by Angie E.

I watched Dickensian for the first time a few years ago and loved it far more than I could have dreamed, especially since I am not a big Dickens fan and had already kind of half-formed in my mind what the series would be like. I could not have been more wrong and, despite hoping to watch it piecemeal so it would last as long as possible, I still ended up binge-watching it. I recommended it to some customers and they came back later and told me they loved it, too, and we got to talk about it, which I always find one of the best parts about reading a book or watching a show. 

To describe it would hardly do it justice, the more I like something the harder it is for me to write about it. But if I had to say, Dickensian is where beloved characters of Charles Dickens’ novels cross paths in a gripping mix of mystery, romance, and intrigue. The show twists together the fates of figures like the ruthless Jacob Marley, the ambitious young Miss Havisham, and the ever-resilient orphaned street boy, intertwining their lives in unexpected and dramatic ways. 

Secrets hide in every shadow, fortunes rise and fall, and revenge boils beneath the surface, all leading to shocking revelations that keep you on the edge of your seat. With a world so richly imagined and characters so vividly brought to life, this series is a captivating re-imagining of Dickens’ literary universe, offering surprises even for the most devoted fans. Despite not being a Dickens fan, I have always been drawn to Miss Havisham’s tragic back story and, sure enough, in Dickensian her life is as mesmerizing as it is heartbreaking. Tuppence Middleton is outstanding as Miss Havisham and, dare I say, may be the best one ever! 

Whether you’re a lifelong devotee or stepping into Dickens’ world for the first time, it invites you to linger in its darkened corners, where every twist and turn reveals a story waiting to unfold. If you’d rather stream Dickensian than watch it on DVD, it is available for FREE on Kanopy, Tubi and on The Roku Channel.

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.