Posted on 01/05/2021 1:17:25 AM PST by C19fan
There is something comforting about a period drama. Perhaps it's the escapism we're afforded by looking into an era we don't live in, or the aesthetic that's unfamiliar to our own - or maybe it's the lavish production that often accompanies period pieces, offering endless hours of dreaming and distraction. Whatever the reason for their appeal, costume dramas continue to beguile contemporary audiences, as proven with the recent popularity of Shonda Rhimes' Bridgerton.
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The top 10 list from this article and of course some of my commentary:
1:Downton Abbey: I know, I know...I am the English Lit major who has never read Shakespeare.
2:The Crown: My bonnet filter.
3:Poldark: I get my fill of Georgian at Colonial Williamsburg.
4:Firth/Ehle Pride and Prejudice: My daughter is going to read P&P for AP English Lit. I am re-watching with her and my wife. They are swallowed the bait hook, line and sinker.
5:Atonement: My bonnet filter.
6: The French Lieutenant's Woman: I watched a long time ago. Forget about it.
7: Brideshead Revisited: Some freeepers screamed bloody murder when this was excluded from a previous list.
8: Life is Beautiful: Fuggedaboutit.
9: Bright Star: Never heard of this one before.
10: A Room With A View: I do remember seeing this decades ago.
Foyle’s War should be on the list.
We have every episode of that and it is part of our daily detective show list. We try and watch one detective show every evening.
what else is on your detective list? i like to squeeze in an hour or two of same daily. it exercises the brain cells - and distracts too.
Screw the British crap that memorializes the Crown.
Also “Murdoch Mysteries.” (Awfully sunny for Canada, but what do I know, eh?)
I Claudius
Barry Lyndon
Sense and Sensibility
The Duellists
Shakespeare In Love
I don’t know why so many people think TV shows are superior to films nowadays. TV shows are not designed to end, only to go on and on until ratings determine it’s time to whip up an unsatisfying ending.
I still cannot believe that was Brian Blessed as Augustus Caesar.
Deadwood
It changes as we run out of episodes but our current daily watch list is:
Capitaine Marleau (French, a Columbo type with boobs and a funny hat who, when asked a puzzling question, will say "Who do you think I am, Columbo?)
Columbo
Cracker
Foyle's War
George Gently
Various Hallmark Mysteries (chewing gum for the mind)
Midsomer Murders (one of our streaming services actually has a Midsomer Murders 24/7 channel)
Lark Rise to Candleford (not a mystery but too good to skip)
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (an Australian series set in the 1920's. There is also a Miss Fisher's Modern Mysteries set in the 1960's)
The Marvelous Miss Maisel (I know it's not a mystery but it is a period piece and it's exceptionally good)
Murder In (A French series where each case is in a different town. A cross between a murder mystery and a travel show)
Perfect Murders (Another French one. We don't speak French but the shows have hardcoded English subtitles and are good enough to put up with)
Prime Suspect (Helen Mirren struggling against killers and sexist cops)
Rebus (I don't know if you've guessed by now but my wife is British)
Scott and Bailey (a British version of Cagney and Lacey, only better)
Taggart (set in Glasgow)
Terriers (voted one of the best series ever to not be renewed for a second season)
The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency (set in Botswana)
Vera
Others that are highly recommended but we have already seen every show are The Brokenwood Mysteries, Blue Murder, Agatha Raisin, Death In Paradise (new series is starting tomorrow), Broadchurch, The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries, Endeavour, Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis, Inspector Lynley. I'm sure I've missed a few but that will get you thinking.
Good choice.
We used to subscribe to AcornTV and Britbox. Maigret is another show I’d add to your list. It’s actually French, but the Brits did their own version a few years ago, starring Rowan Atkinson believe it or not. Very well done.
Midsommer Murders is always a favorite.
thank you! i’m not British but i prefer British mysteries. i think they are masters of the genre.
Not many have probably seen “Piece of Cake” 1988 UK mini series. Recommended but not easy to find.
Synopsis;
Following the lives and loves of the men of RAF Hornet Squadron who are transferred to France at the outbreak of World War II in September 1939.
“The Crown’s treatment of Winston Churchill was a travesty”
With leftists running everything in the Entertainment industry, it would have been a total surprise had they not trashed him. They can’t help themselves.
There is something comforting about a period drama. Perhaps it’s the escapism...
I don’t know...I saw plenty of stupid wokeisim in Poldark.
I would not mind seeing The French Lieutenant’s Woman at some time, as I remember as a kid when it was in the movie theatres and it was one of those decidedly movies for grown up adults, lol. Honourable mentions should also go to The Onedin Line, The First Churchills, The Duchess of Duke Street, Elizabeth R (1971 with Glenda Jackson), and Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974 with Lee Remick).
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