"Better a fallen rocket than never a burst of light."
~ Tom Stoppard, The Invention of Love

Thursday, January 23, 2014

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Episode 4 (1997)

 
Because misunderstandings, prejudice against bastards, and the disapproval of Sophia’s father isn’t enough, further forces in episode 4 conspire to keep the young lovers apart.  Lady Bellaston, the relation in London with whom Sophia is staying, has taken a shine to Tom, and she’d very much like to keep him all to herself.  Her machinations come fast and furious throughout today’s installment.
 
One of the many prongs in her efforts involves Lord Fellamar.  The dandified, powdered snob is determined to “have” Sophia, and he’s willing to do anything to acquire her.  Fortunately for Sophia, he’s not terribly adept, but he’s tenacious as all get-out and keeps turning up as the proverbial bad penny in her life.  Naturally, once Lady Bellaston becomes aware of Lord Fellamar’s intentions, he becomes involved in her schemes.
 
PC is great in this role.  Lord Fellamar, like I said, isn’t adroit enough to seem intimidating on first glance.  However, his obsessive, single-minded focus is unsettling and doesn’t bode well for the heroes.  He’s a not-all-together rational man with a great deal of power, piles of money, and a woman saying no to him.  Despite his ridiculously made-up appearance and foppish manners, all that could spell big trouble.
 
So hey, how about some of the other scads of British actors in this thing?  Today, we have Tom Jones Cast:  Whoniverse Edition.  This miniseries features Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor himself,) Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler,) Lindsay Duncan (Capt. Adelaide Brooke in the Tennant special “The Waters of Mars,”) Roger Lloyd-Pack (John Lumic, creator of the Cybermen in the second series of new Who,) and Brian Blessed (Blackadder is usually my first thought when I see him, but he also played King Yrcanos in one of the “Trial of a Time Lord” stories from the Sixth Doctor’s era.)
 
Accent Watch
 
The RP is pretty good.  I can’t hear much Scottish in it, but there’s something that’s just a little bit off – can’t tell what.
 
Warnings
 
An attempted sexual assault.

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