First, Cumberbatch is amazing, as is most of the supporting cast, but Clemens sucked. She was miserably too young and her whole character comes off as a love sick puppy.

The failure of communication between Christopher and his wife really is pivotal, but the fact she was too selfish, then he becomes too selfish, then in a way full circle by episode 3. It's just life isn't it.

The script could've been way better. It just doesn't flow. More about how gossip alone was his own demise and how gossip was used serendipitously by his friend into a knighthood could've been much better written. The stark contrast of the honest, good and decent man being shredded by lies and mistruths while the cad who borrowed money, created a fake image of money, and was an adulterer being made to appear the opposite of what they were by stupid gossip by both women and men could've been given the better focus that was failed in this script. The whole point of the first half of these books completely blown over.

Cumberbatch proved his worth with this less than stellar script. Hall was excellent also. Just a true shame most of the characters never come to "life" and it falls flat of the "lesson" of the books. By the last episode, you end up feeling sorry for Sylvia more. Both women he's become entangled in are the same. The lady who started as a cheap trollop and the little girl who wants to be a cheap trollop, both having downplayed cry baby moments throughout the series. The brother's response to Miss Wallop tells you all you need to know. One schemer for another.

3/10 on some of the performances alone and the trench scenes. The script has a couple noteworthy moments but for the most part is a waste of good paper and good film. And that Wallop (Clemons) was very poorly cast. You end up hating her character by the end, although that wasn't supposed to be the point, or maybe it was.