[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from the finale of “The Miniaturist.”]
In “The Miniaturist” finale, the promising life Nella (Anya Taylor-Joy) thought she would have when she married and moved to Amsterdam resulted in horror and heartbreak. The city may have been enjoying a Dutch Golden Age of art, innovation, and trade, but that also led to a blinkered commerce-driven ambition that had no tolerance for those that didn’t seem to conform or contribute. On Sunday’s episode, that took its toll on the Brandt family twice over.
Nella’s husband Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell) went on trial for supposedly forcing himself on another man, reneging on a business deal, and being homosexual — a crime in 17th century Amsterdam. Eventually, the verdict came in clearing him on all counts except for the last one, which unfortunately carried a death sentence. After spending an evening in jail comforting her husband, the next day she watched as he was publicly executed by drowning.
In “The Miniaturist” finale, the promising life Nella (Anya Taylor-Joy) thought she would have when she married and moved to Amsterdam resulted in horror and heartbreak. The city may have been enjoying a Dutch Golden Age of art, innovation, and trade, but that also led to a blinkered commerce-driven ambition that had no tolerance for those that didn’t seem to conform or contribute. On Sunday’s episode, that took its toll on the Brandt family twice over.
Nella’s husband Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell) went on trial for supposedly forcing himself on another man, reneging on a business deal, and being homosexual — a crime in 17th century Amsterdam. Eventually, the verdict came in clearing him on all counts except for the last one, which unfortunately carried a death sentence. After spending an evening in jail comforting her husband, the next day she watched as he was publicly executed by drowning.
- 9/24/2018
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
‘The Miniaturist’ Star and Author Weigh in on Marin’s Secret and Her Clandestine Life in the Shadows
[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from “The Miniaturist” Episode 2.]
In its first outing, “The Miniaturist” revealed that wealthy trader Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell) harbored a huge secret that could spell social ruin and very possibly lead to his own death. It turns out that his sister Marin (Romola Garai) has her own potentially damaging secret that she divulged to her sister-in-law Nella (Anya Taylor-Joy) by the end of the second episode.
Marin is pregnant, which is an unexpected development since she’s unmarried and has made a show of being strict, devout, and endlessly judgmental. Her having an illicit sexual relationship isn’t the first time that the Brandts had lived outside of the rigid 17th-century Dutch rules for propriety. Everyone in the household had been helping to hide the fact that Johannes is gay, and only by accident did Nella discover his sexuality and that she had been brought in as his beard.
“What I...
In its first outing, “The Miniaturist” revealed that wealthy trader Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell) harbored a huge secret that could spell social ruin and very possibly lead to his own death. It turns out that his sister Marin (Romola Garai) has her own potentially damaging secret that she divulged to her sister-in-law Nella (Anya Taylor-Joy) by the end of the second episode.
Marin is pregnant, which is an unexpected development since she’s unmarried and has made a show of being strict, devout, and endlessly judgmental. Her having an illicit sexual relationship isn’t the first time that the Brandts had lived outside of the rigid 17th-century Dutch rules for propriety. Everyone in the household had been helping to hide the fact that Johannes is gay, and only by accident did Nella discover his sexuality and that she had been brought in as his beard.
“What I...
- 9/17/2018
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from Episode 1 of “The Miniaturist” miniseries. For a non-spoilery read, check out IndieWire’s review.]
“The Miniaturist” is anything but a run-of-the-mill period drama, and the premiere’s ending proved that. The main currency in PBS’ miniseries is surprise, ranging from the small moments of wonder to the mysterious revelations regarding the miniatures that furnish the dollhouse belonging to new 17th-century Dutch bride Petronella (Anya Taylor-Joy), aka Nella.
The biggest shocker, however, came in the last moments of the episode after elaborate misdirection had been built up. Petronella had arrived in Amsterdam and was greeted, not by her new husband Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassle), but coldly by her strict sister-in-law Marin (Romola Garai). Passive-aggressive behavior, whispered conversations, Johannes avoiding consummating their marriage, and other clues pointed to Johannes possibly preferring his sister’s company over his wife’s. Even busybody Agnes Meermans (Aislín McGuckin) seemed as if she were about to announce the...
“The Miniaturist” is anything but a run-of-the-mill period drama, and the premiere’s ending proved that. The main currency in PBS’ miniseries is surprise, ranging from the small moments of wonder to the mysterious revelations regarding the miniatures that furnish the dollhouse belonging to new 17th-century Dutch bride Petronella (Anya Taylor-Joy), aka Nella.
The biggest shocker, however, came in the last moments of the episode after elaborate misdirection had been built up. Petronella had arrived in Amsterdam and was greeted, not by her new husband Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassle), but coldly by her strict sister-in-law Marin (Romola Garai). Passive-aggressive behavior, whispered conversations, Johannes avoiding consummating their marriage, and other clues pointed to Johannes possibly preferring his sister’s company over his wife’s. Even busybody Agnes Meermans (Aislín McGuckin) seemed as if she were about to announce the...
- 9/11/2018
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
Aliya Whiteley Dec 27, 2017
Spoilers ahead in or review of BBC One's sumptuous Christmas drama, The Miniaturist...
This review contains spoilers.
See related 35 must-watch movies in 2017
Boxing Day evening has become a strong slot to kick off dark BBC drama, with two excellent Agatha Christie adaptations being shown in recent years that have relished in the kind of misdeeds that suit the post-gift comedown. This year we had a break from the golden era of crime for something contemporary: Jessie Burton’s bestselling novel The Miniaturist, published in 2014, adapted for the screen by John Brownlow. Still firmly in the realm of mystery, this was not about murder, but offered a very intriguing set of puzzles to be solved - although the answer were, perhaps, less suited to the screen than the page.
Some elements were a gift to the eyes: seventeenth century Amsterdam brings to mind the paintings of masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer,...
Spoilers ahead in or review of BBC One's sumptuous Christmas drama, The Miniaturist...
This review contains spoilers.
See related 35 must-watch movies in 2017
Boxing Day evening has become a strong slot to kick off dark BBC drama, with two excellent Agatha Christie adaptations being shown in recent years that have relished in the kind of misdeeds that suit the post-gift comedown. This year we had a break from the golden era of crime for something contemporary: Jessie Burton’s bestselling novel The Miniaturist, published in 2014, adapted for the screen by John Brownlow. Still firmly in the realm of mystery, this was not about murder, but offered a very intriguing set of puzzles to be solved - although the answer were, perhaps, less suited to the screen than the page.
Some elements were a gift to the eyes: seventeenth century Amsterdam brings to mind the paintings of masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer,...
- 12/19/2017
- Den of Geek
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.