#emma bryony writes

[riveramorylunar]

To Clear Things Up This Is Who I’ll Write For:

Marvel - Any either from the Movies, Series or Comic Books (Female Characters Only)[except for Kate Bishop]

DC - Any either from the Movies, Series or Comic Books (Female Characters Only)

The School For Good & Evil: Leonora Lesso & Clarissa Dovey

Fast & Furious: Cipher, Riley Hicks, Gisele Yashar, Ramsey, Letty Ortiz, Mia Toretto, Hattie Shaw, Tess, Margarita, Monica Fuentes & Elena Neves

Jujutsu Kaisen: Maki Zenin, Yuki Tsukumo, Kaori Itadori, Mei Mei, Shoko Ieiri, Mai Zenin, Manami Suda, Nagi Yoshino, Utahime Iori & Saori

Pokémon - Jessie, Aldith, Cassidy, Bea, Nessa, Nemona, Professor Sada, Rika, Cynthia, Diantha, Carmine, Raifort, Dendra, Eri, Mela, Briar, Miriam, Perrin, Tulip, Klara, Melony, Alexa, Bryony, Carrie, Cherie, Clair, Cogita, Officer Jenny, Jupiter, Lorelei, Lusamine, Malva, Onia, Palina, Professor Burnet, Shelly, Sima, Skyla, Soliera & Wicke

The Little Mermaid: Ariel, Queen Athena, Arista, Attina, Adella, Alana, Andrina & Aquata

Ghostbusters: Jillian Holtzmann

Wednesday/Addams family: Larissa Weems, Morticia Addams & Marilyn Thornhill

Winx Club - Icy, Darcy, Stormy, Bloom, Stella, Daphne, Diaspro, Selina, Venomya, Cyan, Kalshara, Kalima, Nebula, Vertigo, Virus, Banshee, Obscura, Stoney, Sinka, Veronique, Zulema, Roxy, Stella, Musa, Tecna, Flora & Aisha

Monster High: Nora Bloodgood, Clawdeen Wolf, Clawdia Wolf, Scary Stone, Cleo De Nile, Nefera De Nile, Toralei Stripes, Meowlody, Purrsephone, Abbey Bominable, Draculaura, Elissabat, Frankie Stein, Lagoona Blue, Amanita Nightshade, Ari Hauntington, Avea Trotter, Sirena Von Boo, Bonita Femur, Catrine DeMew, Catty Noir, Dayna Treasura Jones, Gigi Grant, Djinni (Whisp) Grant, Gooliope Jellington, Gory Fangtell, Jane Boolittle, Jinafire Long, Skelita Calaveras, Rochelle Goyle, Moanica D'Kay, Operetta, Robecca Steam, Silvi Timberwolf, Spectra Vondergeist, Venus McFlytrap, Wydowna Spider, Astranova, Batsy Claro, Clair, Luna Mothews, Honey Swamp, Kala Mer'ri, Peri and Pearl Serpentine, Posea Reef, Kiyomi Haunterly, River Styxx, Vandala Doubloons, Marisol Coxi, Viperine Gorgon, C.A. Cupid, Casta Fierce, Lorna McNessie, Mouscedes King, Scarah Scream, Iris Clops, Teresa Thornwilliow & Principal Revenant

Mortal Kombat: Kitana, Sonya Blade, Sindel, Cassie Cage, Jade, Khameleon, Frost, Skarlet, D'Vorah, Ferra & Jola

Once Upon A Time - Ruby, Emma Swan, Belle, Blind Witch, Regina Mills, Maleficent, Zelena, Anna, Elsa, Blue Fairy, Mulan, Jack (Jacqueline)

My Hero Academia - Nemuri Kayama, Nana Shimura, Rumi Usagiyama, Chitose Kizuki, Ryuko Tatsuma, Emi Fukukado, Ryuko Tsuchikawa, Shino Sosaki, Kaina Tsutsumi, Teka Todoroki, Uwabami, Yu Takeyama, Konako Haizono, Kaoruko Awata, Saiko Intelli, Fuyumi Todoroki, Rei Todoroki, Mitsuki Bakugo, Mei Hatsume, Kiruka Hasaki, Sirius, Chikuchi Togeike, Cathleen Bate, Camie Utsushimi & Beros

Tinkerbell - Vidia, Spike, Zarina, Chase, Glimmer, Queen Clarion & Nyx

Star Wars - Captain Phasma, Rey Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Hera Syndulla, Sabine Wren, The Armorer & Chewbacca(Platonic)

Voltron: Legendary Defenders- Kroila, Acxa, Hira, Honerva, Veronica, Zethrid, Narti & Ezor.

High Rise Invasion - Yayoi Kusakabe & Dealer Mask

She-ra and the Princess of Power - Catra, Adora & Shadow Weaver

The Dragon Prince - Amaya, Janai, Sarai, Annika, Neha, Kim’dael, Opeli, Fareeda, Khessa, Tiadrin, Aditi, Rayla, Bloodmoon Huntress, Lujanne, Sabah, Miyana, Claudia & Nyx

Power Rangers - Dayu, Posiandra, Roxy, Karone/Astroema, Psycho Pink, Kimberly Hart

Criminal Minds - Emily Prentiss & JJ

MPHFPC & MP - Alma Peregrine & Mary Poppins

The Legend Of Korra & ATLAB - Korra, Asami, Izumi, Kuvira, Kyoshi, Lin, Prosecution Attorney (Don't know her name), Suyin, P'Li, Azula, June, Ursa & Toph

