#the confessions of dorian gray

[derrestistschweigen]

Hugh Skinner is very good at playing characters who just want to be with the man they love but end tragically

[raptorscribbles]

A commission of Dorian and Tobias from "The Confessions of Dorian Gray"!

Patreon Commissions Ko-Fi

[impulsivesuperrobin]

just watched renfield and all i can think about is a world in which nicholas hoult’s renfield meets alexander vlahos’ dorian gray

they bond over being manipulated into being immoral and trying to be better

maybe they kiss a little about it idk

[catmoreau]

Just saying that Laszlo has definitley had a fling with Dorian.

[bigbootyoiledupjoseph]

i miss dorian and basil sm i wish victorian gay ppl were real BRAH i just imagine these two cuddling in bed and just enjoying eadhother I HATE THIS BOOK I HATE IT WHY CIULDNT THEY BE HAPPY (*´･ω･)

[being-of-rain]

Oh hey, The Confessions of Dorian Gray is half price atm! If you're interested in a good supernatural horror audio series, I really recommend you go check it out! It's about the immortal Dorian Gray who lives past the end of Oscar Wilde's original novel and through the whole 20th century. That means each episode is set in a different time and place (and has a queer main character. There's a gay vampire romance, obviously.) It's part-full cast drama, part-first person narration by the silky smooth voice of Alexander Vlahos. And episodes are usually only half an hour, making them satisfying little things (with great music too.) Eps are only a dollar or two each. (Just be aware the series is intended for mature audiences, and has things like adult themes, some odd violence, and the very rare short sex scene.)

LINK

Super Quick Listening Guide for the Morbidly Curious:

-The first episode is 'This World Our Hell', and if you're looking for the popular gay vampire ep in series 1 it's 'The Heart That Lives Alone'.

-There's some minisodes that are always free! I don't think any of them are as good as most of the full episodes, but they've got Vlahos' voice in them so worth checking out.

-If you want to dive in, then the collected 'Series 01-02' is good value for money. Just be aware it puts the episodes in chronological order rather than release order—I'd recommend release order for your first time, but they can be listened to either way. (As well as some other bonus features, the set also includes the episode of Bernice Summerfield that first tried out the Immortal Dorian Gray concept. But I wouldn't listen to it first, it's not part of the rest of the Dorian series and assumes you know the Benny characters.)

-After series 2, Big Finish also made an adaptation of the original Picture of Dorian Gray novel. I'm not sure I'd recommend listening to that first either; it's a lot longer and perhaps not quite as captivating as the series itself. If you've read any summary of the original novel, you'll be more than prepared for the Confessions of Dorian Gray.

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

In regards to the post I made about Henry earlier, here’s the headcanon 'theory' I have based on all of this:

Basil and Henry had a wonderful romance in college. It was a defining situationship for both of them, perhaps a genuine queer awakening for Henry (as he had toyed with the idea before, but had always seen it as a more ‘edgy way’ to generate outrage, Basil was the first person he genuinely fell in love with) and a validation of interest for Basil (“oh wow, a man really loves me! Neat!”). Regardless, there was certainly a romance between them.

I personally think Henry fucked it up because of commitment issues (Remember, while he complains about marriage, the real criticism is towards commitment as a whole. Being a bachelor gives you options, having to marry them away. He also consistently says 'eternity' scares him. Also Basil points to Henry being unable to understand his love for Dorian because Henry "change[s] too often") which then contributed to the breakdown of their relationship. But still, on Henry’s end, there was an egotistic belief that Basil would never find anyone as good as him (Henry) and therefore Basil was still and would always be his. Thus the violets: he might be in mourning for the nature of their relationship before, but he is faithful to the love they had. (“My dear old Basil, you are much more than an acquaintance.”)

And then Basil finds Dorian.

There’s an interesting thing that happens in the first chapter of the book where Henry never dismisses anything Basil says. In fact he goes out of his way to acknowledge them and expand upon them, even reassuring Basil at certain points. To me, it’s almost like Henry doesn’t grasp the depth of Basil’s love for Dorian. Basil seems to want to keep it that way, while also struggling to do so.

I think Basil's hesitancy is mostly out of guilt: Basil cares about Henry and feels that in some way this is partly a betrayal of their relationship (whatever that is to the both of them). I think it's also partly out of (justified) fear of how Henry will react.

Throughout the first chapter, Basil keeps confessing how much he likes Dorian ‘but only artistically!’, then backtracks hard, the moment Henry shows any interest in meeting Dorian (because that would prove Basil isn't telling the whole truth).

