Final episode of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

[shapinglight]

I don't know about anyone else, but...

Spoilers behind cut, including for the book



...though satisfied overall, I was a bit disappointed by what struck me as a glaring omission in the last episode of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

This was that, in the book, not only does Stephen Black become imbued with the Raven King's magic and kill the Gentleman, he then physically transforms into the King of Fairie, thereby fulfilling the prophecy of how the nameless slave will become king in a strange land.

I was really, really disappointed not to see the physical transformation as described in the book.

Otherwise, I can't complain. The series brought the book faithfully to the screen and I've enjoyed it enormously.

Which is partly why that omission will rankle forever. :(

Comments

[rahirah]

What? That was the whole point of Stephen's arc!

[shapinglight]

Well, he gets imbued with the magic, but there's no actual physical transformation. I felt a bit cheated. Because I think if you hadn't read the book you wouldn't really know what had happened if you just watched the series.

I see now that I've caused some confusion. I've made it sound like they don't do the transformation scene at all. They do. But I was expecting Stephen to change physically and he didn't.

I'll amend my post.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

He did do that in the show, I'm pretty sure.

[shapinglight]

No, they just cut from him killing the Gentleman to Arabella and Strange's farewell.

Unless I saw a different version to everyone else?

ETA: Ah, I see we're a bit at cross purposes, which is entirely my fault. I'll amend my post.

[mrs-underhill.livejournal.com]

I took your advice and watched it, and it was wonderful! Especially the guy who played Mr.Norrell, what an exquisite performance! But they were all great. And Fairy Kingdom - that's my weakness.

I haven't read the book and haven't heard anything about the book until this show, now I want to read it.

But even I felt that there was not enough emphasis on Stephen in the end, they cut from him too soon, I wanted to see him be a king for just a moment but it was death of the Fairie and then cut to ladies escaping.

Is there a sequel, or that's it?

[shapinglight]

I'm afraid that's it for the moment, though there is a book of short stories set in the same world called The Ladies of Grace Adieu.

I highly recommend the novel and the short stories.

And agreed. They cut away from Stephen too quickly. We should have had at least a glimpse of what happened to him next (ie. this physical transformation I feel cheated of).

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I too was somewhat miffed about the ending. Like you said , a huge chunk omitted.

[shapinglight]

I don't know about a huge chunk, but definitely something I wanted to see.

[ex_peasant441]

How does he physically change? I felt with his voice changing and his whole demeanour it was covered very well that he was becoming the king as promised.

I must reread the books - the show has made me understand so many little things I never understood before.

[shapinglight]

How does he physically change?

As I don't have the book to hand, I can't say exactly, but I remember a description of a transformation, which ended with Stephen not being human any more.

I must reread the books - the show has made me understand so many little things I never understood before.

Such as?