The Frogs and The Lobsters

[anteros_lmc]

A few completely random thoughts (with pics!) on watching The Frogs and The Lobsters recently, in no particular order.

Comments

[anteros_lmc]

azdak commented...

I am utterly fascinated by that way Sam West sits on that horse.

Honest truth, when I'm riding and we have to go past something scary (Like the letter A at the far end of the riding school ;-)), I imagine I'm Sam West in the hope that some of his fantastic seat will thereby be transferred to me. He looks as if you couldn't drag him off with a crane.

[anteros_lmc]

His fantastic seat?! Is that like having a nice arse? ;)

[rikibeth]

If you ride extensively enough to perfect a good seat, you will almost certainly develop a nice arse.

If you watch the TV-miniseries Random Quest, you will see that Sam West does indeed have a very nice arse. (I recommend it - it's a sweet, romantic SF story as well as a way to see himself with his kit off.)

[mylodon]

Mr Sher would have done well to take Mr Bamber's example of how to act in a subtle manner!

[anteros_lmc]

Indeed! Mr Sher must have been picking the scenery out of his teeth for weeks afterwards. Mr Bamber, on the other hand is the very epitome of heartbreaking restraint.

[rikibeth]

Housemate and I have often noted just how much of Jamie Bamber's acting is done just with the muscles of his jaw.

[jestana]

Robert Lindsay as Pellew is awesome as ever.

I always love that he rowed with the men. Love it!

It always strikes me as being out of character for Edrington to ask Archie to "Look after him".

I see it as Edrington having been through a similar experience himself and aware of how devastating it can be. Plus, this is the first time Horatio sees just how senseless and stupid war can be on land. At least at sea, you're fighting men who (mostly) chose to be there. On land, there are far too many innocent civilians who get caught in the crossfire.

[anteros_lmc]

I always love that he rowed with the men. Love it!
And it's so typical of the kind of thing that the historical Pellew would do too.

Plus, this is the first time Horatio sees just how senseless and stupid war can be on land.
Oh yes! I couldn't agree more. Horatio is clearly completely unprepared for the devastation and chaos of war on land.

On land, there are far too many innocent civilians who get caught in the crossfire
Definitely. I think that's why Horatio is so devastated by Mariette's death.

[jestana]

That's probably why they included this bit (and to give us the chance to see Robert Lindsay in just his shirtsleeves). XD

Totally and it just makes me want to hug him.

Plus, he'd promised to 'save' her and he just got her killed instead.

[rikibeth]

Hm. Wings, bosom... I'm going with "weird French interpretation of a harpy" for the wallpaper.

Antony Sher gave every appearance of finding the scenery DELICIOUS. It always amuses me.

Have you ever tried on regimentals? You can't slouch in them! But yes, marvelous form.

For me, "look after him" is what makes Edrington's character. It adds depth and kindness we didn't get to see earlier, and it makes me love him forever. If it weren't for that, I might not have spent a whole novel with a fellow remarkably similar to him...

And yes, we could ALWAYS use more shots of Archie smiling.

[anteros_lmc]

Yep, I'll go with "weird French harpy". I wonder what Mr Bush would make of the Marquis' choice of interior decor?

Mr Sher is indeed most amusing. He appears to be enjoying himself immensely!

And yes, we could ALWAYS use more shots of Archie smiling.
Your wish is my command...

[rikibeth]

AWW HE IS PRECIOUS.

I am certain Lt. Bush got an eyeful of ridiculous French wallpaper some years prior, when he was doing confidential work for the Admiralty in collaboration with a certain Sir Percy Blakeney. This is one of my headcanons, meant to support my Bush-as-Admiralty-spy-trying-to-remove-Sawyer-QUIETLY headcanon for Mutiny/Retribution, and also to get Paul McGann co-starring with Richard E. Grant again, because of REASONS. Anyway, I'm sure Bush thinks that posh people are just weird, and posh French people especially weird.

[jestana]

I like that headcanon! Does that mean he's a bit taken aback by the resemblance between Archie a certain Mr. Dewhurst? *innocent look*

[eglantine_br]

In my head, Edrington has knocked around quite a bit by the time we meet him. He feels that the Navel officers he has met have an innocence about them, a sort of sanitized vision of war, because war at sea tends not to involve civilians,

So he sees Horatio devastated, as Horatio's illusions crumble so that is why he says 'look after him.'

Archie, of course,has no innocence left to loose.

[anteros_lmc]

I get why Edrington says it, and I totally appreciate that he has a completely different experience of war from Horatio, it's more the way he says it that I find a bit jarring.

[rikibeth]

*flails* The way he says it GETS ME EVERY TIME. He's dropping his oh-so-composed, imperturbable, faintly-amused-by-the-world mask for a moment, and what comes through? KINDNESS. Caring and concern. Not to mention that I also read into it that he TOTALLY KNOWS that Horatio and Archie are "particular friends", and he's completely okay with that.

THAT LINE. That line is his kind and generous heart without any pretense around it and it is BEAUTIFUL.

*smishes him*