I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy
2008 US HBO's Mini Series about the life of John Adams, second President of the United States, from his defense of the soldiers accused in the Boston Massacre in 1770 to his death in 1826. Shown in seven parts.Two major themes stand out throughout this work- "behind every great man is a great woman" and "the more things change, the more they stay the same"- there seems to be a fair few parallels with the contemporary USA in the story, something emphasised when More 4 broadcast in the UK in the weeks around the 2008 US Presidential Election.Nominated for 23 Emmys, it won 13 of them, setting a record for most wins by a single series in a single year.An excellent series, with brilliant performances from Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney.
The American Revolution: Well, obviously. Key moments of the Revolution or their aftermath are shown throughout the series including the Boston Massacre, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Declaration of Independence and many others.
Asskicking Equals Authority: The prestige gained by Washington as the main general of the Continental Army makes him a virtually uncontested candidate for the first presidency.
Awesome Moment of Crowning: Or rather, Awesome Moment of Swearing In. George Washington becoming the first president is truly a sight to behold. From the other Founding Fathers gathering behind him to walking towards the balcony where the audience hears the buzz of a crowd until a woman shouts "There he is!" and thousands of people cheer as Washington appears to take his oath. "God bless George Washington! President of the United States!"
Though Washington does deflate the mood a bit with his soft-spoken taking of the oath, forcing everyone to lean forward.
Ass In Ambassador: Adams, to a degree while representing America in France. Franklin eventually gets him removed because of it. Ambassador Genet while whipping up support for the French in America is very much this.
Bilingual Bonus: John Adams gets confronted with both French and Dutch during his stay in Europe. That he does not speak a word of French is greatly hilarious to the French king.
Calling the Old Man Out: Charles does this to John in "Unite or Die," when he describes their lack of contact when John and Abigail were in Europe.
Conflicting Loyalty: Some members of Congress still feel loyalty towards the king, though grieved by him.
Contrived Coincidence: More like remarkable coincidence, Adams and Jefferson did die the same day and exactly 50 years after the The Declaration of Independence was signed.
Eternally Pearly-White Teeth: A rare aversion. Every character's teeth get noticeably more hideous-looking the older they get. In fact, George Washington is so tight-lipped, his teeth are never shown (he had false teeth).
Fake American: Tom Wilkinson as Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson, Rufus Sewell as Alexander Hamilton... Admittedly, the characters should necessitate this kind of casting, because the Founding Fathers were British subjects before they were "American", and the colonies were culturally similar.
Hamilton, in fact, was born and raised in the British West Indies, on the island of Nevis.
Happily Married: John and Abigail Adams. A stark contrast to the French court.
Interrupted Intimacy: Adams is the one who is embarrassed when he runs into Franklin while the latter nude, inside a bathtub and enjoying the company of Madame Helvétius. Subverted in that they are seemingly just playing chess.
Well, at the moment they were just playing chess. Knowing both Franklin and Mme. Helvétius, the chess was probably a prélude to something else.
I Take Offense to That Last One: Adams' only response to a scathing newspaper article that hurls numerous physical insults at him is "I'm not crippled."
Kavorka Man: Benjamin Franklin - ambassador, inventor, statesman... skank? By all accounts, however, this is correct.
Locked Out of the Loop: Mundane example when Vice-president Adams, to his surprise, is excluded by Washington from the government meetings and the day-to-day ruling of the country.
The Magnificent: Adams insists the President's dignity should have several honorary and bombastic titles or surnames, but Washington overrules him and sets it as "Mr. President and nothing more"
George Washington: Appears throughout most of the series. True to form, his influence is felt even when he doesn't appear in the episode. Played by David Morse.
Shout Out: In the final episode of the series, Adams is pacing nervously and Abigail says to him, "For God's sake, John, sit down". Her words are identical to the repeated line from "Sit Down, John", the opening number to the much-loved musical 1776 about Adams' labors to convince the Second Continental Congress to unanimously adopt the Declaration of Independence.
Smart People Play Chess: Combined with a fair amount of Squick for Adams (and hilarity for us), when Adams heedlessly barges into Franklin's quarters at the American Mission in Paris...only to find Franklin playing chess in a bathtub with Madame Helvétius.
Southern Gentleman: A lot of the Southern delegates—including Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson—are also portrayed this way. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina stands out though. When he privately informs Adams that his colony - pardon - state is willing to vote for independence he says that one of the reasons the southern delegates delayed for so long is that they are used to a more "courtly forum".
Strange Bedfellows: France of the Ancien Régime and the Rebellious States.
Stunned Silence: The delegates of the Second Continental Congress after they pass the Lee Resolution, making the United States an independent nation, July 2, 1776.
Talk to the Hand: Rutledge casually waves the back of his hand at an angry Adams and his supporters during the debate over independence.
Tar and Feathers: Adams witnesses a British tax collector being tarred and feathered by an angry Boston mob. Can serve as a Tear Jerker and Nightmare Fuel for some, conflicting emotions and all. Sure, the mob was angry over a rightly felt injustice, but to see a man screaming in agony for only trying to do his job is enough to make anyone feel for the unbearable pain he must have gone through.
Tears of Joy: Adams awakens after a serious illness to the news that the British have surrendered at Yorktown. After several moment of digesting the information he breaks down in tears and kisses the messengers hand over and over.
War Is Hell: The first time Adams actually sees the army he created, its suffering from cold, hunger, and smallpox.
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