#tom raikes

[totallovestrucksimp]

Here’s to hoping that Mrs Raikes shows up in season three with a divorce order and Larry flaunts his newfound relationship with Marian in front of his stupid face🍷

[everythegildedageoutfit]

Every Outfit in The Gilded Age - Outfit 296 - Tom Raikes's outfit 10 - Season 1, Episode 9

[bonniebirddoesgifs]

Bonniebirddoesgifs:

Marian Brook & Tom Raikes (The Gilded Age)

[mariusperkins]

Like obviously I will be absolutely deranged for the length of whatever fight George and Bertha have in season 3 but honestly I think I will also be really upset if Bertha and Marian fight too, when the first two seasons show them as more aligned than not.

I mean even leaving aside the two Marian Brook Conveniently To The Rescue (Due To Being In The Right Place At The Right Time)*, every time Bertha is brought up to Marian (especially in S1!) she is immediately like We Should Ask Mrs Russell We Should Involve Mrs Russell not just because she thinks blocking out the new money people just because they're new isn't right, but because she has this streak of practicality. She's obviously sheltered, but not at all as sheltered as Larry and Gladys (especially Gladys!) are shown to be. She's seen the extremely unglamorous, unromantic side of money and marriage and I think it does make her look at Bertha's actions in a different light to most of the other characters.

And Bertha gave her that fan, after she said she wanted one. And Bertha does keep inviting her to the opera even though I'm sure there are families higher on the New York society lists. And I mean if you're the kind of person to sear every slight into your mind like a Bertha is, you might be the kind of person to remember moments of kindness as well, like when someone visits you when they absolutely did not have to, like when they risked their own tenuous position to accept your invitation.

*the glove shopping trip that saves George from going to jail, obviously, but she's also the reason Bertha finds out about McAllister's turn back to Mrs Astor's side

[bridgertonbee1814]

The Gilded Age characters as John Mulaney quotes:

George Russell:

Bertha Russell:

Agnes Van Rijhn:

Ada Van Rijhn:

Marian Brooke:

Peggy Scott:

Tom Raikes:

[veronicaleighauthor]

Embracing My Inner Marian Brook

SPOILER ALERT!!!

First of all, Praise Jesus, we’re getting a Season 3 for “The Gilded Age!”

::WARNING:: ::THIS IS A LONG RAMBLING POST::

::sighs::

I can’t believe Season 2 of “The Gilded Age” is over. Why did we get nine episodes in Season 1, but only eight in Season 2?!?!?! Not that another episode would have been enough for me. The costumes, the snobbery, the grandeur, the upstairs/downstairs relations – I love it all. It may even surpass my love for “Downton Abbey.” I think it’s because I’m American and this is based in America, and we just don’t have the period dramas that Britain has. We had “Mercy Street” for only two seasons – I’m still not over the cancelation of that show. Anyway, I can easily get lost in the show’s world, even though my ancestors of that era were farmers, laborers, and factory workers in the Midwest. There’s a derogatory comment made in Season 1, that in the past, Bertha Russell dug her own potatoes before she married George and they made their fortune. My people would be closer to that than anyone else on the show.

Last season, I was really drawn to Peggy Scott’s character. I still adore her, but during my rewatch of season one and watching this season, I’ve realized something. My personality is closer to Marian Brook’s. According to a Myer-Brigg’s personality test, I’m an INFJ-T and though I’ve searched around on line, I found only one site that claimed Marian was an INFP. We’re not twins, but I really feel I’m closer to her in personality than I am with any other character on the show. Except maybe Gladys Russell. I might be similar to Gladys…Poor girl.

