Get Your BBC Period Drama On!

Ah, summertime. When the living is easy, the sun is shining, and movies in the theaters are better. Of course, for me, there are still those summer days when I prefer to cool off by being magically whisked away to jolly old England. Granted, I will watch a BBC period drama anytime of year, but just work with me here.

Over my countless years of experience and numerous viewings of these miniseries or TV movies, I have noticed something. If I am ever having a bad day or I’m feeling low, I’ll just pop one of these in or go to YouTube and just watch a particular scene, skipping over Lydia and Wickham in Pride & Prejudice or all the people dying in North & South. I know that those among you who I count as my faithful readers also have an affinity for these shows, so I decided to countdown my top ten favorite moments in a BBC period drama.

Just a few things before we start: 1) I had to restrict myself to the shows that originally aired on TV, so if you are wondering where Becoming Jane is or why I pick certain versions of a scene over the perhaps better version that is on film, now you know. 2) No comments from the peanut gallery on how I am only representing four authors with this list. I know what I like. I won’t apologize for that. 3) A lot of my choices for scenes are highly spoilery, but I give my full endorsement to all of the options referenced in this list, so just find the whole thing and watch it.

Honorable mention: Lost in Austen (2008) “Lake scene” – While I have to respect this series as an Austen-phile, I never particularly warmed to it. I blame it on the Darcy, who never seemed to embody the role for me. That being said, I loved the meta-ness of this scene. If you haven’t seen the series, all you need to know is that a modern girl gets placed in the middle of Pride & Prejudice. Best line: “Will you do something for me?”

10. Persuasion (2007) “Run-in at the Shop” – This version would almost be perfect if it hadn’t so royally screwed up the ending (KISS HIM ALREADY!) with the exception of that tacked on last scene. Persuasion is my favorite of Austen’s novels and the ending is, of course, my favorite part, so you can imagine that this was quite the blow. What this version has working for it, though, besides the scrum-diddly-umptuous Rupert Penry-Jones, is that it nails the awkward longing from Anne and Wentworth. This is nowhere better exemplified than this shop scene. Best line: “A man cannot recover from such a passion. With such a woman. He ought not. He does not.” And if it can count for a line, Rupert’s smile.
9. Cranford (2007) “Lace” – Yes, it’s my only choice that does not have explicit romantic connotations. While there is romance in Cranford, I had to include this scene on my list. Correct me if I am wrong, but this is the only period drama that gets away with a fart joke. Juvenile though it may be, it’s still dang funny. Best line: “We are in the throes of an exceptional emergency.”
8. Emma (2009) “Proposal” – In my opinion, Johnny Lee Miller is no Paul Rudd. Nor a Jeremy Northam for that matter. However, this has always been my second favorite Austen proposal scene (see number 5 for my favorite). I love that the crazy mix-ups almost spoil the whole thing, but then… he tells her. Way to man up, Knightley! Also, this version of Emma gets bonus points for the inclusion of possibly my favorite Austen line ever. Best line: “If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
7. Jane Eyre (2006) “Proposal” – Oh, poor Jane Eyre, to think that if you had been in a Jane Austen novel, this scene would mark the end of your story and we could get to assume that you married Mr. Rochester in that little church without any worries about his loco wife. Alas, this is Bronte and sister does not mess around. What I really like about this scene is that if it was given modern language, Jane would be saying, “Screw you! You don’t know me!” (Note: If you are a fan of close-talking and loud kissing, you might prefer this scene.) Best line: “If God had given me some beauty and wealth, I would make it as hard for you to leave me as it is now for me to leave you.”
6. North & South (2004) “Train Station” – I once did a scene analysis of this for a Literature and Film class where I had to transcribe the scene and describe each shot. Best. Paper. Ever. Words cannot express how much I love this series, but especially this ending, so instead I will give you a topic of discussion: This scene is made much more effective by Richard Armitage not wearing the cravat. Discuss. Best line: “You’re coming home with me?” Anytime, day or night.
5. Sense & Sensibility (2008) “He’s Not Married!” – Ms. Austen certainly had a thing for the romantic entanglements, huh? Let’s get something straight. Nothing tops the moment when Emma Thompson’s Elinor breaks into tears, but there is something to be said for this new version, as well. First of all, I am not the biggest Hugh Grant fan, so I fell much harder for Mr. Dan Stevens’ Edward. Also, this version plays the awkwardness pretty well. Best line: “So now you can marry Elinor.”
4. Northanger Abbey (2007) “Kiss” – Northanger Abbey was my first Austen novel and after I had been let down by the atrocious 1986 version, you can imagine how utterly pleased I was by this latest interpretation. Felicity Jones and JJ Feild are perfection and their kiss at the end is so adorkably perfect that I feel I can go out on a limb and say it is my favorite Austen kiss ever. Haters to the left. Best line: “But you can see their house from the window.”
3. Little Dorrit (2008) “John’s Speech” – Everything about this scene is heartbreaking. The look on Arthur’s face when he realizes what a fool he has been, John’s befuddlement at Arthur’s blindness, John offering his hand at the end, everything. John Chivery certainly gets the award for being the most heartbreaking character in a BBC period drama and you naysayers can talk to me in the comments. Best line: “All the time I was breaking my heart over her, she was breaking hers over you.”
2. North & South (2004) “Look back at me” – Some of you may be surprised that I am ranking this scene over the train station scene, but you shouldn’t be. This scene has equally as much passion but it is all crammed into four little words. (Topic #2: Richard Armitage has the sexiest voice in the world. Discuss.) Best line: Um, duh.
1. Pride & Prejudice (1995) “Pemberley” – Okay, I am going to cheat here and deem any and all scenes taking place at Pemberley as the best scene from a period drama. I have seen this scene hundreds (Yes, literally hundreds) of times, yet I still get twitterpated when Darcy comes around that tree or when he gets that little smile on his face when they longingly gazing at each other over the piano. While I have no qualms with the whole wet Darcy thing, I mainly love this scene because he is trying so hard to impress her and she is so confused that it all results in this perfect little awkward situation, which you may have noticed that I am a fan of. Best line: “And your parents are in good health and all your sisters?”

