After the cliffhanger ending to Part One of Sharpe's Challenge (which borrows great chunks of material from Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Tiger, Sharpe's Triumph and Sharpe's Fortress books) Sharpe and Harper are still embedded in the Ferraghur fortress amongst the enemy and looking for a way to free Celia Burroughs, the imprisoned daughter of the British general and get intelligence on where and where not to attack the fort. Sharpe also wishes to exact revenge on Dodd for the Chasalgoan massacre from fourteen years ago. But there are obstacles in their way and, of course, a battle to be fought.
If Part One was very good, this is brilliant. It's been said before, but Sean Bean IS Richard Sharpe and just because a decade and more has passed doesn't mean he still doesn't fully inhibit the role of the British rifleman. Something about the way, in that distinctive Yorkshire accent, he says "Bastard". Sharpe is Bean's defining, signature role.
Sir Henry Simmerson and Sergeant Bickerstaff continue their scheming. Dodd is plotting to take over the domain of the Indian chieftain he is supposed to be serving. Michael Cochrane as Simmerson was always a good bad guy. Great that he could be written into Sharpe's Challenge. And Toby Stephens is great as the conniving Dodd. He has the right face for a bad guy!
An exciting and satisfying second chapter in a welcome return for the franchise.
If Part One was very good, this is brilliant. It's been said before, but Sean Bean IS Richard Sharpe and just because a decade and more has passed doesn't mean he still doesn't fully inhibit the role of the British rifleman. Something about the way, in that distinctive Yorkshire accent, he says "Bastard". Sharpe is Bean's defining, signature role.
Sir Henry Simmerson and Sergeant Bickerstaff continue their scheming. Dodd is plotting to take over the domain of the Indian chieftain he is supposed to be serving. Michael Cochrane as Simmerson was always a good bad guy. Great that he could be written into Sharpe's Challenge. And Toby Stephens is great as the conniving Dodd. He has the right face for a bad guy!
An exciting and satisfying second chapter in a welcome return for the franchise.