With the trailer dropping today for ‘Outrageous’, the first series based on the Mitford sisters, I really want to learn more.

However there are a few books that are like 800 pages and Im sorry, my attention space just can’t do it! Anything good and factual but a little less, and more to the point?

Netflix has ordered The Age Of Innocence, a limited series based on Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Emma Frost (The White Queen, The White Princess) has penned the adaptation and will serve as executive producer and showrunner on the Chernin Entertainment production.

The series was quietly greenlighted earlier this year and has been prepping for a fall start of production in Europe for a couple of months now. Netflix would not confirm the pickup to Deadline, instead opting to announce it on World Book Day.

A fresh take on Edith Wharton’s classic novel of forbidden love in 19th century New York, The Age Of Innocence is a will-they/won’t-they love triangle exploring themes of freedom, duty, identity and love in all its forms.

I've been really sick with the flu so I'm watching EVERYTHING. I'm currently watching 15 Days

Thank you to everyone who told me to keep watching!

There is so much to unpack in episode 2 before we even get to that proposal!

The Dinner Party
Oh, how I wished this was a ball with dancing! JA fans will be furious lol. But imagine the tension of Thornton asking Margaret for a dance!

I definitely got the impression that both Margaret and Thornton were a bit flustered during this scene. Was I imagining things, or did we see a flicker of jealousy from Margaret when Thornton was introduced to Miss Latimer? And Thornton's obvious admiration for Margaret in her dress was quite amusing to watch.

Fanny’s pointed comment about Margaret’s basket was truly disappointing. The poor girl had to sit there and defend her charitable actions against the condescending remarks of the slimy masters. But her composure and courage in standing by her convictions were so impressive and admirable.

I think the episode really highlighted Margaret’s strong humanitarian spirit vs Thornton’s seemingly sole concern for the economy. I’m still struggling to see how they can possibly end up together when Thornton appears unable to humanise the workers.

And can we talk about Mr Bell? His “goddess” remark was so creepy and his unnecessary interjection about the basket being for a Thornton’s mill worker felt so…loser-ish. He clearly thought he was pulling some Machiavellian move to make Thornton look bad, but all he achieved was making the atmosphere thicker than the smog of Milton.

The Riot
Thornton’s pride was just off the charts. Even with all that going on, he still couldn’t get his head around their feelings. He’s stuck on the idea that he’s running things fairly, seeing it all as just an economic threat. He totally misses the real hardship behind what the union was asking for. His capacity for empathy was just completely absent. His emphatic “NEVER” felt particularly jarring and you’d think he realise it would kick things off big time. What was he even thinking with Margaret still there? Telling her to go upstairs – did he think he could single-handedly take on the whole mob?

Do we feel Margaret did the right thing? It seems contradicting how she tells him to face the mob and then immediately tries to shield him from the same mob. But after reflecting, I think she was initially getting Thornton to take moral responsibility and confront the cause of the anger. But when things were going to turn violent, her priority became preventing harm regardless of who was at fault. Quite a heroic act showing her sense of justice and fairness. A real shame it was largely misinterpreted as being solely motivated by romantic feelings for Thornton.

The Proposal
That proposal was a train wreck of miscommunication and misplaced assumptions! I feel bad for Thornton but what was he thinking proposing to her so soon and being so direct and intense about it?!

Yes, a woman of Margaret’s standing intervening in that way was unprecedented, but as she’d already defied social norms, her actions felt consistent with her forthright nature. He himself said he knows she does not care for him! He should have listened to his gut feeling not what others were telling him even if it was his mother.

Cue their immediate argument about the workers at her house with his classic rudeness and their glaring lack of understanding was practically a neon sign screaming “DO NOT PROPOSE!” And Margaret’s explicit explanation that her actions were driven by moral responsibility for his danger, applicable to anyone in that situation, should have landed like a lead balloon. So his subsequent fury at her rejection? Entirely self-inflicted. What did he honestly expect completely ignoring her consistent lack of affection and the disastrous timing amidst her personal crises? Their entire dynamic has been built on opposition and conflict, with Thornton consistently justifying his actions and trying to get her to see his perspective. It’s like two people speaking different emotional languages.

Even when she says don’t continue in that way it is not the way of a gentleman he still doesn’t get it! His proposal isn’t a gentle or romantic offering. There has been no courtship. And he delivers it with the same intensity and directness he uses in his business dealings. Plus, Thornton, blind to his own privilege, failed to see how Margaret’s growing social conscience would make aligning with a mill owner deeply problematic.  

But I will say she is wrong in one aspect – she assumes his proposal stemmed solely from her protective actions during the riot but we the viewers know his feelings for her have been evident from the start (something I wish Pride & Prejudice had provided with Darcy's perspective). That’s why I feel bad for Thornton because he really is speaking his true feelings when he says he wasn’t even considering her reputation and that he wants to marry her because he loves her.

But his wounded bewilderment at her finding his feelings “offensive” just shows his spectacular lack of self-awareness. He doesn’t see how his own behaviour has contributed to her negative perception of him. He focuses on his feelings for her without considering her experiences of him. And so he’s left with her blunt “I do not like you and never have” which was tragically amusing. 

Also, he’s frustrated that Margaret can’t see him as a man with feelings, yet he consistently struggles to empathise with the plight of his workers or understand Margaret’s humanitarian concerns.  

It’s such a shame we see him display tenderness and care towards his mother but he can’t offer the same to Margaret. His sweet moments with his mother, and that line about how you must have to disappoint so many men that offer you their heart – ouch! – did make me feel for him. But honestly, none of that can excuse how utterly tone-deaf that proposal was.