So there you have it. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Is there one that you haven’t seen that you now realize you need to watch? Let me know!

And check out the pretty entertaining bonus post!

I Don't Care What You Think, I Like Katy Perry!

It is time that I go on record and say that I love Katy Perry. I am totally on board with her geeky-cool-retro schtick and anyone who puts out a video like her latest for “Last Friday Night”, which I have linked below, is A-OK in my book. You have Kenny G, Corey Feldman, Debbie Gibson, Kevin McHale, Darren Criss, and Hanson (who look so much hotter in the 2000s, by the way) in one video. Even the inclusion of Rebecca Black kind of rocks my socks because I respect that Katy is giving the girl a chance to shred her “national joke” image and I felt like she (very nearly) delivered.

Mainly, I love the video because it feels like every teen movie or TGIF TV show plot from the 90s. My parents found out that I went to that party?! Wah-wah. I was waiting for Danny Tanner to walk in at the end, cue the sentimental music, and have a heart-to-heart with Katy’s alter-ego Kathy Beth Terry about the dangers of teenage partying. Also, I am pretty sure that my childhood Malibu Barbie wore the same outfit that the sexified Kathy Beth wore to the party. What can I say? Barbie had to look smokin’ when she drove around my bedroom in her pink Jeep with the top down.

Watch the video and let me know what you think? Were you also getting a Step by Step vibe? Does this make you like Katy Perry more? Less? The same amount?

Favorite details: the guy with the drawn on tuxedo, bobbled hair-ties, Artie walks (!), “Why is there some lost boy in your bed?”, and the font of the credits.

Guys, The Pressure’s On.

Those of you who know me, know that if I am any two things, those things would have to be a cinephile and a hopeless romantic. So when those two things collide? Watch out. AND THEN, when that lethal combination is overlain with a soundtrack of Florence + The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over”? Game over.

Such is the case with the video that I have attached below. Watch it, then report back for my commentary.

LUCK - NYC Wedding Proposal from Aria Melody DJ on Vimeo.

First of all, there is no way that any woman ever in the history of womanhood could turn down a man that would make this video. Am I right? It’s practically science. We are hard-wired to be suckers for this kind of stuff. Or is that just me?

Second, this is just good filmmaking. I know that he had help, but whoever is responsible for the concept, editing, and direction, gets some serious kudos.

How do you we feel about this, ladies? I feel like I am ready to declare it the best proposal that I have seen posted on the internet, possibly even the best proposal that I have seen. Period. I know, it’s a strong statement, but that is how much I love this. Agree? Disagree? And be honest, did the tears come?

