diana-lyons If you haven't read Gerald Durrell's Corfu Trilogy, or just part of it, then you will probably think this is an entertaining series set in the 1930s. But I have read the books and loved them, and what really stands out for me is the way this adaptation has completely missed the delightful and wicked humour shown in Durrell's books. There are some mildly funny parts, but mostly it's a lot of hand-wringing from Keely Hawes as Louisa, who hardly gets a mention in the books, a lot of sulking and bad behaviour from the three older children and not much about Gerry, who should be the focus of the whole thing. I don't mind writers taking liberties with adaptations of books if it's clear they have read those works and have tried to capture the esence of them for the screen, but this one really misses the mark.

kitellis-98121 Exquisite. Simply delightful. This show is perhaps the most beautiful, heart-warming, and utterly charming thing I've seen in a long while. Literally every aspect of it is perfect.The writing is sublimely eloquent, with intelligent wit and well-drawn characters speaking effortlessly and naturally in the correct idioms and vernacular for the period. The performances are universally pitch-perfect, with each of the main cast instantly imbuing their character with nuance, individuality, and depth. The direction is artful, assured, confident, and inspired. The cinematography is expert, perfectly capturing the mood and flavour of 1930's London and Corfu, and adding just the right level of warmth and haziness to transport the viewer back in time to the glorious, balmy summers of their youth (if they were lucky enough to experience such) without over-use of smoke machines or other obvious clichés. The music perfectly compliments the mood of the piece, without belabouring any points or making a nuisance of itself, and for the most part keeps itself subtle and in the background. The production design is flawless, with fine attention to period detail, and the wardrobe, hair, and makeup departments do an equally fine job.Special mention should go to the two youngest cast members, Daisy Waterstone, who is charming and quirky, and Milo Parker (who had previously distinguished himself in Mr Holmes opposite Ian McKellen) who brings extraordinary intelligence, wit, and charm to his role, with a totally natural and confident performance. And, in the central role, the perennially perfect Keeley Hawes is delightful yet again. She is an actress who seems to fit every role she plays, effortlessly, and with grace and a quiet, inner confidence that immediately puts the audience at ease.All-in-all there's nothing about this series that could be done any better. The only possible reason for not loving it would be that it is not your personal taste - and that's just too bad!

walker258 Started off quite funny, entertaining and different but unfortunately has deteriorated over this last season. The storylines are very silly and the over acting has become ridiculous, especially Keeley Hawes. What is she thinking? The books are much better and time better spent reading them.

fourwinds4 I rated this show 3 because of the acting and the setting, which is lovely of course. I just had the same experience watching the latest adaption of Anne of Green Gables "Anne with an E". Why oh why do producers and directors insist on changing delightful stories set in earlier times with gentle communication and respect into dark, depressing versions ... it must only be so that it appeals to people nowadays who are so used to having dark, violent, hateful "entertainment" that this, which is not as bad as most dark shows, seems rather OK. Like other reviewers here, "My Family and Other Animals" upon which this show is based, was one of my favorite books as a child and teenager. I must have read it at least 20 times, along with the follow up "Birds Beasts and Relatives" and more. I grew up in the UK reading both Gerry's and Larry's books. * The family were NOT hard up for money! For heaven's sake, they were "upper class", attended public (that means PRIVATE schools) and didn't work. They did not move to Corfu with nothing. When they arrived on Corfu, they most certainly did not WALK up the hill and the "Strawberry pink" villa, as described by Gerald Durrell in 'My family and other animals" was not falling apart. No one was foraging for food. * Mrs.Durrell was described by Gerry as rather absent minded, eccentric, with a love of cooking and someone who kept open house for Larry's artistic friends and anyone else any of the children brought home. She was not a single Mom constantly bemoaning her lack of money and the fact her children didn't help! * The Durrells could be described as "bohemian"or open minded and yes eccentric (like Leslie coming down naked in the room while Mrs. Durrell is entertaining the Vicar saying "that bloody boy's left a pile of bloody snakes in the bloody bath!") Mrs. Durrell would not have gone and visited another English woman on the island and complained about Corfu. They were open and embraced the island, people and culture. * The book was full of sun, gorgeous descriptions of the beauty there, the characters and the harmonious, fun time had by all the family while there. The book was funny and uplifting. I'm on episode 2 and this is just depressing. The actors are doing the best they can but this is just so wrong. Thank heavens all the Durrells are dead because I can imagine they would be suing the producers and directors for producing something which is so absolutely the opposite of what they experienced and wrote about. The only people writing positive reviews are the ones (as with "Anne with an E" who haven't read the book. To those people, I say, do yourselves a favor and read the books!