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trinityvixenOkay, first of all: BBC America is the Devil. I finally--somewhere around the start of the summer, sent in that customer survey card that came with my first season of Doctor Who. I actually do fill those out, and, since I am a whore for British television (AND HOW), I didn't mind putting down my e-mail to be appraised of latest releases from the greatest little nation that could. I got the BBC America catalogue a couple of weeks ago, and, in a fit of cleaning, only just looked at it the other day. And now I forsee my next big expenditures going that way.
Y'all already know that I own the TARDIS as my wardrobe (and sitting parlor, rec-room, trans-dimensional, spatio-temporal travelling device), but I could get yet another telephone box just for my DVDs! I mean, they're already threatening to overrun the living room as is, and this is so cute! Ouch at the $150 price tag though. Still, I wants it! SO CUTE!
Then of course there's this. I have a beyond sentimental attachment to these (at least the first two) movies. My mother's old boss was a great, friendly guy who gave me the tapes to Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. I must have watched them until the tapes wore out, I loved the story so much. In fact, I loved the tapes so well, I don't think I ever read more than Anne of Green Gables in the books because I just didn't want to know of anything else. Apparently, though, there's a third movie, and I must figure out if I would actually benefit from seeing it or if I should leave it as is. I never really have, so I would probably leave it alone. And did you know that two former Kids in the Hall stars are in Anne of Avonlea? Bruce McCulloch and Dave Foley!
Last, but not least: Robin Hood is starting to own my brain a little.
Where do I even begin? I like the show a lot. Because, tucked into the Xena-esque stunt work and silliness, there's a lot of great stuff. For starters, Maid Marian. I...like her. I mean, I really do. In a lot of ways, the show says they're "updating" and you can see it. And, while I'm all for not having the major female character be a shy violet by any means, having her be a rar-rar girl-power gal would be just as offensive. They've really struck a nice balance with her. The actress has a very open, unassuming face that hides real strength and canny intelligence. She chafes at the boundaries placed on her, but she is still vulnerable to opionions of the day (there's a really awful remark or two made about how old she is to still be unmarried which are accurate for the time period). And, yes, she runs around playing hero as much as Robin gets any chance to, but she works mostly on and within the system since she doesn't have the luxury of tossing aside responsibility and hiding out in the woods. There's a lot of politics in this Marian, even as much as she loathes it, and I like that.
The Sheriff of Nottingham continues to be wonderful. He's so malevolent and clever, you just can't help but love him. It's over the top in spirit but restrained and snarky in performance. Just fun stuff. Contrarily, you have Guy of Gisbourne, who looks like and smiles like a brooding, menacing rapist, but has enough hesitance about his actions that you wonder how long it will take for him to turn on Nottingham and what, specifically, would be the catalyst for that (because his general apprehension is starting to win over his ease with violence and love of power, so it'll take a while, but something big will tip the scales in the end). His affection for Marian is fairly touching, as he must ingratiate himself with her while she continues to snipe and fume over his and the Sheriff's methods and immorality. It's super cute and awkward.
That just leaves the hero, I guess. It's funny he's the last person I think of in the show. Funnier still than me liking the token female character a lot, even. I didn't really warm to him in the first three episodes, but he's definitely grown on me since. The goofiness can grate a bit, and his smile is a little too smug to always be tolerated. However, the more they get into what he knows and doesn't brag about, the more I like him. Because his showing off and need to be the hero and martyr were called as bullshit vanity within the show. But then you have little things like his carrying weapons in the style of the heathen enemy (the Saracens), his familiarity with the Koran and Arabic that just pop up when relevant and fade into his past experiences with the Crusades that are such tantalizing little candies. I mean, I'm a sucker for those kinds of "ooh great hidden secret!" reveals, and they've been done, as I said, in modest amounts with great reverance. It can seem a tad out of place for the character, whose self-righteousness might leave him inelegible for such well-rounded appreciation of the enemy culture, but the actor brings it off well. Love the ominous forbodings of the darker times, and looking forward to more!
Y'all already know that I own the TARDIS as my wardrobe (and sitting parlor, rec-room, trans-dimensional, spatio-temporal travelling device), but I could get yet another telephone box just for my DVDs! I mean, they're already threatening to overrun the living room as is, and this is so cute! Ouch at the $150 price tag though. Still, I wants it! SO CUTE!