DOTA Dragons Blood - Drysi, Vanari, Rylai, Selemene, Mirana, Lina, Aurouth, Luna & Marci

Barbie: Queen Calissa, Delancy Devin, Alexander Privet, Anemone, Coral, Jacqueline, Lillian Roxelle, Melody & Marlo

Demon Slayer: Daki, Kanae Kocho, Nezuko Kamado, Ruka Rengoku, Shinobu Kocho, Spider Demon(Mother), Susamaru, Tamayo, Nakime, Koinatsu, Makio, Mukago, Ozaki, Satoko, Suma, Amane Ubuyashiki, Hinatsuru & Mitsuri Kanroji

Miraculous Ladybug: Marinette Dupain-Cheng (older), Nathalie Sancoeur, Alix Kubdel (older), Caline Bustier, Emilie Agreste, Fei Wu, Juleka Couffaine (Older) & Ondine

Arcane: Vi, Mel Medarda, Sevika, Grayson, Jinx

Castlevaznia: Morana, Carmilla, Lenore, Hermina, Raman & Striga

Blood Of Zeus: Alexia, Hera & Fates

Naruto: Yuuhi Kurenai, Kushina Uzumaki, Ino Yamanaka, Hanabi Hyuuga, Guren, Yugito Nii, Ameyuri Ringo, Yugao Uzuki, Natsuhi, Fuuka, Suiren, Pakura, Hinata Hyuuga, Temari, Ruka & Kakashi Hatake(Platonic)

Twilight: Esme, Alice, Bella, Rosalie, Victoria, Tanya Denali, Irina & Kate

Descendents: Mal, Evie, Audrey, Lonnie, Jordan, Uma & Harry Hook

Pitch Perfect: Kommissar, Chloe Beale, Beca, Aubrey, Cynthia Rose, Calamity & Emily Junk

#You can send in any requests for these characters!!!!! #River's Masterlist #More will be added #Marvel #DC #Winx Club #Once Upon A Time #MHA #Tinkerbell #Star Wars #Pokemon #Resident Evil #High Rise Invasion #She-ra and the Princess of Power #The Dragon Prince #Power Rangers #Criminal Minds #Voltron: Legendary Defenders #river talks🌊

[insecateur]

(Oh yeah, and in the eng ver, Diantha calls him by his first name) Part 2 is here... Sycamore & Grace, Trevor & Tierno, Tierno & Calem, Viola & Valerie, Korrina & Calem or Serena, Clemont & Shauna, Wulfric & his wife, Lysandre & Serena, Lysandre & Malva, Lysandre & Mable, Mable & Aliana, Bryony & Celosia, Malva & Diantha, Malva & Siebold (my fav), Siebold & Wikstrom, Looker & Malva, Malva & Xerosic, Looker & Xerosic, AZ & Floette (platonic ship) and Evelyn & Calem. I think that's it

hi anon sorry for not answering yesterday it was really hot and i was going thru it. putting a cut bc long

sycamore/grace: i get it but also no. conceptually good to make lysandre jealous though

trevor/tierno: YES VERY GOOD AND UNDERRATED IMO

tierno/calem: sure why not

viola/valerie: sure why not. she could take pics of her it would be cute

korrina/calem, korrina/serena: ehhh. i don't rly care

clemont/shauna: intriguing but no

wulfric/his wife: the real otp i think about the concept art that shows off his locket all the time. dad of the year i think

lysandre/serena: i have seen Some Shit . i feel like there are two camps for this which are the people who'd ship it like people shipped sycamore/serena as a self-insert thing and the people who were definitely umm. umm. you know. no thank you. i can't even get into her having a one-sided crush on him for the reasons i gave for sycamore/serena lol she should be Normal about making him Normal though that's valid

lysandre/malva: no. even disregarding the fact that i hc them as related i just don't like it

lysandre/mable: i like it unrequited on mable's part which is actually present in slawcs lol. i have Drawn stuff. she is a good candidate for "lysandre uses other people to convince himself he's not hot for augustine" as well but it feels cruel to her so i don't indulge it much …

mable/aliana: it's okay.

bryony/celosia: MY LESBIAN DAUGHTERS 2 THEY'RE GAY MARRIED HAROLD

malva/diantha: it's fine!! not my fave but i get it

malva/siebold: i legit never thought about it before LOL sure why not.

siebold/wikstrom: good shit!! i drew some for the same friend who shipped him with grant lol

looker/malva: sure why not i guess ? not very enthusiastic about it but not opposed either

malva/xerosic: i could get behind it. justice for lysandre/xerosic tho

looker/xerosic: i was actually legit surprised it has like 2 fics on ao3 LOL i feel like i remember it being more popular than that back then but i guess i was foolish. i am into them being emma's divorced dads conceptually. more people should ship xerosic in general let my guy get it

AZ&floette: YES. i love them. pokémon&trainer devotion is very dear to me in general. i enjoy writing about them, hopefully they can get more scenes in further slawcs installments

evelyn/calem: ok this one is random uhh sure. whatever

#la réponse d #i need to write more lysandre/xerosic.