We’re introduced to Marian Brook in Season 1 when her father dies and she learns she’s left with nothing. Her world is turned upside down. She receives a letter from her Aunt Ada in New York; it contains a train ticket and encouragement to come live with her and her older sister, Agnes van Rhijn. Marian accepts, arrives in the city with Peggy Scott who helps her on the journey, and she is thrust into New York society. Since Agnes married into an Old Money family, Marian is considered part of that family by connection. She makes friends with the Russell siblings across the street, who are New Money! She is also friendly with Mrs. Chamberlain, who broke the rules and is ostracized. ::gasps:: As she navigates society, an attorney friend from her hometown in Pennsylvania, Tom Raikes (who lives up to his surname) shows up and much to Agnes’ disapproval, he pursues Marian. She is persuaded to believe she is in love, and maybe in a sense she was. Maybe it was a first love kind of thing. The audience, and Aunt Agnes especially, knows something isn’t quite right. Tom proposes, Marian accepts, and an elopement is planned and attempted…Well, Marian follows through with the plan, Tom fails to show up and later dares to show his face at Mrs. Russell’s ball. ::boo, hiss, boo:: Marian is brokenhearted, but she’s young and resourceful, she will heal.

Season 2 opens and as the Opera War is being waged, we discover that Tom Raikes is newly married and though Marian is a little affected, she is moving on. She has taken a position teaching water colors painting at a school. ::gasps:: Aunt Agnes is horrified. No one from an Old Money family works. It’s not done, it’s not genteel. While Marian loves her life in New York and the society she belongs to, she finds purpose in teaching her class. It eventually involves into teaching other pupils how to read and write. Just when she finds her place in the world, a cousin of hers (or is it a nephew) by marriage, Dashiell Montgomery arrives on the scene. Newly widowed and the father of a daughter, he soon sets his sights on Marian as a prospective second wife. Marian appreciates his company and likes him and his daughter (despite them insulting her by saying “she’s not a real teacher” and making an off-handed comment that the poor people can wait to learn to read, her attendance at this fancy gathering is necessary). Dashiell is…not a bad man, and in Aunt Agnes’ eyes, he’s a good catch. I have a hard time getting past the Tsar Nicholas II beard that he sports (I swear, whenever he was on the scene, all I could think of was Tsar Nicholas II). But when he puts Marian on the spot by proposing to her in public, to be kind and show compassion to his daughter who desires the match, she accepts…

When the van Rhijn’s encounter financial troubles, I feared Marian would be pressured to continue with the engagement. Thankfully, she waited for a private moment to part ways with him. Aunt Agnes reminds Marian she must be careful – her reputation has taken two hits, society won’t accept a third. But she is free. Free to teach, to help with social causes, to perhaps find love with the Russell boy.

The internet seems divided about Marian’s personality type. One site claims she is a INFP and that’s close to what I am. In my recent binges of the show, I have seen parallels between our personalities. She seems more traditional at first, relying first upon her father and then Aunt Agnes for support. She and Peggy Scott befriend and support one another, yet it is not without some troubles. Though Marian believes all people are created equal and treats them as such, she originally thinks Peggy is poor and calls on her at the Scott family home bringing a “charity bag.” Thankfully their falling out only lasts an episode or two. We are horrified when she misses the racism Peggy faces at a shop she likes to buy from. A well-meaning person, she misjudges Tom Raikes. The audience can see he’s more in love with New York society than he is Marian herself. This nearly leads her into scandal. When Dashiell obviously begins to pursue her, rather than bluntly dissuade him, she permits his attentions because he does some kind things and he’s closely connected to her aunts. For me, that one hits close to home. Marian is nice, but when compared with the more dynamic Bertha Russell or force of nature Agnes van Rhijn, she doesn’t stand out.

A Collider article criticizes her for being the “least interesting character.” I initially overlooked her too. Maybe it was my acceptance of that I’m closer to Fanny Price of “Mansfield Park” than say Elizabeth Bennet of “Pride and Prejudice,” encouraged me to give Marian Brook of “The Gilded Age” a second look. Marian is more introverted; she often has her nose in complicated books like Henry James’ “The Portrait of a Lady” and she doesn’t make waves until she really has to. She enjoys fashion and pretty things, wishing for a fancy fan, that Bertha later gifts her. When pressed, she will stand her ground and fight for herself and others. The criticisms she’s received from articles and online comments, reminds me of the criticisms I received over the years. That I was too shy, not outgoing enough, that I rarely talked, that I could be a Miss Priss. I don’t always have the best judgment about people and I can be swayed into doing what others wish. I prefer to handle things privately.

