#Watkyn

[asklordcaptaincastronova]

Watkyn has read books on warfare

The wrong ones

[asklordcaptaincastronova]

(Watkyn chic)

does anyone have like an anti aesthetic. like something you look at and can recognize as a complete fashion/interior design/artistic movement and understand it but it makes you shudder seeing it. i am not talking like “its morally bad” “its poorly structured” like just sheerly devoid of joy for you actually invites a repulse response.

[powerupcomicstonight]

More Woosterposting

“You!” growled the diminutive aggressor, eyeing me as a graphic designer might regard a client who’s taken his work and swapped Comic Sans in for all the fonts. “So this is the degenerate manchild with designs on corrupting my innocent daughter!”

This took me squarely aback. I had not expected to cherish Sir Watkyn Bassett’s company, strictly speaking, but it had not occurred to me that the old patriarch might go aggro at the very sight of me.

“What-ho, Sir Watkyn!” I replied with a bright situation-diffusing smile. “So this is the kindly old bean who Madeline’s always praising to the high heavens!”

“Don’t what-ho me, Wooster!” Sir Watkyn snapped. “I’ve seen your videos, you know! You are a violent and lawless young man! I shudder to contemplate the irreparable fissures in the moral foundation of an individual who would award a score of 9.5 to a video game which allows the player to simulate, of all unsavory acts, stealing a policeman’s uniform!”

It would be a stretch to say that the pieces were falling into place, but there were pieces, and they were working their way clumsily down the y-axis. Madeline’s old ancestor had evidently vetted my Youtube channel, and found something that disagreed with his aged sensibilities.

“I’m sorry, Sir Watykn. Are you referring to my Grand Theft Auto review?”

“So, he admits it!” Cried Sir Watkyn of the Bassets in triumph.

“And that bit about stealing policemen’s uniforms, was that really the worst thing you saw me do in that game?”

“I had no appetite for further demonstrations of anarchy and mayhem,” he declared firmly. “I can readily imagine that this so-called game allowed you to escalate the situation to still higher levels of hooliganism, perhaps by vandalizing a police vehicle, or even shooting out the windows of a police station. What I saw made me feel sick, and I was forced to stop the video.”

...

I located Jeeves in a quiet corner of Sir Waykyn’s library, serenely editing Wikipedia on his laptop.

“It’s worse than I thought, Jeeves," I announced. "Sinister, in fact. I’ve broken bread with Sir Watkyn Bassett, and it’s come to light that he’s the boomer who reported my Youtube channel.”

“Would this be the excitable party whose censure resulted in the five-day suspension, sir?”

“The very same. I have taken damage, Jeeves. Bring me a whiskey-soda, and my new camouflage Crocs.”

[huanglaoshu]

"...Well, when was it stolen?" "About twenty minutes ago." "Then there you are. Twenty minutes ago I was up here in my room." This rattled him. I had thought it would. "You were in your room?" "In my room." "Alone?" "On the contrary. Jeeves was here." "Who is Jeeves?" "Don't you know Jeeves? This is Jeeves. Jeeves... Sir Watkyn Bassett." "And who may you be, my man?" "That's exactly what he is -- my man. May I say my right-hand man?" "Thank you, sir." "Not at all, Jeeves. Well-earned tribute." Pop Bassett's face was disfigured, if you could disfigure a face like his, by an ugly sneer. "I regret, Mr. Wooster, that I am not prepared to accept as conclusive evidence of your innocence the unsupported word of your manservant."

-- The Code of the Woosters, chapter 13

[isfjmel-phleg]

The Secret Garden (1975), a BBC miniseries adaptation, isn't so strong on production values or snappy pacing, but it's among the better adaptations in terms of similarity to the text and inclusion of--even expansion upon--elements that are often either very downplayed or outright omitted in most other versions. I can't remember if I've commented on it before or not, but how about I give you some observations, episode by episode? I'm a bit critical, but don't take that for dislike at all. There's a lot that I like in this version and a lot about the story that it gets right where others don't.

To give an example of the pacing, there's the glacial introduction, which goes on for nearly a whole minute. The music, however, is lovely.

