The Tractate Middoth (BBC Two)

[The Wiser Hatter]

The-Tractate-Middoth-BBC-Two-review

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I thought it was pretty good, as would be expected of a Gatiss product. The scene in the train was very well done. I thought the limited revelation of the "monster" was just right. The only area of improvement I would suggest would be a bit more building of tension/unkown, the M. R. James trademark.

But, all in all a good show. Should have been on Christmas Eve, though! The supposed "horror" we had in the traditional Christmas Eve horror slot was an abomination. Mawkish crap.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

To add; the managed to avoid two of the bigger pitfalls of modern TV. That is: they did not insert a love story beyond what is in the original (though they only just managed to avoid that), and they did not change the protagonist into a female character.

 

[Lotsahats]

Poor masekhet Middos! I didn't see the teleplay, but I've read the story; the book doesn't matter, really, at all, and why James chose this volume of Talmud is beyond me. There is a tractate, Bava Basra, that deals with property and wills, which would have made more sense--but again, the book here is just a MacGuffin. For a British period-piece, maybe MacGuffin would have been a better name.

 

[Mojito]

Had no idea there were new adaptations of M R James' works! Thrilled by the idea and can't wait to watch them.