You know what, there’s nothing wrong with being shy, introverted, reserved, traditional, etc, etc. Shy girls deserve a place in the narrative too. Marian Brook is this “least interesting” girl’s favorite character. I can’t wait to see what Season 3 has in store for her. ::sighs:: 2024 is going to be a long year.

Who is your favorite character from “The Gilded Age?”

[adamsvanrhijn]

this album is Marian Brooke/Tom Raikes coded

help?

[periwinckles]

The Gilded Age - a very unthorough review

(Why am I watching a new show, while Valancy Sterling is waiting for me in the corner? No idea!)

So, I’ve been watching the Gilded Age for the past week or so, and I have things to say.

My first thought was “how awesome is it that the lead of this show is a pretty girl that doesn’t abide by the current beauty standards?” Then I googled her and realized she’s actually Meryl Streep’s daughter, which sort of explains why she’s never had a nose job. Maybe it is still some sort of defiance to Hollywoods demands on her part, but now I feel like she’s only “allowed” to do it because she’s “Meryl Streep’s daughter”.

Baranski is awesome, I’d watch this show just because of her. I heard her say “no one writes a snob like Julian Fellowes”; honey, no body plays a snob like you and I love it.

I cannot stand Tom Raikes from episode one. Is anyone actually shipping him with Marian? You know… other than Marian herself?

Larry Russell on the other hand, what a sweet little golden retriever, he needs to find true love or I will lose faith in this story. (Marian. He needs to find true love in Marian.)

Is it just me or does it seem that the Russell household becomes more proeminent than the van Rhijn as the season progresses?

Tom Raikes, you bastard, I knew it!

So, Larry and Marian are a slow burn, right?? Like really really slow? But they have to end up married! Look at their ship name! Larry + Marrian = Marry (foreshadowing! 😅)

[skippingdown16]

anyway I was trying to find tom raikes-related gifs to make song connections inspired by that one anon but apparently tom raikes content is few and far between

[dontforgetoctober3rd]

Spillways (Chapter 3) A Gilded Age fanfic

Faceclaims for George and Randolph Stewart

Contents: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2

Word count: approximately 2300

Story Summary: All of New York society is in a tizzy over the news: The Earl of Galloway is in town with his son, the 30 year old (bachelor) Randolph.  Marriage-minded mamas are on the prowl but the Earl and his son eschew most of the lavish parties and teas they’re invited to...except to a certain tea with Agnes Van Rhijn and her niece, Marian.

Rating: Teen (mentions of drunkenness, slut-shaming) Ratings will be *by chapter*, so subsequent installments might differ in their rating.

Author's Notes: This is a canon-divergence story beginning a few months from episode 5 of Season 2.

DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with The Gilded Age in any way beyond being a fan, I do not own the Gilded Age characters nor am I using them for any commercial purposes or making money from this, this is just basically word fanart of the show

Beautiful divider by @muchomago

It came as a shock to everyone (except Bannister and Peggy) that Agnes Van Rhijn objected to Marian potentially being courted by an Earl’s son.  

Everything Agnes did, especially since Ada’s leaving to be with her new husband, was in hopes of finding Marian a husband.  Failed courtships did nothing to deter her. 

“It  seems like she would pair Miss Marian with anything that breathed and wore a top hat if it came down to it.” Jack said one morning at breakfast. The rest of the servants and Peggy  agreed: if it was male and available, Agnes Van Rhijn would attempt a match.

Until it came to Randolph Stewart, that is.  

