HBO's 'John Adams'

[labor_days]

http://www.playbill.com/images/photos/johnadams460a.jpg

Watching the John Adams series on HBO.

Fan-freaking-tastic.

[casually-drowned]

Watching the John Adams series on HBO.

Fan-freaking-tastic.

Thanks for the heads-up. I headed over to HBO's website in the hopes that they would have the eps up for viewing, and it doesn't look like it. Hopefully it will make its way to Netflix post haste.

[conorkilpatrick]

Josh and I are in love with the series. It's like all we talk about when we get together.

[labor_days]

Gaimatti always seems to be on verge of tears when he speaks. Particularly when he gets frustrated with the governmental process. Makes me proud to an American.

"I'm an extreme...moderate, sir.", bbwwhaha~!

Oh man, wish I had a powdered wig and britches.

[conorkilpatrick]

Gaimatti always seems to be on verge of tears when he speaks. Particularly when he gets frustrated with the governmental process. Makes me proud to an American.

"I'm an extreme...moderate, sir.", bbwwhaha~!

Oh man, wish I had a powdered wig and britches.

I've honestly never felt so patriotic as during the Continental Congress episodes.

[labor_days]

Real talk.

But don't spoil me, bros! I'm only 4 episodes into the series*.


*busy lately. catching up.

[conorkilpatrick]

But don't spoil me, bros! I'm only 4 episodes into the series*.

We kick out the British.

[labor_days]

Oh man. Now you ruined the ending for me.

Could have put a spoiler tag on that, bro.

[casually-drowned]

I've honestly never felt so patriotic as during the Continental Congress episodes.

Do these episodes cover the First and Second Continental Congresses? It seems like the second one would be more dramatic, or at least as seen through the eyes of Adams, but I hope both are featured.

I am really looking forward to this coming out on DVD.

[conorkilpatrick]

Do these episodes cover the First and Second Continental Congresses? It seems like the second one would be more dramatic, or at least as seen through the eyes of Adams, but I hope both are featured.

Yes, both.

[cammyknoxville]

Only one episode left :(

I'm kind of bias because I love pretty much everything on HBO, but goddamn this has been one helluva series.

The kind of series that teachers all over can show their students, and the kiddies won't get bored.

[s1lentslayer]

This series has been amazing. It feels like one of those MTV true life dramas only it's good... "you think you know, but you have no idea." I thought I knew history but there's so much I don't know.

[labor_days]

I thought David Morse was terrific as GW. Especially in the scene where he visits Abagail Adams. Well played and genuinely moving.

Don't care for the Paris episode too much. Too hammy and silly. Hope John Qunicy makes it back from Russia ok. ;)

[conorkilpatrick]

I thought David Morse was terrific as GW. Especially in the scene where he visits Abagail Adams. Well played and genuinely moving.

I think he might be my favorite. Although I also dearly love tortured genius Thomas Jefferson too. The scene where he and Franklin and Adams were editing the Deceleration of Independence was fantastic.

[euchre0]

I read the book and thought it was great, so I am eager to see this. I have all the episodes so far, but haven't had time to watch them yet.

[labor_days]

I think he might be my favorite. Although I also dearly love tortured genius Thomas Jefferson too. The scene where he and Franklin and Adams were editing the Deceleration of Independence was fantastic.
Totes. That was one of my favorite scenes so far. It was such a revolutionary (no pun) document to them. In the way Benny Franks & Adams look at the DoI, thinking on what Jefferson implied in the wording of the thing- fantastic indeed.

[labor_days]

For the history buffs;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ8BCNj2oao

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ8BCNj2oao)

[casually-drowned]

I finally started watching this. We got the DVDs (and the McCullough book) for my dad for Father's Day, and most of the family is hanging out while watching them. Of course, we had to stop the first part about 7 times so we could explain things to my mother until she dutifully fell asleep, and my grandmother got up about halfway through and went to watch TV in another room...

I am going to watch the 3rd part tonight, but what little I have seen so far is really good. There are somethings that I didn't realize about the times, such as the inoculation methods (grody), and I really enjoyed seeing a reenactment of the Continental Congress. It is easy to read about how everyone had to come together, but to see it actually play out was interesting. I also think that Paul Giamatti is doing an awesome job in his portrayal of Adams.

[masherscf]

I've honestly never felt so patriotic as during the Continental Congress episodes.

