Empire of the Tsars : Romanov Russia

[Lochlanach]

There is a new BBC Four series beginning on January 6 , presented by UK historian Lucy Worsley entitled 'Empire of the Tsars ; Romanov Russia'. Not sure how many episodes there will be. There is a trailer on youtube.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WWnUMlHPRE
 

[Maria Sisi]

I heard about this. Thrilling to see that its finally coming!

I hope the current political climate doesn't taint it though. Western documentaries on Russia in general tend to be slanted with a subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, over criticism. I don't want any sunshine and roses but it would be nice if they show some objectivity and realize they act a certain way because their ways, thought process, are different. It would be nice if they could put themselves in someone else's shoes and not judge by their standards which are different.

[amelia]

Does any one know when it will be shown in USA?


Eva McDonald

[Maria Sisi]

Does any one know when it will be shown in USA?


Eva McDonald

To be honest I'm not holding my breath on that one. I'll be shocked if it ever does. I'm just hoping it can be found online and then get a DVD release.

I know it wasn't perfect but I'm still upset that "Russia's Lost Princesses" never got a DVD release.

[Sanochka]

I wholeheartedly agree, Maria Sisi.  T'would be nice to be able to pop the DVDs into the player and watch both on large-screen TV.

[Превед]

There is a new BBC Four series beginning on January 6 , presented by UK historian Lucy Worsley entitled 'Empire of the Tsars ; Romanov Russia'.

Well, I suppose advertising is all about catchphrases, but lol - that title: 'Empire of the Tsars ; Romanov Russia' is not very novel. Worsley says she wants to tell the story of how "a single family" transformed Russia from a backward medieval country to a great power, but she could just as well have told the story of how the Romanovs became Holstein-Gottorps and tried to Germanize (i.e. Europeanize) Russia.

It's rather strange to speak of Russian Romanov family continuity when Peter III's Russian Romanov mother died when he was three months old and he grew up as a German.

[Lochlanach]

There is a new BBC Four series beginning on January 6 , presented by UK historian Lucy Worsley entitled 'Empire of the Tsars ; Romanov Russia'.

Well, I suppose advertising is all about catchphrases, but lol - that title: 'Empire of the Tsars ; Romanov Russia' is not very novel. Worsley says she wants to tell the story of how "a single family" transformed Russia from a backward medieval country to a great power, but she could just as well have told the story of how the Romanovs became Holstein-Gottorps and tried to Germanize (i.e. Europeanize) Russia.

It's rather strange to speak of Russian Romanov family continuity when Peter III's Russian Romanov mother died when he was three months old and he grew up as a German.

Well let's wait and see , but if Worsley does not acknowledge just how German the house of Romanov became (OTMAA being 0.4 % Russian) , then she won't be the first or the last historian to do so. I think I wrote on 'Tatiana's Appearance' thread that emphasising , or even acknowledging, the Germanness of the IF is generally not on the agenda of most historians .

[Lochlanach]

I heard about this. Thrilling to see that its finally coming!

I hope the current political climate doesn't taint it though. Western documentaries on Russia in general tend to be slanted with a subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, over criticism. I don't want any sunshine and roses but it would be nice if they show some objectivity and realize they act a certain way because their ways, thought process, are different. It would be nice if they could put themselves in someone else's shoes and not judge by their standards which are different.

Don't count on it . I  suspect the series will  be worth watching if only for  being visually stunning (palaces , Faberge , etc) . Ideally I would have preferred other BBC stalwarts to have been involved  ; Helen Castor to present a History - she is a far more impartial and austere historian than Worsley ; and then Andrew Graham Dixon to present an 'Art of the Romanovs' documentary  - he is light years beyond Worsley in his appreciation of all things artistic. Still , beggars can't be choosers....

[Maria Sisi]

I heard about this. Thrilling to see that its finally coming!

I hope the current political climate doesn't taint it though. Western documentaries on Russia in general tend to be slanted with a subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, over criticism. I don't want any sunshine and roses but it would be nice if they show some objectivity and realize they act a certain way because their ways, thought process, are different. It would be nice if they could put themselves in someone else's shoes and not judge by their standards which are different.

Don't count on it . I  suspect the series will  be worth watching if only for  being visually stunning (palaces , Faberge , etc) . Ideally I would have preferred other BBC stalwarts to have been involved  ; Helen Castor to present a History - she is a far more impartial and austere historian than Worsley ; and then Andrew Graham Dixon to present an 'Art of the Romanovs' documentary  - he is light years beyond Worsley in his appreciation of all things artistic. Still , beggars can't be choosers....

Frankly if its going to be that bad I'd rather have none at all.

Your description means it will be the typical autocratic Romanovs live in splendor while the people live suppressed and in poverty. Of course that's pretty much what it was but I have no doubt the tone will most likely be unbearable. To me tone is what makes or breaks it for a documentary. You can deliver the same information without sounding snotty or judgmental and judging from past British productions that feature the Romanovs it probably will be.

That's why "Russia's Lost Princesses" was a pleasant surprise. It gave the information but it didn't have that judgmental edge to it. It simply presented the facts with some nice visuals. 

I'll watch if I can but I don't have high hopes for it.

[Lochlanach]

Maria Sisi -  We will get a better feel for the project closer to transmission. I wouldn't be expecting anything too cerebral or similar in tone to 'Russia's Lost Princesses' . I may be wrong but i suspect there will be endless shots of Worsley in magnificent palatial settings, maybe trying on 'Romanov clothes' , poking Faberge eggs, and somehow making the series more about herself and her eccentricities than about the Romanovs (that is what usually happens in Worsley documentaries). But its a matter of taste - the BBC adore her and presumably many find her style entertaining , so maybe I am in a minority and don't know a thing. I have only heard her wax lyrical on British history and its monarchy , so who knows what the approach will be like here . I will be watching it and hoping for the best like yourself . Rather something than nothing I say !

[Lochlanach]

More specific information about the series in the link . Three hour long episodes .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2016/01/empire-of-tsars

[edubs31]

So it looks pretty similar to this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUA_1WVM8I

[Lochlanach]

So it looks pretty similar to this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUA_1WVM8I

The BBC's approach will be more like this below - this is the presenter of the new series in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSMIIVgrmJI

[Lochlanach]

So it looks pretty similar to this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUA_1WVM8I

The BBC's approach will be more like this below - this is the presenter of the new series in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSMIIVgrmJI

Yeah it looks like the Romanovs are getting the full Lucy Worsley treatment - see synopsis of final episode and three clips in the links below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2016/03/romanov-russia

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03chrtl

[Lochlanach]

Lucy walks around Red Square ... Lucy tries on traditional Russian clothes...Lucy sails in a replica of Peter the Greats  boat... Lucy pulls off a mans fake beard ....  Lucy has a jolly good time in general. I knew what to expect ; she specializes in this kind of frothy, lightweight, undemanding storytelling ; but really , this series feels all wrong . Great subject matter , wrong approach , wrong presenter.