Idle Thoughts--In Olden Days a Glimpse of Stocking 10/24-10/25

Fashion notes first . . .

I really love the clothes for this arc of the show, particularly Judith's. Far too elaborate for a spinster, but perfect for the character. The coral color works well for Bennett as do those fussy ribbons.

Yeah, I know Frid is supposed to be a vampire and all, but they really overdid it on the makeup because he looks downright scary and I don't mean in the traditional terrifying way.

Eek. Not a fan of the light blue dress on Judith. Color washes her out too much and what is with the sleeves? And what in the name of God does she have on her head.

Oh, my sweet Lord, Frid looks more like an Edward Gorey character than ever.

I loved the hooker du jour's attire. Pretty color and just the right side of tacky.

Onto the show . . .

Poor Sandor, but I'm not sure really how much different his existence was before Barnabas. Magda clearly makes the decisions in that relationship.

Quentin is mighty free with an inheritance he has no real expectation of.

"Your grandmother knows how easily I bruise." Kind of a weird line. Is that kind of thing likely to come up between an old lady and a fortuneteller in the ordinary course of conversation? Or did we just go to a scary visual place?

Amazing, Barnabas isn't five minutes in a new time period and he claims to know what's going on, disputes the accounts of someone who is in way more of a position to know. Control freak much?

Nice little nod to continuity there with Quentin giving Jamison the model ship that has been a set piece in the present.

I have to love that it's clearly the women who rule the roost in their various ways (Edith, Judith, Magda). I loved it when Magda essentially told Barnabas "sure you convinced the hubby, but sweetie, I'm in charge here. Edith controls the family and you're just some schmoe who walked in off the street.

"Spirtual advisor to Mrs. Collins" Hmm, is that kind of like if you work at Kinkos and you call yourself a "duplicating consultant?"

I get an enormous kick out of Judith. She's this little bit of a thing surrounded by bullying brothers jockeying for power and money and boy, does she keep ahead of the pack. Bennett and Selby had some great chemistry together too.

Speaking of money, I wish they'd made the money more realistic. I realize that 20th century audiences would find say, $50 a lame sum, but it's a lot more realistic than $300. Not surprised Quentin assumed Beth had a little something on the side with Edward. I'll admit it right now, by the way, on the topic of Quentin and his girlfriends, I'm solidly in the Beth camp. She's the only character with whom I ever saw any kind of solid (if messed-up) relationship. I like them together. Nice chemistry. What can I say?

Going to take this opportunity to say that as authentic as the Victorian furniture is, it's also pretty damn ugly. Still nice to see some attempt at accuracy.

You have to love a family where no one is terribly surprised to walk into a room to find their brother holding a sword to someone's neck. Makes you wonder just what kind of things went on before Barnabas showed up. And you have to love a family where when a stranger shows up offering sometihng of actual cash value, they open up all the doors "Well, Grandmama is dying, but hey you're here with valuable jewelry so no problem, come on in."

Okay, that scene in the woods between Beth and Barnabas was plain weird. She's freaked out at first, understandable--strange man wearing a lot of makeup jumps out of the bushes and calls you by your name--but then they start that whole quasi-flirting thing. Eww.

Ah, another hooker from Maine by way of Brooklyn. Kind of fun portrayal though.

"You shouldn't have let me go to sleep without the blanket."
"Taste my consomme" (sp?)
"It's your fault Quentin got in here."

Sweet little old lady, my ass. This is someone who really gets a charge out of being an invalid.

Ick. Rachel is on the scene. She is such a dimwit. Pathologically curious and stupid to boot. Very dangerous combination.

And then Quentin basically calls her a whore and she's charmed???

Greedy bunch this family.

Luciaphil