The BBC's festive adaptation of Little Women was always destined to split viewers' opinions: it's such a beloved novel and movie that any new version will inevitably get a mixed reaction from fans. And sure enough: in a RadioTimes.com poll of more than 1,600 readers, only 43% felt the 2017 adaptation had lived up to their expectations - while 57% said they were disappointed.

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But while the three-part drama didn't impress everybody, there's no denying that the finale was EMOTIONAL.

Some came at it with (seemingly) unsuspecting innocence...

https://twitter.com/Isabelwriter/status/946436239032496130

But even for those of us who knew what was about to happen (spoiler: BETH DIES!!) it was 100% heartbreaking. After her miraculous recovery from Scarlet Fever and her joyful reunion with Marmee and Mr March, Beth sickened again – and this time it was terminal.

https://twitter.com/lisanicoleangus/status/946347472355577858

https://twitter.com/GavLawler/status/946536910385762304

https://twitter.com/estynortanky/status/946534064684785664

https://twitter.com/PurpleHaze_1983/status/946490200745742336

https://twitter.com/dinotaur/status/946497944353689604

https://twitter.com/LauraWells18/status/946489740957757440

And then there was Jo March's rejection of Laurie's love! And then... Laurie marries her SISTER Amy! And Jo marries an older professor! The series finale was full of twists and turns, just like the book – and all these years later, people still can't deal with such a controversial ending.

https://twitter.com/Emma_L_Black/status/946504047162519552

https://twitter.com/adelegeras/status/946493259559456776

https://twitter.com/seaside_girl89/status/946506988539797505

https://twitter.com/Kate4Queen/status/946545852826267648

Still – Jo has her reasons. Her brotherly love for Laurie can never become romantic...

https://twitter.com/a_bindoff/status/946681612368039936

https://twitter.com/sezl/status/946668027327713280

Whichever way fans feel, any adaptation which wants to stay true to Louisa May Alcott's original novel will have to follow the story all the way through to this inevitable ending. But maybe it's time for a version of Little Women where Beth lives and Jo marries Laurie and Amy drowns in a pond? Now THAT would be controversial...

This article was originally published on 29 December 2017

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