The joy of costume dramas

Entertainment!
1

We love a costume drama don’t we? The romance, the scandal, the turns of phrase, the quiet tension, the beauty of a sprawling manicured country garden or an ornate manor house, the hairdo, the gowns. It’s just the best.

Me and Her Indoors are watching Downton Abbey at the moment and this feels like a culmination of 7 long years of me gently coaxing the woman who once scorned my beloved BBC Pride & Prejudice as “boring posh arse shite”, into recognising the genre as the pinnacle of entertainment because let me tell you she is loving it. Kicks off at me for rationing out the episodes to one a night (we have to appreciate Series 1 because even though I love the whole thing, it drops off HARD in the second series).

What’s good at the moment in the world of costume dramas? Haven’t seen a decent new one since Gentlemen Jack (absolute banger btw) wrapped up. Please don’t say B******n or any of that iPhone face rubbish.

Or reminisce about your faves, maybe introduce people to older stuff they’ve not seen. Film or TV is fine, get involved.

2 Likes
2

Something I’d like to watch more of. I hated P&P growing up because my mum and sister watched it constantly. Took me decades to get over myself - it’s incredible.

Paging @Gnometorious

Can’t think of many off the top of my head that I’ve seen, Orlando and A Royal Affair are both crackers though.

2 Likes
3

Corrie

4

Cranford
The Great
Dickinson

5

For films:
Sense and Sensibility
Remains Of The Day

6

iPhone face drama, but actually really really good, so it’s the exception that proves the rule

7

On a similar theme, I’d also recommend Sarah Walters adaptations, like Tipping The Velvet, Fingersmith (and The Handmaiden)

3 Likes
8

1000100203
1000100203299×169 3.22 KB

2 Likes
9

I love that show, rewatched it recently and saving the film for a day I need cheering up

10

Oooh these are good recommendations! I dig the books but never seen the adaptations (and didn’t know anything other than Tipping The Velvet had one)

11

The casting is largely perfect, so many actors have 21st century faces. A face that looks like it knows what an iPhone looks like shouldn’t be in a period drama imo

12

Oh you’ve said the exact same thing oops, 10000% agree (and will read the whole thread next time!)

13

love & friendship is an absolute banger

3 Likes
14

Dickinson was mentioned in the last book I read (a lesbian rom com) as a favourite TV show of the couple so it’s gone straight on my list, wasn’t even aware of it before!

1 Like
15

I’m also currently rewatching Downton Abbey! Well, the first and second season, possibly some of the third will be a rewatch but both times I’ve watched it not got around to finishing it and I don’t know why!

Had Matthews death spoiled for me by missing/not realising there was a Christmas special between was it series 1 or 2? Anyway gonna be sad when that happens again cos he’s cute

Don’t know why we root for Mary when she’s not very nice. Can’t believe how horrible Edith and Mary are to each other! You’re sisters! You should love and support each other :cry:

16

Got to the 1st world war being announced this morning so I think we’re at the business end of season 1

17

Downton Abbey spoilers

I’m going to be so upset when Sybil dies again, she was my fave and the loveliest and best of the sisters

1 Like
18

Finally got around to watching Sanditon last year and once it got going I loved it.

19

Because Apple TV doesn’t exist

Sorry to say that I love her, she’s a bitch but she has a lot of weight on her shoulders and bad things keep happening to her! Used to make me very angry that my mum would always yell at the TV how awful she is and do impressions of her voice during the original airing.

Extremely accurate to how my sisters are with each other to this very day. I’m the Sybil of the family :innocent:

1 Like
20

Poldark was great fun.

2 Likes