family. While there Steerforth meets Em'ly. This is the start of much misery for the Peggottys and David. Ham and Em'ly have gotten engaged. It's obvious that she doesn't care much for Ham, and that she's far too interested in Steerforth.
Meanwhile, David is shocked to learn that Mr. Micawber has become Uriah Heep's clerk. Shortly afterward, Aunt Betsey loses most of her money. David also has very little money, so he decides to take up writing.
This leads to trouble with Dora. David tells her he loves her, but she can't imagine marrying a poor man. This should warn David not to marry her at all.
David visits the Wickfields, and learns that Uriah Heep has gained some sort of power over Mr. Wickfield. He's using this power to try to force Agnes to marry him.
Meanwhile, David is shocked to learn that Mr. Micawber has become Uriah Heep's clerk. Shortly afterward, Aunt Betsey loses most of her money. David also has very little money, so he decides to take up writing.
This leads to trouble with Dora. David tells her he loves her, but she can't imagine marrying a poor man. This should warn David not to marry her at all.
David visits the Wickfields, and learns that Uriah Heep has gained some sort of power over Mr. Wickfield. He's using this power to try to force Agnes to marry him.
Am I the only one having flashbacks to Arthur Gride and Madeline Bray in Nicholas Nickleby?
Em'ly runs off with Steerforth, and Dan Peggotty sets out to find her. David goes to Steerforth's mother with the news, and finds that she blames the Peggottys entirely for it.
Ham, Dan and David read Em'ly's letter
Dora's father goes bankrupt and dies. David goes and proposes to Dora.
She's just as silly and childish after marriage as she was before it. David invites Mr. and Mrs. Micawber to dinner, and then finds that Dora doesn't know how to cook. The dinner is... a bit of a disaster. Mrs. Micawber reveals that since Mr. Micawber became Heep's clerk, he's become suspicious and secretive.
David and Dan finally find Em'ly. Steerforth abandoned her and disappeared. Dan decides to emigrate to Australia with Em'ly.
David goes to give Ham a letter from Em'ly. He arrives to find that a ship is sinking in a storm, and Ham goes out to try and save some of the people on it. One of those people is Steerforth. He drowns, and Ham drowns trying to save him. Ouch. I couldn't care less about Steerforth's death, but poor Ham ðŸ˜
ðŸ˜
After this, Mr. Micawber asks David and Aunt Betsey to visit his office. He reveals that Heep has deceived Mr. Wickfield into thinking he stole money, and uses this imaginary crime to blackmail Mr. Wickfield.
Heep has also been stealing other people's money, including Aunt Betsey's. She's furious when she hears this.
It's not clear from the screenshot, but she's hitting him with her purse here. Never mess with Aunt Betsey!
Uriah Heep is transported. After this the Micawbers decide to emigrate to Australia.
Dora has been ill for a while, and now she's dying. After she dies David travels the world for several years. At last he comes back, and very suddenly decides he's in love with Agnes and has been for years.
This is always a part that stretches my willing suspension of disbelief. Somehow David never realised that he was pining for Agnes for years? And he only realises because she tells him she loves him? It just feels too abrupt to be believable.
Anyway, David and Agnes get married and have children. And Aunt Betsey finally gets her goddaughter, Betsey Trotwood Copperfield. Aww!
So, what do I think of the miniseries over all?
As I've already said, Young!David is adorable. I just want to hug him and tell him everything's going to be all right. Unfortunately, adult!David never makes much impression on me. There's nothing glaringly wrong about Ciarán McMenamin's performance, but there's also nothing outstanding about him. But the other actors are perfect in their roles, so I can overlook that.
This is a fairly faithful adaptation because it adapts all the important parts of the book. But it's been literal years since I read the book, so there are probably minor differences between the two that I didn't pick up on.
Is it available online?: Not as far as I know :( But you can buy it on Amazon!
Rating of this episode: 7/10.
Rating of the whole series: 7/10.
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