This is a 9-part miniseries that's very well-written and
acted. It has a huge cast. The story has all of the elements
you'd want in an epic story: Love, romance, tragedy,
politics, class struggle, racial prejudice, sexism, colorful
costumes, beautiful landscape, and interesting characters.
The story takes place in the summer of 1932, in a little
town at the foot of the Himalayas called Simla. The British
who were ruling India went there to escape the heat.
The heroine of the story is young Alice Whelan (Jemima
West), who grew up in India with her family but was sent
away to boarding school. After an unhappy marriage, she's
moving back to stay with her brother, bringing her little
boy with her. She's run away, which would have been
scandalous. Her brother Ralph (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) is
both the focal point of the show and the show's villain, in
many ways. He's in charge of the civil service in India and
wants to be Viceroy. Everyone in this series has some big
secrets.
It's a little bit of a soap opera, but there's so much
class struggle, racism, and politics, that it keeps it from
being too soapy. The hero of the show is handsome young,
ambitious Aafrin (Nikesh Patel) who works for Ralph. A
shocking thing happens in the first episode that ties them
all together.
You really should watch it on pbs.org and catch up, or
buy the DVD! It's well worth watching, even though it's a
little slow at times. It's worth it to watch all 9 hours.
MORE INFORMATION:
Set in a subtropical paradise during the
twilight era of the British Empire,
Indian
Summers explores the collision of the
ruling class English with their Indian subjects,
and the intricate game of power, politics, and
passion that ensues. Julie Walters (
Harry
Potter, Oscar® nominee for
Billy Elliot
and
Educating Rita) stars as Cynthia
Coffin, the glamorous doyenne of an English
social club, and is joined by Henry
Lloyd-Hughes, Jemima West, Nikesh Patel, Roshan
Seth, and Lillete Dubey.
Told from both the English and Indian
perspectives, the drama of Indian Summers
unfolds as illicit agreements, romance, and
revolution abound. Though the English socialites
are having the time of their lives in Simla, the
local Indians have started to call for national
independence, a path which is quickly rendering
the world’s greatest empire helpless. As
pressure builds, the two sides alternately clash
and merge in a passionate and dangerous game.
Indian Summers airs in nine sweeping
episodes, and premieres on Sunday, September 27,
2015 at 9/8c on MASTERPIECE on PBS.
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