Season Finale Week: A Little Lesson in Grammar

In order to fully express my feelings about last night’s television, let’s first learn a little bit about grammar. For today’s lesson, we will be learning about interjections. Now, interjections show excitement or emotion and they’re generally set apart from a sentence by an exclamation point or by a comma when the feeling’s not as strong. However, there were no commas to be seen when I was watching the Bones and Parks and Recreation season finales. Interjections like Hurray! Hallelujah! Finally! Awww! And then ones like Noooo! Why?!?!?! Agh! (I know that not all of those are technically interjections, but just roll with it).

First let’s talk about the show that inspired all the happy elations from me: Bones. As much as I loved seeing Booth and Brennan go into their old undercover aliases of Buck and Wanda, as much as I teared up when Angela and Hodgins were waiting to see if their baby was blind, and as much as I was amused by all the humor in this episode, it really all boiled down to the last minute. SPOILER! BRENNAN IS PREGNANT! And with freaking Booth’s baby! This was the first Bones finale ever where I left completely satisfied and excited for next season. Why? Because even if it is not completely smooth sailing next season, they’re obviously going to try and make this work for the baby and because they are in deep smit with each other. I would also like to note, that my mother and I totally called that they had sex in the last episode and that the “Change in the Game” was going to be that she is pregnant. Pony up, all you naysayers!

Now, let’s move onto the show that had me whimpering and shouting expletives at the television, Parks and Recreation. Don’t get me wrong, this was still my favorite hour of TV this week, or should I say my favorite 55 minutes of TV because the it was the last five minutes that broke my heart.

First, I’ll talk about the good. (Obviously, not all the good, because there is simply too much to cover). It would seem that the Knope ladies have a thing for political savvy nerds who get adorably flustered in their presence. The look on Ben’s face after Marlene Knope made a pass at him was priceless, but then I also have a thing for political savvy nerds who get adorably flustered. Also, being a Ben and Leslie fan, I loved all their sneaking around and their politically charged make-out sessions. There was a lot of good stuff that wasn’t Ben and Leslie related (Ron’s singed mustache, Andy’s “5000 Candles in the Wind”, Ron trapped in the Swedish desk, Tom and Andy’s fourth floor adventures, Cube butt, Jean-Ralphio, and the promise of Tammy 1!), but in the interest of time, we’ll move on.

I always knew that public office was in our plucky heroine’s future, but I certainly don’t want it to come at the of this adorkable couple’s happiness! We just got them together! What I am hoping will happen is that Chris will act on his suddenly rekindled admiration of Ann Perkins and have to change the office-dating policy thus making it possible for Ben and Leslie to date scandal free. Problem solved! But nothing is ever that simple in TV Land, is it? All I can say is that the look of uncertainty on the faces of Ben Wyatt and Leslie Knope will haunt me all summer.

Ok, friends and family, I need you to talk me down from this. Tell me everything is going to be okay. Also, how did you feel about our Thursday night programming? Did anybody else watch The Office and get as bored as I did? Are you excited about a Booth and Bones baby? Did you also feel that the real mourning in “Li’l Sebastian” was not over the famed mini-horse, but over our two nerds’ upcoming rocky road to blissful happiness? Leave your comments below!

And here are my favorite quotes from last night's two part season finale:

‎Leslie: "The best part of any relationship is the beginning. No problems, no fights, just white wine, cuddling, and crazy amounts of... History Channel documentaries."

Andy: ‎"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I read that once on a can of lemonade, but I like to think that it applies to life."

Tom: ‎"I did recently sell my Chronicles of Riddick DVD on eBay for $10. Use the profits to buy the blu-ray."

Leslie: ‎"Absotootley I am! Very sorry that I just used that word."

Leslie: ‎"Somebody made somebody a mix and I definitely heard your feedback from last time so I only put five Sarah McClachlan on this one."

Leslie:‎"That's disgusting and wrong. I don't even get... Why would... I've never had sex with anyone anywhere. It's none of your... You have... Have the nerve, the audacity. Ben is my boss, technically. And he is terrible face-wise and how... How do I know, frankly, that you're not sleeping with him? Maybe you are. Maybe you're trying to throw me off. Hmm. Check and mate. This is an outrage! Who do I call?!"

