need read reviewbr br an earlier review pninson seattle already identified main shortcomings production amplify basic argumentsbr br bleak house relatively late dickens novel much darker earlier work taken literally director ross devenish piles gloom fog much ada rick esther appear half hour opening episode relief daylight first time murkier scenes hard see actually tv screen watched whole thing one day starting midafternoon daylight faded became less issue pretty good tv never encountered problem time daybr br the pacing deliberate ie slow sure intensional overdone numerous shots people trudging though muck gloom victorian london held longer necessary establish mood atmosphere good editor could probably take several minutes fiftyminute episode without losing line dialogue trimming scenes slightlybr br i want overstate two problems soon adjust look pace production important issue always tell story effectively earlier dickens novels long bleak house nearly intricately plotted example recently reread nicholas nickleby intrigued see douglas mcgrath crammed  page book twohour movie answer simple book full padding mcgrath cut great swathes novel still retaining essential story elements would possible bleak house br br this production needs seven hours probably needs even longer many elements convoluted plot sufficiently clear well handled need be random examples illustrate problemsbr br the maid rosa appears nowhere background lady dedlocks attachment largely unmotivatedbr br sergeant georges acquiescence tulkinhorns demand sample hortons handwriting somewhat fudgedbr br it made clear enough esther actually love woodcourt agrees marry john jarndyce neither clear agreed announce engagement whybr br ada ricks secret marriage omitted one episode merely lovers next people suddenly referring husband wifebr br mrs rouncewell introduced late stage story sargeant georges estrangement family left unexplained  means discoveredbr br tulkinhorns dedication maintaining honour respectability dedlock family understated motive persecuting lady dedlock obscure need bebr br the involvement brick makers tom later lady dedlock somewhat opaquebr br it obvious guppy renews offer esther smallpox scars vanishedbr br this selection others major problems main thrust story clear enough nonetheless minor irritations detract power puzzle little plot points however important structural problems weaken story later stagesbr br the whole business tulkinhorns murder somewhat thrown away bucket immediately pinpoints hortense suspect undermines suspense sergeant georges predicament importance finding mrs rouncewell also diminishes impact subplot suspicion thrown lady dedlock weakens scene hortense unmasked front sir lesterbr br a serious problem murder investigation subsequent search lady dedlock dominate story hour time completely lose sight main plot strand legal case effect rick failing finances gouging vholes skimpole adas despair declining health on put hold entire episode may dickens wrote book i read years good screenplay keep different plot strands moving forward togetherbr br finally smallweeds role story diminished almost superfluous discovery new will triggers final phase story also thrown away happens screenbr br despite this still good production many performances outstanding individual scenes beautifully realised accumulating sense tragedy powerful would still recommending superb adaptation great book  production fact probably fully aware defects seen andrew davies better critical daviess jane austen adaptations admit really knows tame dickenss sprawling booksbr br this impressive gripping drama well worth seven hours anybodys time nonetheless probable fate viewed mainly crossreference neardefinitive  version