Both ladies were in the sitting room when the argument broke out, Marian reading the newspaper and Agnes tending to her letters near the window.  Marian seemed more willing to be open with her Aunt about her goings on these days.  Agnes sometimes took the information with ill will.  Like today.

“He is not courting me, Aunt Agnes, he merely wishes to talk of how to better support St. Mary’s and also the Red Cross! Charity work is important to him.  Even if he was courting me...would that be so horrible?”

“He is the son of a member of the peerage, my dear.  The most important thing to him is finding a gullible lady who will turn a blind eye to his whoring and give him a legitimate heir so that he can prance around as if he has accomplished something worthwhile in this world.” Agnes said acidly.

“How can you say that when you don’t even know him?!” Marian argued.  She folded the newspaper in her lap.  

“You certainly had no issue when Charles and Aurora pushed me to meet a drunkard!  I heard no complaints from you when Dashiell proposed to me, when it turned out he was only doing it to spite his now wife because she had rejected him!”

“I was right about that Raikes scoundrel, wasn’t I?”

“You weren’t at first and you know it.” Marian shot back.  “People change and Tom Raikes unfortunately decided not to include me in his life when he did.”

“I suppose you’ll continue to ignore my advice, as you always do.” Agnes said, returning to her correspondence with a huff.  Peggy had the day off, and so Marian and Agnes were alone together in the house with the remaining help. 

“I don’t ignore your advice, Aunt Agnes.  You only say that because I make choices different to those you would make yourself.” 

“Cavorting with a likely rakehell is definitely a choice I would never in a million years make.” Agnes said curtly, continuing to write.

“Giving people a chance to show me who they are is not a poor choice.” Marian said, returning to her reading of the paper.  “I will go to see Randolph in the park tomorrow, whether you approve of it or not.”

“Hpmh!” Agnes answered. “I knew nothing good would come of you lowering yourself to doing work at that school.”

The day after their argument, Agnes Van Rhijn strangely accepted Marian’s suggestion that she include Randolph Stewart’s father on an invitation without fuss.  The whole incident had gone well. Eerily so. Bannister and the rest of the servants were truly surprised.  Comparing it to their previous quarrel, it was like comparing night and day.

 It worried Marian now more than when she had anticipated another tantrum before asking.  She had expected a battle and gotten mildly annoyed acceptance instead. 

Beforehand, Bannister and Peggy had warned Marian that her Aunt felt…strongly about the Earl, even if she had no legitimate quarrel with his son besides lingering prejudices stemming from history with his father.  Whatever that history was, the rest of the inhabitants of the house still did not know, but it was obviously something Agnes Van Rhijn refused to let go of for decades.

“If the Earl decides to accept your invitation, I suspect his visit will not go smoothly.” Bannister warned.  “Mrs. Van Rhijn may be plotting something.”

“The way she rejected Mrs. Astor’s invitation that day…she was more cordial when refusing Mrs. Russell’s invites when she was first establishing herself in society, let’s just leave it at that.” Peggy had informed her.

“Aunt Agnes is nothing if not proper.  She will not dare to behave so impulsively in person with an Earl in her home.” Marian said.  She wished she believed it. Perhaps Randolph would tell her what was going on.

There was already gossip in the papers about Marian having talked to Randolph Stewart.  When so many pleas for the presence of Lord Stewart and his son had been rejected, seeing Miss Marian Brook going for a carriage ride with one of them felt like another rejection.  A statement as well.  One that said: Marian Brook is better than you, people whose invitations we have denied.  When it came out that both the Earl and his son were invited to tea at 61st Street by Miss Brook, not Agnes herself, and had accepted?  Well, the uproar was quite a thing.

They wouldn’t dare utter a word in Agnes Van Rhijn’s presence (or within her hearing range) about it, but many mumbled how unfair it was that someone like Marian Brook managed to snag time with the Stewarts of Galloway.  

