Mapp & Lucia Series 2

Rating:
Summary: Round 2 of a delightfully catty social war
Review: (I shall take for granted that you are already familiar with season 1. This series is linear and MUST be watched in order for full enjoyment)

This is not so much a sequel as a continuation of the adventures of everyone's favorite social climbers. Series 1 ended with a victory for Mapp and Lucia vowing revenge and series 2 begins with Mapp (now Mrs. Mapp-Flynt) returning from her honeymoon. Almost instantly, she and Lucia are back at each other's throats. In this series, politics are added to the mix with both Mapp and Lucia vying for a seat on the town council, Lucia making herself into a charitable saint and Mapp being as underhand as always.

All of the actors from series 1 return (Lovely! I do not like it when shows change actors) Georgie is given more to do this time around. Actually, all of the characters are given more developement which should delight fans of the series.

The series does not end conclusively. I won't give specifics, I'll just say that the social war is bound to continue for all eternity. What a shame there were no more installments into this lovely series.

Once again, the costumes are madly original, the acting is all around superb and the writing is very good indeed.

Anyone who enjoyed series 1 is bound to like this series too (though to what degree depends on their personal taste) and I suggest buying both series at once so that you are not left on a cliff-hanger.

This is a wonderful series and I do hope it comes out on DVD soon. Anyone who loves clean, subtle humor with a twinge of madness would find this series very agreeable indeed. Essential for the anglophile.

Rating:
Summary: Why can't you get these wonderful videos in the UK?
Review: A wondeful successor to the first series of Mapp & Lucia, dramatising the later Mapp & Lucia books. As with the first series, the cast could not be bettered and the various comic episodes of rivalry between Tilling's two grande dames are brilliantly realised. The ceremony of the dedication of the organ and the local election are particular favourites. I just don't know why we can't get these in the UK and have to invest in NTSC video players...

Rating:
Summary: Does it really really have to end?
Review: If possible, the second series of 'Mapp and Lucia' is even better than its predecessor. The success of the first seems to have given confidence to the filmmakers - there is a greater attention to the formal properties of the narrative - a more inventive use of music to comment on or undermine character and situation; a more meaningful use of visual composition.

This, allied to the previously exquisite stylisation (the artificial sets in real locations; the mannered acting; the eye-popping costumes; the stacatto dialogue; the physical expressiveness and the choreography of movement; the rites and pageants; the plot rhythms) combine to create a startlingly modern work of pure artifice, whereby the bizarre wit and the tantalisingly accumulative stories achieve a Wildean pitch (is there a higher compliment?).

This is a comedy of weird detail, excruciating emphasis and jarring juxtapositions, where every simper and twitch counts and reveals. The last episode, 'Au Reservoir', where Lucia seems about to lose it all, and the narrative seems to fragment with her, is almost too painful to watch. Or would be, if it wasn't so painfully funny.

Rating:
Summary: Does it really really have to end?
Review: If possible, the second series of 'Mapp and Lucia' is even better than its predecessor. The success of the first seems to have given confidence to the filmmakers - there is a greater attention to the formal properties of the narrative - a more inventive use of music to comment on or undermine character and situation; a more meaningful use of visual composition.

This, allied to the previously exquisite stylisation (the artificial sets in real locations; the mannered acting; the eye-popping costumes; the stacatto dialogue; the physical expressiveness and the choreography of movement; the rites and pageants; the plot rhythms) combine to create a startlingly modern work of pure artifice, whereby the bizarre wit and the tantalisingly accumulative stories achieve a Wildean pitch (is there a higher compliment?).

This is a comedy of weird detail, excruciating emphasis and jarring juxtapositions, where every simper and twitch counts and reveals. The last episode, 'Au Reservoir', where Lucia seems about to lose it all, and the narrative seems to fragment with her, is almost too painful to watch. Or would be, if it wasn't so painfully funny.

Rating:
Summary: Better for you than a box of chocolates.....
Review: MAPP AND LUCIA each spend an inordinate amount of time plotting ways to get themselves in the spotlight while casting the other in an unfavorable light. This series is about as socially redeeming as JEEVES AND WOOSTER, however, watching it is like eating chocolate - you can't eat just one piece. Certainly, you won't find much of a moral to this series of tales, unless it is do unto others before they do unto you. In all likelihood, these stories like those of J&W were used by the communists to demonstrate Western decadence.

Lucia kills with kindness, doing what is best for Mapp despite Mapp's continuous rivaly and attempts to "best" Lucia. Lucia isn't really mean, but she is definitely capable of finding the perfect place to insert the rapier blade. All in defense mind you as Mapp brings it on herself. If she would just accept Lucia is her better all would be settled. Most of the townspeople have done just that, and that of course makes matters even worse, for Mapp was the big cheese before Lucia came to town.

