Who Do You Think You Are? Series 12 Review, Part 1
I was going to write this last week but some big news came in so I wrote about that instead! Last year I wrote a review of series 11, which summed up the best bits of the series, this year I plan on doing the same thing in a slightly different manner. I will do it in two separate parts, one with the first five articles on and the second one with the last five. I will also be marking them with a 5 star system, with 1 star being bad and 5 being absolutely fantastic.
The first episode of the series, which now feels like ages ago, was Paul Hollywood's. In his episode it almost had two parts: one in which he was finding out what happened to his grandfather in World War 2 and the other about the Mackenzie family. Personally, I found the episode rather interesting. However I preferred the second part which saw him trace his Scottish relatives - especially the postman! ★★★☆☆
The second episode saw Jane Seymour trace her Polish roots. She focused on her two great aunts, Jadwiga and Michaela who were facing a Jewish view of the Nazis. Again this episode repeated the World War 2 theme, but from a different standpoint. It also didn't really see her find out about her ancestors and was a more 'Where Do You Think They Went?' episode. I also feel coming straight off the back of having Paul's WW2 story it was too repetitive to that episode and would have faired better later on in the series. ★★☆☆☆
Thirdly, was Derek Jacobi. This was when the series really picked up. We saw him trace his Huguenot ancestors, especially his 6x Great Grandfather, Joseph de la Plaigne. He was a Protestant lawyer and financier who was prosecuted by Catholic King Louis XIV of France. He was imprisoned in Chateau de Loches, which Derek visited in the programme. We also found out about his de la Bastide relatives. Overall, this episode was one of my favourite episodes of the series and was very interesting also. Although courtesy of 'nospringchicken' on Rootschat, we found out that the 'de la Bastide' family originated from de Jacques or Jacobi. Something which they could have added to the show. ★★★★★
Next was Jerry Hall. She traced her American ancestors and very little on her British ones, which is a bit of a shock as she was on the British series! However, I found out that JK Rowling has been on the American series, despite already being on the UK one - she must have an interest in genealogy! Anyway back to Jerry, I like that she seemed interested in her family and her connections to the Boones. I feel that this episode would have been better on the American version and not the British. ★★☆☆☆
Finally, well for this article, is Gareth Malone in the fifth episode of the series. In his episode Gareth traced his musical ancestors including Edmund Payne - whom he found some silent footage and a sound recording of, two absolute gems of a find! Another thing about his episode I remember is that he went to see if his ancestors' house was still there, although it wasn't, viewers got to see some of the thrills and pains of being a genealogist. Also, he actually did some research himself!!! - Rather than being just given to him. He also seemed to have had a real connection to his relatives. Overall one of the best of the series. ★★★★★
Next week, I will do an article more connected to armistice day and then we will see part 2 the week after. How did you find the series? Feel free to comment below!
WDTYA Series 12 Review part 2 can be read here.
Published: 5 November 2015
The first episode of the series, which now feels like ages ago, was Paul Hollywood's. In his episode it almost had two parts: one in which he was finding out what happened to his grandfather in World War 2 and the other about the Mackenzie family. Personally, I found the episode rather interesting. However I preferred the second part which saw him trace his Scottish relatives - especially the postman! ★★★☆☆
The second episode saw Jane Seymour trace her Polish roots. She focused on her two great aunts, Jadwiga and Michaela who were facing a Jewish view of the Nazis. Again this episode repeated the World War 2 theme, but from a different standpoint. It also didn't really see her find out about her ancestors and was a more 'Where Do You Think They Went?' episode. I also feel coming straight off the back of having Paul's WW2 story it was too repetitive to that episode and would have faired better later on in the series. ★★☆☆☆
Thirdly, was Derek Jacobi. This was when the series really picked up. We saw him trace his Huguenot ancestors, especially his 6x Great Grandfather, Joseph de la Plaigne. He was a Protestant lawyer and financier who was prosecuted by Catholic King Louis XIV of France. He was imprisoned in Chateau de Loches, which Derek visited in the programme. We also found out about his de la Bastide relatives. Overall, this episode was one of my favourite episodes of the series and was very interesting also. Although courtesy of 'nospringchicken' on Rootschat, we found out that the 'de la Bastide' family originated from de Jacques or Jacobi. Something which they could have added to the show. ★★★★★
Next was Jerry Hall. She traced her American ancestors and very little on her British ones, which is a bit of a shock as she was on the British series! However, I found out that JK Rowling has been on the American series, despite already being on the UK one - she must have an interest in genealogy! Anyway back to Jerry, I like that she seemed interested in her family and her connections to the Boones. I feel that this episode would have been better on the American version and not the British. ★★☆☆☆
Finally, well for this article, is Gareth Malone in the fifth episode of the series. In his episode Gareth traced his musical ancestors including Edmund Payne - whom he found some silent footage and a sound recording of, two absolute gems of a find! Another thing about his episode I remember is that he went to see if his ancestors' house was still there, although it wasn't, viewers got to see some of the thrills and pains of being a genealogist. Also, he actually did some research himself!!! - Rather than being just given to him. He also seemed to have had a real connection to his relatives. Overall one of the best of the series. ★★★★★
Next week, I will do an article more connected to armistice day and then we will see part 2 the week after. How did you find the series? Feel free to comment below!
WDTYA Series 12 Review part 2 can be read here.
Published: 5 November 2015
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