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okay_andromeda 's review for:
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
First read: 2014/2015?
I find it hard to review Much Ado because I love it so much that I don't even really know what to write. It's the blueprint for a reason. Yes, the Claudio Hero relationship annoys me given that Beatrice was right on the money about how he should face punishment. But I can overlook this because Beatrice and Benedick are just so good. Every adaptation, every time.... it ALWAYS hits.
The first version I watched was Branagh's, which I like well enough. I love Emma Thompson as Beatrice.
2025
I find it hard to review Much Ado because I love it so much that I don't even really know what to write. It's the blueprint for a reason. Yes, the Claudio Hero relationship annoys me given that Beatrice was right on the money about how he should face punishment. But I can overlook this because Beatrice and Benedick are just so good. Every adaptation, every time.... it ALWAYS hits.
The first version I watched was Branagh's, which I like well enough. I love Emma Thompson as Beatrice.
2025
West End, 2011, Catherine Tate and David Tennant
The acting choices and the staging in this version are so spot on perfect for me that I was laughing out loud frequently. David's Benedick and Catherine's Beatrice are truly exquisite imo. I could watch this a million times, and I'm deeply upset that it seems like dvds of it don't exist. I'm about ready to learn how to burn a copy myself just so I can have it. The 1980s Gibraltar setting? The paint all over the face? The arial scene? The GOLF CART? I loved it so much. I even enjoyed the way they played the Dogberry stuff, which normally ends up feeling like a collection of scenes that I just have to suffer through to get back to the part I actually care about. But here, there was something very endearing about Dogberry's little ragtag group with their hi-vis vests and flashlights. Look, could we have done without allllllll the lines about Dogberry being an ass? Yeah probably. But we'll blame Shakespeare for beating a dead horse on that one.
Overall, a solid 20/10 for me. I loved this. Even with my squick about the Doctor kissing Donna, lol.