John Adams (HBO miniseries)

Recently finished watching this miniseries about the life of John Adams, who played key role in American Revolution. Some great acting and very interesting to watch how the birth of America is depicted. I must admit though, the last 2 episodes are a little dull since it's mostly about is late personal family life, but in all a very solid series. Like to here any thoughts on the series..

I thought the first two or three episodes were very very exciting. They progressively got more dull and less interesting from there. His time in France kind of dragged on with his wife, but at least was somewhat interesting. Once Washington died, Hamilton was gone/dead, and Jefferson kind of disappeared, the show definitely went downhill. Nonetheless, still a great miniseries. They spent too much effort trying to make Adams seem depressed during his presidency and it really slowed that episode down when it really didn't necessarily need to, the point was made and yet they keep going very very slowly. Everything about the White House was just depressing too, although that is probably somewhat accurate but perhaps a little exaggerated.

I must say I was a bit disappointed since I assumed the miniseries only covered his time during the Revolution, but when I saw the Revolution over by the third (I think) episode, I was like "huh, I guess that's why it was moving so fast there". Although I did quite like the encounter between George III and Adams, was interesting the way they depicted it.

Originally Posted by Tiberius Tosi

I thought the first two or three episodes were very very exciting. They progressively got more dull and less interesting from there. His time in France kind of dragged on with his wife, but at least was somewhat interesting. Once Washington died, Hamilton was gone/dead, and Jefferson kind of disappeared, the show definitely went downhill. Nonetheless, still a great miniseries.

I must say I was a bit disappointed since I assumed the miniseries only covered his time during the Revolution, but when I saw the Revolution over by the third (I think) episode, I was like "huh, I guess that's why it was moving so fast there". Although I did quite like the encounter between George III and Adams, was interesting the way they depicted it.

Yes, the first two episodes though were great.

My favorite scene however was when he enters King George's chamber and presents himself to him. I think though that's in the middle of the series.

During the last episodes when everybody is dying it gets depressing and it turns more into dealing with family death rather than the politics at hand.

The book was better by leaps and bounds. I burned through the thing in three days and the content and conclusion were much more poignant. A great series but a much better read.

It isn't a book about politics, it's a book about a great man in his times, surrounded by politics and crisis.

Brilliant series.





In fact, I was much more interested in the depictions of Jefferson, Hamilton, and Franklin than Adams himself.

Originally Posted by Future Filmmaker

In fact, I was much more interested in the depictions of Jefferson, Hamilton, and Franklin than Adams himself.

depictions were great, Jefferson's was my favorite out of all. Though George Washington was depicted a little strangely.

Amazing series - great viewing figures here in the UK although they stuck it on at a very strange non-peak time. I'm sure it will sell very well on DVD.

Henri (seantpage)

In fact, I was much more interested in the depictions of Jefferson, Hamilton, and Franklin than Adams himself.

Got love that last clip of Jefferson mouthing off about liberty but oh wait what of my dark skinned 'friends' guess they can wait (but oh wait Jefferson was quite happy to see the South wield excessive Federal power on the backs of their slaves)... Never finished the series does it carry on with the tired Alexander Hamilton myth (mostly generated by political spin form Jeff and co) as a desiring 'big government' and monarchy?

Originally Posted by conon394

Got love that last clip of Jefferson mouthing off about liberty but oh wait what of my dark skinned 'friends' guess they can wait (but oh wait Jefferson was quite happy to see the South wield excessive Federal power on the backs of their slaves)... Never finished the series does it carry on with the tired Alexander Hamilton myth (mostly generated by political spin form Jeff and co) as a desiring 'big government' and monarchy?

Not only does it continue with Hamilton being a beacon of big government, but it also goes on to make him appear to be imperial too. He takes command of a small army after the death of Washington that Adams set up in case of war with France, and there is a scene of him spewing about beating Europe in a war and then going on the conquer South America and starting an Empire. They make him seem imperial and like his main goal in life was to play soldier. Perhaps this did have some truth to it, but not to the extent that the series makes it seem.

I know my comments about the series have been kind of negative, but I really did love the series. Just some parts were boring and they tried to make the setting sad too much in the later episodes.

The series is pretty neutral towards Jefferson and Hamilton and shows them both in good lights. Hamilton is credited to the economic boom and the effectiveness of the central government wheras Jefferson is credited to the more democratic elements and reforms. I think that both actors, Stephen Dillane and Rufus Sewell, captured the attitudes, mannerisms, and cores of both figures almost to a T. During both the Washington and Adams' presidency, we see both Washington and Adams lecturing both of them on their increasing bitterness and severity in their beliefs. I wish that Senator Burr would have been portrayed in this as well since both Jefferson and Hamilton, although political rivals, both considered Burr to be the greater evil to each other's interests. (And of course, the man responsible for Hamilton's death) But unfortunately, the show is much more focused on Adams' own experiences during the Revolution and not the characters around him. We are more or less seeing everything from a side perspective. I had wished there were a greater scope that we have seen with a series on Jefferson or the more of the war with a decent series on Washington.



EDIT: Tiberius, in reality the show really was neutral as it shows the negatives and hypocrisies of both figures. Adams lectures both of them bitterly during his Presidency.

I liked the series, and disagree on the point of it being dull after the revolution. I liked how in France, you see Adams struggle with a system of doing things he is not used to, and how afterward in I believe it was Holland he managed to open loans to the US.

But my favorite always will be when he says to Franklin, "I did not throw off the yoke of Britain to take up the yoke of France!".