Newly-Reviewed Programs
TV on DVD
All Shows: A-Z Index
Advanced Search

2008-09 Midseason
2008 Fall Season
2008 Summer Season
2007-08 Midseason
2007 Fall Season
2007 Summer Season
2006-07 Midseason
2006 Fall Season
2006 Summer Season
2005-06 Midseason
2005 Fall Season
Best Of 2008
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss TV In Our Forums

The Story of India 73
PBS, 1/5

Tess of the D'Urbervilles 66
PBS, 1/4

Game Show in My Head 34
CBS, Saturday

Bleak House
MINISERIES: PBS, begins Sunday 1/22 at 9:00p


9.5

based on 14 reviews
read critic reviews
how did we calculate this?

based on 35 votes
read user comments
rate this tv show

Get more information on this show at TV.com.

Official Show Site

Starring Anna Maxwell Martin, Patrick Kennedy, Carey Mulligan, Denis Lawson, Nathaniel Parker, Gillian Anderson, Timothy West, and Charles Dance

Masterpiece Theatre tackles the Dickens classic for the second time with this miniseries (adapted by Andrew Davies) airing in six weekly installments.

GENRE(S):	Drama
FIRST AIR DATE:	January 22, 2006
LAST AIR DATE:	February 26, 2006

The first (1/22) and last (2/26) episodes are 2 hours in duration; all other episodes are 1 hour.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert

It's hard to know where to aim the praise first.

100

Entertainment Weekly Gillian Flynn

Dark, textured, and lively--this is how Dickens is done. [20 Jan 2006, p.66]

100

New York Daily News David Hinckley

Fabulous in every respect.

100

USA Today Dennis Moore

While a quintessential Masterpiece Theatre production, Bleak House doesn't indulge in the languid pacing and preciousness that weigh down some other PBS period pieces.

100

Wall Street Journal Nancy DeWolf Smith

Perhaps the most glorious Masterpiece Theater of all time.

100

Philadelphia Inquirer Jonathan Storm

The perfect marriage of television and literature.

Time James Poniewozik

This is law drama such as Boston Legal's David E. Kelley can only dream about.

Village Voice Joy Press

This spectacular six-part adaptation of the lit classic feels more like a plush Jane Austen tale than Dickens.

New York Magazine John Leonard

Splendid television.

The New York Times Alessandra Stanley

As pleasurable as its tale is grim.

TV Guide Matt Roush

The only bleak aspect to this miniseries is that it doesn't last forever.

Hollywood Reporter Laurence Vittes

If there is any criticism to be made, it is that the opening half-hour plunges the unsuspecting viewer into an unfamiliar foreign world of soot and grime and foul deeds and motives. Once settled in, however, this is very addictive television, indeed.

Chicago Tribune Sid Smith

This "Bleak House" is sublimely bleak, as well as richly textured, superbly acted and intermittently funny. Fans of the epic adaptations that have long been the bread and butter of "Masterpiece Theatre" won't want to miss it.

Variety Brian Lowry

Those who wade through the slow-going first three or four hours of this stately production will be richly rewarded by the engrossing final four.

The average user rating for this tv show is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 35 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brenda gave it a10:
Awesome show! I just wish I could have viewed it in one sitting instead of waiting for more each week. I am buying this on video! (and I only OWN one other film - LOTR-so I"m not into purchasing such things). LOVED IT!

Panos gave it a10:
Superb production, excellent storyline and sturdy direction emphasize the outstanding performances of all actors and especially the formidable Gillian Anderson. It's a shame she didn't get a single award for her work.

Ilana L gave it a10:
amazing! great performances by Anna Maxwell Martin and Gillian Anderson

Evan S gave it a9:
Bleak House is the new crack brought to you by BBC. You won't be able to set this pipe down. What an engrossing, substantial soap opera headlined by Gillian Anderson and the flat-out lovely and amazing Anna Maxwell Martin. Your heart will split wide open for Esther. What a remarkable piece of filmmaking.

Jean U gave it a10:
Nearly as good as "I, Claudius," which is the gold standard.

Anony Mous gave it a10:
Truly wonderful, the best thing I've seen on television in years. I'm depressed that it's over! To the person who rated it a 1: the author is Charles *Dickens* -- not Dickson. I guess I can see why you didn't like it.

Dan C gave it a10:
Superb. If you missed it on PBS, get it on DVD. Esther is an extremely compelling heroine, and the story is top-notch. Bravo to all involved.

Bleak House MINISERIES: PBS, begins Sunday 1/22 at 9:00p

Bleak House
MINISERIES: PBS, begins Sunday 1/22 at 9:00p