Period Dramas: Fingersmith

Based on the Victorian crime novel of the same name by Sarah Waters, Fingersmith was turned into a mini-series in 2005. Filled with twists and turns that you won't see coming, it's a fun new addition to period drama that definitely breaks the mold.

www.bbc.co.uk

What It's About:

Sue Trinder is a Fingersmith - a thief living in the slums of London under the care of Mrs. Sucksby. Mrs. Sucksby, who takes care of unwanted and abandoned babies, is the closest thing that Sue has had to a mother since her own was hanged for murder. When Mrs. Sucksby's friend Gentleman appears one evening, and tells them of a scheme - and how if Sue helps him, he will give her £2000, it almost seems too tempting to resist. Yet Sue has some reservations when Gentleman tells her he plans to swindle an heiress out of her money, until Mrs. Sucksby encourages the plan. So off Sue goes, becoming the maid to the meek and troubled Ms. Maud Lilly, and eventually her friend. But what Sue didn't anticipate, was how deeply her feelings would run - and how could she betray someone she cares about so much?

Why You'll Love It:

• Dickensian and Gothic in feel, this is a refreshing take on a genre that sometimes focuses more on costumes than content 
• Plot twist after plot twist after plot twist - if you like surprises that change the entire dynamic of the story in an instant, you will love Fingersmith 
• Full of intrigue and trickery, you'll enjoy seeing where this goes next 
• One of those mini-series that you can watch a second time even after you know the twists - it definitely stands up to multiple viewings 
• Great cast - Sally Hawkins (Persuasion, Maudie), Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter, Cranford), and Rupert Evans (North & South, World Without End) are all in this, and make this adaptation so successful

Why You Might Want To Skip It:

(Mild spoilers to follow. If the above convinced you to give it a watch, you are probably good to stop reading here).

• Sex and sexual themes occur. Nothing particularly revealing or graphic, but it is there, as well as several occurrences of sexual readings and illustrations from books are featured 
• This does involve same-sex romance, so if that bothers you, you might want to give this a pass. It is about a lot more than that, but it is still an important part of the plot 
• Overall a grim and dark feel. The story opens discussing hangings, and there is lots of theft, trickery, and deceit