If you have not seen this show yet and are planning on watching it, be aware there may be spoilers below.



I recently watched the first dvd from the HBO John Adams series. I've read books about John Adams and that period in history, but for whatever reason it didn't strike me like this film portrayal of Adams has. Yes, I realize a film portrayal may not be exactly historically accurate. This first dvd is where Adams successfully lobbies the congress for individual states, Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence, and George Washington's emergence as the military commander.

Very interesting dynamics during this relatively brief time-frame to say the least. What I find amazing is how delicate the balance was and how easily this thing could have went sideways on them. Everything came together on that fateful day. The most dissenting state rep was "predisposed" and absent during the vote, the gentleman from New York abstained, and the rest was history. Just like that.

If you have not seen this show yet and are planning on watching it, be aware there may be spoilers below.



I recently watched the first dvd from the HBO John Adams series. I've read books about John Adams and that period in history, but for whatever reason it didn't strike me like this film portrayal of Adams has. Yes, I realize a film portrayal may not be exactly historically accurate. This first dvd is where Adams successfully lobbies the congress for individual states, Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence, and George Washington's emergence as the military commander.

Very interesting dynamics during this relatively brief time-frame to say the least. What I find amazing is how delicate the balance was and how easily this thing could have went sideways on them. Everything came together on that fateful day. The most dissenting state rep was "predisposed" and absent during the vote, the gentleman from New York abstained, and the rest was history. Just like that.

I have also been watching John Adams, and have to say that the first hour or so underwhelmed to say the least.

I do not believe that Johns Portrayal as the reluctant defense attorney at the Boston Massacre trial is accurate. I believe that he, and the Sons of Liberty, planned on the defense to show the colonists in a good light. Hanging the soldiers would have made them martyrs so it was better to get them acquitted. The HBO series made it appear that Adams was working purely on principle and against the wishes of the Sons of Liberty.

On a purely trivial note, I was disappointed at both John and Abagail, I disliked John being as fat and old early in the series (he is going to live nearly 60 more years at that point in time). I found Abagail's character flat and rather plain, and believe she was generally considered spirited and engaging?

Still I must say that the more I see the more I like it.

The TV series is based on the book, "John Adams" by David McCullough, and it is one of the best biographies I've ever read. Abagail was a brilliant woman who was born 200 years too soon! Our Country could certainly use the kind of leadership Adams displayed!

I couldn't agree more. The series and the book by McCullough are fascinating, highly recommended. (I own both the dvd series and the book.)

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Fritz

I thoroughly enjoyed the miniseries. I found the end to be very touching.

God Bless America

That's why I don't subscribe to HBO. They just can't seem to do a show without unnecessary skin.

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- Change it back -

The HBO series shows her as a very tough lady. In one scene early in the series, she and the kids are casting bullets with metal-handled molds and no gloves. Folks were much tougher back in them days!

I just watched this series on Netflix. I really enjoyed it. I haven't studied American History for about a zillion years, so it was very interesting.

If you get Netflix, you should check it out.

Thanks for the reviews of the series and I dont care if there are any spoilers? ill have forgotten them by the time I get the series on DvD. Ive oft wondered how good the series was?

Also,if you like this stuff? DONT FORGET about the AMC series: TURN--which is about George Washingtons spies. I was more than pleased to find out that more than a few of their "lead" characters--were actuals during the time. I mena, I already knew about Majors: John Andre, as well as John Bolton (Benjamin Talmadge) but that also--that Captain Simcoe---was also a true British character. However, AMC sems to have taken some unnecessary liberties with him as well as with Major Robert Rogers. Simcoe is portrayed as a bloodthirsty pig--when In real historical life--was an Officer and a Gentleman.

I'm reading the latest biography of John Adams, but I don't have anything to report yet. I like revisiting these happenings from different viewpoints and I finally realize what these guy (and others) actually DID. It wasn't history to them, they had no hindsight to fall on. The British could have burst in any time, arrested and hung them and they would get a pat on the back from the King.

One mistake I made was judging Doolittle's raiders harshly, saying that the mission was a 'failure' because they only dropped a few bombs and a lot of them got killed, therefore it wasn't worth it. Then one day I realized that those guys VOLUNTEERED and knew that they could killed and if they were captured, they be better off if they were dead. Another thing I didn't realize was how much of a moral boost it gave the US population. It's almost too much to take when you reallize that they thought the sacrifice was worth the risk.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"