Joys of British broadcasting

[abendgules]

Things I've enjoyed recently, in TV and radio:

Little Dorrit - a super 'bustles and bonnets' series of Dickens' story. No, I haven't yet read the book, so I don't know if it's true to the book. But the story I watched was terrific. Like 'Cranford' a lot of the joy is in the subtle expressions and the long lingering looks between characters, and the excellent casting.

One of the digital stations is promising wall to wall historical dramas over the holidays - my idea of TV heaven!

The Devil's Whore - a 17th c English Civl War story, with an innocent young woman as the protagonist, thrown through several of the different camps of the conflict. Pretty odd seeing McNulty, the lead guy from The Wire, as Oliver Cromwell...

The Perfect House - a documentary about Andrea Palladio, the Italian Renaissance architect - he's the reason that post-medieval 'civic architecture' tends to have columns and porticos - I didn't realise it all came back to him. I was charmed by the Palladian villa with the trompe d'oeuil paintings of people throughout.

I've been following the Start the Week podcasts w/ Andrew Marr - he's one of my favourite radio/TV hosts: smart, clear, dry-humoured. His shows have helped me understand English culture better.

I also found the Guardian Science Weekly podcasts are the perfect length to fill the walk to the Tube station in the mornings.

If I ever leave the UK, I'm going to miss this aspect of English culture.

Comments

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

I started reading Little Dorrit Sunday night after seeing the last installment. I missed a few of the early ones (I think #5-6 or thereabouts), which is where I am in the book right now, but otherwise, the series was extremely faithful to the book. This is also the first Dickens I've ever read that I've thoroughly enjoyed. (I waited until the end of the TV version to start reading, because I wanted to see if the ending was happy or not, because if it wasn't, I wasn't going to make myself suffer through all that Dickens, given my past bad experiences with him.)

[bend-gules.livejournal.com]

I thought it was brilliant.
The weakest episode was, I thought, the last one, where both the protagonists learn about their personal histories - it felt like an anticlimax.
This business of shameful secrets is the whole story (emphasised by the sinister Frenchman and the threat of exposure) but in the end, I didn't think Arthur's secret was so terrible - or perhaps, didn't merit the depth of the buildup.
But the journey through the production was worth it!

[acorngirl.livejournal.com]

Glad you're enjoying these great period dramas. Hopefully, we'll see some of them on this side of the pond in a few years.

Speaking of books and TV dramas, one of Canada's iconic period dramas had another outing on TV this week - Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, both a prequel and a sequel to the original story. We recorded it, but haven't had time to watch it yet. However, in the meantime, it prompted me to re-read the series. I still have the first two books (Anne of Green Gables & Anne of Avonlea) from my childhood library, as well as Anne of Windy Poplars and have now finished the first and am into the second. I must say, I'd forgotten many of the antics Anne got up to and have tremendously enjoyed getting re-acquainted with her. One hundred years old and those delightful tales stand the test of time. It's nice to re-visit old friends, including book friends, sometimes. :)

[purple-peril.livejournal.com]

>If I ever leave the UK
We won't let you, you know ;)

[bend-gules.livejournal.com]

Having only just started work, it's not imminent!

It's been on my mind though - I feel out of touch w/ current Cdn culture and political situation, and having spoken to my folks, both of whom are recovering from falls w/ stitches, wrenched backs and requiring home care...I feel acutely like I ought to be somewhere else just now.

[nusbacher.livejournal.com]

I downloaded The Devil's Whore ... and let me say it's great to get "YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DOWNLOADED THE DEVIL'S WHORE" as a message from 4od.

What you criminally neglected to mention was Peter Capaldi as Charles I. I've loved him since Valmont, and after his performance on The Thick Of It, he's become a selling point in anything he's in!