Opens with some of the Indian servants about to flee the Lennox bungaloo, with mourning cries in the background, then shifts to Mary in bed mid-conversation with a woman named Taina who is taking on the role of the late ayah and trying to convince Mary to leave with her. Mary refuses. We don't get much context for who Mary is in this moment, which wasn't in the book. It does serve as a sort of exposition, but it also introduces something that doesn't make sense. In the book, Mary is forgotten in the panic; here, she's given an opportunity to escape the house in the care of someone who has remembered her, but turns it down out of stubbornness. Very different scenario.

Unlike in the book, we never see her parents (the conversation between Mrs. Lennox and the young officer is omitted), which could have been a helpful exposition device as well as demonstrating Mary's (lack of a) relationship with them.

The creepy near-silence of the dining room as Mary enters it to scavenge (although it seems a bit odd that her bedroom would be directly off a dining room at which her parents hosted parties), with the only noise being a sound of birds, is striking.

However, there's not the most effective sense of drama/menace, which is at least in part due to the nature of this sort of production. In many ways, the BBC adapations of this era were more like filmed stage plays than the more cinematic TV shows we're used to now. This isn't necesarily a bad thing, but it does take a little getting used to.

I think this might be the only film version that includes her encounter with the snake.

The closest we get to context for Mary is exposition from the officers checking the house for survivors. Some of this is from the book's dialogue, but it might have been more effective to have seen some Lennox family dynamics rather than just hearing about them.

There seem to be photos in Mary's room that might be of her parents, but we don't see them very closely.

Sarah Hollis Andrews looks the part of Mary quite well, more so than most other actresses who have played the role. (Mary is blonde in the book but is almost always cast as a brunutte.) Her performance shows some inexperience--takes in which she stumbles over her lines really shouldn't have been left in--but he makes Mary stiff, cold, blunt, and explosive by turns, which is accurate. The glimpse of vulnerability when she asks a second time why no one has come for her and her anger becomes sadness for a moment--that was poignant.

This is the only version that includes the Crawford children (three of them, anyway).

Mr. Craven is introduced with a shot that focuses on his back, which the 1949 version did too (albeit with menace--this miniseries is matter-of-fact about it).

Mary’s relation to Mrs. Craven is mentioned but it's left unclear through which parent.

If you've seen the 90s Jeeves and Wooster series, you might recognize the actor playing Mr. Craven (John Woodnutt) as the same one who played Sir Watkyn Bassett (father of Madeline).

This production chose to cast an older Mr. Craven (the actor was in his early fifties), probably because the book vaguely suggests it? Medlock says that "he was a sour young man," implying that he is no longer young, and his hair is described as "streaked with white."

The costume that Medlock wears on the train is taken straight from the book's description!

You can tell she's trying really hard to make Misselthwaite and the moor sound appealing.

The manor is said to be four hundred years old, not six hundred, because Burton Constable Hall, where the miniseries was filmed, was built around the late 1500s--Elizabethan rather than medieval.

There's less subtlety about the hints of Colin's existence than in the book. Medlock's stopping herself before referring to Mr. Craven's having a son happens in the passing in the text, but here it's very obvious and Mary notices and asks questions.

Mary outright states that she isn't grieving her parents and mentions without a hint of emotion that her mother "was beautiful, but she didn't care." Medlock seems shocked; Mary is matter-of-fact about it all.

Misselthwaite Manor is big and grand but not ominous and gothic as in many other productions. It seems quite grounded in reality--an "ordinary" British country house.

Another seldom-adapted minor character, Mr. Pitcher, Mr. Craven's valet--who is quite cold. This version doesn't really tone down uncaring or unfriendly adults as some other adaptations and retelling do.

The extended sequence of Medlock walking Mary to her room seems to establish the scale of the house as vast.

John "the strong young footman" is a very minor character in the book who is only seen transporting Colin downstairs and into his chair and has maybe one line, but the miniseries expands his role into someone who, along with Martha, often waits on Mary and Colin. This seems to be mainly for exposition purposes, to give Martha someone on her level to talk with.

When Mary first notices the wind wuthering around the house, she gets upset and goes into a flashback to the earlier part of her conversation with Taina. We see a greater extent of Mary's rudeness and her speaking a little Hindi(?). I'm really not sure why this is placed here; featuring the entire conversation at the beginning would have better introduced Mary.