What was so great about her?  Sure, she participated in society, as was proper.  However, in the eyes of many, Marian Brook did nothing noteworthy.  She did not wear the most extravagant gowns and sure, she was beautiful, but hardly enough to take one’s breath away.

Bertha Russell took no issue with it, despite having received a rejection.  Miss Brook had been kind to her from the beginning and if anything, she was impressed by her feat and intended to wheedle all the details out of her when she could.  An invitation to luncheon next week was accepted by Marian, and if all went well, Bertha was sure she would be bringing along a very important guest.

Mrs. Astor was not displeased by the news either, even with her friend’s refusal to attend her own tea with the Earl and his son. Marian was Agnes’s niece, after all, and part of Old New York. She saw such a development as Marian’s due.  Her worry remained with how Agnes would deal with facing George Stewart again, after all these years.

Aurora and Charles were delighted at the possibility of no longer being pushed to play matchmaker by their Aunt Agnes.  They prayed Randolph’s interest in Marian went beyond charity work.

Those that were less than enthused by all this kept their complaints to whispers in a corner at a party or private chats at a luncheon. They did not want anything they said in complaint of being rejected to be misconstrued as a comment against Miss Brook, even if that was what was meant.  The specter of Agnes Van Rhijn’s rage loomed over them, the potential of being publicly given a dressing down by her was enough to cow them into being discreet about the matter.  Not so with Susan Blane.  

The widow had become bitter for a while now, ever since rumors of her and young Mr. Russell had made it into the papers last year, it seemed.  She did not grace the ballrooms and sitting rooms of New York with her presence, but all over Newport her complaints were heard.  Even the young Mrs. Winterton, with her own position in society more precarious than ever, did not dare publicly disparage a member of Agnes Van Rhijn’s family.  

For Susan Blane, Marian Brook seemingly always getting men flocking around her had always been a thorn in her side. To get the attentions of an Earl’s son when Susan herself had been rejected by them, it was like an insult.  

“Miss Brook has another suitor? I wonder what this one will find wrong with her.” Mrs. Blane was heard saying at one of Mamie Fish’s parties. 

It shocked even Mamie, who was like a moth to a flame where gossip was concerned.  “Who is to say it is Miss Brook the one that something was wrong with?” Mamie had put in, attempting to nip in the bud speculation of Marian’s reputation.  “Many of her suitors were rather distasteful, if you ask me.  Especially that drunk banker friend of the Fanes.”

“I agree,” Carrie Astor said. “Miss Brook showed good sense in rejecting many of them.” 

“Rejecting all of them, you mean?” Mrs. Blane continued.  “All of them had something wrong?  Most of them are married themselves now. What could they possibly have that wasn’t good enough for Marian Brook but was sufficient for their present wives?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Carrie said, eyes narrowing and disdain in her voice. 

“Surely you aren’t implying Miss Brook is too high in her instep for rejecting suitors?” Gladys Russell asked in disbelief.  “I’ve rejected plenty myself.  Are you suggesting a lady should just settle for the first man who will have her, no matter his flaws?”

“I’m suggesting nothing of the sort.” Mrs. Blane said silkily.  “Miss Brook is suggesting something else entirely with her actions.” 

“And what would that be, Mrs. Blane?  Are you sure you’re not imagining things?” Carrie said. 

“My, my, I didn’t realize Miss Brook had such a legion of defenders!” Mrs. Blane said. A mean look colored her eyes as she laughed lightly.

“I don’t care for your tone.” Carrie responded coldly. “I don’t see anything that Miss Brook should be defended for, either.  She isn’t doing anything improper.”  The mood was rapidly shifting to a negative atmosphere and even nearby guests were growing uncomfortable.  When Carrie Astor was displeased, it meant something serious was afoot.

“Miss Brook is as respectable as any of us here.” Mamie said, desperate to alleviate things.  “There’s no need to try to throw mud on her good name simply because the Earl denied an invitation from you but accepted one from her!  He has denied an invitation from nearly all of us.”