The big, annoying git from New York... His name is James Duane. He's my great-great-great-great Grandfather. The miniseries kind of misrepresents his motives for dramatic effect.

Of course, I do get to tell people that I'm descended from a member of the 2nd Continental congress that didn;t sign the declaration of independence.

[six-gun]

I think he might be my favorite. Although I also dearly love tortured genius Thomas Jefferson too. The scene where he and Franklin and Adams were editing the Deceleration of Independence was fantastic.

I asked for this for my birthday and I'm incredibly excited.

One question though, does this make Tom Jefferson out to be the meglomaniacal dick that he was?

[conorkilpatrick]

One question though, does this make Tom Jefferson out to be the meglomaniacal dick that he was?

Depends on your point of view.

[labor_days]

One question though, does this make Tom Jefferson out to be the meglomaniacal dick that he was?
Jefferson certainly is dickish for a good portion of the series. Yet, he is also charming, introspective, poetic and noble at times. Also, somewhat randy. If you follow my meaning.

Jefferson, you scamp!

POTENTIAL SPOILERZ








The parts toward the end of Adams' life as his wife and kids have passed, when Adams and Jefferson renew their friendship are very affecting. It got a little dusty in my living room.

[six-gun]

Depends on your point of view.

Well, he really didn't go insane until the end of his presidency.

But he did plagiarize most of the Declaration and he wrote it in a way that attacked the British people when every other founder wanted the British people on their side.

I really don't like Thomas Jefferson.

[owlboy]

Jefferson certainly is dickish for a good portion of the series. Yet, he is also charming, introspective, poetic and noble at times. Also, somewhat randy. If you follow my meaning.

The way they portrayed it I wouldn't be too surprised if Jefferson was laying pipe to Mrs. Adams.

[conorkilpatrick]

Well, he really didn't go insane until the end of his presidency.

But he did plagiarize most of the Declaration and he wrote it in a way that attacked the British people when every other founder wanted the British people on their side.

I really don't like Thomas Jefferson.

He's my favorite character on the show, after Washington. I like him quite a bit - his hatred of the British is palpable.

[six-gun]

He's my favorite character on the show, after Washington. I like him quite a bit - his hatred of the British is palpable.

Yeah, I'm not commenting on him as a character, but as a person. :)

[conorkilpatrick]

Yeah, I'm not commenting on him as a character, but as a person. :)

Well, I like him as a person too. :)

[six-gun]

Well, I like him as a person too. :)

Really? That surprises me a bit.

[conorkilpatrick]

Really? That surprises me a bit.

I like all of the Founders.

[six-gun]

I like all of the Founders.

I'm thankful for them all and I respect all of them, but some of them I don't really like.

[paper]

I heard someone was hating on America....?

;)

[conorkilpatrick]

I'm thankful for them all and I respect all of them, but some of them I don't really like.

It's all speculation anyway, it's hard to say with certainty whether you would like or dislike someone solely from written accounts.

[six-gun]

It's all speculation anyway, it's hard to say with certainty whether you would like or dislike someone solely from written accounts.

More or less yeah, this is all conjecture, these men have been so deified that it's hard to really be certain to what extent their actions are their own. More so than many other figures in history.

[labor_days]

Ha! There is a scene where Adams addresses that fact.

Also, Morse as Washington. Goddamn.

[casually-drowned]

I can't decide if I like the camera angles or not. I am not talking about the shots of people, but more of the buildings and whatnot. Some of them were great (when the camera was positioned at what I imagine to be foot level), and some were a little distracting (when the shot was positioned at almost a 90 degree angle to the subject matter).

[esophagus]

I actually missed this coming to DVD (I really need HBO. And Showtime.), but just ordered it. I'm actually excited. You know what they say, Canada is just America with more queens. :rolleyes:

[labor_days]

I can't decide if I like the camera angles or not. I am not talking about the shots of people, but more of the buildings and whatnot. Some of them were great (when the camera was positioned at what I imagine to be foot level), and some were a little distracting (when the shot was positioned at almost a 90 degree angle to the subject matter).
You're talking about the Paris episodes?

If so, then yeah.

[jaflanagan]

You know what's rough? A realistic protrayal of a 19th century mastectomy. That's something you don't want to watch while you're sitting down to eat dinner.

As I learned.

[casually-drowned]

You're talking about the Paris episodes?

If so, then yeah.

So far. I have not finished watching all the disks yet so I can't really say about the rest.