Instead of going to straight to bed on arrival as she does in the book, Mary wanders out of her room and sees Dr. Craven leaving the house. She has questions about why a doctor was visiting and is told that he is Mr. Craven's cousin and visits often. True enough.

Martha is introduced from her POV, peeking at Mary while she sleeps. Jacqueline Hoyle was seventeen when she played this part, and I think she pulls off the big sister role well. She strikes the right balance of warmth and not putting up with nonsense.

John's face as he listens outside Mary's door and realizes that they've acquired yet another difficult child is amusing.

There are actually twelve Sowerby siblings in this one!

Martha's speech about assuming Mary would be ethnically Indian is present but altered in its wording, which is for the better.

There's an emphasis on Martha's and John's POV and reactions--both of them were played by teenagers, and they give off a youthful readiness to be amused as a means of coping with an unpleasant job.

John's weaponizing Mary's "it was the custom" to get her to say please and thank you is hilarious.

It's made clear that there is someone living in the east wing (not the west wing, where Mr. Craven is said to stay) and Mary catches John carrying Colin's breakfast tray. Only episode one and it's already making it clear that there is someone else in this house, even if we don't know yet who is it. I think this is kind of spoiling the mystery with too much information too soon.

Outdoor shot finally! The emphasis is more on Mary than the grounds, though. At this point the scope of the outdoors is kept small to coincide with Mary's narrow perspective.

[dathen]

“The prisoner Wooster,” he said⁠—and who can paint the shame and agony of Bertram at hearing himself so described?⁠—“will pay a fine of five pounds.”

“Oh, rather,” I said. “Absolutely. Like a shot.”

I was dashed glad to get the thing settled at such a reasonable figure.

Oh boy what an in media res beginning! I’m curious if this is character development (gasp) from his lifelong grudge about the same fine vs. Watkyn Basset, or if this is supposed to be that incident with an ACD-level of continuity integrity.

[funnuraba]

Lying in my sickbed, I have assigned myself to craft some official, wieldy and helpful Wodehouse ship names. Also, make sure to mask up in an N95 or better respirator for the ongoing Covid pandemic, and get some sealed safety goggles for the incipient H5N1 pandemic!

Bertie/Jeeves: Beeves

Aunt Dahlia/Uncle Tom: Dom

Aunt Agatha/guy she marries: Worplesgatha

Gussie/Madeline: Gusseline

Gussie/Emerald: Gusserald

Spode/Madeline: RodMad (not Basspode, which is Spode/Sir Watkyn)

Bingo/Rosie: BingBanks

Florence/Stilton: Fl'Orcy

Stilton/Daphne: Cheesehead

Florence/Percy: Florringe

Tuppy/Angela: Don't ship this

Stiffy/Stinker: Stiffstink Pinkbyng

Bingo/Pongo: Bongo, Pingo, Bingpong, possibilities are endless, idk if they ever speak though

Ashe/Joan: Marlentine

Joan/Aline: Only F/F Ship or Jaline igss

Ronnie/Sue: Fishbrown

Hugo/Millicent: Carwood/Threepmody

Tipton/Veronica: Ronton

Wilfred/Monica: Millsop

Gally/Dolly Henderson: Golly

Baxter/Lady Constance: Baxtance, yeah that's right they get a real one because they are #Real

Gally/Uncle Fred: Gallifred

Lord Emsworth/Uncle Fred: IckenEm. scraping the bottom of the Blandings barrel to find something gay

Sir Gregory/Maudie: Parslie

Ukridge/Corky: Stankoran

Psmith/Mike: Mīth

Psmithian polycule: my Covid induced brain damage can't handle this

[asklordcaptaincastronova]

See the Major-Baron simply isn't invited to staff meetings so I don't have to worry about the seating arrangements for him

[asklordcaptaincastronova]

(!!!!)

Reality Checkpoint

Pollux checks in on her cousin. Unfortunately her new husband is also there.

[kingbryancroidragon]

I literally watched this and pictured Kinger from "The Amazing Digital Circus" as Sir Watkyn, who would be the man who grabs the rifle.

