Saturday, January 12, 2008

Period mini-series watch-a-thon


And you thought I was going to talk about that neat Jane Austen fest that's going down over at PBS starting tomorrow....

Nope. (Although I do have my DVR set up to record and all). I've been ensconced in a veritable plethora of BBC dramas thanks to my friend GailK. Yesterday and today I watched an adaptation of Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers (whose cast included a very young Mira Sorvino) and this evening I have gotten 1/3 of the way through George Eliot's Middlemarch. tumperkin, I have spotted dear Rufus and he is a doll. Here's hoping he gets the girl in the end. I still have Bleak House and Elizabeth the Virgin Queen to get through as well. Good times.

In other news I did a bit of shopping today and managed to snag some post-holiday clean-out-the-store sales. I love a good bargain, and I REALLY love shopping for clothes in my new size(s). Speaking of sizes, what is up with standard sizing? It seems that every single label has their own chart because I never know what I should try on and end up grabbing 4, 6 and 8 and it's a crap-shoot as to which will be my size. pfft. Anyways, cute clothes inspire one to keep up the healthy habits and whatnot. I even did pilates in front of the TV whilst watching my period dramas. *g*

On the reading front, I finished DoY (le sigh) and let me just say that Richard Armitage plays a fantastic Derek. At least in my head he does. Now I'm a chapter or so into Devil's Bride. And wouldn't you know it, but the hero is dark and handsome and I might just have to slot poor Richard into playing that role as well. One can never have too much Richard, imho. Nor too much of this picture.

12 comments:

Marg said...

And he is such a talented actor that there will be no issue with him playing both parts!

Stacy~ said...

Since watching N&S upteen times, I now find myself all into BBC dramas. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on "The Buccaneers" to see if it's worth watching.

Carrie Lofty said...

I've been talking "Bleak House" to everyone I know. It's excellent. Hope you enjoy it.

Joanna Chambers said...

Middlemarch - wow - that must be about 12 years old! Rufus looks so young!

I loved Bleak House too - particularly Gillian Anderson's performance. Superb

Kristie (J) said...

Funny that! He makes a wonderful Derk and I just finished reading The Spymaster's Lady (WONDERFUL book by the way) and I could somehow picture him as Grey/John the hero in that one too!! I think he'll figure into the hero role in many a historical :)

sula said...

Just finished Middlemarch and watched a bit of the new version of Persuasion that is on PBS tonite. I decided that I need some sleep and my DVR is recording away, so I didn't finish it.

Middlemarch was good. A bit long but very solid in terms of acting, etc. I think that after watching so many of these dramas I am getting into a rhythm. I was talking to DBF on the phone and told him that I was watching another one of my movies and compared it to the Forsyte Saga (which as you may recall he actually watched with me!) and he admitted that he had enjoyed it. well well! I still have to sit down and watch North and South with him. lol.

The Buccaneers was a bit more lively because it's basically about four American nouveau riche heiresses coming over to England and marrying titled lordlings. It's interesting to see how they all end up, some marrying for love and finding heartache, others thinking they were marrying for love but being married for money, etc. I would recommend it for the netflix queue if you have time and space.

And now I am off to get in a few more chapters of Richard, dammit, I mean Devil and Honoria. In this role, Richard is looking a bit like Guy of Gisborne, what with the longer wilder hair. But still with the buttoned up cravat and collar. oooh, dontcha just want to RIP IT OFF!?!?!

I need to lay off the sauce. Two beers and on a school night no less!

KT Grant said...

THAT NECK IS MINE Girls!!!! You can have any other body part but his neck is mine....

Anonymous said...

sula, a few years ago I actually met Rufus Sewell. In a pub. In London. And, yes, he was utterly and completely charming. And flirtatious, too, it has to be said. All in all, a wonderful experience. (He's shorter than IMDB says but he has the most perfect, beautiful skin I've ever seen.)

Sandy, in case I come up as Anon

lisabea said...

Sula

What the hell did you send me?! *snorts with laughter* O.M.G.

Anonymous said...

Hee! I'm glad you've been sucked into the world of BBC dramas. I got obsessed with them a couple years ago when nothing in the historical romance genre was appealing. As for the Buccaneers, I personally liked the ending but I don't think Edith Wharton would have approved. Elizabeth the Virgin Queen also takes some modernistic liberties with the storytelling. As for Middlemarch, the DVD version is the only way I ever made it through a George Eliot novel. Bleak House can be a mite disturbing, but in a good way. Enjoy!

Carolyn Crane said...

That picture is transfixing. Just really great!

sula said...

sandy, I am soooo jealous! Meeting Rufe. He's such a pretty man. Those eyes! Sad to hear that he's short (cuz I am pretty tall) but still, wow, how cool to run into him in a pub. :)

lisabea, those books are...well, I'll let you draw your own conclusions. lol.

GailK!!! Girl, you need to drop by more often. Thanks again for sharing your very extensive period mini-series library. It has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. Definitely looking forward to Bleak House.

CJ, I can stare at that pic of Richard and get sorta lost in the zone. Mesmerizing man. hehe.