TV
Since I spent a deal of time at home either watching TV or talking about TV with my parents, I thought I'd just ramble a bit about the various things I've been watching recently.
All under cuts to avoid spoilers, but I will try and keep it as vague as possible :)
-Larkrise to Candleford
A BBC period costume drama, the first series was an adaptation, while the second left and took shape on its own. While this did mean that occasionally one could go "Aah, I see they are addressing issue X in this episode", it also meant that the plot could spiral off and take its true form as some Jane Austen/Thomas Hardy hybrid that it truly was, and I loved it. Ias frequently had to come into my room from his to check I was ok, as I would squeak and yell at the screen so much while watching it, I would ring my mum after we had both watched the latest episode to gossip about what had happened and make outlandish predictions about what would/should happen next week. (My favourite plans for at least two of the characters revolve around them accepting that they have lost their true love to the road/married life, and then settling for Mr Nice Guy and marrying them, only for True Love to return just a few minutes too late etc, but then that might just be me). Sometimes the writing could be clichéd and predictable, and not all the characters are likeable (there is a character that I particularly loathe and yell "Shut up!" every time he speaks), but occasionally it takes you by surprise. There was a brief romance plot for one episode between two previously unpleasant characters that I thought was going to be a bit of a joke, but I was in tears by the end of the hour.
They're doing a 3rd series. I can't wait.
-The Devil's Whore
A Channel 4 sort-of-historical period drama set during the English Civil War. Looks absolutely gorgeous. Major, major costume porn. Seriously. Ung...
I was hooked from the very start- I loved the way they wove the events of the Civil War into this one woman's life story (and she was a proto-feminist, go figure), and summed up what a chaotic and important time it was in English history- the world turned upside down.
However, the best thing about the series was John Simm's character, whose tragic mercenary could steal your heart with a glance. I didn't care about any of Angelica's men, until she cared for Saexbury, at which point...Oh gods, how much I cared. Barely able to breath during the last episode, and sobbing by the end. Absolutely wonderful.
-The Wire
The BBC is showing this at the moment, although I think it's also shooting itself in the foot by showing it at stupid o'clock.
Anyway- yes, it really is all that- it entirely lives up to the hype. It is complicated, mature and in depth. Characterisation is realistic and inspired- you go from hating a character to really caring about them, and the journey they go on feels organic and uncontrived. So far, my favourite characters are: Greggs, Bubbles, Omar, Freaman and Pryzbylewski. I've just finished the 1st series and intend to make my way through the others.
-The Jewel in the Crown
ITV's 1984 adaptation of the Raj Quartet books, rightfully belonging to the same hallowed group of series as Brideshead Revisited.
Oh, it's wonderful. It's hard to express why- it's not a love-letter to the Raj and shows everything that was rotten about the set-up, but does so subtly and without grandstanding. The characters, all far from perfect, are vibrant and bursting with their own stories. The script is mature and elegant, and wonderfully conveys what isn't being said as eloquently as what is. Main focus goes to Tim Piggot-Smith as Merrick, the British soldier whose presence hovers over the entire series and all the characters like a dark, brooding cloud, somehow he just makes your skin crawl...
Also, where the hell is the fandom?! Where the hell is the fanfic?!
All under cuts to avoid spoilers, but I will try and keep it as vague as possible :)
-Larkrise to Candleford
A BBC period costume drama, the first series was an adaptation, while the second left and took shape on its own. While this did mean that occasionally one could go "Aah, I see they are addressing issue X in this episode", it also meant that the plot could spiral off and take its true form as some Jane Austen/Thomas Hardy hybrid that it truly was, and I loved it. Ias frequently had to come into my room from his to check I was ok, as I would squeak and yell at the screen so much while watching it, I would ring my mum after we had both watched the latest episode to gossip about what had happened and make outlandish predictions about what would/should happen next week. (My favourite plans for at least two of the characters revolve around them accepting that they have lost their true love to the road/married life, and then settling for Mr Nice Guy and marrying them, only for True Love to return just a few minutes too late etc, but then that might just be me). Sometimes the writing could be clichéd and predictable, and not all the characters are likeable (there is a character that I particularly loathe and yell "Shut up!" every time he speaks), but occasionally it takes you by surprise. There was a brief romance plot for one episode between two previously unpleasant characters that I thought was going to be a bit of a joke, but I was in tears by the end of the hour.
They're doing a 3rd series. I can't wait.
-The Devil's Whore
A Channel 4 sort-of-historical period drama set during the English Civil War. Looks absolutely gorgeous. Major, major costume porn. Seriously. Ung...
I was hooked from the very start- I loved the way they wove the events of the Civil War into this one woman's life story (and she was a proto-feminist, go figure), and summed up what a chaotic and important time it was in English history- the world turned upside down.
However, the best thing about the series was John Simm's character, whose tragic mercenary could steal your heart with a glance. I didn't care about any of Angelica's men, until she cared for Saexbury, at which point...Oh gods, how much I cared. Barely able to breath during the last episode, and sobbing by the end. Absolutely wonderful.
-The Wire
The BBC is showing this at the moment, although I think it's also shooting itself in the foot by showing it at stupid o'clock.
Anyway- yes, it really is all that- it entirely lives up to the hype. It is complicated, mature and in depth. Characterisation is realistic and inspired- you go from hating a character to really caring about them, and the journey they go on feels organic and uncontrived. So far, my favourite characters are: Greggs, Bubbles, Omar, Freaman and Pryzbylewski. I've just finished the 1st series and intend to make my way through the others.
-The Jewel in the Crown
ITV's 1984 adaptation of the Raj Quartet books, rightfully belonging to the same hallowed group of series as Brideshead Revisited.
Oh, it's wonderful. It's hard to express why- it's not a love-letter to the Raj and shows everything that was rotten about the set-up, but does so subtly and without grandstanding. The characters, all far from perfect, are vibrant and bursting with their own stories. The script is mature and elegant, and wonderfully conveys what isn't being said as eloquently as what is. Main focus goes to Tim Piggot-Smith as Merrick, the British soldier whose presence hovers over the entire series and all the characters like a dark, brooding cloud, somehow he just makes your skin crawl...
Also, where the hell is the fandom?! Where the hell is the fanfic?!