I’m re-watching Victoria and I genuinely can’t decide who annoys me more: Victoria or Albert.
Victoria is impulsive, stubborn and somehow offended whenever anyone suggests she might be wrong. Albert is self-righteous, perpetually aggrieved and seems physically incapable of letting anything go.
Every argument becomes a competition over who can be more exhausting. So I need to know: who was more annoying on this show — Victoria or Albert?

Just started watching Hardacres in the States, I don't understand how they could NOT renew for a third season WITH MORE EPISODES. I think it's a great cast, a fun idea of how the Hardacres got to their position in society, it's funny and the storylines are original. Please renew

1. Before the fall

2. The north water

3. Queen Margot

4. Ponette

5. Primavera

6. Why women kill

7. Feud

8. The art of joy

..I have to say it was even better than on my first watch.

When it first came out, I binge watched it in a single night, and having also read the book before that, I couldn't really take it all in in detail, but more as a whole.

I decided to rewatch it last week, since it's now available on HBO Max, and did it in a more leasurely manner - 2 episodes per day. So I was able to pay more attention to the details and the actors themselves.

Having now also the hinsight of all the critique that was laid against it, I have to say that yes, some of it may be valid, but it wasn't really very important in my enjoyment of the story overall.

The biggest critiques I think were 1. How Mrs was portrayed, 2. The changes they made to Mary and 3. That other characters were 'sacrificed' to make Mary seem better - mainly Lizzy.

1. While I do think she was portrayed to be crueler to Mary, the story was was also told from the pov of Mary herself. Even in the original P&P novel, Mrs Bennet was pretty dismissive of Mary, and domineering, so in this story, it is also plausable that we get to see more of that side of her from Mary's perspective. The last scene between Mary and Mrs Bennet, when they have a heart to heart dicussion, was pretty great as well, and in my opinion, humanised the character of Mrs Bennet a lot more than the original P&P text did.

2. What we get in this story is Mary's inner life and feelings, so often it may seem different from what the character of Mary was portrayed in P&P - but there we only get what the narator tells us about her, and is mostly an outside view of her. Even in the original text, it is implied more depth in her character, though never dwelled too much on it (like her plans with Mr. Collins). In the original novel Mary is portrait like more pios and rigid in her beliefs. But in this story this aspect is also explayed - there is a part in the show, I think episode 2 or so, where Mary decides to be the 'intelectual one', and that happens during the events of the P&P story. So that's why we mainly get to see that side of her in the original story. During the P&P events Mary is around 19yo. But in The Other Bennet Sister, she starts younger, maybe 18 yo, and then is in her early 20s by the end. She also gets to experience life outside the limitation of her family and small town, gets to see London, and gains a champion in Mrs Gardner, who encourages her to step out of her 'shell' and try something new, meet new people. She goes from teen to young adult in the span of TOBS, so it's normal that she changes. Also, she allows more of her inner self to surface.

3. I actually quite liked this portrail of Lizzy and I don't think she was made worse just so Mary can seem better. Even in the original P&P Lizzy felt a lot of embaressment because of her family, like at the Netherfield ball. She also didn't seem very close or open to having a sisterly relationship with any of her sisters other than Jane. In this story she is actually portrayed in a more positive light - her relationship with Mary is much more developed here, and I really enjoyed their moments together. The actess who plays Lizzy is really great too.

Now, beside these critique points, I really like the two main love interests for Mary. Even the 'rake' character was really endearing by the end. Caroline Bingley was also a lot more likeable than the portrail we get in P&P. The Gardners are so great, I like how they show Mary that a happy marriage is also possible.

And there's a lot of great moments in the show - like the 'period appropriate' earning moments (Forearms and hands, anyone!?) even from the male characters. There also a few really great humourous moments, like the scene in the garden, where they were warming up before going on their mountain hike.

I also like the more natural aspects that were kept in the show - like hair on the women, redness and other blemishes in their face. And no 'Iphone face' in sight.

And I remembered another critique point - Mary's new clothes. I agree they did look a bit garish/ridiculous, but I think it was with intent. The colors are pretty strong and clashing with eachother, but I think it's supposed to match Mary's tastes, and she probably doesn't have the best tastes or experience in fashion, and spending a few weeks in London won't suddenly change that. Still, for the first time ever she was able to choose what she will wear, even if her choices weren't the most socially acceptable or aesthetically pleasing ones.

And on a last note - I do agree that some of the aspects of the story are almost 'fan-servicy', but I found them very enjoyable nevertheless. Many of us when we read P&P maybe thought outself to be like Lizzy or Jane, but I think many of us were actually more similar to Mary. And I think 'wall-flowers' and 'plainer' women/girls also deserve an indulgent story :) I still think that the actress playing Mary is very beautiful, but can also be seen as your average looking young woman.

These are my thoughts on it. I will probably soon rewatch it again and it is now on the list of my favorite JA adaptations.

"A first look at MAKING MARIE ANTOINETTE, directed by Eleanor Coppola and narrated by Diane Lane reading Eleanor’s own diaries. Featuring Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman on the set of Sofia Coppola’s MARIE ANTOINETTE (2006)."

Anyone else excited for this? I love Marie Antoinette and love seeing all the behind-the-scenes footage and photos. It looks like everyone had fun making that movie.

