Costume Dramas for Television

wenchsenior wrote:You guys, is that City of Bones movie the one that is also going to star Johnny Rhys Meyers? And is it the same one as based on the book by that fanfic writer that went pro? Or am I confusing them?

Yes, that's the one. I am pretty sure I don't want to read the book, but the pretty, pretty cast will make the movie worth it!

There's an adaptation of Parade's End on BBC 2 this coming Friday. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall, as well as some other familiar period drama faces. I'm looking forward to it, even if they are messing with me by putting a period drama on a Friday night instead of a Sunday!!

Coneycat wrote:

wenchsenior wrote:You guys, is that City of Bones movie the one that is also going to star Johnny Rhys Meyers? And is it the same one as based on the book by that fanfic writer that went pro? Or am I confusing them?

Yes, that's the one. I am pretty sure I don't want to read the book, but the pretty, pretty cast will make the movie worth it!

Yup, unless it is supposed to be apalling, I too will be watching for shallow reasons. I might even listen to an audiobook, if one turns up at my library for free...actually using my eyes to READ would be too much effort.

Robert Sheehan from Misfits and Lena Headey are also in the Cassie Cla(i)re movie.

I was on a North & South bender earlier this month. I counted and one day I rewound watched the end scene 5 times in a row.

For me North and South is all about the proposal. I absolutely love awkward proposals. The first proposal scene in the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice is also my favorite. So much repression and awkward demands. I love it.

My friend and I watched the first half of The Crimson Petal and the White tonight, which we've only been waiting for that g-d miniseries to air in the U.S. for like two years now. But it was worth it! I like it A LOT. It's gritty and dirty and there are poxed hookers as far as the eye can see. Sugar has armpit hair, for christ's sake. She also has stripey skin and flaky lips, which is a detail from the book I'm so glad they kept in.

Gillian Anderson is suitably deranged in this. I think I would love to have her career: Make your name playing an iconic sci-fi heroine, then spend your time looking insane and doing insane things in period dramas. (And also get to bang David Duchovny on the side, or so I've been led to believe.)

I had no idea who Chris O'Dowd was before tonight but now I think he's adorable (and we saw his wang like three times in the first two hours.)

Unlucky Bear wrote:poxed hookers as far as the eye can see

Awesome! I'm watching based on this alone.

Anyone else watching season two of Upstairs Downstairs on Masterpiece? They re-ran last season's episodes the week before the new season started, and I wish I'd refreshed my memory because it's taken me awhile to catch up again. I am enjoying the series, and find the evolution of Lady Agnes from her self-absorption in the first season to a much more interesting character this season. Not sure what to make of Alex Kingston's character; she's getting more screen time that I'd prefer to have gone to some of last season's characters, especially the servants.

I missed the first season (no idea how, since I typically watch Masterpiece religiously), so I haven't gotten into this one, sad to say.

I've got them saved on the DVR, haven't watched them yet. After the first season aired last (?) year, we gave the original series a try and found it completely unwatchable.

The new season of The Hour starts tomorrow. It was originally going to be on over the summer but then got pushed back due to the Olympics; I've been waiting eagerly for the return of Romola Garai and Ben Whishaw!

So while I'm home on maternity leave and holding a baby 18 hours a day, I'm making my way through my Netflix queue. Last week I watched North and South and The Forsyte Saga. I started Bleak House yesterday, but honestly, I'm only up for paying like 70% attention and I already have no idea what's going on, so I'm not sure that's the best choice. Any other recommendations?

epudom wrote:The new season of The Hour starts tomorrow. It was originally going to be on over the summer but then got pushed back due to the Olympics; I've been waiting eagerly for the return of Romola Garai and Ben Whishaw!

Oooo, good to know. I can't wait to see that.

Carrie Ann wrote:So while I'm home on maternity leave and holding a baby 18 hours a day, I'm making my way through my Netflix queue. Last week I watched North and South and The Forsyte Saga. I started Bleak House yesterday, but honestly, I'm only up for paying like 70% attention and I already have no idea what's going on, so I'm not sure that's the best choice. Any other recommendations?

Are you only interested in streaming options? If you can do DVDs, The House of Eliott is so very costume porny. Even if you drift off and have no idea what's going on, the clothing is beautiful. It's set in the 1920s and it's about a pair of impoverished sisters who start a design house.

Cranford which is a kind of combo of several Gaskell works. It's episodic but very sweet. (This might have just been recommended but it is that good!) Wives and Daughters which is also from a novel by Gaskell. This is more like North and South but set in the country.

Netflix also has Little Dorrit, which I loved and need to rewatch, as there are apparently several Doctor Who folk in it, which I didn't yet watch when I first saw it.

Also, The Way We Live Now was very good.

The common denominator between these two series is Matthew Macfadyen.

I'm really enjoying The Paradise, now on ep 7 of its first season (which is currently playing in the UK). Ah BBC, such a good source of costume porn!

What's The Paradise about?

It's about the first department store in York, back in the 1870s. Here are some details and photos. Very pretty.

These are awesome - thanks! I did end up sticking with Bleak House and finished it today. It was quite good, and my God, Gillian Anderson is so beautiful. I guess I'd forgotten somehow?

big chicken wrote:I really enjoyed The House of Eliot. It's about two sisters in the 1920s who start a fashion house. It's glorious costume porn. I never got around to seeing the third and final season--I may do that during the holidays.

Thanks for this. I started watching two nights ago and I've managed to down the first season. Pretty clothes! Drama! I'm getting absolutely nothing done!

If I remember correctly, the clothes get even prettier in the second season.

Yes, they do. Unfortunately, the acting is taking a nosedive. But still, pretty things! And women doing more than worrying about their love lives!

THIS IS AWESOME NEWS! If it doesn't show up on Masterpiece Theater here in the US, I will be very put out.

inversed wrote:THIS IS AWESOME NEWS! If it doesn't show up on Masterpiece Theater here in the US, I will be very put out.

OMG. I adored the book so much. This news has made me ridiculously excited.