Brideshead Revisited - Episode 10 - PART 3

[@mbear1639]

I love how completely and utterly clueless Bridey is. It's comical!

[@wmperkins25]

in the book as well as this piece Charles role is as an impassioned observer, everything happens around him not cause by him, So Irons does a great job of capturing that. I am still amazed at how little he does understand Julia's and Sebastian's beliefs, it's what lies at the heart of their lives and he is obvious to it- had no comprehension of it nor can he fathom any belief system because he has none-

[@harmoniabalanza]

and that is a huge point--he is a lost soul, whereas Julia and Sebastian are not exactly.

[@harmoniabalanza]

The fact is they are doing wrong by civilized standards of behavior. If you consider the ten commandments as roughly a "civilized standard of behavior," you see that every one of them deals with consideration for the well being of others. They are not just "don't do this." They can all be reversed to positive statements which address the feelings and needs of others. They are a caveat against being an egomaniacal dangerous child. Still, to want real love when you're in a loveless marriage is no sin in itself. Better to divorce first if you can't work things out. Bridey is not in the wrong, nor is he cruel--just rather extreme in his lack of emotional warmth and sense about how people will take things.

[@RepCom1140]

@breadandbutterr seems that she recognizes Charles' detachment...an interesting line, since Charles is the narrator for the story.

[@holmsatlarge]

@lizclegg Yes,she is.In their younger days she is refered to as "Girl".They are a titled family.

[@AnElizz3]

@belavedra charles is very inexpressive in the book also. I believe it's because he is lost. He attaches onto the Marchmains because they have convictions and beliefs and he wants that. while he is observing their ways and thier faith, however he becomes a hindrance to both Julia and Sebastian. He becomes an excuse for them to leave their faith and "live in sin". It is only at the end that he finally sees the light.

[@spide429]

You have to understand that until his later conversion, Charles was a man unfettered by religious morality, He is the Everyman to the Marchmain's pious, oppressive self-righteousness. Even Lord Marchmain, albeit in extremis, comes around.

[@ericnfan]

@ericnfan charles seriously just ended up with julia probably to hear world about sebastian. everything is so dysfunctional!

[@harmoniabalanza]

he really comes to love her but doesn't know how to make her stay. If he were a real man he'd work through this with her.

[@ericnfan]

@shinojosa8 I have to agree. charles is in love more with thelifestyle than anything else.

[@ericnfan]

it is interesting that charles father thought that charles was so happy with his marriage to cecilia . I think his dad tends to miss clues becaue it was obvious they were just going thru the motions of a happy marriage and had two kids just because that was whatwas expected of hm. to me he seems to be going thru the motions with julia too. I wonder if julia even loves him although she says she does.

[@harmoniabalanza]

yes it is real love I think. tragic that they lose each other.

[@heyyou9839]

I think we start to really see what Charles about when he has no love for his children or doesn’t even want to see them when he comes back from South America where he goes and misses out on two years of their lives

[@breadandbutterr]

@ericnfan What does she mean when she says "why must you see everything second hand?"

[@harmoniabalanza]

He's not responding to her directly--he's not emotionally engaged with her in the moment--he is talking about their situation as if it belonged to other people, not themselves. Not first hand experience. Maybe he feels something but he is not expressing it to her. His father made him emotionally stunted. He'd like to know what to do and say to her and S too, but he can't.

[@heyyou9839]

He was turning their relationship into a a third person “eye of the observer” scene

[@ericnfan]

@bubblewrapbump it might of ended their friendship if he did intervene but to me a true friend would of took that chnce and not just stood by and watched. I mean sebastian ended up further into degeneration anyway so I would of liked to of seen charles do something to help sebastian!

[@sissymiss1]

gone all wierd

[@heyyou9839]

Women were often drawn in awkward and weird ways. In these stories, I think it reflects men’s not understanding them.

[@BangtanNoona]

Charles is ghastly in every possible way! The way he has no desire to see his children. The way he encouraged his friend to drink himself into ruin. The way he calls himself in love with both brother and sister. It is clear is that he only truly loves the house, it's architecture and the way of life that this tragic family represent.

[@harmoniabalanza]

you may be right. I think he represents a sort of "true" stereotype of the Anglo-Saxon cold, emotionally stunted character. Formal, frigid, clueless about the true passions and drives of human life. s gets as far away from that as he can--Africa. with another northern type who is trying to escape too--Kurt.

[@YooTuba]

When Charles goes to Brideshead for Christmas and finds Samgrass there, Samgrass talks about Celia and how attractive she is. It's only mentioned briefly and not emphasized because the idea is to show how unimportant Celia is in Charles' life - she's around but he's taking zero notice.

[@harmoniabalanza]

Celia is a tedious proper wife, and seems utterly superficial. Samgrass would love that. Charles is a tormented soul and seeks to be understood. It doesn't matter that Celia is well turned out and chatty about art and keeps the household--she and Charles do not have a soul or heart connection. Who's to blame?

[@TimeandMonotony]

Why in God's name would anyone want to have a child with Charles? He hasn't exactly been a model father to his first two children.

[@harmoniabalanza]

Love makes people do odd things and want odd things, dont'cha know?

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

I wish Sebastian would come back. Wonder if Charles would prefer him like old times, or Julia. He still looks gay in these later episodes.

[@policemanaaron]

Why are people arguing over Charles's "inexpressiveness"? Even as far back as episode 1 at Oxford he had all the emotion and personality of an unplugged desk-lamp. His only role in this superb production is that of scratching post for others to vent their frustrations upon.

[@fossrampant5826]

It's also why Charles's profession is a painter -- he is an observer of life more than a participant in it. When Waugh was writing this novel in the middle of World War II, he was very frustrated by not being able to find an active role for himself in military service. That, plus his feelings about himself in his life in general as a writer (also an outsider and observer rather than a 'man of action') find their way into his portrayal of Charles.

[@harmoniabalanza]

His narration is completely at odds with his actions. It shows something about his inner life, while his behavior shows nothing about it.

[@javiergarciaflorez9822]

Braydi pone las cosas en el catálogo que no se puede divorciarse su hermana Julia.. histérica.pobre Charles.

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

Dear god, Julia is a wreck. She seems like a borderline personality.

[@harmoniabalanza]

Bosh. She is going through a horribly stressful major upheaval in her life. A crisis of love and self-doubt and confusion about God.

[@javiergarciaflorez9822]

El padre es John gilgud,protestante y con flema soluciona eltema

[@riseuplight]

I'm sorry, but the actor cast for Charles Ryder is just not holding up. This series would have been much better with a more expressive interpretation of the narrator.