The Musketeers
I feel like The Musketeers has really stepped up its game this season. Season One was mostly frothy, inconsequential fun. Much as I enjoyed it, it occasionally veered into nonsense territory and there were too many minor characters doing BBC Bit Part acting (see, many gurning peasants in Merlin.) The creators knowing that the show was going to be post-watershed this time around, unlike last year when they didn't know if it was going to be shown at 8pm or 9pm, has allowed them to pitch the series so that events have more weight and consequence, and I'm really enjoying it.
The show also looks better. I would kill for someone like Hello Tailor to blog about the costumes, because everyone looks amazing. I love the detail of the costumes: the buttons; the dirt on the Musketeers' cloaks; the way that everyone has a distinct visual style, from the King's fussiness to the cleaner lines of the Red Guards. Whereas sets in season one sometimes felt too empty, this week I enjoyed the crush of people waiting to petition the King, and the fight in the crowded market place.
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And now it isn't on for two weeks! Aargh!
The show also looks better. I would kill for someone like Hello Tailor to blog about the costumes, because everyone looks amazing. I love the detail of the costumes: the buttons; the dirt on the Musketeers' cloaks; the way that everyone has a distinct visual style, from the King's fussiness to the cleaner lines of the Red Guards. Whereas sets in season one sometimes felt too empty, this week I enjoyed the crush of people waiting to petition the King, and the fight in the crowded market place.
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And now it isn't on for two weeks! Aargh!
Agent Carter-shaped squee
It's baaaaaack!
The Musketeers is back tomorrow in a slightly weird Friday night slot, and I've been celebrating by spending the last couple of days rewatching season one.
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A few things I want for season two:
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A few things I want for season two:
- More of the Queen. Anne is a million times cleverer than her husband. I'd love to see her getting more involved in state affairs and perhaps she'll have chance to do this now that Richelieu is no more.
- A role for Constance that involves less pining over D'Artagnan. Of all the canon ships Constance/D'Artagnan is the one I find least interesting, and I'd love for Constance to have more of an independent role of her own. If she's going to end up as the Queen's ladies maid as it seems from the trailer, this could really help - I'd love for her to be a real confidante and ally of the Queen.
- More of Porthos' back story - and it looks like we might be getting it!
- Porthos/Aramis makeouts. (Oops, how did that get in here?)
- Milady and Athos having to team up. Because I love me some angst, and the two of them are excellently angsty together.
Top 10 books of 2014
These aren't ten books written in 2014 because... I very rarely buy books as soon as they come out. But onwards!
The Dyke and the Dybbuk - Ellen Galford
A warm and witty story about a Jewish lesbian London cabbie, her rambunctious family, and the dybbuk that haunts her.
Flora Segunda of Crackpot Hall - Ysabeau S Wilce
Although I thought the later books in this series went a bit off the rails, I really enjoyed this loopy but heart-felt story set in an alternate version of California full of magic and heroic women.
A History of the World - Andrew Marr
This was an entertaining big-picture portrait of world history from the year dot onwards. I liked it most for the parallels it drew between different concurrent societies - the bit about how Ancient China and Ancient Rome almost managed to make diplomatic contact but didn't quite because the mission from China only made it as far as the Middle East particularly grabbed my imagination.
Three Parts Dead - Max Gladstone
The Dyke and the Dybbuk - Ellen Galford
A warm and witty story about a Jewish lesbian London cabbie, her rambunctious family, and the dybbuk that haunts her.
Flora Segunda of Crackpot Hall - Ysabeau S Wilce
Although I thought the later books in this series went a bit off the rails, I really enjoyed this loopy but heart-felt story set in an alternate version of California full of magic and heroic women.
A History of the World - Andrew Marr
This was an entertaining big-picture portrait of world history from the year dot onwards. I liked it most for the parallels it drew between different concurrent societies - the bit about how Ancient China and Ancient Rome almost managed to make diplomatic contact but didn't quite because the mission from China only made it as far as the Middle East particularly grabbed my imagination.
Three Parts Dead - Max Gladstone
A young witch who thinks nothing of casually raising zombies must bring back a deceased god before a city falls. Her reluctant allies are an undead pirate, an apprentice priest addicted to nicotine, and a city guardswoman addicted to the bite of vampires. Also, there are gargoyles. A really cool, interesting mythos and some great writing.
Captive Prince vols 1 & 2 (I'm counting them both as one book, shut up) - C.S Pacat
I'd been hearing about Captive Prince from friends for yonks but hadn't been motivated to pick it up because slave kink tropes hadn't previously been my thing... but it is SO GOOD, you guys. The best slow-burn romance I've ever read, and also a really exciting adventure story. Plus part two ends on a knife-edge (my goodreads review simply reads AAUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.) Can book three be out now, please?
Loki: Agent of Asgard, vol 1 - Al Ewing & Lee Garbett
The stupidly fun adventures of twenty-something!Loki, who has currently been de-aged because ...comics, and keeps being mistaken for a member of One Direction.