[caswlw]

Hello! Introducing myself bc I love sending asks! My name is Emma or Bryony (most call me Emma cause it’s my given name but you can choose). I’m Luxemburgish but live in Scotland most of the time. I study Medical Sciences and write in my free time (both fanfics and original stuff). I did ballet until March 2020 and can’t wait for the dance schools to open up again bc I miss it

omg u sound. so cool holy shit

europe !! i also know where those countries are i am attached to my ability to go onto that settera (seterra??) website and in abt continent do all the countries skjdjd and medical sciences !!! stem 😳 i could never that’s v admirable 🤩🤩 and ballet omg !!! i did it for like a year when i was younger and trying stuff out to see if i liked it and dancers are just. so hardcore that’s super cool

#ballet dancers especially holy shit y’all are insane #bryony u sound very interesting i love getting to know people :D #emmabryonyfox

[ladyherenya]

Books read in October

Twenty novels (including two audiobooks), three graphic novels, one novella and two rereads: more books than are pictured above. I can’t remember the last time I read so much in a month. Maybe when I was high school?

It was a combination of factors: Rainbow Rowell’s latest books became available at the library, I realised that Meg Cabot’s Heather Wells books are murder mysteries, and I made the very exciting discovery that I could get Ellen Emerson White’s previously-out-of-print novels as ebooks.

Favourite cover: Life Without Friends.

Reread: Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher, Hold Me by Courtney Milan (and then The Road Home).

Still reading: Mapping Winter by Marta Randall and When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll.

Next up: Warrior of the Altaii by Robert Jordan.

(Longer reviews and ratings are on LibraryThing. And also Dreamwidth.)

The Princess Who Flew with Dragons by Stephanie Burgis: Princess Sofia is unimpressed when her sister’s latest plans involve sending Sofia on a diplomatic mission to Villenne. Sofia wants to stay in her room and read, not remind everyone that she struggles to be a perfect princess. But in Villenne she discovers unexpected opportunities to attend lectures and make friends. And when calamity strikes, it’s up to her to save the day. A solid adventure about friendship and what it means to be a princess, a philosopher and a person all at once. It’s the sort of book I’d like to send back in time to my twelve-year-old self.

The “Uncommon Echoes” trilogy by Sharon Shinn: Set in a world where many of the nobility have “echoes” -- identical copies who follow them, more substantial than shadows but not capable of speech or independent action. Or so people believe. Begins with Echo in Onyx.

Echo in Emerald: After a story about an ordinary woman pretending to be an echo, here is a woman pretending her echoes are ordinary people. Chessie has the ability to shift her consciousness between herself and her two echoes, enough to give the impression that they are three different people with different personalities and jobs. Usually she keeps to the lower classes, but one day she’s asked to deliver a message to a noble who is investigating a recent murder.(Another inversion, another case of themes and variations, as the first book is about trying to conceal a murder.)This builds upon the first book, deepening our understanding of the political context and of echoes. Chessie’s experience of identity is fascinating.

Echo in Amethyst: A story about echo who slowly gains sentience and independence from her original is a good idea in theory, a logical progression for this trilogy. But it turned out to be a massive misstep. The echo belongs to a woman who is abusive towards her echoes and rude towards nearly everyone else. The echo spends a long time incapable of being anything other than a passive observer of unpleasant people. I skimmed bits and seriously considered abandoning this. Not recommended -- but the first two books standalone sufficiently that you could read just those without this series feeling naggingly incomplete.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks: Super cute! All through high school Josiah and Deja have worked together at the pumpkin patch every September and October. Tonight is their last shift. Deja is determined that Josiah is finally going to speak to the girl he likes. Nothing goes to plan. This is a story about changes, chances and choices. It’s also a love letter to everything Josiah and Deja love about the pumpkin patch -- which includes their relationship. I really liked the characters, and the artwork does such a wonderful job of bringing them, and this place, to life.

The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan (narrated by Jayne Entwistle): Unexpectedly entertaining, a cosy mystery full of excitement, danger and character growth, set against the backdrop of the London Blitz. Mrs Braithwaite, divorced and deposed from her position as head of the village Women’s Voluntary Service, tries to find her missing adult daughter. Mrs Braithwaite is a very forceful personality. I really liked that she is not only challenged to reevaluate her attitudes, she discovers that qualities like bossiness and tenacity can be great strengths. Large, loud and assertive middle-aged women are so often been relegated to irritating or comedic minor characters, rather than getting to be protagonists.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson: Isobel has spent years painting portraits of the fair folk. She knows to speak courteously, make bargains carefully, and avoid jeopardising her family’s safety. And then she meets the prince of the autumn court. I have mixed feelings. I really liked Isobel, with her practical streak and her passion for painting, and liked the way she describes her experiences. The people she’s closest to are quickly established as interesting, complex and individual. However, this story leans heavily into a portrayal of the fair folk which I don’t find very appealing. A matter of personal taste rather than quality.

Artistic License by Elle Pierson (aka Lucy Parker): I wasn’t sure what to expect from an early self-published novel about an art student and a security guard in New Zealand, especially as the London theatre world is a big part of why Parker’s other books appeal to me. But Queenstown is such a scenic setting and the characters immediately felt like the sort of people Parker writes about. I particularly enjoyed Sophy’s internal dialogue, and how she and Mick become very protective of each other. They’re so mutually caring! In hindsight, this book could have been stronger... but I liked the characters and their interactions. Sometimes that’s enough.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay: A story about cross-age friendship and forgiveness, about three different women working together in a bookshop. Madeline, a lawyer, has inherited the bookshop from her aunt. Janet is angry and has an ex husband, adult children who rarely speak to her and old friends she wants to avoid. In the middle is Claire, aware of the shop’s precarious finances and trying to juggle work with motherhood. I’d nearly finished this when I realised it’s classified as “Christian fiction”. I really liked how it is about forgiveness and messy, complicated relationships. Not a perfect book, but it surprised me.

