John Adams 7-part HBO miniseries

Well, thanks to the magic of TiVo and our DVR, all 7 episodes of the HBO minsieries have been viewed. The opening theme always made Chris blare the speakers:


Chris didn't agree with the "piling on" of Paul Giamatti in his lead role. Adams was a cantankerous man at times driven by what he felt his place in history should be. He often mumbled; his voice barely carried; he was concerned with himself; and Giamatti in this humbler blogger's opinion pulled it off.


Granted there was quite a bit of dramatic license with the miniseries. I'm sure there are blogs out there purposefully exposing such "mistakes", but here are what Chris observed:

1) the line of militia filing past the Adams home at Braintree surely would have known that they fought on Breed's Hill and not Bunker Hill.

2) General Henry Knox and his artillery relocation from captured Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York to Boston would NOT have bypassed Boston to wheel past the Adams home 7 miles south.

3) George Washington sitting in on the 2nd Continental Congress (not the first as the miniseries suggests) would not wear his Continental Army uniform, but rather his Virginia militia uniform he wore during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War).

4) Adams did not swing the tiebreaking vote on the Jay Treaty, as 2/3 majority is required to ratify any treaties.

5) Adams and Jefferson rekindled their relationship before Abigail passed away, not afterward.



Five little tidbits to nitpick, but all in all it was an entertaining miniseries for history dorks like Chris. Non-history fans (and how in the world could you be one of THOSE?) would probably have enjoyed it also, albeit without the edge-of-your-seat wide eyes that Chris had. In fact, if you want, all 7 episodes are saved on our DVR for viewing at any time. You're always welcome. Colonial tri-cornered hat not provided.



Kimberly, eyes closed; Braintree, MA; June 2005: