You asked for it, so here’s an occasional open thread to bitch about anything tangentially related to history, costume, movies, or TV shows! Or whatever else is on your mind right now. Note that URLs are automatically held for moderation, but most anything else goes as long as you’re not bitchier than we are!
The year inches onward with long, dark nights to try and fill with frock flicks, new and old…
What are you watching? What have we missed?
Ohh boy, I hate when I’m right with my guesses. So, there’s an upcoming Finnish movie project based on Kullervo’s legend from the Finnish national epic Kalevala (Or well, Kullervo’s legend is originally from Ingria, an area behind the Russian border, where there lives some Fenno-Ugric minorities. Either way, we’re getting sidetracked here.) The stories of Kalevala are generally estimated to be from the Iron Age. Finland has a rich history of reconstructing Iron Age era costumes and there’s an organization devoted to cataloguing and researching “folk costumes”. So this would have been a great chance to educate people with the history of Ingria’s traditional costumes and generally, the history behind the folk lore of the Northern Europe. I’m pretty sure I talked about this earlier this year under another free-for-all discussion, but the trailer that was released and showed that no, we’re not going to get any of that. It’s budget Game of Thrones all again, with zweihänder swords and leather armors. People argued that sure, Kalevala is essentially fantasy and if they decide to make a more fantasy-focused adaptation that’s fine. And that’s right. That would be fine. But do you know what I feared? Finland’s movie world’s irrational dislike of fantasy. That they’re still going to downplay any of the fantastic elements of Kalevala and present it as a “cool and dark and realistic grimdark” story where all the whimsy is lost, while claiming that this is a more “realistic take” on the story.
Well, guess just what the director stated recently? That he wants to “remove the fantasy elements out of Kalevala”. Are freaking serious!? Are they genuinely going to present these leather armors and mud-smeared faces as a “realistic take on Kalevala”? Like by its nature, the movie is going to be fantasy, if they make this kind of costuming decisions. I feel like they’re again accidentally sending the message that men can only be cool by wearing black and grey.
I’m fine with anachronism and fantasy elements. I’m not fine with people pretending that this is what history looked like.
I’m sorry about the long rant, I just needed this out of my system. Is it really too much to ask for colorful tunics in my history drama?
Ugh! Yes, if you’re going to make a fantasy movie, then use fantasy costumes. But if you’re going to for the “historically realistic” take, then I want to see historically realistic costumes!
PS NO COLOR WE ONLY HAVE MUD FOR DYE
Who watched the trailer for Testament of Ann Lee? She was the founder of the Shakers, I believe. More mud and shit colors, and the hairpin shortage strikes again! At least there are caps. The bar is in hell!
I also saw promotion for the Forsytes remake, looks like Demelza forgot her hairpins again! When will she remember they exist?
I saw that too. Mesmerized by the GQ models masquerading as actors.
It looks like a maybe interesting film, but yeah, WE ONLY HAVE MUD FOR DYE strikes again!
I watched the first episode of MGM+’s new ROBIN HOOD, starring Sean Bean and it is awful. The opening states that the Norman’s brought Christianity to Britain! Say what? Um, Christianity existed in Britain for 800 years before the Norman’s arrived. Can you say, Edward the Confessor. Sean Bean plays the Sheriff of Nottingham and his daughter is named Priscilla, a name that wasn’t common until the 19th century. It’s bad and most of the women are missing hair pins.
I also noticed a lack of headwear!
PRISCILLA 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I’m picturing Priscilla Presley!
Jonathan Bailey : sexiest man alive 2025
I’m watching Bridgerton S2 again.
And waiting for Benedict’s.
Amazon Prime has unceremoniously dumped all the episodes of “King and Conqueror” onto their platform if anyone’s interested.
I’ve been waiting for the free-for-all!
I found floating ruffs in the wild! (Originally typed floating roughs, that sounds about right.) They were on a mannequin in a bridal shop window. At least it’s with formal wear, not a bridal gown.
Is there a way to post photos? Because I think you’d appreciate this. The mannequin has a sparkly axe, too.
Just watched Dungeons & Dragons : Honor Among Thieves, and I have to say I really enjoyed it despite not knowing doodly squat about the game. I think it could have done much better at the box office if it had a decent ad campaign. :)