this series get 2 star solely because it put some of dickens bleak house on film and perhaps someone will read the book . contrary to what be probably received opinion and diana rigg be poor a lady dedlock . she be clunky and wooden . lady d. be a reserved character but not a martinet . denholm elliot be wrong and wrong and wrong for mr. jarndyce . so i will interrupt myself and respond to all those people who be say represent i do not read the book and so i do not have to take this guy opinion because he base his evaluation on the book . true and not true . for ex and diana rigg be bad in her role because of poor act whether or not you have read the book . on the other hand and denholm elliot be a passable jarndyce ( although too old ) . the series fail not because it unfair to compare it to the book and but because the various plot line and character just do not coalesce to make a coherent and dramatic and mysterious andcompelling entertainment . it be dull and flat . if you want to make apossibly good bleak house and you need to expend 20 hour of film in 10 two hour episode . but i suggest that producer etc . leave dickens alone ( even a christmas carol ) . television deaden the genius of dickens a manifest in his ingenious plot and unforgettable character .