Think of England - K.J Charles
A heart-clenchingly good country house mystery historical romance. Archie Curtis is a Boer War veteran who is hunting for the saboteur who caused the accident which led to him being invalided out of the army. Daniel da Silva is an openly queer foppish Jewish poet with a secret. Together (at least by the end of the book) they fight crime! Both smart and hot, with an absolutely perfect central couple.
The City of Silk & Steel - Mike & Louise Carey
A lovely, lovely story about a seraglio of women who are cast out of their city by a religious fanatic, and turn themselves into an army in order to take back their home.
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Simon Baker
A thrilling jaunt through multiple centuries of Roman political and military history.
Flygirl - Sherri L Smith
The massively tense and emotional tale of a girl who desperately wants to join the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in WW2, but has to 'pass' as white to do it.
For 2015 I'm aiming to read at least three books in French and three in Spanish, as well as a selection of the English books that are on my to-read list, and to read more non-fiction than I did this year.
Captive Prince vols 1 & 2 (I'm counting them both as one book, shut up) - C.S Pacat
I'd been hearing about Captive Prince from friends for yonks but hadn't been motivated to pick it up because slave kink tropes hadn't previously been my thing... but it is SO GOOD, you guys. The best slow-burn romance I've ever read, and also a really exciting adventure story. Plus part two ends on a knife-edge (my goodreads review simply reads AAUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.) Can book three be out now, please?
Loki: Agent of Asgard, vol 1 - Al Ewing & Lee Garbett
The stupidly fun adventures of twenty-something!Loki, who has currently been de-aged because ...comics, and keeps being mistaken for a member of One Direction.
Think of England - K.J Charles
A heart-clenchingly good country house mystery historical romance. Archie Curtis is a Boer War veteran who is hunting for the saboteur who caused the accident which led to him being invalided out of the army. Daniel da Silva is an openly queer foppish Jewish poet with a secret. Together (at least by the end of the book) they fight crime! Both smart and hot, with an absolutely perfect central couple.
The City of Silk & Steel - Mike & Louise Carey
A lovely, lovely story about a seraglio of women who are cast out of their city by a religious fanatic, and turn themselves into an army in order to take back their home.
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Simon Baker
A thrilling jaunt through multiple centuries of Roman political and military history.
Flygirl - Sherri L Smith
The massively tense and emotional tale of a girl who desperately wants to join the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in WW2, but has to 'pass' as white to do it.
For 2015 I'm aiming to read at least three books in French and three in Spanish, as well as a selection of the English books that are on my to-read list, and to read more non-fiction than I did this year.
Some recent comics reading
Bitch Planet #1 - Kelly Sue Deconnick's new SF women's prison story. I like this a whole lot. It has a tense, dystopian atmosphere and it's explicitly feminist in a way that feels really exciting. There are two characters (Penelope & Kamau) that I already love, and I'm fascinated to see where the story is going to go.
Secret Six #1 - a shake-up of this title by Gail Simone. This first issue has a lot to do. It has to introduce six main characters and set up the story (the Six are minor villains who are imprisoned together by a manipulative and secretive force) and I'm not sure it quite succeeds. The plot is bleaker and less fun than I was expecting. The only character who we really get an insight into is Catman, and I definitely don't find him as charming as I think the reader is expected to.
Catwoman #1 - subtitle: 100% cooler than Catman. I love Genevieve Valentine's other writing, but this first issue felt overly wordy and just seemed to be setting up a rather uninteresting crime story. On the plus side, I love the suits the creators have dressed Selina in. One I might go back to.
Storm #1 - this is from a few months ago, but I just picked it up because it was free on Comixology. Storm is WONDERFUL here. Heroic, badass (I love that she has the mohawk again) and for the first time I got a real sense of just how awe-inspiring her powers are. I need to catch up!
All-New Captain America #1 - I love Sam as Cap, but the writing in this didn't grab me. One to wait for the trade.
What am I missing? Any comics recs much appreciated!
This entry was originally posted at http://yantantether.dreamwidth.org…. Please comment here or there! :D.
Secret Six #1 - a shake-up of this title by Gail Simone. This first issue has a lot to do. It has to introduce six main characters and set up the story (the Six are minor villains who are imprisoned together by a manipulative and secretive force) and I'm not sure it quite succeeds. The plot is bleaker and less fun than I was expecting. The only character who we really get an insight into is Catman, and I definitely don't find him as charming as I think the reader is expected to.
Catwoman #1 - subtitle: 100% cooler than Catman. I love Genevieve Valentine's other writing, but this first issue felt overly wordy and just seemed to be setting up a rather uninteresting crime story. On the plus side, I love the suits the creators have dressed Selina in. One I might go back to.
Storm #1 - this is from a few months ago, but I just picked it up because it was free on Comixology. Storm is WONDERFUL here. Heroic, badass (I love that she has the mohawk again) and for the first time I got a real sense of just how awe-inspiring her powers are. I need to catch up!
All-New Captain America #1 - I love Sam as Cap, but the writing in this didn't grab me. One to wait for the trade.
What am I missing? Any comics recs much appreciated!
This entry was originally posted at http://yantantether.dreamwidth.org…. Please comment here or there! :D.
