I missed the boat on this one back in the new year, as the first episode of Season Two of ‘By the Sword Divided’ premiered on Sunday 6th January 1985. Well, better late than never.
I touched on the second season briefly in my review of the series as a whole. But – sad fact – there has not been anything better produced, either for film or TV, about the English Civil Wars since this originally aired back in the eighties. So, I decided the second season needed its own review to fully do it justice.
First of all, By the Sword Divided was made during a time when British TV channels made a lot of what we now call content ‘inhouse’. Due to budget constraints, these were mainly shot in the studio. Many of the actors involved had learned their trade treading the boards in repertory theatre or in Stratford performing Shakespeare, so the acting can sometimes be a bit ‘stagey’ and overly dramatic, perhaps less naturalistic than we are used to today.
Unlike the first season, I hadn’t watched this as a child. So, when the second season was released on DVD in 2004, I had no idea of what was going to happen to the Laceys, Fletchers and Ferrars, and all the characters that support them.
Gareth Thomas as new character Major General Horton
Most of the cast from the previous season return, with some notable exceptions. Will Saltmarsh is conveniently killed in a tavern brawl somewhere in South Wales between seasons 1 and 2, Lord Ferrars comes back from exile in France with a new face and voice, and poor Colonel Marsh is never heard of or spoken of again. This last omission is a shame, as I can envisage much high drama as Susan Prothero seeks revenge on the lover who spurned her. And does Blake Seven himself, Gareth Thomas, playing Major General Horton, get a storyline that should have gone to Hannibal Marsh - I wonder...
The actors have plenty of story to get their teeth into this time around. We travel across the Channel briefly to visit Royalist exiles in France, follow the trial and execution of ‘that man of blood’, King Charles I, then share in high jinx as his son, the future Charles II, evades capture after the Battle of Worcester. Along the way, time is taken for witch trials and secrets revealed about illicit passion and hidden paternity. We uncover betrayal and deception when our loyal Royalists doggedly attempt an ill thought through armed uprising, ending in tragedy. And we finally meet Oliver Cromwell.
DVD cover for the second series
As we pick up almost where we left of with Season One – in 1648 – several costumes are reused in the first episode to create a sense of continuality. But there’s soon new fashions to explore, as Anne, in particular, dons gowns falling off her shoulders, with wide lace collars, and voluminous sleeves. This is all historically accurate. It’s a cliché that everyone wore dull, black clothing with plain white collars and cuffs during this period – because they were all puritans, don’t you know. Although there are plenty of black or plain dark costumes used, there is also a lot of colour, too. Even Parliament’s arch right-hand man, John Fletcher, gets a vivid petrol blue doublet and sand coloured jerkin.
If anything, the costumes feel a little less self-assured this season. There are a few odd choices, and some of the costumes feel – well – a little bit fancy dress. Lucinda, in particular, appears very fashion forward towards the end of the series, with hair which would not be worn for another twenty years!
The plot, as well, felt a bit contrived. Having the fugitive Charles Stuart turn up at Arnescote after his defeat at Worcester being a plot devise too far, poor Jane Lane’s part in the real escape being written out of this version of history. You can only bend the past so much to fit your narrative. And after being the main catalyst for much of the drama during Season One, poor Susan doesn’t get a lot to do this time round, having no plot lines of her own, only being the bystander to other characters stories – although she does get better hair and dresses.
For those characters who make it through to the final scenes there’s a happy ending – but at what cost?
Did you prefer the first season or the second? Are there any films or television series set during the civil war which you think compare to By the Sword Divided? And would it be a good idea to remake the original for a modern audience, or would current ‘sensibilities’ get in the way? Please let me know your thoughts.
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