Friday, June 8, 2012

Feelings After a Period Drama Ends

C'mon, you know what I'm talking about. You watch a period drama for the first time. First you think, "Oh my! Five hours long?! How shall I last?" But then you sit down to watch it and you really get into the story and the characters. "How dare Character X!" or "No, Character Y! You love Character Z!"

And then... It's over...

Well... Now what?

Isn't there more?

Why did it have to end?

What will I do with myself when I'm not watching this period drama?

I've noticed that this happens with period dramas that are five or more hours long. After five hours, you really get into the story line (what will happen next?). You really understand a good deal of the characters. There are your favorites and those you can't stand. You can understand what is going through their head. You start rooting for characters to get married. Etc. And then it's over...

And to answer you question, yes, I've just watched a period drama and now that it's over, well, I wonder why did it have to end. And yes, there will be a review for it on Monday (or Tuesday). And no, you will just have to wait until Monday or Tuesday to find out what it is.

What period dramas that I've seen before have caused these feelings? Well...

Little Dorrit, for one thing! I remember when my mom, my sister, and I watched Little Dorrit. We were so into the story line! There were a variety of interesting characters! We kept watching episode after episode until... well, we went through it too quickly and it was over...

Series 1 of Downton Abbey, I'm looking at you now! How could you end with so many cliffhangers and leave all of us on the edge for a year (or more)?! Luckily, Series 2 continued Series 1, so most of the cliffhangers from Series 1 were resolved: sure, a couple of Series 2 cliffhangers were left, but not as bad as Series 1.

 Okay, so when we first watched Lark Rise to Candleford, Mom bought Series 1 and 2... but 3 had yet to air in America. What was going to happen with Sydney at the post office? Oooh! Can't wait! Unfortunately, Series 3 didn't really live up to the great expectations (get the Dickens reference? hehe!) of Series 1 and 2, so I was a bit disappointed...

What about you? Have you ever watched a period drama that you wished had gone on longer than it did? Did you have any of the same feelings that I wrote about above? Leave a comment! 

 God Bless,
God Bless, Miss Elizabeth Bennet

7 comments:

  1. I completely agree! I love that feeling of when you first see a period drama and you don't know the story, how you sort of hang on to every episode - it nearly killed me waiting for series 2 of Downton Abbey!! I've also always wished they could sort of make a sequel to things like North and South (providing it lived up to the book of course!) :)

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  2. Ha-HA! I think *I* know what it is. ;-) You liked it, then? :D

    Oh yes, I definitely know the feeling! That's why I love long period dramas. I like them to last, y'know. ;-) And you can only watch it for the first time once... and then it will never quite be the same again! But THEN with longer one,s there's also more substance for when you DO watch it again...

    Now I'm rambling. Anyways. I know the feeling, indubitably.

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  3. Sarah White,
    I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt that way about Series 1 of Downton Abbey. I'm still waiting expectantly for Series 3, but it's not nearly as bad as waiting for Series 2.

    Melody,
    Shhh! Don't tell them what it is! hehe! Yes, I did like it. In fact, the review might be longer than any other review that I've done before.

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  4. Downton Abbey....OMG is all I can say to that series!!! I hope it lasts for no less than a decade!

    The other two, I haven't seen but are now on my "to see" list for sure.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  5. I completely know that feeling! When you begin the drama and are sitting there on your couch in front of the TV, it's like a whole new world is beginning as the credits start and that beautiful period drama music starts subtly filling the room... you don't know what you're in for next! You just know it's going to be a great story. I felt that way with BBC's Emma. I couldn't wait to watch the next episode, and the next, and the next, and then before I knew it Emma and Mr. Knightly were riding in their carriage to the seaside and it was all over just like that! Also felt the same way with Wives and Daughters and Pride and Prejudice 1995.... totally know the feeling!

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  6. Oh yes...I think with the longer ones I just get so attached to the characters, and then having the show end is like losing a dear friend. Of course, you can always renew acquaintances!(:

    ~Vicki
    deckedoutinruffles.blogspot.com

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  7. Hmm...this makes me wonder...what could Miss Elizabeth have watched that was long and excellent and require a nice long review? hehe Actually I do have one guess but in stead of guessing I shall just make a comment about the weather and say "Is it still raining, my love?" "Yes, my love." Looking forward to your review! ;)

    I completely understand the feeling you described when you finish a period drama. Downton Abbey definitely leaves you hanging at the end and some of the Lark Rise to Candleford episodes do too, another that left me hanging in a similar way was the BBC Robin Hood TV series. Little Dorrit, Bleak House, Pride & Prejudice 1995, Emma 2009, Wives & Daughters, North & South, Cranford, Our Mutual Friend and the Anne of Green Gables movies are all longer period dramas that end happily so it's easier to just be happy when they've finished but on the other hand you do sort of sigh and say "Well that was lovely! Too bad it's over. What am I going to watch next that could possibly come close to that?" And it's always hard to leave those "worlds" once you've gotten close to the characters and invest so much time in them! :)

    This was an excellent post Miss Elizabeth, I really enjoyed your style of writing in this one and several of your remarks made me giggle! :)

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