want want want

[verbicide]

So, I saw the amazing Julian Fellowes BBC special, Downton Abbey, and it's ALL I WANT TO WATCH. The next episode isn't until a million years from now (or, a few days) and I am DYING.

Maggie Smith is so freaking awesome. The story's intriguing. I want it all NOW. And I want it to be 1000 hours long, and not just 6 hours.

WANT WANT WANT

Though if Netflix had Return to Cranford on instant play, I might be mollified a bit. But, nooooo.

Julian Fellowes needs to do a million more Things. He's so awesome!! Maybe I'll put in Gosford Park for the eleventy millionth time.

I realize the world probably doesn't need another Pride and Prejudice adaptation, but I want him to do one anyway. With a reasonable Jane. He doesn't need to do Sense and Sensibility, because the other love of my life (Emma Thompson) has already done that quite well.

Okay, done yapping on this. Must go make mousses for cakes and bake cupcakes.

Comments

[richboye.livejournal.com]

I must confess that I am also obsessed with this, although I did something really dumb and looked it up on wikipedia (it already aired in the Yookay) and spoiled the hell out of it

But fear not, Downton Abbey II: The Downtonening! is in the works!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

I am adding that to my queue. We're on a big British kick right now. Spaced, Gavin & Stacey, The IT Crowd (only seen a few of those)... not period pieces but still awesome.

I love Maggie Smith...

[richboye.livejournal.com]

Oh, and by the way...

I realize the world probably doesn't need another Pride and Prejudice adaptation, but I want him to do one anyway. With a reasonable Jane.

What ever do you mean? The Jane in the BBC P&P was fine, I guess. She was bland and serene, and content to be fawned over for her looks and probably a little intimidated by Lizzie.

The Kiera Knightly P&P was dreck, imho.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Oh bummer, dude!!

But I am SO excited that a Downton II: Electric Boogaloo is in the works!! Hurray!!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I added Gavin & Stacey because it's on instant play to my Netflix queue--I saw you and Roly talking about it on FB! Thanks for the tip!

I totally love Maggie Smith, too. She is amazing!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Yeah, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaate for the Kiera Knightly version. It is dead to me.

But the Colin Firth one, right? Jane is an attractive enough person, but for someone touted as the Great Beauty of All the Land, she's a bit horse-faced and mannish, non? Elizabeth is so much prettier (as she's the lead, I suspect) and so all the lines where Elizabeth is saying, "As you are five times prettier than the rest of us!" seems odd.

[richboye.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's true - but I also imagine that she was blonde and had large eyes and was.. "womanly" proportioned in a way that contrasted favorably to Jennifer Ehle (who was SUPPOSED TO BE CATELYN STARK ON HBO... feh!), who was brunette and less... docile and reposed than her sister. I don't actually know if Jane is blonde in the book, though.

People liked Jane better (even the Bingley sisters were disposed towards her), possibly because she was less.. I don't know if "tart" is right the word, but she was "sweeter" than Lizzie. Lizzie probably felt insecure about the fact that her sister was more widely sought out and chalked it up to looks, rather than personality.

I think we should recall that Lizzie resonates favorably to modern audiences because she's assertive and witty and bold (walking through the mud!) but Jane Austen was writing about these people as her contemporaries, and I suspect Jane Bennnet would be more along what Austen's audience at the time would think is a more favorably feminine persona.

Back to Downton Abbey, it's not without wrinkles:

1) I do like Elizabeth McGovern, and I know from various other sources that wealthy American daughters were highly prized by failing British aristocrats (you have seen "The Buccaneers," I trust?) but she just seems so jarring. It's not even that she is a Yank and Blue-blooded Brits, but she doesn't even have what sounds (to my ear) as a wealthy American tone/accent.

2) The two other sisters are just blanks at this time.

3) I would actually appreciate more strife "downstairs." I enjoy the Evil Lady's Maid.

Other bits I like: Penelope Wilton is always a fun presence, either as the mum in "Shaun of the Dead," Harriet Jones, Prime Minister in "Doctor Who" or even kindly and cool Aunt Gardiner in the aforementioned dreadful Keira Knightly P&P. Googling for that character's name I came across this picture of her as a young actress. Time sucks.

I kinda like Lady Mary, but she seems rather bitchy (as she is supposed to, I guess.)

I also love Maggie Smith's character, who either delivers her lines with such relish, or just gets all the best lines.