The “Heather Wells Mysteries” by Meg Cabot:

Size 12 Is Not Fat: I discovered that this series isn’t just chick lit, it’s murder mystery chick lit about a former pop singer now working as an assistant director for a college dorm. (Talk about misleading covers!) When a student is found dead, Heather is convinced that it wasn’t an accident but murder. At times Heather reminded me of Mia from The Princess Diaries, which I found fascinating and frustrating (some attitudes are more understandable coming from a teenager than from a woman approaching thirty). Anyway, Heather is kind and humorous, I liked the setting, and the mystery had enough twists to satisfy me.

Size 14 Is Not Fat Either: More of the same, except that this time when a student turns up dead, it’s obvious to everyone that she has been murdered. Instead of trying to convince everyone of the need for a murder investigation, Heather is trying -- unsuccessfully -- not to get involved in it. I like how supportive Heather’s friends and colleagues are. Her father has been absent (in jail), her mother and her manager ran off with Heather’s money, and her long term boyfriend was unfaithful, but she’s still got people in her life who care and who are there for her. And I did enjoy some of her song lyrics.

Size Doesn’t Matter (US title: Big Boned): I was relieved that this time round the murder victim is not another female student. Yes, murder is horrible regardless, but there can be something particularly unpleasant if a story keeps only killing young women. I definitely don’t want murder mysteries to be all grim and bleak, but I prefer it when murder mysteries aren’t this light-hearted. This isn’t a criticism, just a realisation about my personal taste. I kept reading to see some resolution in Heather’s love life. (I know, priorities). I’ve no idea the woman on the cover is wearing a wedding dress. Marketing is weird.

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell: Simon, Baz and Penelope set off on a roadtrip across America to see Agatha, who Penelope is convinced is in trouble. Rowell is so good making me care about her characters and their relationships. I liked how this is a journey of discovery -- exploring a new country, finding out things about the world they live in and learning more about themselves. I enjoyed reading this but wasn’t so enthusiastic about the final act (it becomes a story about vampires) or the conclusion (busy setting up for a sequel, it leaves emotional arcs unresolved). Expectations and personal preferences, I guess.

Life Without Friends by Ellen Emerson White: I was so excited when I discovered that this had been released as an ebook. A decade of wanting to read something may be an unfair amount of pressure to put on any book, especially on a teen novel from 1987, but I was not disappointed. White is so good at writing smart, acerbic teenage girls dealing with trauma and intense emotions, like guilt and grief. And Beverly’s relationship with Derek is so believably awkward and tentative and hopeful -- two people with their own flaws and fears making the effort to get to know each other. It’s, like, everything I want from teen romance.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers: A team from the 22nd century explore four habitable worlds in orbit around a red dwarf star. It’s a fascinating glimpse into what the future might be like -- what space travel and other worlds might be like -- and a thought-provoking meditation about space, science and life. When it comes to the characters, there’s something quite elliptical about it -- which is fitting, given that Ariadne is writing this account for a specific purpose. It left me feeling unsatisfied, but I think that’s because there are particular things I’m looking for and this novella intentionally -- and effectively -- focuses on something else.

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl by Theodora Goss (narrated by Kate Reading): The Athena Club return to London from one extraordinary adventure and are plunged into another. Their teenaged kitchen maid Alice has been kidnapped, Sherlock Holmes is missing and there is a plot afoot to impersonate the queen. This story has adventure, teamwork, mystery, unexpected twists, more cameos by characters from popular Victorian fiction, and commentary on late Victorian concerns (like empire and eugenics). My favourite part was the Athena Club's interactions when they interrupt the narrative to discuss their lives together, highlight what they think is important or argue about what Catherine included. They’re a team, a household, a family.

All Emergencies, Ring Super by Ellen Emerson White: A teenager asks Dana, a former actress working as a building superintendent, to investigate a building fire. This was curiously lacking in tension --- until things became intensely personal. By the end, I was seriously disappointed that there isn’t a whole series about Dana solving mysteries. I like that Dana investigates by doing research at the library, making use of her acting abilities and enlisting support from friends. Her friendships are one of the highlights -- smart, difficult people who are honest with each other is an interesting dynamic. And the way White writes about the aftermath of trauma is compelling and thoughtful.

The “Echo Company” series by Ellen Emerson White: I read all five books in two days. They’re fast-paced and some aren’t particularly long -- they were published by Scholastic in the early 90s -- but that is only part of why I read them so quickly. They are compelling and unexpectedly fascinating.

Welcome to Vietnam: Eighteen year old Michael Jennings is conscripted to fight in Vietnam -- and I really wanted to see him to find his feet, make friends and survive. I can relate to how much he cares about his dog, and his sense of humour makes him an entertaining character to spend time with, even though he’s been thrown into a terrible, terrifying situation. Even knowing what wars can be like, I was still surprised by conditions the soldiers faced. I was also surprised by how interesting I found it all. It left me thinking about a lot.

Hill 568: Michael has made some friends (and some enemies), he’s grown accustomed to some of the realities of life on the frontlines in Vietnam, and he takes on more responsibility. White’s characters are lively and, in spite of the situations they’re in, often humorous. That humour is a huge part of why this is an engaging story, like an antidote to the horrors of war, but it also serves to emphasise that all those horrible things are happening to a bunch of ordinary young men barely out of school. This book made me laugh, and made me worry about the characters.

‘Tis the Season:  Twenty-one year old Lieutenant Rebecca Phillips is a nurse working in the ER of an evacuation hospital in Vietnam. Although already dealing with grief and difficult family relationships and a nightmarish workplace, she’s a bright, upbeat person who goes out of her way to entertain others. Self-appointed “Court Jester”. During the Christmas ceasefire she goes out on a medical helicopter -- and everything goes to hell. There are more medical details than I, a squeamish person, really prefer, but once I got to know Rebecca -- and also once her circumstances became tense and terrifying -- I was very, very invested.