Then of course there's this. I have a beyond sentimental attachment to these (at least the first two) movies. My mother's old boss was a great, friendly guy who gave me the tapes to Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. I must have watched them until the tapes wore out, I loved the story so much. In fact, I loved the tapes so well, I don't think I ever read more than Anne of Green Gables in the books because I just didn't want to know of anything else. Apparently, though, there's a third movie, and I must figure out if I would actually benefit from seeing it or if I should leave it as is. I never really have, so I would probably leave it alone. And did you know that two former Kids in the Hall stars are in Anne of Avonlea? Bruce McCulloch and Dave Foley!
Last, but not least: Robin Hood is starting to own my brain a little.
Where do I even begin? I like the show a lot. Because, tucked into the Xena-esque stunt work and silliness, there's a lot of great stuff. For starters, Maid Marian. I...like her. I mean, I really do. In a lot of ways, the show says they're "updating" and you can see it. And, while I'm all for not having the major female character be a shy violet by any means, having her be a rar-rar girl-power gal would be just as offensive. They've really struck a nice balance with her. The actress has a very open, unassuming face that hides real strength and canny intelligence. She chafes at the boundaries placed on her, but she is still vulnerable to opionions of the day (there's a really awful remark or two made about how old she is to still be unmarried which are accurate for the time period). And, yes, she runs around playing hero as much as Robin gets any chance to, but she works mostly on and within the system since she doesn't have the luxury of tossing aside responsibility and hiding out in the woods. There's a lot of politics in this Marian, even as much as she loathes it, and I like that.
The Sheriff of Nottingham continues to be wonderful. He's so malevolent and clever, you just can't help but love him. It's over the top in spirit but restrained and snarky in performance. Just fun stuff. Contrarily, you have Guy of Gisbourne, who looks like and smiles like a brooding, menacing rapist, but has enough hesitance about his actions that you wonder how long it will take for him to turn on Nottingham and what, specifically, would be the catalyst for that (because his general apprehension is starting to win over his ease with violence and love of power, so it'll take a while, but something big will tip the scales in the end). His affection for Marian is fairly touching, as he must ingratiate himself with her while she continues to snipe and fume over his and the Sheriff's methods and immorality. It's super cute and awkward.
That just leaves the hero, I guess. It's funny he's the last person I think of in the show. Funnier still than me liking the token female character a lot, even. I didn't really warm to him in the first three episodes, but he's definitely grown on me since. The goofiness can grate a bit, and his smile is a little too smug to always be tolerated. However, the more they get into what he knows and doesn't brag about, the more I like him. Because his showing off and need to be the hero and martyr were called as bullshit vanity within the show. But then you have little things like his carrying weapons in the style of the heathen enemy (the Saracens), his familiarity with the Koran and Arabic that just pop up when relevant and fade into his past experiences with the Crusades that are such tantalizing little candies. I mean, I'm a sucker for those kinds of "ooh great hidden secret!" reveals, and they've been done, as I said, in modest amounts with great reverance. It can seem a tad out of place for the character, whose self-righteousness might leave him inelegible for such well-rounded appreciation of the enemy culture, but the actor brings it off well. Love the ominous forbodings of the darker times, and looking forward to more!
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 05:40 pm (UTC)Ah, and all my fawning over Richard Armitage finally caused me to break out my North and South DVD(s) again - an excellent miniseries that explains a lot of the fangirlish obsession cropping up around him nowadays. I did hear that Guy gets more developed and interesting as the show progresses - quite looking forward to that.
They're working on Season 2 right now, correct? I'm curious to see what this turns into.
Also... I really will have to sit down to the new Doctor Who one of these days.
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Date: 2007-08-28 05:59 pm (UTC)That's exactly it!! I love that! "Ridiculous but subversive." It's precisely right, well done. Because the silliness sort of leaves you vulnerable to the really awful things that just sneak in there. Munch's face when he's in the bath thinking of the war? Broke my goddamned heart.
