John Adams

[Erik Olson]

Anybody else watching this? Amazing production design and really seamless, unobtrusive effects.

The Continental Congress scenes were really well done - you get a palpable feeling for the gravity of the decisions our founding fathers had to make in a very short amount of time. Paul Giamatti does a great job. I didn't know that he defended the Boston Massacre soldiers. That juxtaposed against his role in the revolution soon thereafter is amazing to contemplate.

The BTS shows one of the SFX crew with an HVX - I assume shooting pre-vis or possibly some plate elements. It's a 35mm show, but you never know anymore.

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[Batutta]

This show was excellent. Had a very immediate quality that many historical dramas lack. Paul Giamatti continues to surprise me. Everytime I've see him in a role, I say to myself, "that guy will never have a role that perfect for him again."...And then he gets another fantastic part. He must have an awesome agent or just have great taste picking scripts. The fact that a guy as homely and ordinary as him has the career he does must give hope to every actor out there.

 

[David Jimerson]

I didn't know that he defended the Boston Massacre soldiers. That juxtaposed against his role in the revolution soon thereafter is amazing to contemplate.

They seem contradictory, but they're really not.

He acted as a defense attorney in the finest spirit of the office -- ensuring that a proper trial was conducted. This helped solidify some of the grievances against England in terms of the rights being denied colonials in English courts.

 

[Erik Olson]

It is well documented that he believed in law above all else. This, on the surface, seems a stark contradiction to his participation in the Continental Congress.

Considerable time is given to Adams' struggle between toeing the line and protesting against the colonist's quickly diminishing rights. It is represented in John Adams that he accepted the appointment to the First Continental Congress almost as a stopgap measure between the two. Perhaps he might help salvage the situation? I don't believe any of the men in that room felt war was a foregone conclusion.

It was only as news of atrocities against his fellow countrymen began to reach the Congress that Adams became the strongest proponent for war and a declaration of independence.

If the timeline was as they portray it to be, it is an incredibly compelling story.

Now that I've seen two episodes, I think Giamatti was a very good choice. It might well be that Adams was an egotistical blowhard, but I think Paul is taking a lot of punishment for being mis-cast in the role.

I think the cast is impeccable - Giamatti included.

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[David Jimerson]

Right. He (eventually) felt that Parliament and GIII were stepping on the law. His participation as defense attorney was his way of ensuring that the law was followed and that it wasn't a kangaroo court.