Season Finale Week: Glee-bles Wobble But They Don’t Fall Down

I must tell you that I had every intention of writing about the decline of Glee in my post-Tuesday post for this week. In my opinion, this season has been very lackluster and has spent too much time focusing on certain storylines. While I can respect the show for making a statement on bullying and gay rights, I don’t need this shoved down my throat week after week and I certainly don’t need it to be taking precedence over every other storyline. Am I alone in this?

Beginning of Spoilerly mentions

However, after last night’s episode, I was unable to sit down and write the Glee bashing I had intended. In last night’s episode we got some good relationship drama, some awesome vocal performances (I’m looking at you Mercedes and Rachel), and I cried more than thrice throughout the episode.

Let’s take a look at the board, shall we!

1) I cried when Sue, Frankenteen, and Porcelain were cleaning out Jean’s room
2) I bawled during Sue’s eulogy, the “Pure Imagination” number, and the accompanying video (I am counting this as one since it was just one long and good cry)
3) I cried when Sue pulled it in for a hug after she told Becky that she was going to be the Cheer captain
4) Finally, I got teary-eyed during Rachel’s song. I’m sorry, but girl had all sorts of emotional power behind that vocal. Also, I loved that she got all Barbara-faced.

While I am not ready to say I want to see a de-snarkified Sue Sylvester it was nice to see her relent for the kids who had arranged such a sweet and touching funeral service for her sister.

Also, being a Finchel and Wemma fan, I was grateful for their progress in this episode, even if neither ended on a particularly good note. Finn, don’t you know that when Rachel sings those treacley love ballads that it’s all for you? Will, she’s crying! Run after her! And just what do we think Quinn is going to get up to in New York, hmm?

I guess all this means that “Funeral” was a win for me and that I’ll have to keep watching Glee. Just when I think I am free, it pulls me back in. Curse you, television!

I have read mixed reviews online of the episode, so what did all of you think? Do you share my feelings about Glee this season, or have you been completely on board? Are we excited for New York next week?

Season Finale Week: Let’s Talk Cliffhangers!

In honor of the bittersweet week that is the week of season finale week, I am going to (try and) post something everyday talking about the insanity that happened the night before. For today, I am going to talk about Castle and boy did it ever deliver on the insanity. I am going to issue a huge SPOILER ALERT if you are following the show, but if you aren’t just know this: For three seasons, Castle and Beckett have been doing the classic “will they/won’t they” game (which I am a total sucker for) and last night as Beckett lay dying from a gunshot wound, Castle held her in his arms and told her not to leave because he loves her. Game changer! They wouldn’t kill off Beckett, right? And if she stays alive this is a huge elephant in the room for them to try and ignore, as they have done with other tender moments in the past. END OF SPOILER ALERT!

This climatic ending got me thinking about my feelings regarding the classic ploy of the cliffhanger used by those crafty show runners to drive me crazy for three months. If the mission is to leave me so utterly flummoxed that I am rendered speechless when I call my mom for our post-TV roundup, than mission accomplished, job well done.

However, seeing as how I can’t remember a finale that hasn’t ended with a finale, I can’t help but wonder if I would be equally, if not more, satisfied with some resolution. Isn’t that the foundation of story telling? You build and build and build until you reach that precipice and bring the audience back down by tying up all those loose ends. Imagine, if you will, that you are a child hearing Cinderella for the first and your mother ends the story with her running from the ball and losing her slipper? What? What about the prince? Will they ever see each other? What about her shoe? Hey, stay cool daddy-o, we still have 10 pages left. Your mother wouldn’t have shut the book and made you wait three months to find out that they lived happily ever after.

Now, I am fully aware that television is a business and that they need viewers to come back, but if I am left happy, I’ll come back anyway. You can count me in.

I’ll leave it open to you guys now. What was your worst cliffhanger? Do you need a cliffhanger to feel satisfied with your finales? Did you watch Castle? If so, what did you think about the ending?

A Pop Culture Ode to My Mom

In keeping with the theme of this blog and also because much of my relationship with my mother is based on our similar affinity for all things movies and TV things anyway, I decided to write a post about my favorite pop culture related activities to do with my mom. After all, this is the woman who had me quoting movies and TV almost from the moment I could talk (and we have the home videos to prove it), so it should come as no surprise that she played a huge role in making me the walking imdb that I am today. In fact, most of my memories with my mom also include a movie or a TV show, which some might see as sad and pathetic. To a certain degree, it is, but if you know my mom and I at all, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

With that in mind, I give you my top ten favorite things to do with my mom. I decided to take out the caveat that they be pop-culture related, as these are pretty much just my favorite things to do with my mom.

