JeffinCO

You could be right about the pox scenes, they were hard to watch, although I did take it as an indication of his personal sacrifice to be doing what he was doing...personally I think I might have chosen being with my sick kid.

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"Oh, what a lovely little.."

The_Heretic

The idea behind having small pox in the story is to show just how tough the revolution was to pull off. If it hits one family that hard imagine how much tougher Washington and his troops were having it.

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"Enough!!" -so rang Barack Obama's voice off the walls of Mile High Stadium

Chantytown

I watched the first 2 parts last night. I'm really digging it.

Dianekkdi

I find that I am mad as hell that it is already over this evening.

Why not give me a full 2 1/2 hours like they did last week?

I was happy. I fell asleep thinking I was missing the third upcoming episode of the mini series.

Now today, I am faced with just one episode. I can't eat just one episode.

God forbid I be faced with the patience it would take to make an ocean voyage by sail boat or travel a few hundred miles by horseback....I would faint in impatience.

An entire week....I must wait for episode 4. How dare they? I am far too old to be wishing that my weeks speed hastily by!

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Reinvestigate 9/11
Impeach......Prosecute......Imprison

"...The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed...."
--Thomas Jefferson

The_Heretic

By the fact it was tough to sit through is a testament to their genius. They relay very well how tough a time John Adams had adjusting to the French court. And that scene in front of the Dutch. Holy shit! What a contrast. Their stately rooms are a mosoleum whereas the French was en explosion of pastels!

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"Enough!!" -so rang Barack Obama's voice off the walls of Mile High Stadium

Dianekkdi

Learned and thoughtful, John Adams was more remarkable as a political philosopher than as a politician. "People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity," he said, doubtless thinking of his own as well as the American experience.

Adams was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735. A Harvard-educated lawyer, he early became identified with the patriot cause; a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he led in the movement for independence.

During the Revolutionary War he served in France and Holland in diplomatic roles, and helped negotiate the treaty of peace. From 1785 to 1788 he was minister to the Court of St. James's, returning to be elected Vice President under George Washington....(http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ja2.html)

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----------------------
Reinvestigate 9/11
Impeach......Prosecute......Imprison

"...The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed...."
--Thomas Jefferson

neptune

It's most excellent. The scenery is fantastic -- and Giamatti and Linney will get Emmy noms, for sure. Wonderful dialog...

I wish each epi was longer than just over an hour!

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Holy Mudhead, mackerel! Morse Science High!
It's....disappeared!
-- Firesign Theatre

PursuitOfHappinessParty

I'm half way through the book. It makes a great pre-read, though they might catch up to me (single father = no time to read).

Adams is an overlooked founding father. I had skimmed his contributions and his history before, but I way understimated him. I am now of the opinion that he was the biggest factor in the success of our even declaring independence as well as it's success (next to Jefferson).

His winning of the trial reaffirmed to him the necessity and propriety of law. It was Brittish law he was upholding. He used it when formulating later various legal items and issues. He felt that the King was in violation of law by treating his rightful and loyal subjects in America as second class citizens. He knew that would not change. He wished for a complete break as he felt the only way England and the world would recognize the U.S. was if they unified and declared Independence as a complete nation.

I believe the smallpox inclusion in the show is very important. First, not many people know that during the revolution a second front was being fought by both sides - this disease. Second, it helps to focus the viewer more on the fact that this man was away from his family for up to 2 years at a time. A family struggling to make ends meet (they should've included his buying things for her to trade in lieu of limited $), on a slave-free working farm, and family suffering from a often fatal disease. He did this for his country.

The show is very close to the book, written well, directed and edited well, and the acting across the board is fantastic.

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Its like a finger pointing at the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory. - Bruce Lee in 'Enter The Dragon'

PursuitOfHappinessParty

An interesting point. Regulars would have been the normal expression under normal times. However, the term Brittish was a derogatory term at the time as a sign of the growing rift between subjects from the isle and subjects from the colonies (this rift being the fault of the King). Also, if memory serves, there was already an American army and THEY were also refered to as Regulars.
Any historians out there that can help us out?

__________________
Its like a finger pointing at the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory. - Bruce Lee in 'Enter The Dragon'

bengalcat

Last night sure portrayed the French as being rude and obnoxious. I felt bad for JA how he was treated. And yes the pox scenes are a bit icky but the tar/feather scene in 1st episode disturbed me alot. I cringed watching that.