Stand Down: This has some tense moments, but otherwise feels a bit lighter -- a welcome change of pace after everything the characters have been through. Michael spends a lot of time moping over correspondence (or lack thereof) from a nurse he’s met once -- but in context, that’s very understandable. He so desperately needs something positive and hopeful to focus on. I like that Michael’s and Rebecca’s initial interactions aren’t easy, because that feels realistic in the circumstances, and because it’s a positive sign that they’re able to get through awkward conversations; it sets them up to be honest with each other.

The Road Home: I stayed up stupidly late reading this, on a school night too. White is so good at writing about dealing with the aftermath of trauma, and about smart, difficult people making an effort to build relationships -- friendships as well as romances. This follows Rebecca’s final six months serving as a nurse in Vietnam, and the months afterwards. It’s about the things that get her through the war (letters, friendships, alcohol) and the difficulties of adjusting to life back home. I love how this book deals realistically but hopefully with so many things. I have a lot of feelings and favourite passages.

Applied Electromagnetism by Susannah Nix: Two colleagues who travel interstate to do a job with a deadline find themselves under extra pressure due to complications of bad weather. I liked all the references to Olivia and Adam’s nerdy interests, and I thought the discussions of Olivia’s ADHD and her experiences as a woman in STEM were interesting. Otherwise nothing jumped out at me as deserving of criticism or praise, it was all just okay. Less humorous than I expected from something book described as “romantic comedy”, but that was okay. (And maybe someone else would find it funny, humour is such a your-mileage-may-vary thing.)

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill: I love the concept of tea dragons and a tea dragon society. And the dragons are really cute! But the way people’s expressions are drawn in this graphic novel didn’t quite appeal to me and I think that coloured how I felt about the book as a whole. And it’s not a very long story, so it doesn’t have so many opportunities to win over a reader who isn’t enamoured with the illustrations. I’m sorry, book, I’m sure there are other readers out there who will appreciate you!

Runaways: That Was Yesterday (volume 3) by Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka with Matthew Wilson: Follows on from Find Your Way Home and Best Friends Forever and involves the reappearance of someone from the Runaways’ past, the appearance of children of old enemies and Christmas. I read three volumes of the original Runaways comics last year -- and this volume really left me feeling like maybe I’d appreciate it more if I’d read those more recently or else if I’d read more of them. Or maybe it was just that it focused a lot on a character I don’t like as much? But, I still liked it. I definitely would like to read more.

#Herenya reviews books #Sharon Shinn #Rainbow Rowell #Ellen Emerson White #Stephanie Burgis #Margaret Rogerson #Lucy Parker #Katherine Reay #Meg Cabot #Becky Chambers #Theodora Goss #Susannah Nix #Katie O'Neill #Finally posting this

[diplo-hocus-pocus]

Last Christmas was started writing years ago by Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings while George Michael was still alive and the movie had his blessing before he died, it will even include new songs from him. So he didn't have any problem that it wasn't gay

That’s fine and I’m glad he didn’t have a problem with it, and I don’t have a problem with it being a straight film, but I just wish that it wasn’t, it was a perfect opportunity to have a queer relationship and I for one have never seen a Christmas film that portrays a lgbt relationship and this could’ve been the one. I’m sure it’s going to be a good film, I’m just disappointed.

#gay #lgbt #lgbtq community #lgbtq #films #last christmas 2019 #last christmas #emilia clarke #henry golding #emma thompson

[weirdesplinder]

Lista di romance storici con protagoniste donne che lavorano

Lista di romanzi rosa storici con protagoniste femminili che lavorano, elencherò i libri per autrice, poiché ho notato che se a una scrittrice piace questo genere di protagoniste della working class, le utilizza in diversi suoi libri, perciò l’elenco avrà dei sotto elenchi, siete avvertite. Altro avvertimento è che la lista è molto incompleta in quanto i romance con working girls sono tantissimi e non potevo né volevo elencarli tutti, per restringere la lista sono andata a mio gusto personale e ho scelto alcuni lavori atipici, non troverete governanti o cortigiane qui, c’è solo una tutrice e solo perché il romanzo è talmente bello che non volevo escluderlo. E, ultimo avvertimento, sono tutti libri ambientati nell’Ottocento, tranne uno. Ecco la lista:

-Iniziamo con l’autrice Maya Rodale che in molti suoi libri utilizza delle protagoniste che lavorano, disponibile in italiano ho trovato solo questo pubblicato da Harpercollins:

La città dei sogni New York, 1895New York, la città dove i sogni possono divenire realtà. Quello di Brandon, Duca di Kingston, è trovare una ricca ereditiera da sposare per mantenere le sue vaste tenute, mentre quello di Miss Adeline Black, una giovane e intraprendente sarta, è di aprire finalmente un negozio da modista tutto suo, dove confezionare innovativi e comodi abiti per signore. Dal primo istante in cui il destino li fa incontrare, tra loro si accende un'attrazione mai provata prima. Consapevoli però che la differenza sociale che li divide è un ostacolo insormontabile, decidono di collaborare per realizzare le loro aspirazioni: lei aiuterà il duca a individuare l'ereditiera più adatta alle sue necessità, mentre Brandon porterà Adeline negli ambienti più eleganti dove potrà mostrare le sue creazioni. Sembra un piano perfetto, ma sapranno accontentarsi e impedire ai loro cuori di reclamare di più?

