Great Expectations Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Episode One
With compelling performances, a foreboding tone, and faithfulness to the source material, Great Expectations Season 1 Episode 1, “Episode One,” is a solid start to the daunting task of adapting one of Charles Dickens’s greatest works.
Fans of the book will enjoy that the first episode’s story follows the first half of Stage One in the book almost to a T. The only notable and slightly concerning difference is that Pip (Tom Sweet) is nearly twice as old in the first episode as he is when the book begins, suggesting the show is fast-tracking the childhood portion of his story.
Pip’s growth from a somewhat naïve and immature boy to a sophisticated and educated man is essential to the story conveyed in the book.
Hence, starting him off as an already intelligent, brooding, and mature 13-year-old is an odd choice. However, Sweet still gives a solid emotional performance as a sensitive boy struggling to break free of poverty and feeling indebted to his abusive sister who raised him.
Tom Sweet as “Young Pip,” Chloe Lea as “Young Estella” CR: Miya Mizuno/FX
Meanwhile, Hayley Squires and Owen McDonnell are near-perfect embodiments of Pip’s sister and brother-in-law, Sara and Joe, respectively. Joe is as lovable, honest, and kind as Sara is, brittle and terse.
Her complicated relationship with Pip and how she struggles to show love to either him or Joe is apparent, and one cannot help but feel sympathy and interest in her despite her cruelty.
Also, although Olivia Colman’s Miss Havisham’s appearance is brief, the episode builds up nicely to her debut, and her character’s grimness and oddness are promising.
In addition to the performances, the best part of the episode is the foreboding and foreshadowing.
The opening scene sets a dark and somber tone for the entire series by insinuating the drastic actions Pip will take later in life. Meanwhile, many scenes occur at dusk or with a grayish haze shrouding the picture.
Whether the setting is a cemetery, foggy marsh, or Pip’s humble abode, there is always a sense of eeriness in the colors and lighting, suggesting dark forces are at play.
Lastly, the series is already starting to delve into the interesting topic of class. In the first episode, viewers are introduced to abhorred convicts like Magwitch (Johnny Harris), peasants like Pip, and extremely wealthy individuals like Miss Havisham.
While Havisham lives in a mansion and has money to spend on a playmate for her adopted daughter, Pip has no choice but to agree to her bidding to support his family and eventually break free of his rank in society.
What’s surprising is that the contempt prisoners and peasants face doesn’t just come from the upper class but also from within. Two escaped prisoners hate one another with a passion, and Pip refuses Joe’s kindhearted efforts to pass the blacksmith business on to him because he believes the profession is beneath him.
The stark contrast between how Miss Havisham and Pip live and the desperation of the lower class to rise to greatness is an eye-opening depiction of what it is like to live in a society where class dominates all else.
Aside from a few minor departures from the source material, Great Expectations sets the stage for a compelling, faithful, dark, and nuanced adaptation of Dickens’ work.
What did you think of this episode of Great Expectations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Great Expectations airs Sundays on Hulu.
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Rachel Ulatowski
Rachel Ulatowski is a freelance writer from Oshkosh with a penchant for TV, film, and celebrity news. Her work can also be found on Screen Rant, The Mary Sue, and Monsters and Critics. When she's not writing professionally, she enjoys blogging, running, watching film and television, and conducting research for her future novel.