Mapp has tried everything from falsifying her knowledge of a foreign language to getting married in an effort to outshine Lucia. Lucia always manages to undo and outdo Mapp, however. The fun of course is feeling the frisson of fear that Lucia may be foiled, only to see how she cleverly foxes Mapp time and again. Usually, I am sympathetic for the underdog, which is clearly Mapp, but surprisingly, I don't feel sorry for Mapp. Mapp usually hatches a plot to embarrass Lucia only to have it blow up in her face when Lucia turns the tables. Just how she will do this and how Lucia will react in each instance is the basis for the series. For example, if Mapp sells Lucia her disintegrating house located in a flood plain to Lucia, Lucia will probably find Roman ruins underneath and be featured as the house's owner in the Times of London.

Lucia is supreme at turning lemons into lemonade revealing Mapp as the disgruntled looser she is.

Rating:
Summary: Mapp and Lucia continue the battle
Review: Mapp and Lucia was the well-mannered - (well at times well-mannered) but determined combatants of Tilling-on-the-Sea and at stake is nothing less than to crown of Queen Bee of TOTS! Mapp has rules the tiny hamlet with an iron fist as lady of the village and has everyone dancing to her tune, until Lucia enters the pictures. Recently widowed, Lucia has come to summer in Tilling-in-the-Sea. Mapp has rented out her less than humble abode to Lucia, but still wants to hold control of the house and the village. Lucia, however, sees as this as her chance to bring class to the tiny village of eccentrics. A battle to the death - literally - well, almost.

It's based on E.F. Benson's stories and is loving brought to life under the talented performance of Prunella Scales (Mrs. Fawlty in Fawlty Towers) as Lucia and Geraldine McEwan star as Mapp.

In the second series, the gloves are off and this is a no holds barred battle for rule, as Tilling-on-the-Sea ain't big enough for the battling socialite mavens.

It's Brit Com at it's very best.

Rating:
Summary: Mapp and Lucia VOL 2
Review: Not up to the quality of the first series (5 Stars). Storyline, acting and even makeup are all a little off when compared to the superb first set. Perhaps the gap of several years between shooting contributed to this. I can not see why the other customer reviews rate this series over the first set, which was rich with delightful characters and situations set against a lush English seaside background. Nonetheless, set 2 is a "keeper", and a companion well worth having.

Rating:
Summary: Even better than the first series!!!!
Review: The second in the series of Mapp and Lucia videos is a wonderful treat. A romp thru the remaining three Benson novels that is a pleasure!!! A must see for all Mapp and Luciaphiles!!!! Only wish that the earlier books were dramatized.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful video but a strange ending
Review: These episodes are almost better than the first series with the exception of the ending where Lucia berates the local populace outside the church - didn't seem in keeping with the character IMHO.

However the performances are superb and the production values (especially the costumes) are tremendous.

BTW for UK viewers the tapes are now available in VHS PAL format - and cheaper than the US too!

Rating:
Summary: Machinations in Tilling
Review: This has to be one of the best series ever produced by the BBC and that is high praise indeed. E.F. Benson's books are perfectly realized in this series and the cast is perfect for this adaptation of the last three books in the series.
Lucia is the main character of a series of books that Benson produced in the 20's and 30's. The first two books chronicle her efforts to retain her status as "Queen Lucia" in a village in the Cotswolds. In the fourth book, she goes on holiday to the village of Tilling (actually Rye, the home of Benson) after the death of her husband and meets her match in Elizabeth Mapp, a worthy foe in every respect. In the village of Tilling, Lucia meets her match (almost) and herein is the basis of the subsequent stories. It is this mix of the two that the series really takes off as both jocky for social influence while preserving a veneer of politeness.

The books were popular in their day, but really took off when the BBC made the first series (also available in DVD). A great deal of humor rests in the ambitions of the characters and the situations that they find themselves in as a result. This second series, which is not as detailed as the first (it covered one book in six episodes, this covers the remaining books in the series in six episodes).

While the production values are of the highest order and the script a delight, this series would have fallen flat if it wasn't for the superb cast. First there is Geraldine McEwan as Lucia, a part she was born to play. She uses her voice like a musical instrument, raising and lowering it to produce different comic effects. Anyone who sees the second episode where she keeps insisting that they must dig "deeper" will know what I mean. She really captures the invincible Lucia in all her intellectual pretensions and airs and graces.

Second, there Prunella Scales. Known far and wide as Mrs. Basil Fawlty, she is excellent here as well. As always the comedic timing is wonderful. Watching her attempts to undercut Lucia continually frustrated is pure pleasure. I have seen her in other productions and I do not think that she is capable of giving a bad performance. She and McEwan and particularly good in the scenes that they play together.

One other cast member is worth mentioning (although everyone associated with this production is nothing short of excellent)and that is Nigel Hawthorne. In the role of "Georgie," he really shines. One can appreciate Hawthorne's performance if one has seen him in other things, such as "The Madness of King George" and "Yes Minister."

I can only hope that McEwan, Scales, Hawthorne and all the others associated with this production had as good a time making this series as they appear to have as we watch them hatch their plots and scheme their schemes in the village of Tilling.