#Victoria Cooper

[brianrope]

“BEING PRESENT” and Perform Eight ACTs

Visual Art Exhibition Review “BEING PRESENT” and Perform Eight ACTs | COOPER+SPOWART Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre Foyer Gallery | 29 August – 4 December 2024 Being Present is the title of a conceptual and creative artists’ book by COOPER+SPOWART (Victoria Cooper + Doug Spowart). It comprises eight individual folios (or ACTs) in smaller foldout books. The book is displayed beautifully in…

[panelshowsource]

out of context taskmaster (3/∞)

[addisonbae]

[too-funky]

Rivals feature in the Radio Times, October 2024

[ferragamochiara]

pinterest: @ferragamochiara

[atimburtonfan]

[laughing-gunslinger]

Reference sheet of my wonderful new Prime Asset oc, Victoria Cavendish!

[sodapopprincess]

“yea, my favorite celebrities are matt stone and trey parker. how could u tell?”

[aidanturner]

Behind the scenes of 'Rivals'👠

Photo source: David Tennant Daily, X

[nerds-yearbook]

In 1909, in a drunken stupor, Captain Jack Harkness’ men had run over a little girl and killed her. She turned out to have been the chosen one of the fairies. A week later when they were all traveling on a train, his men were all killed by the fairies and their mouths filled with rose petals. ("Small Worlds", Torchwood, TV)

[brianrope]

PALIMPSEST 

Exhibition Review: Textiles, mixed media, ephemeral artworks, installations, artist books & photobooks PALIMPSEST | Victoria Cooper, Maggie Hollins, Doug Spowart BAINZ Gallery, Wangaratta Library | 5 – 28 August 2023 The Winton Wetlands are at Winton North in north-eastern Victoria – near to Benalla. I’ve never visited them, but after viewing this exhibition and speaking with two of the…

[billcarden]

police shut us down

[addisonbae]

Addison Rae for Perfect Magazine 2024

[world-of-wales]

CATHERINE'S STYLE FILES - 2023

8 DECEMBER 2023 || The Princess of Wales hosted the Together At Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in London.

Catherine opted for -

↬ Bespoke Long Coat in 'White' by Chris Kerr

↬ Cashmere Knit Jumper in 'Off-White' by Kiltane

↬ High Waisted Straight Trousers in 'Ivory' by Holland Cooper × Victoria

↬ 'Magic Alhambra' Dangling earrings with 2 Motifs by Van Cleef & Arplels

↬ 'Mozaic Nano' Handbag in 'Vanilla' by Strathberry

↬ 'Gianvito 105' Pumps in 'Bisque Suede' by Gianvito Rossi

[agentnico]

Rivals - season 1 (2024) review

Blimey Disney - you dirty!!

Plot: Into the cut-throat world of Corinium television comes Declan O'Hara, a mega-star of great glamour and integrity with a radiant feckless wife, a son and two teenage daughters. Living rather too closely across the valley is Rupert Campbell-Black, divorced and as dissolute as ever, and now the Tory Minister for Sport. Declan needs only a few days at Corinium to realise that the Managing Director, Lord Baddingham, is a crook who has recruited him merely to help retain the franchise for Corinium. Baddingham has also enticed Cameron Cook, a gorgeous but domineering executive, to produce Declan's programme. Declan and Cameron detest each other, provoking a storm of controversy into which Rupert plunges with his usual abandon. As a rival group emerges to pitch for the franchise, reputations ripen and decline, true love blossoms and burns, marriages are made and shattered, and sex raises its (delicious) head at almost every throw as, in bed and boardroom, the race is on to capture the Cotswold Crown.

One can recall the time when Disney first announced its streaming service, and how many scratched their heads thinking the platform will be mostly family/children orientated content, as well as Marvel and Star Wars. Since then though the House of Mouse seemingly has grown some cojones, for now they are unashamed to release stronger more provocative mature content. In cometh Rivals, an adaptation of the 1988 Jilly Cooper novel known for its filth and sexual content. And the TV series goes full Game of Thrones in that respect, as it not all all shies away from all the sex, and in fact I even found myself wishing there wasn’t as much sex happening on screen, and to leave a little to our imaginations instead. Then again from what I heard Cooper’s novel was overly erotic in itself, as such can’t blame the series for being faithful. Seriously though, seconds into the first episode we're confronted with a man's bare buttocks furiously humping away in an airplane toilet, as his partner at the mile-high club grinds her red stilettoed heel into the bathroom wall. Yep, this may just be the most expensive porn I’ve ever seen.

Rivals is campy, colourful, glamorous and silly fun about terrible people and inappropriate jokes. Essentially every character is a diabolical self-centred human being, very much emphasising the stereotype of television stardom celebrity. Yet also every single horrible individual is dripping with endless charisma and charm that you can’t help but enjoy seeing them trying to outdo one another. This is a very glitzy period drama set in the backdrop of the 80s, and speaking of the era, the soundtrack of this show is a superb mixtape of the greatest 80s hits. Every other scene another banger is dropped, which was bit another cherry on top of what already was a very delicious cake.

Disney have also forked out for a stellar cast here. David Tennant (ex-Doctor Who) plays the mean and slimy Lord Tony Baddingham, with the “Bad” in his name not without purpose, as he’s a cold-hearted control freak that wants to own the regional TV network, and destroys anyone that come in his path. Especially with his past in Doctor Who, as well as his fun shenanigans with Michael Sheen, I’m used to Tennant being the loveable personality that he is, but he is truly despicable in Rivals. Then again he played a heck of an antagonist in Jessica Jones, so I shouldn’t be so shocked. Aidan Turner plays possible the only human being in this show with a soul and moral compass as television presenter Declan O’Hara, who’s a riff on Jeremy Kyle, only that he’s not 100% a dick. Turner, who most would know as the good-looking dwarf from The Hobbit movies, is a delight here, and the only one you can actually properly root for. He’s a good guy in a pent house full of wolves. Alex Hassell has possible the most challenging job of balancing the “handsomest man in England” role of Rupert Campbell-Black, as he is both a hero and an antihero. He’s extremely watchable, playing a part-villain, part-Adonis, part-whimpering child, and he plays the role with credibility. Then there is Danny Dyer, who one wouldn’t think would be able to perform on the level of his other cast members, but he was truly delightful here. He plays a self-made millionaire who refuses to adhere to the social rules, or dress codes of the upper class, and is made fun of for it. But it his his romantic side-plot that showcases Jilly Cooper’s more sensitive and sentimental side. Finally we have Bella Maclean as 20-year old daughter of Declan, who acts in some capacity as the viewer’s innocent perspective into the madness of the rich, from the raunchy parties to the endless innuendos. Yet she also has a controversial will-they-won’t-they fling with RCB, and even though the age gap is a tad concerning, the two have such off the charts chemistry that I couldn’t help but ship that boat big time.

Rivals is at its best when it does not take itself too seriously. There are darker moments in this also, from references to the AIDS crisis, to Margaret Thatcher’s political strategy, and more notably sex without consent. I totally get why the latter was included, as it was a reflection on terrible people, especially rich and powerful ones, getting away with terrible things due to their stature. Again though, the show is at its most entertaining when it lets loose and throws these characters in fun stand-offs, and I was truly invested from the first episode till last. It’s rare for me these days to be excited for another season, but goodness do I want, nay NEED season 2 of Rivals ASAP! Please Disney, do one thing right for once and renew this show!

Overall score: 8/10

[erotictalesofjackson]