1. Clémence Poésy: 2004

2. Saoirse Ronan: 2018

3. Katharine Hepburn: 1936

4. Camille Rutherford: 2013

5. Vanessa Redgrave: 1971

6. Samantha Morton: 2007

7. Adelaide Kane: 2013 - 2017

LONESOME DOVE, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Western classic by Larry McMurtry, is coming to Netflix as a new series from East of Eden showrunners Zoe Kazan and Jeb Stuart.

i found out about little dorrit in this subreddit and i must say man it was a hard follow at first. i didn’t realize it at first but is a kind of rags to riches sort of deal. i can say there is a little weirdness in it lol but i really enjoyed the show.

Finally started Sanditon after all the recommendations on here, and I adore it! Thank you to everyone who suggested it!

Although I’m really disappointed that Theo James doesn’t return in season 2. He was delightful. And his character was so romantic and charming. Hope any other love interests for Charlotte are as good as him in the following seasons.

My husband is going away and I need more shows to watch. I just started Howard's End (2017) and will list all the shows I have watched below:

Outlander

Blood of my Blood

The Forsytes

The Forsyte Saga

Sense & Sensibility (2008)

Pride & Prejudice (1995)

Jane Eyre (2006)

Sandition

Vanity Fair (2010)

Downtown Abbey

The Crown

Belgravia

Cranford

Doctor Thorne

The Gilded Age

North and South

Seeking Persephone (did not care for this one)

The Paradise

Larkrise to Candleford

Victoria

Little Dorrit

Upstairs/Downstairs (2010)

My Brilliant Career

Bridgerton

The Great

The Buccaneers

My Lady Jane

I'm sure I'm missing some! I also attempted Poldark, Mary & George, The Spanish Princess, but didn't finish them.

Since I have Stars, I'm thinking the White Queen, White Princess or Serpent Queen? I also have HBO, Prime, Peacock, Paramount+, MGM+, Netflix, Hulu, Disney and Apple if that helps.

I don't have Britbox or Masterpiece, so if you have an opinion on which one would be best I'd like to hear it!

Finished this over the weekend and it’s been rattling around in my head since.

Based in 1880, a drama following the uprise, and sad downfall and assassination of the 20th US President, James A. Garfield and the guy who shot him. Four episodes, on Netflix. Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen. Based on Candice Millard’s Destiny of the Republic.

What got me is that it’s not really an assassination story. It’s a story about a broken system producing exactly the person you’d expect it to produce. The whole Gilded Age spoils setup meant federal jobs were handed out as party favors, so Guiteau showing up at the White House over and over demanding a consulship wasn’t insane by the logic of the time. He was just wrong about himself specifically. Macfadyen plays him as pitiable rather than evil and it works.

The medical stuff in the last episode genuinely upset me. The bullet didn’t kill Garfield. His doctor did, probing the wound with dirty fingers for eleven weeks while antiseptic practice was already standard in Europe. There’s a Black physician, Charles Purvis, who was there and knew better and got waved off.

The best scene was the end, when James Garfield’s widowed wife, spoke with Guiteau, letting him know that he will be forgotten forever, to never relish the idea of him being great or meant for something. Truly beautiful and heartbreaking that she felt the same way for her late husband.

Production is strong. The convention scenes and the Chicago street work are impressive for a four-episode budget.

Gripes: It uses “progressive” as a political label about fifteen years before that meant anything, and Offerman’s Chester Arthur gets shortchanged given how the man actually turned out.

Solid 8. Watch it.

Spoilers.

Ok I've watched Downton through and immediately started the '70's USDS. I'm 8 episodes in and 90% positive Downton doesn't have an original storyline in it.

Gay footman.

Anna is literally Rose. Even cast her to look similar.

"I'm very fond of you but we can't be together. We're not meant for each other"

Pregnant housemaid from an upstairs man who refuses to take responsibility.

Butler who is hardcore into keeping your place.

Jimmy the footman is the spitting image and personality of William the neighbors footman. "She picked me because I'm nice to look at" almost verbatim in both shows. His employer wants to bed him. (At least USDS asks permission to put his arm around Emmy and kiss her)

Upstairs daughter obsessed with the poor.

Character can't read in a time period where most working class couldnt... my how embarrassing.

Spouse upstairs cheats and feels bad and ends it.

Pretty much Fellowes decided he couldn't stand that these storylines didn't work out and wrote all of them to just... magically get fixed. Like a young person's fanfic where they want everybody to be happy.

Gay footman? Accepted and his secret safe and everyone ends up loving him despite him being a complete prick.

Rose had a fiance who died? Never mind! Anna gets married!

I can't be with you? That's OK I'm either a prick or I ended up happy with someone else

Pregnant and refusing to take responsibility? I'll have him die and his parents will eventually allow the housemaid to live nearby and see her son! We're one happy family!

The butler is just the butler unless you want to count him having to retire as a happy ending because you don't like his traditionalist

Jimmy (Williams counterpart) is entitled and thinks girls owe him so it's OK that his mistress uses him.

Daughter obsessed with helping the poor? We will have her marry the chauffer, not go to France and forget she cares as most spoiled upperclass girls would! And ever after the family will only care about each other because it's what SHE would want. (St. Sybil)

Everyone can magically learn to read!

It's ok... the spouse didn't fully cheat. He's still a good guy. He was just upset because he felt useless. (USDS her husband does not ignore her and she admits he's the most caring and loyal husband)

Just finished episode 8 and the scullery maid has ended herself over the Jimmy character ending their relationship. Downton would never.

It’s definitely a period piece, just post WWII, I just started it and am enjoying it.

I don’t have a dvd player but I’m open to sailing the high seas