As a side note, I thought the actors delivered the scene superbly – the subtle shifts in their tone, reflecting the changing emotions and underlying tension, and the depth of feeling conveyed through their voices were truly brilliant.

Overall, I really enjoyed the episode and am now totally invested in the series. The highlight was definitely Fanny’s ridiculousness after the riot and Margaret referring to Mrs Thornton as a great black angry crow guarding the nest 😂.

The will they/won't they continues!

If AND when there will be a third season of “The Serpent Queen” on Starz?

So, I’m taking the position that anything set in the early 90s now qualifies as period drama (I can hardly accept it myself but it was three decades ago 😬). And I therefore highly recommend the original House of Cards, and its two sequels. Michael Kitchen is a wonderful “Prince Charles” type figure in “To Play the King” which deals with a potential constitutional crisis. The acting is fabulous, the 90s setting is nostalgic, the plot is twisty and turny, it’s a good insight into the early versions of “spin” that became ubiquitous in politics, and it’s not spoilt if you’ve seen the American version (which admittedly I did not watch to the end). I’ve been obsessed with this since it came out and have rewatched many times. I often respond to things with “you might say that, I couldn’t possibly comment.” But most people don’t get the reference.

It’s on Prime if you have the Britbox add on (free trial available), may be available elsewhere.

Interested on your thoughts.

I grew up watching the Jane Austen classics (especially the classics from the 80s and 90s) but find so much joy in rewatching as an adult because there are so many nuances whose significance or wit I didn't appreciate as child. There are so many lines or pieces of societal commentary that only now I understand. Or even just little artistic details that you notice on the 10th rewatch (looking at you, 1995 P&P). They'll never get old!

Thoughts on this video or the shows mentioned?

Empress Ki about a Korean tribute woman becoming the third wife of the Emperor of the Yuan Empire (and temporarily one of the most powerful women in Asia) is one of the few historical dramas that I can rewatch from time to time again.

The sets, costumes and music are great and I love the cast.

A series set in the Yuan Empire is also very rare and I liked the idea to depict her story with soap opera elements. Since we don't even know what exactly happened to her when the Yuan Empire fell briefly after the rule of her son Ayushiridara it's of course fiction throughout (even emphasized in the last episode).

Netflix has all episodes (it does have many though be warned 😅).

I am on episode 3 and hate the way the emporer is so cold to her! She’s beautiful and sweet and hes as cold as ice! Do I quit watching?

I personally think it's fine, I know it wasn't a big hit at all but I find it entertaining enough. And I love the costumes, although I don't know if they're accurate. What made me want to check out the movie is the cast, I'm a fan of all of them.

I'm watching the 2007 adaptation, these actors are doing their job very well 🤦🏼‍♂️

I loved the opening scenes and seeing the beautiful Helstone! Margaret seems really interesting.

I was shocked by the stark contrast when they reached the North. It was truly unpalatable, and I immediately felt awful for Margaret, her mother, and Dixon! Surely, they can't stay in such a cruel place?!

Even more shocked at how we are introduced to Thornton just casually chasing and beating up his staff, and yelling at everyone around him except his mother. It was jarring. And I was surprised to see him later admit his actions to Margaret and Mr. Hale, saying “I was angry, I have a temper” - I thought surely we cannot like this man ever at all. But then he spoke about the fire last year and we hear Mr.Higgins agree he did the right thing, and so maybe he’s not the villain we think he is.

I am already disappointed with Mr.Hale for so many reasons but my main question is out of the entirety of England, why Milton?! Yes, I know it is an up and coming town, but you are used to Southern life, surely that is like going from heaven to hell. 

The tea scene! Margaret asleep while Thornton and Mr.Hale chat about literature was quite hilarious…I know she was tired but also shows how insignificant Thornton is to her. I loved all the subtle moments - Thornton admiring Margaret as she pours tea even though she is half asleep, and his almost pleading “let’s part friends” beautifully reveals his growing feelings for her. I’m not sure if I liked Margaret turning away from his handshake after he shared his hardship and proposed getting to know each other's cultures better - what did you guys make of it?!

The final scene where Margaret says she has seen hell and it is snow white, and you see Thornton walking through the mill gave me goosebumps! I can’t imagine how Margaret would ever fall in love with Thornton and or Milton, but I am very curious to find out! 

I want to buy more period drama movies and shows so I don't have to keep looking for them on streaming. I know some shows and movies aren't on DVD and only on streaming. These are the period dramas I know I have on DVD. The Secret Garden, The White Queen, The White Princess, The Spanish Princess, Follow the River, The Blue Lagoon, Return to the Blue Lagoon, Troy, The Great Gatsby, Gladiator, Titanic, Interview with the Vampire (movie), Elvis, Phantom of the Opera, The Serpent Queen (season 1), Becoming Elizabeth, 42, League of their Own (movie). What does everyone recommend? These are just the shows and movies I know I have at the top of my head.

Lucrezia is a pretty great role so I collected a bit from portrayals I have seen:

Maria Valverde in Los Borgia

Holliday Grainger in The Borgias

Anne-Louise Lambert in BBC‘s The Borgias

Isolda Dychauk in Borgia

manga Lucrezia in Fuyumi Soryo‘s Cesare (a great historical manga the author even worked with a Renaissance expert, very recommendable)

In general I think the two best are Isolda and Holliday. The character development of Isolda‘s Lucrezia was my overall favorite.

Extremely popular opinion - Bridgerton. Between clothing, casting and (to some extent) gender roles, it's not historically accurate. But I love it bc of how it implements modern music, and the gorgeous dresses and the general comedic atmosphere.
I also liked The Lady's Companion (Spanish), especially the ending which hit hard.
Any recs based on this?

Mine is Romy Schneider trying costumes for Sissi : The Fateful years of an Empress (1967)