Here’s the thing, everyone and their best friend has already discussed the surprise return of Masterpiece’s Sanditon. If you don’t know what Sanditon is, we’ll discuss that further down, but as it’s Friday and despite everyone else already covering all the things, today I thought I’d share the return of Sanditon series two (set to film later this year). Because when there’s (potentially) good period drama news, there’s never enough celebration, right?
MOVIE ANNIVERSARY | ON THIS DAY 10 YEARS LATER: CELEBRATE ‘THOR’ + A QUIZ!
You see, two years ago, the unfinished manuscript by Jane Austen was adapted by PBS. The eight-part miniseries follows Charlotte Haywood, a young woman who leaves behind her rural roots to reinvent herself. In that journey, she meets the brusque Sidney Parker, and like any Austen story, the rest is history. After its 2019 premiere and cliffhanger of an end (in which the lovers were not together), the series was cancelled much to the vocal dismay of fans. But yesterday their loyalty is rewarded with not one but two season’s renewals so that the writers can give these characters their proper due and fans know there’s more storytelling to be lost in.
I never watched series one. At first I cannot remember the why of this, but once I learned of its cancellation (and cliffhanger!), I didn’t go for it because I’m all about a happy Austen end. However even now with a renewal, I’m going to decide whether or not I jump into the popular series. This is for a few reasons, and a realization that I might not actually like this series. (Something that kind of breaks my Austen loving heart.) Today I’m chatting through some things we know about series two and why I might not like it.
THE RETURN OF SANDITON SERIES TWO (AND WHY I MIGHT NOW LIKE IT)
Spoilers ahead!
1: MODERN INFLUENCE
I have a kind of love and hate relationship with modern influence in period drama. Sometimes I love it, and other times I despise it. Depends maybe on whether or not my love of the characters outweighs the annoyance.
That said, rumblings suggest series two may have modern political influences in its storytelling, and I’m… annoyed. When I watch period drama, I want it to be the story of the characters, not something that uses its platform to further influence or to reject something. It’s not my cup of tea. In period drama I just want ball rooms, good characters and ALL THE ROMANCE!
‘SANDITON’ RETURNS TO MASTERPIECE PBS: WHY I MIGHT NOT LIKE IT #SanditonPBS #PeriodDrama #Romance Click To Tweet2: THEO JAMES’ EXIT
Following up the news that PBS and Britbox renewed Sanditon, leading man Theo James (who plays Sidney Parker) made the announcement that he will not return. Some people are happy about this as they don’t like the character and others are adjusting to shift their love to the second suitor in Charlotte’s life.
I’ve not seen the first series so I don’t know how I’ll feel, however I don’t like when a story makes us fall head over heels for a ship and then breaks our hearts. When I can deal with it is when I can deal is if one of the characters doesn’t love the other or neither character “initiates” a romance. Of his exit, James says, in part:
“Although I relished playing Sidney, for me, I’ve always maintained that his journey concluded as I wanted it to.” – Theo James
3: UNHAPPY (SERIES ONE) ENDING
Presumably by the time this series wraps its third season, everyone who deserves it will have its happy ending. However, the interim (the series one to two transition) leaves anyone who likes the Sidney and Charlotte romance will be disappointed because of (as we talk about above) the exit of Theo James. Of course, the role could be re-cast, but given James’ words I don’t see that as being likely.
You can find Sanditon digitally on Amazon Video with a Masterpiece PBS subscription or on PBS DVD
What about you? What are YOUR thoughts on this return of Sanditon series two? Are you excited or don’t care? What do you hope to see in series two? Don’t be shy, leave your thoughts below and let’s chat!
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Photos: Masterpiece PBS
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