I have no problem whatsoever with colourblind casting for modern drama fully reflective of modern milieus but, given the fundamental requirement for the willing suspension of disbelief by viewers, this, for me, becomes nigh on impossible with period drama.
The ethnic mix of 20s and 30s Russia is plentiful enough without positively demanding the presence of sub-Saharan Africans. Alexander wouldn't allow his friend Mishka to marry his sister because he wasn't a titled aristocrat; yeah, that was why.
The "progressive" fascism of our times thus sets even the most basic attempts at any kind of authenticity at nought and the irony is not lost on viewers carefully dissecting the doctrinal fascism of the Bolshevik characters in this otherwise engaging adaptation of a sublime novel.
For all the positive discrimination of the casting it is also worth asking why none of the transparently bad characters are black? So, colourblind up to a point. Hmmmm. It seems a little patronising and fully illustrative of the minefield so blithely entered by the producers of this, and upcoming, dramas. The road to Hell is paved yet with good intentions. Three stars lost on account of this tediously unnecessary yet stupidly fashionable and corrosive trend.
The ethnic mix of 20s and 30s Russia is plentiful enough without positively demanding the presence of sub-Saharan Africans. Alexander wouldn't allow his friend Mishka to marry his sister because he wasn't a titled aristocrat; yeah, that was why.
The "progressive" fascism of our times thus sets even the most basic attempts at any kind of authenticity at nought and the irony is not lost on viewers carefully dissecting the doctrinal fascism of the Bolshevik characters in this otherwise engaging adaptation of a sublime novel.
For all the positive discrimination of the casting it is also worth asking why none of the transparently bad characters are black? So, colourblind up to a point. Hmmmm. It seems a little patronising and fully illustrative of the minefield so blithely entered by the producers of this, and upcoming, dramas. The road to Hell is paved yet with good intentions. Three stars lost on account of this tediously unnecessary yet stupidly fashionable and corrosive trend.