Can it be the Christmas hols now?
I am knackered. I've been up stupidly early the last couple of days to clear out of the way before the boiler guys arrive (boring heating update: I have new radiators! They just...aren't connected to anything.) And tomorrow I have to go on a three-day residential work event, which I'm sure will be fine, but which the introvert in me isn't particularly looking forward to.
On a more fun note, I've remembered how much I love the Les Mis soundtrack, and have basically been listening to it on repeat for the last week. And I've started rewatching Rome and am happy to learn that I still ship Vorenus/Pullo the MOST. (One's uptight! One's a trouble causer! They're on a road trip! They kind of hate each other, but put them up against some rampaging Gauls and they have each other's backs like they're Marcus and Esca.)
On a more fun note, I've remembered how much I love the Les Mis soundtrack, and have basically been listening to it on repeat for the last week. And I've started rewatching Rome and am happy to learn that I still ship Vorenus/Pullo the MOST. (One's uptight! One's a trouble causer! They're on a road trip! They kind of hate each other, but put them up against some rampaging Gauls and they have each other's backs like they're Marcus and Esca.)
You gotta live a little
Last night I roasted a chicken with a sort of peri peri rub, and now I have a lot of delicious chicken left-overs. Unfortunately, while I was searching for flour to make the gravy, I discovered that a lot of my dried goods had been eaten by the Giant Rats of Sumatra (OK, the Tiny Mice of South London), who had also taken the opportunity to shit all over my cupboards. So I've spent most of the rest of the weekend washing things, swearing, and throwing bleach around.
I did find time to watch the 1939 Basil Rathbone Hound of the Baskervilles film. It's probably the oldest film I've ever seen, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I really liked that 1930s!Watson was pretty smart (hardly any jam to be seen), and I loved the dorky flashback to Evil Cavalier Baskerville and his sinister carousing ways. Also, the film ends with Holmes announcing to a roomful of people that he's turning in, then literally turning around and summoning Watson to bed with him. ♥♥♥
The new Agent Carter trailer looks SO GREAT. Ladies! Stunning hats! Great music! Also, I just read a biography of Nancy Wake, a WW2 SOE hero who was essentially a real-life Peggy Carter, and I highly, highly recommend it.
I did find time to watch the 1939 Basil Rathbone Hound of the Baskervilles film. It's probably the oldest film I've ever seen, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I really liked that 1930s!Watson was pretty smart (hardly any jam to be seen), and I loved the dorky flashback to Evil Cavalier Baskerville and his sinister carousing ways. Also, the film ends with Holmes announcing to a roomful of people that he's turning in, then literally turning around and summoning Watson to bed with him. ♥♥♥
The new Agent Carter trailer looks SO GREAT. Ladies! Stunning hats! Great music! Also, I just read a biography of Nancy Wake, a WW2 SOE hero who was essentially a real-life Peggy Carter, and I highly, highly recommend it.
Mockingjay part 1
I went to see Mockingjay at West India Quay last night (side note: that area is currently full of life-size models of trees made out of fairy lights, and is looking seriously gorgeous at night) and I mostly really liked it.
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Overall I liked it much more than Catching Fire, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how the series ends.
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Overall I liked it much more than Catching Fire, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how the series ends.
This turned into a five things post
I went to see Frank (frnk!) Iero and his band play last week, and had an awful lot of feelings. It was a tiny venue, and when he came on and started singing he briefly sounded so much like Gerard that I had to sort of clutch at sandwich_armada hopelessly. At one point a dude in the audience yelled "stop being so cute!" at him, which I think about sums up the evening.
I haven't been to the cinema for about a million years, but I'm off to see Mockingjay on Friday. I wasn't all that keen on the second film because I thought it had some plot problems, but I have high hopes for this one! In the office today Terrible Colleague described Katniss as 'dense' and ''dumb' and I'm not sure I was able to contain my angry face.
Sleepy Hollow made me cry this week, which was a definite improvement on the tedium of the past few weeks. ( Collapse )
I went to an acoustic gig on Sunday and on first was Luke Saxton - all folky and sad and sweet.
The boiler in my building isn't working and I've been reduced to listening out for my landlord leaving in the morning and then chasing him down the stairs to harangue him about it. Thankfully I still have hot water, just no central heating, but if it doesn't get fixed before the properly cold weather arrives I will be pissed...
I haven't been to the cinema for about a million years, but I'm off to see Mockingjay on Friday. I wasn't all that keen on the second film because I thought it had some plot problems, but I have high hopes for this one! In the office today Terrible Colleague described Katniss as 'dense' and ''dumb' and I'm not sure I was able to contain my angry face.
Sleepy Hollow made me cry this week, which was a definite improvement on the tedium of the past few weeks. ( Collapse )
I went to an acoustic gig on Sunday and on first was Luke Saxton - all folky and sad and sweet.
The boiler in my building isn't working and I've been reduced to listening out for my landlord leaving in the morning and then chasing him down the stairs to harangue him about it. Thankfully I still have hot water, just no central heating, but if it doesn't get fixed before the properly cold weather arrives I will be pissed...