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see the 2nd season of that show. I wasn't sure I liked it first but it grew on me - I think it got funnier as it went on.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Cool!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

But I'm not talking personality at all--yes, Jane appeals to our modern sensibilities for having spark, and I think the actress played Jane's docility and sweetness perfectly. But--her features are not very delicate or conventionally pretty. Jane should be strikingly pretty. And not because of Liza's insecurity.

1. I know what you mean. I don't know what I think a rich American accent sounds like, but I can't help but think that's it's just the not-British sound of it that jars me. (I haven't seen the Buccaneers--good?)

2. Yup.

3. I'm okay with the current strife levels. Evil Lady's maid made me gasp out loud when she tripped the new valet!!

Penelope Wilton does great work. You linked to the actress who played Jane--is that what you meant to do?

Which one is Lady Mary again?

And with Maggie Smith--I think the lines are delicious, but her delivery would make ordering toast sound amazing!

[richboye.livejournal.com]

1. I know what you mean. I don't know what I think a rich American accent sounds like, but I can't help but think that's it's just the not-British sound of it that jars me. (I haven't seen the Buccaneers--good?)

It's also just that she's so blah, and her flat accent really stands out amongst the crisp, razor formality of her family - wouldn't her American accent have changed somewhat living in England with a household full of Brits? I acquired a slight Irish lilt in the semester I spent in Ireland.

The Buccaneers is totally meant for you - it's based upon an Edith Wharton novel: four American heiresses (two are sisters, actually, and one is actually the daughter of a wealthy Brazilian planter) show up to take advantage of the London social season and make noble matches - they do, with assorted drama and disappointment. Carla Gugino and Mira Sorvino are two of the girls.

2. Yup. (the Crawley sisters are ciphers)

I trust you watched last night - Edith(?) the one isn't as pretty as her sisters is sorta pathetic as she moons over Matthew.

The youngest (Elaine/Ellen?) is clrealy going to be a corset-burning Suffragette.

3. I'm okay with the current strife levels. Evil Lady's maid made me gasp out loud when she tripped the new valet!!

But new and exciting strife? Gwen has the audacity to learn typing! Evil Miss O'Brien smokes with wicked, ambi-sexual Stephen. Mrs. Hughes, housekeeper is Awesome! One the daughters will no doubt fool around with the dashing new chauffeur!

Penelope Wilton does great work. You linked to the actress who played Jane--is that what you meant to do?

Try it again. I thought I fixed the link.

Here's the link, in any event:

http://www.fishup.ru/files/bf/34/3a/lg_5888951_PenelopeWilton.jpg

Which one is Lady Mary again?

The oldest one, who has the decency to apologize for pawing through the staff's things, but is really snobby and haughty and a borderline harlot as we see last night.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

1. I really think American accents just pale next to the British ones. They sound WRONG. And some people just have a better affinity for accents maybe?

I will totally check out The Buccaneers--thanks for the tip!!

2. I DID! I felt so bad for her. I didn't see her as pathetic so much as sensibly trying to make a match for herself since her entire family is only focused on marrying off Mary.

I really loved Elaine/Ellen last night, much as I haven't bothered to learn her name!

3. Dude, what a deadly missfire for Thomas, eh? And Palook (sp?) was awfully daring--though I suppose that fits being excessively handsome and a prince-type guy.

And maybe it's naive, but I was clutching-my-pearls shocked that Mary let him in. I was freaking out, because I thought he was going to rape her, but then she let it happen. Considering the risks in that time, I can't believe she did that!

AND THEN HE DIED--talk about unexpected!!

But I love Gwen, and I loved Laura Linney's intro about how this was where people started to look to change their prospects and escape their seemingly predestined career path.

I just want to slap O'Brien pretty incessantly. I think of lady's maids as like... did you see Gosford Park, like Kristen Scott Thomas' maid. Gentle and exceedingly polite. Sharp tongues like O'Brien, I usually associate with the kitchen staff.

And poor poor Bates!! I was so glad they tossed that horrible device into the lake at the end!!

[richboye.livejournal.com]

okay, can we please make a space to discuss Downton?

Last night's was awesome.

I can't tell if I love Edith and hate Mary, or kinda dig (yet pity) Mary and want to throttle Edith.

You?

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Haha--yes, we totally need to do this. But I haven't watched this week's yet so I will create a post to do so after I've done it!

[richboye.livejournal.com]

Oh, jeeze - well, hopefully my comment was vague enough as to not constitute anything spoilerific.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

It was--no worries!! :D

[richboye.livejournal.com]

Phew!