Ma in realtà ha scritto un’intera serie, The writing girls serie, dove protagoniste sono delle giornaliste, purtroppo inedita in italiano (se mi sbaglio ed è stata tradotta correggetemi):

Writing Girls

1. A Groom of One's Own (2010)

2. A Tale of Two Lovers (2011)

3. The Tattooed Duke (2012)

4. Seducing Mr. Knightly (2012)

- Altra autrice che ha dedicato un’intera serie alle donne che lavorano è Laura Lee Guhrke con la serie Girl Bachelors inteamente pubblicata in italiano da I romanzi Mondadori:

1. E infine la baciò

Harrison Robert, visconte di Marlowe, editore di successo e non meno fortunato dongiovanni, sfidando tutte le convenzioni sociali ha fatto di Emma Dove la propria segretaria. Ma per quanto Emma sia precisa, competente, efficiente, il suo sogno è diventare un’affermata scrittrice.

2. Le malizie di un Duca

Prudence Bosworth conduce una vita modesta ma dignitosa, lavora come sarta e interviene ai balli dell’alta società solo per realizzare i piccoli rammendi dell’ultimo momento. È durante una di queste serate che incontra Rhys de Winter, l’affascinante duca di St Cyres, l’uomo più bello che abbia mai visto: l’uomo dei suoi sogni

3. Il segreto di un gentiluomo

Coronando il sogno di una vita, Maria Martingale torna dalla Francia per aprire in Mayfair una pasticceria. Tutto sembra filare liscio, ma l’altezzoso Phillip Hawthorne, marchese di Kayne, cerca di metterle i bastoni fra le ruote.

4. Tanto può la seduzione

È dura per una ragazza sola guadagnarsi da vivere lavorando. Lo sa bene Daisy Merrick, che ha di nuovo perso un impiego a causa della propria schiettezza. Ecco perché, per costruirsi il futuro a lungo sognato, decide di mettere a punto un piano, che purtroppo dipende dall’uomo più esasperante che lei abbia mai conosciuto: Sebastian Grant, conte di Avermore.

- Passiamo poi ad Amanda Quick i cui romanzi con protagoniste donne con professioni atipiche purtroppo sono inediti in italiano.Le protagoniste della serie Ladies of Lantern Street sono investigatrici sotto copertura ad esempio:

1. Crystal Gardens (2012)

2. The Mystery Woman (2013)

3. Otherwise Engaged (2014)

Mentre la protagonista del romance ambientato nel 1930, intitolato Tightrope, è una trapezista.

- Mary Balogh ha invece utilizzato delle insegnanti nella sua serie Simply Quartet, interamente pubblicata in italiano da I romanzi Mondadori:

1. Risveglio di passioni

Si incontrano durante una bufera di neve: lei una giovane insegnante con un passato segreto, lui l’attraente straniero che inaspettatamente giunge a soccorrerla.

2. Semplicemente amore

Anne Jewel, madre nubile e insegnante, viene invitata con il figlio nella residenza gallese dei Bewcastle per l’estate. Il giorno del suo arrivo Anne si ritrova a osservare, non vista, un uomo che la colpisce per avvenenza e virilità: quando però si volta, le rivela un volto deturpato dalle cicatrici.

3.Semplicemente magico

I destini di Susanna Osbourne e Peter Edgeworth, visconte di Whitleaf, tornano a incontrarsi nello scenario di una sontuosa tenuta di campagna.

4. Semplicemente perfetto

Claudia Martin, colta e dai modi semplici, dirige con impegno e intelligenza una scuola per giovani signore poco abbienti. Genuino è il suo disprezzo per l’aristocrazia e per la superficialità dei rituali che la caratterizzano. Trovarsi quindi in viaggio da Bath a Londra in una splendida carrozza con Joseph Fawcitt, marchese di Attingsborough, è per lei un tormento.

Vi segnalo anche della serie Bedwin, il libro: Duca di ghiaccio, dove la protagonista femminile è l’ex tutrice della sorella del protagonista maschile Wulfric

- Poteva mancare Elizabeth Hoyt al nostro elenco? Certo che no. Anche tra i suoi libri le protagoniste che lavorano non mancano, io mi limito a citarvene uno, pubblicato da I romanzi Mondadori: 

Maliziose intenzioni

Lazarus Huntington, lord Caire, è deciso a dare la caccia al feroce assassino che si aggira nei bassifondi di St Giles e che ha ucciso la sua amante. Ma per scovarlo ha bisogno dell’aiuto di Temperance Dews, vedova e direttrice di un orfanotrofio, che conosce quella zona come le proprie tasche.

- Julie Anne Long è più nobiliare nelle sue scelte, ma anche tra i suoi libri non manca una sarta come protagonista, il romanzo in questione è stato pubblicato da I romanzi mondadori:

Conquistare un marchese

Il freddo e controllato Julian Spenser, marchese di Dryden, pretende per sé solo il meglio. E ora ha trovato la moglie perfetta, la bella ereditiera Lisbeth Redmond, la cui dote gli permetterà di recuperare l'ultima proprietà di famiglia. Tuttavia basta uno sguardo alla sua dama di compagnia/sarta, Phoebe Vale, per scombussolargli i piani.

