Another Period Drama Tag!

My dear friend Evangeline from Over The Hills sent me this tag–and I admit I was very excited about it. I did a similar tag last January just as I was getting into Band of Brothers, and the past twelve months or so have been full of watching (or re-watching) other great period dramas.

Rule #1: Answer the questions (obviously)
Rule #2: Link back to the person who tagged you (done!)
Rule #3: Tag at least one other blogger to do the tag

FOR REFERENCE:

FYI, “PERIOD DRAMA” DOES NOT EQUAL “JANE AUSTEN” OR EVEN “REGENCY PERIOD”

1.  What was the most recent period drama you watched?  Share what you thought of it.

I recently watched Wives & Daughters for the first time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, much more than I thought I would. Molly Gibson was a very likable heroine–loyal, discreet, hard-working, intelligent, and kind–and I loved the vivid, often eccentric supporting characters I’ve come to expect in any Elizabeth Gaskell story. I think I preferred North & South as a more compelling tale, but Wives & Daughters was still delightful.

2.  Do you generally prefer period dramas in the form of a movie or a TV series/mini-series?  Why?

MINISERIES. Most period dramas are based on books and/or history. Occasionally you can find a really good movie adaptation of a book (like the Winona Ryder/Susan Sarandon/Christian Bale Little Women), but I usually find them rushed…which is why, for example, the newer Pride and Prejudice isn’t my cup of tea. Miniseries, on the other hand, can afford to stick much closer to the book or to historical fact. They simply have the available time.

3.  What is your favorite musical period drama?

Easy: The Greatest Showman. Because even though I can’t give it a lot of points for historical accuracy, it still qualifies as a period drama, and I’m pretty sure the amount of time I spent smiling through that movie extended my life by ten years. I can’t say enough good things about it–and yes, I’m still listening to the soundtrack. (I also love the Les Miserables movie, and The Sound of Music.)

4.  Read the book first or watch the movie first?

It depends. Sometimes watching the movie first helps me follow the plot when I read the book.

5.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned from a period drama?

“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage.”–Marmee, Little Women

6.  Which period drama hero would you be likely to fall in love with in real life?

This is funny because my sister and I were talking about this the other day, haha. And I can’t narrow it down to one guy because I think all our period drama heroes, no matter their personalities, quirks, and backgrounds, are somewhat idealized.

But I definitely have a type. And that type is the steady, wise, honest, kind, quietly (often savagely) funny, somewhat older Mr. Knightley-Lord Melbourne-Colonel Brandon-Professor Bhaer-Dick Winters type. (*swoon*)

7.  Do you ever like to binge-watch a period drama series?

I’ve never watched anything all day long unless I’ve been seriously ill. But my mom and I are watching Middlemarch right now and watching several episodes in one sitting, so that’s our version of binge-watching.

It’s probably one of the most complex, suspenseful period dramas I’ve ever seen. And everybody that’s ever been in anything is in it–from Robert Hardy to Pam Ferris to Jonathan Firth to Juliet Aubrey to the lady who plays Mrs. Jennings in the Sense & Sensibility movie…and a very, very young Rufus Sewell, as you can see from the above pic 😉

8.  What things go best with watching a period drama?

Tea in a mason jar. And a blanket, for when I get cold. And a pillow to hug when the suspense gets crazy.

9.  Which period drama do you think you would fit into best?

Cranford. The small town setting full of quirky, lovable characters who stick together and believe in each other, even in tough times, is one of the many reasons I love that show so much. Since I live in a small town with agricultural roots and a delightfully vivid, history-rich community as well, I like to think I’d fit in very well in Cranford.

10. If you could have any period drama character for a best friend, who would it be?  And why?

Sister Julienne from Call the Midwife. I admire her so much: she’s so loving and sensible and wise.

11. Show us a picture of a period drama costume you wish you could wear in real life.

I would wear pretty much everything Queen Elizabeth II wears in The Crown, so I’ll pick this particular dress…

Why can’t we still dress like this?! (Answer: you actually can. You can buy vintage dresses like these on Amazon. Buck the system, defy the trends, dress like it’s 1952–and when people snicker at you, give them the Elizabeth Windsor Glare. They’ll leave you alone after that.)

12. Are there any period dramas you like to watch during a particular season or holiday?

We watch the Little Women movie EVERY SINGLE DAY-BEFORE-THANKSGIVING while we do our cooking and baking. It’s tradition!

13. Which period drama has your favorite soundtrack?

I love the soundtracks from the Emma miniseries, Little Women, and Band of Brothers.

14. Dream cast your favorite actor and actress in a period drama of your choosing; tell which parts they would play and why.

FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, remake Roman Holiday and let Jenna Coleman play Ann and Rufus Sewell play Joe. PLEASE. They would be perfect. “But dear, Roman Holiday doesn’t count as a period drama–” It would, too, if it were remade today and set in the 1950’s!!!

15. Are there any period dramas you like more than one version of?

I like both the movie and miniseries versions of Sense and Sensibility! The mini-series has a lead over the movie, but both are long-time favorites.

16. What are the top three period dramas that you haven’t seen on your to-watch list?

Little Dorrit (I watched the first episode but had to pause in order to watch my library copy of Middlemarch), the upcoming Little Women miniseries, and the upcoming movie adaptation of one of my favorite books of all time, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society!

17. Show a picture of your favorite period drama hairstyle.

Again, if I could simply look like Claire Foy’s Queen Elizabeth II…

This is pretty similar to the hairstyle I use almost on a daily basis anyway, although I don’t curl my hair everyday and I’m still trying to figure out how she did that with her bangs.

18. What was your favorite wedding in a period drama?

There are so many I can think of, but I’m gonna go with the one that made me so happy, after so many episodes of waiting for them to just finally admit their feelings to each other: Dr. Turner and Shelagh’s wedding in Call the Midwife!

I think I spent so much time hoping and hoping and hoping that this would happen, I was over the moon by the time we got to it.

19. What is your favorite biographical period drama?

Oh gosh. So many. Victoria and The Crown, obviously…but also Miss Potter, Cinderella Man, Luther, Amazing Grace, and John Adams. And that’s just a small selection. I’m sure there are so many others I’m forgetting…

20. Which historical novel will you forever recommend to anyone and everyone?

I can’t narrow it down to one, so…The Help, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Keeper of the Bees.

I will tag Eva-Joy from Coffee, Classics, and Craziness since I know she loves both period dramas and tags! Enjoy, friend 🙂