John Adams

[mapuc]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams

Maybe the history channel on my latitude, will show this serie

I hope

Markus

[Sailor Steve]

Finally saw part 2: Independence.

I'm truly amazed at what can be accomplished with the right writers, actors and director. This was a remarkable recreation of the events surrounding the Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence.

Things I didn't like: well, the factoids I praised before are still great, except for the part where they tell Washington's height - 6'4". Every history I've ever read said 6'2", except for the biography by Willard Stern Randall, and several more qualified historians have suggested that book might be a little misleading. Washington's height is really not important, except for the part where they don't mention Jefferson's height - 6'2-1/2", and the guy playing Jefferson about the same height as everybody else. Trivialities, I know, but I'm a trivial kind of guy, and that bugs me.

Things I liked: well, just about everything. The acting was perfect, the arguments in Congress were well depicted, once again Laura Linney pretty much ruled the show; which made her portrayal of Abigail spot on. They even mentioned that the actual vote for Independence came on July 2, though they left out the part where Adams wrote his wife that the Second would be celebrated throughout history with "cannons and parades". They showed Adams giving his famous three reasons why he felt Jefferson should write the Declaration instead of himself, but treated it as history, when the only actual record is Adams' recollection as an old man, which Jefferson then claimed didn't happen that way. Also they did depict the meeting in which Franklin and Adams critiqued Jefferson's work, and credited Franklin with changing "Sacred and undeniable" to "Self-evident", which is likely true but not known for sure. What they didn't show was the events of July 3, when Congress as a whole revised the document again, and Franklin telling Jefferson the "Hatter" story in an attempt to console him. But then the series isn't titled "Jefferson", so I can't complain too much.

David Morse as Washington is amazing: austere and reserved, as Washington was said to be. I've always loved the George Washington miniseries with Barry Bostwick and Patty Duke, but this is something else. Also great is Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson. They have him mention Jefferson's fear of public speaking, considering himself to be a bad orator. Dillane's Jefferson is quiet and reserved, constantly waiting for others to speak first before replying in one or two words. One complaint though: why do they never give these guys Virginia accents?

On the whole I'm loving it. I can't wait until they get to the part about Franklin and Adams negotiating the peace in 1783. Truly great show.