[s1e1] Great Expectations Apr 2026

The series premiere establishes the bleak environment of young Pip’s life and the pivotal encounters that set his "great expectations" in motion.

: Starring Fionn Whitehead as Pip, Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham, Johnny Harris as Magwitch, and Shalom Brune-Franklin as Estella.

: Written by Steven Knight (creator of Peaky Blinders ), who aimed to explore the explicit themes of sex and crime that Dickens could only hint at in the 19th century. [S1E1] Great Expectations

: Unlike the novel, this adaptation begins with a flash-forward to 1839 London, showing an adult Pip attempting to hang himself before jumping off a bridge, adding a layer of psychological desperation to his journey.

: The episode ends with Pip being summoned to Satis House to meet the eccentric, jilted Miss Havisham . She seeks a companion for her adopted daughter, Estella , and begins "grooming" them to toy with Pip's emotions. Production Context The series premiere establishes the bleak environment of

The first episode of the 2023 Great Expectations series reimagines the Charles Dickens classic with a darker, more "grimy" tone, often described as having a " Peaky Blinders " aesthetic.

: Pip, a young orphan, lives in the Kent marshes with his cruel sister, Mrs. Joe, and her kind husband, Joe Gargery. : Unlike the novel, this adaptation begins with

: Reviews from TV Fanatic and Peacock highlight the atmospheric cinematography, utilizing sweeping shots of the wetlands as a metaphor for Pip's social struggle. FX's Great Expectations | Watch on Hulu - FX Networks