John Adams HBO series and real history

[dumbledore11214]

Potioncat:
And Charles was either expelled or almost expelled from school in
Holland. He had been a problem for a long time. Nabby's husband (at
least according to the Abigail bio) was no great prize. I think the
series really downplayed Col Smith's moral character and put it all
on John.

Alla:

And the hilarious part about what really happened according to this 
article and probably to McGulough's book, boy do I need to reread 
this book, is despite the fact that John Adams indeed did not like 
his son in law, he did ask Congress for that appointment for him. 
Congress did not confirm him! Gee, I wonder why. And what does Adams 
do? He is asking for another position for him, which he got, right?

Hmmm, so let me see. Here we have a father, a politician of strong 
opinions somebody who must have really love his country, because I do 
not know, he helped to establish its independence if nothing else. 
And here we have him asking a congress to confirm somebody in the 
position whom he does not think very much of. I wonder could it be 
because he loved his daughter that much? You know, right that my 
sarcasm is not directed at you Potioncat, but at the filmmakers?

So, the real drama is for Adams probably fighting over his love for 
his daughter and love for his country in a way? I mean, here is the 
real flaw comes out – he would ask to advance somebody who is his 
relative. I wonder, why filmmakers did not consider that dramatic 
enough, his flaws as politician and went for his imaginary flaws as 
father?

And then of course we can have that silly scene of Nabby asking her 
dad not to wish her husband ill when she is gone. Eh, okay.

Potioncat:
Did you hear Paul G.'s (don't have a clue on the spelling) acceptance
speech? He said the writer was kept busy the whole time. It shows.

Alla:

Heh, no I did not hear his speech.

Potioncat:
What I really enjoyed were the little things, the changing costumes,
the look of the cities of those days, the bad teeth. By the time he
was president, Adams had lost enough teeth that his speech was
affected, and made him uncomfortable when speaking before Congress.

Alla:

I loved it too, that they did not glamorize the setting, etc