10. Lazy Saturday Mornings (that sometimes last all day) – Yeah, it usually starts out with us just watching last night’s The Soup, but it usually evolves into us re-watching other episodes from the week or watching some movie that is on TBS that we have seen a hundred times and own.
9. Educating Each Other – When I entered this realm, I was naïve and had no understanding of what passed as good entertainment, but like every good mother should, Mom took me under her wing and showed me the light. Yes, she got me a lot of crap (I’m looking at you 3 Ninjas), but that’s expected with kids movies. And what other four-year-old was watching Saturday Night Live Goes Commercial, Mystery Science Theatre 3000, or what I later discovered was an edited copy of Grease (the real lyrics of “Greased Lightening” came as a huge shock to me later in life)? Not any that I knew. Now, I think both my mom and I can agree that I have taken the reigns in educating her in what qualifies as good entertainment, much to her annoyance, I’m sure.
8. Award Shows – I remember the first Academy Awards that I actually sat down and watched with my mom. The year was 1995 and I hadn’t seen a single movie that won. I remember this because I was grossly disappointed when Babe didn’t win Best Picture. But at that tender age of 7, I got caught up in the pomp and circumstance of it all and we have watched every year since. Even when we ended up in a hotel room in Seattle one year, we still found a way to have our own little Oscars party complete with IBCs icing in the bathroom sink.
7. TV Show Marathons – Bones, Vampire Diaries, Veronica Mars, and others that are escaping me. What do these shows have in common besides being awesome? Well, my mom and I have watched them in their entirety in far too short a span of time. Like when we stayed up until 4 o’clock in the morning after watching 11 hours of Bones with our dear friend Hailey when on a three day binge of watching the first four seasons. Yeah, we’re awesome.
6. Discussion of the hotness of male celebrities – My friends often make the comment that I will only watch a TV show if I have a crush on one of the male characters (I have no idea where they got this crazy idea), but I probably get this from the woman who used to play computer Hearts with Denzel, Antonio, and Mel. This was before Mel went off the rails, though. She would probably change it to Mark, David, and Matt now, or something like that. (Ryan, Hugh, and George were my other considerations). How’d I do, Mom?
5. Comic Con – Granted we have only gone one year (and tickets for this year!), but it was pure awesomeness and the perfect excursion for us. Four days of sitting in a packed room listening to celebrities and showrunners talk about their TV shows while being surrounded by our fellow nerds. Not to mention all the free swag and the swooning that took place during this moment.
4. British Women Getting Married Movies – This is the title that my brother has given to our BBC period pieces/ any Jane Austen adaptation. When I was home sick one day from school, my mom introduced me to the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and I can literally say it changed my life. Since then, Masterpiece Theatre fare has sort of become our thing and we have expanded to include Dickens, Gaskell, and other fare where… well, British women get married.
3. Entertainment games that no one ever wants to play with us – To this day, my mom is the only worthy adversary I have found to battle me in Scene It and no road trip is complete without some variation of a movie-themed game. Our iPhones have now only made it more possible for us to bone up on our useless entertainment trivia.
2. Our Special Movie Theatre Routine – No one understands the proper way to do movie theatres like my mom, perhaps because she is the one who trained me in the art. It is essential that you show up to the theatre 20 minutes before the movie starts, earlier if it is the movie’s opening weekend. This guarantees you enough time to go to the bathroom, get concessions, check out the new movie posters lining the hallways, and get the perfect seats (the ones right behind that bar so you can put your feet up). But most important of all, you never, EVER miss trailers. This is just blasphemy in the Lloyd household.
1. Post-Thursday night TV phone/text conversations – Thank goodness for TV or my mom and I would have nothing to talk about. If we talk no other day of the week, you can pretty much count on the fact that we will call each other on Friday afternoon to talk about all the insanity that took place during our Thursday night lineup.

Wow, if you are anyone but my mom and you have made it this far, I am impressed and you must really like myself, my mom, or both of us.

Mom, I love you and I hope you have the bestest Mother’s Day!