Mrs. Blane smiled as if accepting what Mamie said, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

“You know, I think this courtship between Randolph Stewart and Miss Brook will go well.”  Carrie began, turning to Gladys.  “They already seem to have so much in common.  Their good breeding, their dedication to charity…their shared good sense when it comes to rejecting certain people..they seem like a good match, don’t you think so, Gladys?”

“Absolutely.” Gladys said, smiling as she sipped her wine.  

Mrs. Blane’s fake smile immediately fell off as she left the scene, not even bothering to excuse herself.  The people around them buzzed with whispers.

“I will try to stop the gossip rags from learning of this, but I know that is a fool’s errand, with the servants I have.” Mamie said sheepishly.  Gladys and Carrie giggled.  

“No doubt we are not the only ones Mrs. Blane has subjected to her grumbling.” Gladys said.

 “Still, I will at least try to prevent a scandal.” Mamie replied.  “The last thing I need is Agnes Van Rhijn’s wrath raining down upon me for seemingly allowing someone to smear a member of her family in my own home.”

Mamie left the girls to their socializing, both giggling nervously at the thought of Mamie Fish being yelled at by Mrs. Van Rhijn. They were not at all nervous at the prospect of Mrs. Blane getting that treatment, however, and actually hoped Mamie failed in her mission so that they might see the widow get her just desserts. 

“WHAT IS THIS?!” Agnes Van Rhijn thundered. 

“The morning paper, ma’am?”

Bannister stood before her, holding a tea tray, his mistress shaking a newspaper in his face. He was glad Miss Brook was gone to St. Mary’s for the day.

“Do not talk as if I have lost my senses, Bannister, I mean what is this?!” she pointed to the headline, eyes flashing angrily.

“It seems as if…distasteful comments have been made, ma’am.  About Miss Marian.  I understand your upset-”

“DISTASTEFUL COMMENTS?! Distasteful?  Bannister, she might as well have called Marian a dockside tart!” Agnes screamed.  In the back behind Agnes, Bannister saw Bridget immediately turn around with the smelling salts and leave after he gave her a quick shake of his head. 

“How DARE she?!  A washed up harlot of a widow talking about my niece courting in such a way!” Agnes continued.  “If she thinks she can drag a member of MY family through the mud with no repercussions, well, she is about to learn differently! Fetch me my hat!” Agnes threw the paper at the table. 

“Ma’am, you have the tea with Lord Stewart and his son today after Miss Marian gets home! I don’t think it wise to go off to Newport right now.” Bannister said, following his mistress stomping to her rooms.

“Who said anything about going to those hovels in Newport?!  I intend to call on Mrs. Astor and have that trollop Susan Blane removed from the Academy waiting list! Then, god save me, I intend to call on Bertha Russell and have her do the same with her waiting list for her garish opera house!” Agnes rattled off. “THEN I shall instruct them to refrain from ever inviting that horrid woman to anything EVER AGAIN if they want to continue considering themselves my friend!  I intend to go to Aurora about this and Mamie Fish, too, though what I should be doing first is asking Mamie Fish why she stood by and did nothing to stop Susan Blane from opening her muckraking mouth abou-”

“You consider Mrs. Russell your friend?” Bannister asked in surprise.

“Bannister, I do not have time for your jokes!  NOW FETCH ME MY HAT AND GET ARMSTRONG UP HERE TO HELP ME CHANGE!”

Bannister bowed quickly before ringing for Armstrong. 