Henry keeps entertaining Basil’s little ‘it’s artistic only, i swear—” until this exchange:

““I am very glad you didn’t, Harry.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want you to meet him.”

“You don’t want me to meet him?”

“No.””

The repeat of Basil's words is extremely important, it points to a double take (literarily!). I believe this is the moment when Henry realizes that Basil’s interest isn’t artistic in any way. And this also marks the moment every action Henry takes towards Basil grows cruel and spiteful. After Parker announces Dorian’s arrival and they head, Henry, for the first time in the intro, fully dismisses what Basil says to him. Dismissing Basil becomes a repeated action through out the rest of the novel.

“Then he looked at Lord Henry. “Dorian Gray is my dearest friend,” he said. “He has a simple and a beautiful nature. Your aunt was quite right in what she said of him. Don’t spoil him. Don’t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad. The world is wide, and has many marvellous people in it. Don’t take away from me the one person who gives to my art whatever charm it possesses: my life as an artist depends on him. Mind, Harry, I trust you.” He spoke very slowly, and the words seemed wrung out of him almost against his will.

“What nonsense you talk!” said Lord Henry, smiling, and taking Hallward by the arm, he almost led him into the house.”

Later when they meet with Dorian. There is an extremely interesting change from the 1890 ver.

1891 ver: “No wonder Basil Hallward worshipped him.”

1890: “No wonder Basil Hallward worshipped him. He was made to be worshipped.”

Upon laying eyes on Dorian, Henry realizes he cannot compare at all. Basil didn’t just replace him, Basil sought someone who was nothing like him and far superior to what Henry stood for. What better way to announce you’ve moved on than falling in love with someone completely different and even 'better' than your ex? 

After this, Henry forces Basil to ask him to stay. He makes an excuse when Dorian asks and plays coy until Basil finally says : “Stay, Harry, to oblige Dorian, and to oblige me.” 

By the way, Basil already asked Henry to stay on Dorian’s behalf (“If Dorian wishes it, of course you must stay. Dorian’s whims are laws to everybody, except himself.”), but Henry wanted Basil to say “I want you to stay. I want you to stay for me, Harry.”

[philosophybitmaps]

[pinball-wzrd]

fellas is is gay to confess your undying love to your best friend, a man that you believe is deserving of worship, as you have never felt any feeling as strong toward a woman?

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

I know this isn't going to happen, but I would love a Big Finish Confessions of Dorian Gray crossover with Death Note because we all know that Light Yagami would throw an absolute temper tantrum when he writes Dorian's name in the book...and nothing happens.

[allucka]

basil pours his heart out, confesses to dorian just how strong his admiration was, outright says it was idolatry, and dorians like "ok? boring. try something new" i cant get over it

[derrestistschweigen]

Mama Mia this, les mis that, Fleabag that yeah yeah

I just really wish more people from the Witcher fandom would find out about Hugh Skinner in the Confessions of Dorian Gray because, so far, I've only had one person to talk to about that series

And also you haven't lived if you haven't heared him voice a very dramatic and tragic vampire who is also the love of Dorian Gray's life

[doriangrayanswers]

Heyyyyyy Dorian! What's good ??

ahhh,, this is certainly a question……nothing and also everything? ✨Emotions✨

[impulsivesuperrobin]

does anyone know if there’s any merlin/confessions of dorian gray crossover fics?

i love the idea of immortal merlin running into dorian and being like “this guy looks exactly like the little shit that killed my boyfriend arthur, but he keeps flirting with me and asking if i want to do drugs. also i can sense magic on him but it’s not druid. i don’t know what’s happening.”

[catmoreau]

I just want Toby to come back and for him and Dorian to live happily ever after. Is that too much to ask?!?

[being-of-rain]

Random niche thing I found out today: Seán Carlsen (Narvin) played Basil Hallward in the Confessions of Dorian Gray series! Not in the adaptation of the original novel, but in The Fallen King of Britain, when there's a dream sequence with characters from throughout Dorian's life. Like all the characters in the sequence, he isn't credited, so I don't think I knew it was him until I browsed the long credits of the collected series 1 & 2 set, where he is credited for the role (alongside his role in Ghosts of Christmas Past. Makes sense that he'd play the bit part of Basil around the same time that Briggs recorded his part as Sherlock Holmes in both episodes). Unlike his Christmas role, I never recognised Carlsen as Hallwood, but I rushed to listen to the scene as soon as I learnt and it's definitely him 😂