Like last time, I also want to participate in the tag. Here is the first part in what I plan to be four parts of my answers. Enjoy!
1. How did you get into period dramas?
2. What is it that you like about period dramas?
A couple of things:
1. Unlike most movies/TV shows today, the best period dramas offer good moral lessons. It seems like a lot of the recent movies/TV shows of today show us windows into the worst aspects of human nature. With period dramas, there is usually at least one (if not more) characters that you can relate to and see more of the positives in human nature. Granted that there are some characters in period dramas that do not exhibit good morals, but they do not outshine the good characters.
2. The costuming is amazing! I spend quite a bit of time while I'm watching a period drama simply looking at the dresses.
3. For the most part, period dramas don't get as graphic as most movies/TV shows today do. I know, there are a couple that do have one or two scenes that are inappropriate, but from what I've noticed there's a lot less of it in period dramas than in a lot of modern movies. Plus in period dramas, you can usually skip those one or two scenes easily and not miss out on anything important.
A couple of things:
1. Unlike most movies/TV shows today, the best period dramas offer good moral lessons. It seems like a lot of the recent movies/TV shows of today show us windows into the worst aspects of human nature. With period dramas, there is usually at least one (if not more) characters that you can relate to and see more of the positives in human nature. Granted that there are some characters in period dramas that do not exhibit good morals, but they do not outshine the good characters.
2. The costuming is amazing! I spend quite a bit of time while I'm watching a period drama simply looking at the dresses.
3. For the most part, period dramas don't get as graphic as most movies/TV shows today do. I know, there are a couple that do have one or two scenes that are inappropriate, but from what I've noticed there's a lot less of it in period dramas than in a lot of modern movies. Plus in period dramas, you can usually skip those one or two scenes easily and not miss out on anything important.
3. Do you usually read a book and then watch the adaptation or do you watch the adaptation and then read the book?
I usually end up watching the adaptation before reading the book. If I see a period drama that I really like, I usually plan on reading the book so I can get the little details that I missed. I know you're supposed to read the book then watch the movie, but that rarely happens with me ;-)
4. What are your top three period dramas and why?
I'm going to have to exclude Jane Austen period dramas for this question, since my top three period dramas are Jane Austen period dramas, which you would have already seen for Jane Austen Week. In which case, it would have been Pride and Prejudice (1995), Sense and Sensibility (1995), and Emma (2009), but you can read about them at my tag for Jane Austen Week here... Anyways, for non-Jane Austen period dramas...
Some runner ups (no particular order) - Cranford, House of Eliott, The King's Speech, He Knew He Was Right (for the subplots), The Barchester Chronicles
I'm going to have to exclude Jane Austen period dramas for this question, since my top three period dramas are Jane Austen period dramas, which you would have already seen for Jane Austen Week. In which case, it would have been Pride and Prejudice (1995), Sense and Sensibility (1995), and Emma (2009), but you can read about them at my tag for Jane Austen Week here... Anyways, for non-Jane Austen period dramas...
Downton Abbey
I really love this series, but it does have it's issues (namely two scenes that are inappropriate and unnecessary). Excepting those scenes (which are found in episodes 1 and 3 if you want to avoid them), the rest of the show is very good. The costuming is spectacular and great to look at (especially the hats), the acting is very well done, and if you've seen a lot of period dramas, you may recognize a good deal of the cast. Why did season 1 have to end with so many cliffhangers? Can't wait for season 2 to come out on DVD! So I highly recommend this series, but with an asterisk (maybe not a literal asterisk, but you get my point).
Little Dorrit
Again, another very interesting period drama and I recommend it, but when I do recommend it, I warn that there are two major scenes that you may want to skip (Episodes 2 and the end of 13 and beginning of 14). But besides those two scenes, the acting is very good and very enjoyable to watch. The entire miniseries is 6-7 hours long, so be prepared to sit down and watch it for a while over a couple of nights.
Lark Rise to Candleford: Season 1 and 2
I say Seasons 1 and 2 since I didn't think 3 and 4 were as good (in fact, they probably didn't help the series very much), but still, I love Lark Rise to Candleford! It's something that you can sit down and watch and not have to really worry too much about.
I say Seasons 1 and 2 since I didn't think 3 and 4 were as good (in fact, they probably didn't help the series very much), but still, I love Lark Rise to Candleford! It's something that you can sit down and watch and not have to really worry too much about.
Some runner ups (no particular order) - Cranford, House of Eliott, The King's Speech, He Knew He Was Right (for the subplots), The Barchester Chronicles
5. From those three period dramas that you picked, who are your favorite characters in each one?
From Downton Abbey
Ahh! There are so many characters that I like in Downton Abbey, but just one favorite? Hmm... How do I pick between Robert, Cora, Lady Violet, Anna, and Bates? Hmmm... I think my absolute favorite character in Downton Abbey is probably Cora. She cares for her daughters: she tries to get her daughters married so they can be settled and taken care of since Downton Abbey is entailed away. Tough choice, though!
From Little Dorrit
Amy, of course! She's such a sweet character. She does so much for her family and she continues to help them even though they don't appreciate her. She doesn't complain, she simply does what needs to get done.
From Lark Rise to Candleford
Hmmm... Another tough one. Probably Dorcas Lane. Yeah, she does get too much involved in other people's business, but she means well. She also keeps up a professional appearance at the post office even though a lot could be going on in an episode.From Downton Abbey
From Little Dorrit
Amy, of course! She's such a sweet character. She does so much for her family and she continues to help them even though they don't appreciate her. She doesn't complain, she simply does what needs to get done.
From Lark Rise to Candleford
Keep an eye out for Part 2!
God Bless,
I have posted mine for Sunday - looking forward to Monday's :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your answers! I love that you listed Cora as your favourite character in Downton Abbey. Her scenes with Robert are some of my favourites, they are such a gorgeous couple!
ReplyDeleteMel
I love those videos... they are so enjoyable to watch! :)
ReplyDeleteI've answered more than 1/2 so far...I might try to post today.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting reading your answers!
Fun! I'm so glad you're including pictures...it makes the posts much more fun to read. :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, is there anything objectionable in Larkrise to Candleford? I had another good friend recommend those to me, and was just wondering.
And once more, thanks so much for all the help with Little Dorrit! Definitely something I'm watching someday. :)
Thanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteCharity,
In Lark Rise to Candleford, there really isn't much that's really bad. There are a couple of things that may be objectionable, but compared to some other period dramas, it's not nearly as bad and never gets graphic. The fifth episode of season 2 is probably the most objectionable, but the scenes are pretty short and aren't graphic (the camera moves away in time). In episode 1 of the third season, there are some implications and a short scene (not graphic or anything really bad like that; it's hard to explain, but when you watch the episode, you'll know. Sorry I can't really explain further than that: it's a bit weird). There's also a couple of episodes that deal with superstitions and some scandals are talked about, but pretty discreetly. But overall, it's a very good show. If I were rating it with the TV ratings, I would probably rate it TV-PG at the most. Hope this helps! :-)
Thank you SO MUCH, Miss Elizabeth! You're amazing. :)
ReplyDelete