----------

NEXT: Chapter 4

[everythegildedageoutfit]

Every Outfit in The Gilded Age - Outfit 295 - Tom Raikes's outfit 9 - Season 1, Episode 8

[bonniebirddoesgifs]

Bonniebirddoesgifs:

Marian Brook & Tom Raikes (The Gilded Age)

[tavoit]

The Gilded Age's Thomas Cocquerel as the scoundrel Tom Raikes

[auroravanrhijn]

tom raikes if you dont get. tf away from marian

[ulkaralakbarova]

In 1818, high-spirited young Fanny Brawne finds herself increasingly intrigued by the handsome but aloof poet John Keats, who lives next door to her family friends the Dilkes. After reading a book of his poetry, she finds herself even more drawn to the taciturn Keats. Although he agrees to teach her about poetry, Keats cannot act on his reciprocated feelings for Fanny, since as a struggling poet he has no money to support a wife. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Fanny Brawne: Abbie Cornish John Keats: Ben Whishaw Mr. Brown: Paul Schneider Mrs. Brawne: Kerry Fox Toots: Edie Martin Samuel: Thomas Brodie-Sangster Maria Dilke: Claudie Blakley Charles Dilke: Gerard Monaco Abigail: Antonia Campbell-Hughes Reynolds: Samuel Roukin Reynolds sister: Amanda Hale Reynolds sister: Lucinda Raikes Mr. Severn: Samuel Barnett Mr. Hunt: Jonathan Aris Tom Keats: Olly Alexander shopkeeper: Roger Ashton-Griffiths Mrs. Bentley: Eileen Davies Mr. Haslam: Sebastian Armesto Mr. Taylor: Adrian Schiller Charlotte: Theresa Watson Dr. Bree: Vincent Franklin Film Crew: Writer: Jane Campion Producer: Jan Chapman Producer: Caroline Hewitt Executive Producer: François Ivernel Executive Producer: Christine Langan Line Producer: Emma Mager Executive Producer: Cameron McCracken Executive Producer: David M. Thompson Director of Photography: Greig Fraser Editor: Alexandre de Franceschi Casting: Nina Gold Costume Design: Janet Patterson Art Direction: Christian Huband Set Decoration: Charlotte Dirickx Stunt Coordinator: Glenn Marks Supervising Art Director: David Hindle Sound Re-Recording Mixer: John Dennison Visual Effects Producer: Steve Dunn First Assistant Director: Michael Elliott Makeup Artist: Fulvia Bartoli Hair Designer: Konnie Daniel Makeup & Hair: Jane Logan Makeup Artist: Laura Schiavo Hairstylist: Anita Anderson Foley Editor: Leon Anderson Sound Recordist: Angelo Bonanni Foley Artist: Helen Brown ADR Mixer: Peter Gleaves Foley Artist: Paul Huntingford Foley Artist: Dan Johnston Foley Recordist: Duncan McAllister ADR Mixer: Chris Navarro Sound Effects Editor: Sean O’Reilly Dialogue Editor: Tony Vaccher Art Direction: Stefano Maria Ortolani Casting Associate: Robert Sterne Original Music Composer: Mark Bradshaw Movie Reviews: Andres Gomez: Good performances from Cornish, Whishaw and Schneider for a folks and costums movie. You will enjoy it if you like the genre. If not … well, probably it would be a slow and dull romantic drama for you. tmdb28039023: Bright Star is the rare biopic of an artist that actually provides some insight into its subject’s craft. Usually, a film about a writer, including such recent examples as To Olivia (Roald Dahl) and The Laureate (Robert Graves), will approach the creative process as 99-percent inspiration and 1-percent actual work – and sometimes not even that. Writing is taken as matter of course; poems come out straight out of the author’s mouth, fully formed like Athena emerging from Zeus’s forehead. Bright Star doesn’t dismiss the notion of divine inspiration, but it does not tacitly take it for granted either; on the contrary, it acknowledges and articulates it (“If poetry does not come as naturally as leaves to a tree, then it had better not come at all”). Moreover, even though it declares “Poetic craft is a carcass, a sham,” it does so perhaps out of modesty (after all, “A poet is not at all poetical. He is the most un-poetical thing in existence. He has no identity”), before diving right into the crux of the craft itself (“A poem needs understanding through the senses. The point of diving in a lake is not immediately to swim to the shore but to be in the lake, to luxuriate in the sensation of water. You do not work the lake out. It is an experience beyond thought. Poetry soothes and emboldens the soul to accept mystery”). This is all great stuff, and writer/director Jane Campion displays a sincere love for poetry with which she infuses her characters (who not only commit their favorite poems to memory, but can even recite verbatim from literary reviews). The problem is...