And the twitching, yes I know it well. It's the same way I got over Prison Break, where I'm physically agitated over waiting on Netflix (I've refreshed the page thirteen times today to see when they'll update about mailing me my next disc, and now the page is down and I think it's my fault). Even as I'm trying to tell myself, "Woman, calm down! It's not even that good!" The suspense, though, she kills me.
I did hear that Guy gets more developed and interesting as the show progresses - quite looking forward to that.
I'll be impressed if it holds. Really, Guy has already been pretty fascinating as a study of a whole person. His sense of wounded pride at being a lord without land, the fact he must take orders from a sadist and bear the brunt of the Sheriff's ill humour really explains a lot of his own evils. I find his character to be very well rounded against the wonderful yet comically villainous (and almost faaaaabulously so) Sheriff. I can't wait for more.
As for season two: I think I caught a couple of spoilers from looking at the IMDB trying to get an idea of when the next season would be on the air. It seems like they showed this October to December of last year, so I would assume it will be on again at the same time (God bless the British and their regularity--makes the sweeps fiascos in this country seem even more stupid).
Which would be great because that means it'll keep me tided over until the Doctor Who Christmas Special. Yes, you absolutely NEED to watch the new Who. The first two episodes are pretty home-run-hit-out-of-the-park terrific, then it's a bit slower, but there's a slow-burn to the whole first season that just explodes with the finale. Of all the seasons of new Who, the first is still my favorite and, objectively, the best. It draws you in without prior knowledge perfectly, involves you in the world, entertains you, and before you know it OWNS YOUR BRAINS. I know I'm a big Who nerd now, but trust me: I got my teenage sister--she of the "let's throw a party because High School the Musical 2 is coming out!" mentality--hooked on the show. I think it could win over any one.
Also: YAY! SOMEONE ELSE IS WATCHING ROBIN HOOD SO I CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT! Because I think we're the only two (three with the fiance--what's this about his wanting a good adaptation? Is it his favorite legend?)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 07:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-29 03:04 am (UTC)...what's this about his wanting a good adaptation? Is it his favorite legend?
Yep - one of them, at least. He even owns Prince of Thieves, though he admits to its overall wretchedness as a film. (Alan Rickman's Sheriff still owns, however... that much I have to concede.)
His sense of wounded pride at being a lord without land, the fact he must take orders from a sadist and bear the brunt of the Sheriff's ill humour really explains a lot of his own evils.
Sincerely. The fact that this is already obvious, though it hasn't been directly addressed yet (thank you Mr Armitage for making it so transparent), makes me all the more GIDDY with anticipation. Yeah, let's pray the characterization holds. I do love his contrast with the Sheriff - they make an odd couple. One brooding over his ambitions, the other letting his fly without giving them a second thought. Makes you wonder what Guy would do with the Sheriff's power.
Anyway; I'm relieved to hear Season 2 will be making a swift run on the air - seriously, why can't American networks learn?
And Doctor Who has been a long time coming. I'm not sure what's kept me from taking the plunge, to be honest. (Hee... I did notice that Netflix has it on "Watch Now" - THE TEMPTATION.) But I guess I'm afraid of yet another show eating up my time at the mo, with school starting and everything. Once I get through Robin Hood, methinks... just to keep my British TV a steady stream... ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-29 09:02 pm (UTC)This is why I enjoy being a selfish bitch sometimes. My poor roommate will get into a series with me but be left in the dirt because I have no concept of "delayed gratification" and I return DVDs rapid fire to Netflix to get them back again. There's like one series I've kept watching at her pace, and that's Carnivale, which is so freakishly odd, you really don't want to rush it anyway. Anywho, sorry to hear you're being slowed up.
As for not starting Who yet, well, I guess that makes sense. Mind, I did just spend a paragraph explaining the don't-like-to-wait-want-it-now-now-now right? You should love it, really. The only person I passed it off to who didn't was
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Date: 2007-08-28 06:11 pm (UTC)THE FIRST SEASON OF THE NEW DOCTOR WHO IS AVAILABLE TO WATCH INSTANTLY VIA NETFLIX.
Just in case, you know, you wanted to check that out but not wait around for it to come in the mail. Hell, I'm so excited about this, I might watch it myself and I, uh, own the DVDs.