Talk:Hornblower (TV series)

Poor writing

The writing is very poor in this series. The period costume, ships, acting are all fine, but the writing is pathetic. The story gets pointlessly convoluted, implausible things happen, the characters lack any depth. The character of Lt. Bush is pointlessly blandified. Surely it would have been fun to leave him as he was portrayed in the books. What I can't tell is what part of the bad writing is just bad writing, and what part is playing to the prejudices of late 20th century british audience. Seminumerical 22:45, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

And how is this relevant to the article?Slipzen 16:35, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

(1) possibly relevant to why it was cancelled, does anyone have a source? (2) Interesting fact that the Bush character is simply a different person from the one in the books (3) a comment in the article on the poor quality of the writing and acting is surely relevant, as long as there is a source.

Also, this is a talk page. There are scenes where the dialogue is so bad that I am glad my mind wasn't rotted by growing up with UK television, comic books, and books for young adults.

The series seemed to get worse as it went on. The episodes based on Hornblower and the Hotspur (the last two) included a pretty ridiculous conflict with Irish characters that didn't happen in the books and wasn't even alluded to by Forester. The further the series strays from the books, I think, the worse it gets. This is, of course, all my opinion. 152.23.196.162 05:06, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

If I agree with "152.23.196.162" that the writing for the "Hornblower" TV Movies was poor (unlike C.S. Forester's superb original work (my opinion)), will he withdraw the unpleasant remark about "mind rotting" UK television, comic books and books for young adults?--Mabzilla 13:19, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

Those are two different people's comments. I know because I made the second one, and I am positive that I've never thought of British television, etc., as mind-rotting. Panzer V Panther (talk) 09:22, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

Taking a look into the history, one sees that the user "Seminumerical" made that comment. Panzer V Panther (talk) 09:25, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

Mutiny

Does anyone know which one of the books "Mutiny" is based on? I know the TV series does not correlate directly to the books, but if there is a similar plotline, in which book can I find it?

the novel "mutiny" and "retribution" is based on has the title "the lieutenant".

The book is Lieutenant Hornblower. 152.23.196.162 05:03, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

Wearing the bicorne

I noticed that in episode 4, "The Frogs And The Lobsters" (a.k.a. "The Wrong War") Hornblower and some of the other junior officers wear their bicornes with the tips pointing to the sides (the same way Napoleon wore his), but in later episodes, starting at Retribution, I think, the hats are worn facing front and back, much like a cocked hat. Was just curious if there was any historical reason for this? I've tried searching via google but really couldn't find much history on the Royal Navy's use of the bicorne. --Edward Sandstig 18:14, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

It's because he had been promoted in rank (don't remember exactly which rank though). The other style is referred to as a fore-and-aft. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.196.102.28 (talk) 23:47, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Future Episodes

It was difficult to find a good reference about the future of the series. There was no announcement from Meridian or A&E. The referenced article interviewing Ioan Gruffudd seemed the most authoratative. There were postings on fan sites and an A&E forum that seem to confirm that there is a decision to not make more. There is even a petition to ask A&E to bring it back. It is not clear why fans are not petitioning Meridian. --Adastra1960 18:43, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

Did A&E part fund the production of the series or did they just syndicate the series from ITV/Meridian? If they just syndicated it then their decision that they don't want any more doesn't matter/wouldn't effect the production of a new episode as ITV could/would sell the US Syndication rights to another Channel or just go it alone. To give you an example just because no US network initially wanted the US Syndication rights to the New Doctor who didn't stop the BBC from making it (however Sci Channel did eventually pick the rights up). However if A&E part funded the production then ITV might be more cautious about production of a new episode however that still doesn't mean there would never be a new episode as ITV could just get a new production partner or again just go it alone (though perhaps on a small scale/budget than before) TheEnlightened 23:28, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

Livadia Palace, Portugal?

There must be some mistake or misspelling here surely, as there is no stately home by the name of Livadia in Portugal. And, of course, it is unlikely that the actual Livadia Palace in what is today's Ukraine -- currently linked to the article's reference -- was ever a set location for Hornblower... I came here to see if the chosen locations were anywhere I might recognise, as some of the sequences shot in Britanny seem very familiar, as does the family seat of the marquis de Muzillac... Any help is much appreciated.