- Opera di Lorraine Heath è un romanzo con protagonista la proprietaria di una taverna edito da Harpercollins:

Un duca per Gillie Trewlove

Londra, 1871Venire lasciato all'altare è già stato umiliante, ma essere salvato dall'aggressione di una banda di teppisti da una donna, per quanto coraggiosa e bellissima, è davvero il culmine della terribile giornata del Duca di Thornley. O forse no. Gillie Trewlove, infatti, non solo lo ospita sino alla sua completa guarigione nella propria taverna, ma si offre anche di aiutarlo a setacciare gli angoli più bui di Londra alla ricerca della sua sposa fuggitiva.

- Sophie Jordan ha scritto invece un romanzo con protagonista una commessa, edito I Romanzi Mondadori:

Un duca imprevisto

Poppy Fairchurch è un'inguaribile sognatrice che per mantenere se stessa e la sorella minore Bryony lavora come commessa in un negozio di fiori. Qui s'invaghisce dell'affascinante duca di Autenberry sognando addirittura che possa chiederla in sposa, finché un giorno accade l'impensabile. Il duca sbatte la testa, cade in un coma profondo e da quel momento una serie di equivoci spalancano le porte della nobile famiglia alla giovane Poppy, che viene scambiata per la sua fidanzata. L'unico a non credere che le cose stiano davvero così, ben conoscendo l'indole libertina del fratellastro, è Struan Mackenzie…

- Courtney Milan ha pubblicato un romanzo con protagonista la proprietaria di un giornale per suffragette, purtroppo inedito in italiano:

The Suffragette Scandal

Frederica Marshall is one of the early suffragettes. Owner of a successful all-women newspaper, she campaigns to prove to 1877 society that equal rights is something that can and should happen. But when a man whom she once spurned tries to shut down her efforts, she must enlist the help of his brother – aristocratic forger and scoundrel Edward Clark – to keep her campaign alive.

- Miranda Davis ha avuto la fantasia di scegliere come protagonista di un suo romance una farmacista (dell’Ottocento…), ma purtroppo anche questo è inedito in italiano:

The Duke's Tattoo

Before he was the tenth Duke of Ainsworth, Jeremy Maubrey was one of the ‘Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ and a cavalry officer known for his implacable nature. But what he wakes up to find on this particular morning requires revenge of a whole new order of magnitude. Bath’s only female apothecary, Miss Prudence Haversham has dreamed of revenge against the duke who ruined her life nine years ago. Unfortunately, she made one simple mistake and mocked the wrong man indelibly. Now, Miss Haversham can only pray her innocent victim never discovers the guilty part.

- Altra scrittrice che ama personaggi particolari è certamente Laura Kinsale, io mi limito a citarvi solo uno dei suoi libri, ma molti vedono protagoniste donne e uomini fuori dai soliti schemi romance. Io vi cito un suo romanzo pubblicato da I romanzi mondadori:

Un sogno ci salverà

Quando Ransom Falconer, duca di Damerell, si reca dal famoso inventore Merlin Lambourne, ha un solo scopo: convincerlo a mettere il suo talento al servizio della patria, nella guerra contro Napoleone. L’ultima cosa che si aspetta è che, in realtà, Merlin sia una donna.

- L’autrice Aliyah Burke credo sia completamente inedita in Italia come il suo libro con protagonista una assassina/guardia del corpo:

What the Earl Desires

A pair of English women hire Najja, an African assassin, to protect them. In the course of her duties she meets Colin Faulkner, Earl of Clifton. But they can never be together, because the year is 1811, and an entire continent – plus her loyalty to her father – lie between them.

- Altro titolo inedito in italiano è di Darlene Marshall e vede protagonista una piratessa:

What The Parrot Saw

Captain Mattie St Armand is not just a woman: she’s the biracial bastard daughter of a pirate and a freedwoman, so she needs a naïve white man to help deflect the authorities while she smuggles slaves from Florida to freedom in the Bahamas. This is where Oliver Woodruff comes in. A naïve white man who needs rescuing from a whorehouse, he’s the perfect man for her job.

- L’ultima autrice che includo nella lista è…me stessa. Infatti nel mio romanzo L’ELISIR DI MANTOVA, edito Leggereditore, romance ambientato nell’Ottocento, una delle due protagoniste femminili è infermiera e a volte fa le veci di medico.

1846. Adam Roschmann, è un uomo in fuga dalle responsabilità e dal mondo. Figlio di William e Matilde, viene espulso con disonore dall’Accademia militare. Coinvolto in vicende torbide legate al gioco d’azzardo, si dedica a imprese che non dovrebbero riguardare un uomo del suo ceto. Ritornato nei luoghi natali si imbatte in Elena, un’amica d’infanzia. Elena Harting sta seguendo le orme del padre, lavora in ospedale e cura i malati proprio come fosse un vero medico. Troppo testarda e intelligente per uno spregiudicato buono a nulla come Adam. Fra Verona e Mantova colpite da un morbo insidioso e la città di Vienna custode di molti segreti, il loro rapporto si trasforma in una pericolosa altalena di emozioni.

#lista di romance con protagoniste donne che lavorano storici

[justanoutlawfic]

Prodigal Daughter: 4/4

For Day 5 of @oqpromptparty, a prequel to this verse when Bryony was a baby. #181: “I know you care for her, Regina, but I don’t want Zelena around my son.”

Also on AO3

There were certain things that only a reformed villain could understand. That being said, there were also certain things that they tried to see, even when they weren’t really there in the first place. Regina struggled with that, and she knew it. It didn’t become too much of a problem, until Zelena had the baby.

