Ronan Vibert, Vibertology, Scarlet Pimpernel, Robespierre, BBC 2/1


	*~ Series Two, Film 1* *n. Ennui* *- TV Series (BBC) 2000: appx 86 min Ronan content: 12.5%* Other Cast: John McKennery Sir William Wetherby, Emily Bruni Annette de Martignac, Stuart Bunce Lipsard Dir:Graham Theakston Wri: Matthew Hall


	Plot/Comments: A disappointingly fitting title for a rather anti-climatic start to the second series. There has been a complete change of writer/directors; also missing in action are Chauvelin, Margueritte, Fumier, and Percy's young sidekicks. While this change in cast could have potentially improved things, the variation in script quality and direction generally fail the actors: *the first episode is rather turgid and deeply forgettable, the second pretty good, with proper actors* (largely due to the presence of Anton Lesser); *and the third is terrific* (largely due to Robespierre's promotion as full-time main adversary and a much better writer in Rob Heyland).


	Marguerite dies in child birth, leaving Our Hero somewhat distraught. Unfortunately, as much as I like Richard E Grant, he just doesn't have the emotional range to make us feel for a Pimpernel in mourning. Annette de Martignac, a young aristo émigré who would "make an iceberg bubble", escapes France with the help of the Pimpernel but later betrays Sir William Wetherby as the supposed Elusive One to Lispard, the young French ambassador/love interest. In return for her information (and possibly her heart), he promises diplomatic intervention in the trial of her aristo federalist counter-revolutionary parents.


	Finding out that the Pimpernel is not nice old card Wetherby after all (who Lipsard tries to assassinate), but his friend Blakeny, who rescues her once more from Certain Death, she tries to put her mistake right by sailing to France and defending her parents in court in person. Naturally, she will be guillotined as soon as she is recognised as an emigre outlaw, so Percy runs off to save her from herself, meeting a nice eccentric scientist with an early diving bell along the way. Meanwhile Robespierre threatens the love-struck Lipsard with the guillotine for failing to kill the correct Pimpernel, unless he gets the real information from his would-be fiance, Annette. Needless to say, the Pimpernel rescues both damsel and chumpy-spaniel-eyed-ambassador-in-distress at the last minute from the guillotine with smoke bombs and rather tired fight choreography, jumping into the Seine and hiding in the diving bell.


	*The Scarlet Pimpernel Main Page* *NextPimpernel Episode 2* *Back Gimme, Gimme, Gimme* *Back Mrs Bradley Mysteries* *Next Shadow of the Vampire* *Next Summerfolk (audio)* *Next Packard Bell Advertisement* *VIBERTOGRAPHY*


	Unlike the first series, which had Martin Shaw as a decent villain-with-a-heart, the main fault with this series is that *when Robespierre is not on screen, there is no sense of danger, no moral murkiness*, and no henchman villain to get stuck into as a replacement for Chauvelin (there are different replacements in each episode). This also means that there is no cohesiveness to the stories, which are made thinner by the lack of historical background which enriched the first series (e.g. the September Massacres, Danton, Pere Duchesne graffiti, and the rise of the Jacobins).


	Typical Ronan Character Quotes: "Hot blood and passion may do well on the streets but have little to recommend them to the matters of state" "If you denounce the Republic's justice, you denounce the Republic itself" "Spoken like a true aristocrat: your King would be proud"

Compouding these problems in this episode is the fact that there is no Robespierre until this has churned on for 50 slow minutes: when he finally pops up, things suddenly spring into life...only to shrivel a bit again when he is off screen.
While a lack of The Incorruptible wouldn't have been a problem with a strong script and a decent story, this by-the-books pastiche is pretty anaemic and really needs the dramatic tension evident in each scene with Ronan Vibert.

After waiting so long to get a second viewing of this episode, I was amazed at how much it was lacking in simple entertainment value. I've seen worse: Richard E Grant is always easy watching, and manfully does his best with a limited script (there's nothing of the shine of previous stories here); Ronan wipes the floor with everyone (particularly the two 'romantic leads' who, in short, are pretty damn awful); but as a whole, it's surprisingly turgid and not something I'd rush to watch for a third time.

Luckily, things were to improve throughout the series...


	Ronan content: We first see Robespierre when Libersac enters his room: the camera shoots from behind him, yet he is immediately recognisable by the way in which he impatiently beckons his delicate lace-clad hand. He is grey and pallid, speaking quietly, tiredly; Vibert delivers his speech patterns in that quintessentially Robespierran oddly-stilted, academic, incredibly precise manner. When he finishes personally prosecuting the de Martignacs (as noted earlier, the Robespierre-as-Tribunal-Prosecutor element is pure fiction), who condemn themselves by attacking the Revolutionary government, he allows himself an enigmatic half-smile of satisfaction. At this stage in the series, he is able to feel fully justified in placing the needs of the Republic above the needs of the personal...by Episode 3, he will see this belief disintegrate before his eyes.


	Despite my misgivings, one thing that this series does really improve upon is Robespierre's appearance. They've *finally ditched the preposterous bouffant wig* to go with something more historically accurate, and the over-powdering and scarlet lipstick have also mercifully been dumped. This more historically accurate look means that Ronan doesn't have to fight the costume, making Robespierre a less effeminate and more dramatically viable villain: *this Robespierre is carved in stone, consumed by the Revolution. n. Thanks to Nicole for helping source the tapes*