I get the impression from the IMDb listing that this was originally shown in five one-hour episodes, but for some reason the DVD version I watched was edited into two continuous two-and-a-half hour sections. Since IMDb also indicated that Capaldi's character doesn't show up until the second half (actually he doesn't make his entrance until about the final quarter) I expected to sample the first few minutes of the first DVD, then ditch it and fast-forward through the second to Capaldi's scenes. But I had to see at least a little of Brian Blessed's performance first. You don't just skip over Brian Blessed. And there were so many other very good performances, starting right out with John Sessions' on-site narration as Henry Fielding. And then my beloved Ron Cook showed up, and Sylvester McCoy, and I was marveling over Max Beesley's uncanny resemblance to Ewan McGregor, and I was enjoying it so much that I ended up staying up to watch the whole thing in one long Sunday night sitting. Maybe it's just the presence of Sylvester McCoy but I haven't had so much fun watching a very long series of films whose genre and thematic content I had absolutely no interest in since "The Hobbit" trilogy.An interesting thing happens when Capaldi's character Lord Fellamar makes his entrance leering at Tom Jones' beloved Sophy. The story line shifts into an homage to Christopher Hampton's "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," with Lindsay Duncan reprising the role she created as the Marquise de Merteuil from the celebrated original stage production, and Capaldi, who played a supporting role in the equally celebrated film version, steps into the role of Valmont, conspiring with her to use sex as a weapon against Sophy and Tom. Duncan is an actress to reckon with, and my first thought on seeing Capaldi playing alongside her and seeing where it was going was "Oh, boy, I don't know if he's up to this," but one thing I'm learning about Capaldi is he's ALWAYS up to it.Capaldi has been called on frequently to play sex clowns ever since his character in "Local Hero" made love to Jenny Seagrove's webbed toes. With his dead white makeup and blood red lips Lord Fellamar is an evil sex clown, actually a comic rapist, whom Capaldi tackles with his usual combination of daredevil bravado and artistic restraint. Brian Blessed has said that while filming one of the brawls his character and Capaldi's engage in he accidentally injured Capaldi, who had to go to the emergency room in full makeup and was treated rottenly by staff who thought he was in drag. I hope this is just one of those entertaining actor's stories.

This was a spectacular, delightful series -- energetic, lusty, and highly amusing. It was graced with wonderful performances all around, particularly from Blessed, Whitrow, Beesley, and a hilarious Kathy Burke in the role of Honour. Once the story gets past Tom Jones as a boy it really starts moving and keeps you enthralled. Without a doubt, this was one of the best BBC productions to come out in recent years -- another prime example of the superiority of British televison compared to most of the drivel that comes out of the States!

I beg to differ with Julie who hated this adaptation of TOM JONES. I think the problem with it is that watching this is a lot more like reading an older book such as TOM JONES, more like it than most adaptations. You have to settle into the slower pace and appreciate the details that come with the pace. I find all of the seven featured leads outstanding, each having wonderful moments of their own. Max Beesley and Samantha Morton do SO much with their characters. I haven't seen him in anything else but if you want to really appreciate her, watch this TOM JONES and then right after it, watch the excellent film JESUS' SON. She's amazing. In conclusion - I say if you're inclined at all to watch this TOM JONES, do a little deep breathing or meditating first and you will, like me, LOVE it.

The BBC and A&E have done it again. TOM JONES is intricate, daring, surprising, funny, and has more fresh air than one might expect of a literary adaptation. Brian Blessed is a revelation as Squire Western, looking more like a Hogarth caricature than seems humanly possible. The rest of the cast are energetic and well-suited to their roles, and the result, at five hours, will surprise many who only know the rascal Tom Jones from the Albert Finney film... There's a lot that that short movie left out, and it will at times remind you of Dangerous Liaisons...which of course was written later... Anyone want to bet that Choderlos de Laclos read Fielding?