[ao3feed-jeevesandwooster]

Jeeves and Trials of Love

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/flH5hw0 " by Lucere_Aeresta My life has been upside down for a few days since Jeeves left—yes, he left me for another man, at least that was what he's led me to believe. After days of struggle, I’ve accepted my fate, at least that’s what I've led myself to believe. …Until this morning, when someone rings me up for Jeeves, then arrive two most unexpected visitors at my flat door. All the facts that I’ve (in fact, not that) firmly believed turned out to be a pile of rot. From here begins my trails of love—if the good-for-nothing Bertram Wooster is ever to be good for just one thing, it must be Jeeves’ love. I must find him and make him understand that we are meant to be together. =========== See additional tags for warnings. Words: 22649, Chapters: 8/8, Language: English Series: Part 3 of Bertie Wooster Finds Love (And So Does Jeeves) Fandoms: Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves & Wooster Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Bertram "Bertie" Wooster, Reginald Jeeves, Original Characters, Watkyn Bassett, Eustace Oates Relationships: Reginald Jeeves/Bertram "Bertie" Wooster, Reginald Jeeves/Other(s) Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Post-Canon, Slow Burn, Humor, Gay Sex, Getting Together, POV Bertram "Bertie" Wooster, Period Typical Attitudes, Period-Typical Homophobia, Internalized Homophobia, mention of suicide, Derogatory Language, Non-Graphic Violence, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault " read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/59077537

[jeevesbattle]

Jeeves and Wooster Showdown

Series 3, Episode 5 - Hot Off the Press

Sir Watkyn Bassett is writing his memoirs-and everyone in his social circle fears what he might reveal. Bertie's new fiancée, Lady Florence Craye, wants Bertie to steal the memoirs before they can be published, but the escapade quickly gets out of hand.

Series 3, Episode 6 - Comrade Bingo

Aunt Dahlia employs Bertie in an underhanded job at Marsham Manor, where Madeline is also staying. As Bertie deals with the women at the manor, Bingo Little gets into a sticky situation of his own.

Series 4, Episode 1 - Return to New York

Having returned to New York, Bertie falls in love with an artist and commissions her to paint a portrait. When Aunt Agatha puts Bertie in charge of his cousins Claude and Eustace, Jeeves must save the day once again.

[huanglaoshu]

"You can't evade the issue by saying 'Sir?'. Answer me this, Jeeves, with a simple Yes or No. Why did you tell Plank to come to Totleigh Towers?" I thought the query would crumple him up like a damp sock, but he didn't so much as shuffle a foot. "My heart was melted by Miss Byng's tale of her misfortunes, sir. I chanced to encounter the young lady and found her in a state of considerable despondency as the result of Sir Watkyn's refusal to bestow a vicarage on Mr. Pinker. I perceived immediately that it was within my power to alleviate her distress. I had learned at the post office at Hockley-cum-Meston that the incumbent there was retiring shortly, and being cognizant of Major Plank's desire to strengthen the Hockley-cum-Meston forward line, I felt that it would be an excellent idea to place him in communication with Mr. Pinker. in order to be in a position to marry Miss Byng, Mr. Pinker requires a vicarage, and in order to compete successfully with rival villages in the football arena Major Plank is in need of a vicar with Mr. Pinker's wide experience as a prop forward. Their interests appeared to me to be identical."

-- Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, chapter 21

Jeeves probably had to call Major Plank well before Stiffy could tell him how upset she was, for the timing to work out. Which just means he made the call and then had the chat with Stiffy not the other way around.

Also compare Jeeves's speech to how Bertie breaks the news to Stiffy:

"You know about Plank?" "What about him?" "I'll tell you what about him. Plank to you hitherto has been merely a shadowy figure who hangs out at Hockley-cum-Meston and sells black amber statuettes to people, but he has another side to him." She betrayed a certain impatience. "If you think I'm interested in Plank -- " "Aren't you?" "No, I'm not." "You will be. He has, as I was saying, another side to him. He is a landed proprietor with vicarages in his gift, and to cut a long story down to a short-short, as one always likes to do when possible, he has just given one to Stinker."

-- Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, chapter 21

[asklordcaptaincastronova]

GADZOOKS BY JINGO

[asklordcaptaincastronova]

*Warkyn's nutribars are immediately eaten by fish*

Treason! Treason I say! Rig charges in court and blast them to smitheroos.

[asklordcaptaincastronova]

Watkyn! How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

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