[uhyeahmaybenoidk]

Welcome to part 1 of ‘I’ve connected the two dots’ the Gilded Age edition. Basically, I decided to make this sort of post after each episode because I want to ramble about this show but I don’t know anyone who watches it too so I share my thoughts here instead. Fair notice to everyone: I most certainly suck at making predictions, I fully aware of it, later on I’ll be laughing at my own dumbness and you all are free to laugh at me too. Considering that I’m about to make some sort of conclusions after just one episode when we know next to nothing about the plot, it’s bound to end bad. That never stopped me though so let’s go.

I’m not sure whether I like Marian Brook as protagonist so far to be honest. She’s nice but a little bit bland. I got this feeling based on that scene with Agnes and Oscar that she’s supposed to have the wow factor but… nah? I just don’t see this sort of charisma in her. 

However, I absolutely adore Larry Russell. He’s this golden retriever kind of character. I just want to hug him and hurt everyone who hurts him. I’m curious how he’ll manage to work with his father because he doesn’t have this ruthlessness in him to conduct the business in the same way. I expect some sort of existenatial crisis to happen when Larry gets more familiar with the world outside of ‘greenhouse’ he was raised in.

Love triangle is coming, right? Or maybe even love square so to speak.

Marian and Larry make almost too much sense for me. IMO they would be ideal end game. It’s not important that she is technically poor because his family is so damn rich that money are not an issue for them. If they end up together, her family would have to accept his family into society. It would be sort of win-win situation. She gets financial security, he gets status. Also, both of them seem to be too naïve for their own good. They think they know life but they don’t know shit. So I expect it to be used against them and cause all sort of drama.

I slightly dislike Tom Raikes. Please don’t @ me. I have no objective reason. It’s just a gut feeling that he will cause the drama mentioned above.

Another source of drama can and will be Bertha Russell. Maaaan, that promise to make everyone who rejects her regret it one day will cause lots of tears. And I fear that it’s the innocent ones who will be crying the most.

Speaking of innocent. Gladys Russell must be protected at all cost and I have a feeling she’ll need that.

Agnes van Rhijn is a mood. I really don’t want to make any comparisons with Downtown Abbey and bring up Dowager Countess of Grantham so I’ll just say this: Julian Fellowes sure does know how to write sassy characters. I love Agnes and how everyone seems to be terrified of her. I also appreciate that even though she’s The Bitch™, she is nice to Peggy and recognises her cleverness and talent.

Ada Brook is weird. She creeps me out. That’s it. I said it. I’m not sure whether it was intended or the acting is to blame here.

As much as I like watching glitter, glitz and petty fights, I’m really curious about Peggy Scott plotline. I think that there’s a lot of potential.

Also, Peggy’s mom saying ‘I’m your mother, I’m allowed to give you money’ is such heartwarming moment. It reminded me of my mom who gives me food so I don’t need to cook and my granny who puts money in my pocket and whispers that it’s for me to buy candies every time I visit her. Mothers being mothers no matter what era you live in.

I’m F1 fan so I couldn’t help myself giggling every time George Russell was mentioned.

Screw Bertha’s maid. Me and my homies hate her.

Was that corset comment truly necessary?!

As usual the visuals are gorgeous. I just love love looove watching period dramas and this one is an eye candy. I’m not an expert on historical costumes and I’m sure there are screw ups here and there but overall I think it does the job. It looks great to me. Although, jewellery occasionally looks kinda cheap.

Ahh that’s it. I think that I said everything that I wanted to. I’d like to chat with others so pretty please share your thoughts about the show.

Have a nice day ☺️