 The darkness had been taken out of Emma and Hook was dead. Things weren’t exactly calm, they’d never be that way in Storybrooke, but it was giving everyone a chance to work out their issues. Emma had sold her house and moved back in with her parents, to repair the damage her lies had done to their relationship. Henry was working on forgiving her for what she had done during that time. Rumpelstiltskin and Belle were battling their own issues now that he was the Dark One again, and she was pregnant.

 Robin and Regina were trying to find their own footing as well. He, Roland and the baby had moved into the mansion permanently. Their romantic relationship was stronger than ever, and they knew that nothing was going to get in their way again. Henry was perfectly happy with the arrangement; Roland had adjusted beautifully. The baby, now named Bryony, was thriving under the care of Regina and Robin. There was just one problem…Zelena.

 No longer in prison, she wanted to see her child. Regina took her a couple of times a week so they could bond, while Robin stayed behind. He trusted his partner to make sure that Bryony would be safe and knew deep down that Zelena would never do anything to hurt her own child. He was in therapy for what she had put him through and he was working on forgiving her. He’d never be able to be alone in the same room as her, but maybe one day, they could actually co-parent without him wanting to scream.

 Things got less simple when one day, Zelena popped by the house unannounced, claiming she desperately needed a baby fix. All of the kids were home and Robin suddenly felt an urge of protectiveness. He asked Henry to take Roland upstairs and Regina took Zelena onto the porch to explain why this couldn’t happen and that clearly, she was having a bit of manic episode and needed to talk to Archie. It all ended in a huge argument, with Zelena storming off and not seeing the baby at all.

 When Regina came back inside, Robin was feeding Bryony and cuddling her closer than normal. She sat beside him and put a hand on his arm. “She’s gone now.”

“I know. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look it.”

“Look, I’m not trying to protect myself here. I know I can, and I know that she would never hurt her own daughter.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Robin let out a sigh. “I know you care for her, Regina, but I don’t want Zelena around my son.”

Regina bit down on her lip. “Robin…”

“She tricked him, just as much as she did me. I know we made it so he has no memory of that time and she treated him well, but it doesn’t change that anything could’ve happened. I don’t truly believe she would’ve hurt him, but what if she tried to take him from me? Or turn him against us?” Regina’s face fell. Clearly, she knew he was right to have this anxiety. “Like I said, he can’t remember any of it, but I know that it happened to him. I can still think about it. And I just can’t handle the possibility of her being around him.”

 Robin had expected a fight, but to his surprise, Regina was quiet for a few minutes. She didn’t look upset or hurt by this request, instead, she was deep in thought.

 “I think you need to file for full custody,” she said, finally.

Robin tilted his head. “Of Roland?”

“No, Bryony. Look, as of right now, there’s nothing stopping Zelena from coming over here and seeing her. Hell, there’d be nothing stopping her from taking her and disappearing. I don’t think she’d do that, but this way, there will be boundaries. We’ll keep up the visitations, with me bringing Bryony to her and have it in writing as to when those will be. And we’ll include that she can’t go anywhere near Roland.”

“I didn’t expect you to agree so easily.”

“She may be my sister, Robin, and I’m trying to help her be a better person but that doesn’t mean that her actions don’t have consequences. Snow doesn’t want her around Neal either. And if Emma was still a small child when the curse broke and she didn’t want me around her, I’d get that too. Forgiveness is important, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be around the person that hurt you. That’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this.”

 Regina looked down at the baby in his arms, stroking her chubby cheek.

 “We still don’t know what we’re going to tell her one day, about any of this. It’s not just her we need to worry about, though. We need to protect Roland and Henry too. They need to come first.”

Robin scooted closer to her and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“It’s what I’m here for.”

 Unfortunately, Zelena wouldn’t take the custody suit very well. Despite them all saying that with help, in time things could be different, she was just too emotional to handle all of it. In the end, she went back to Oz, leaving Bryony behind. Robin could tell she was heartbroken and he couldn’t blame her. Regina had gone to bat for her sister and fought for her so much. Then, as soon as Zelena didn’t get what she wanted, she was gone. This time, Robin would have to be the one to be there to support Regina, which he would happily do a million times over.

#prodigal daughter verse #outlaw queen #regina mills #robin hood #ouat #once upon a time #oqpromptparty2019

[metalandmagi]

December End of the Year Media Madness!

It’s a new month and a new year! And what a crazy month it was what with Tumblr imploding and all. But I’ll still throw this on here just because I’ll be on this site until it literally boots me out. But I do have a twitter now…@metalandmagi where I’m also barely active at all.

Anyway, why make top 10 lists for the entire year when I can just ramble about all the media I consumed this month? There’s only a marginal amount of holiday things on here by my standards!

November media

Movies!

Give me some credit there’s only four Christmas movies on here.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?: A documentary about Mr. Rogers starting with the birth of the television show to his death. This is the fluffiest most heartwarming thing I could have possibly picked to watch on Christmas, and I encourage everyone, even people who hate documentaries and/or never grew up with Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, to watch it. There’s a lot of important messages about acceptance, dealing with tragedy, and mental health that people can learn from and feel good about. Not to mention how he completely revolutionized children’s television. So yeah, he was awesome.10/10

Spider-man Into the Spider-verse: When a rip between dimensions is opened, a bunch of different spider themed superheroes from every comic fan’s wet dreams all get together to close it. Guys I’m not that big of a Spider-man fan, but dang this movie was a ton of fun. I came for the amazing visual effects and stayed for the amazing...everything else. The music, the performances, and the story were all top notch. Also I now have a new favorite Nick Cage role. If you thought the trailer made the animation look interesting, it was just the tip of the iceberg because it is the most visually interesting movie I’ve seen in the last three years. I strongly suggest any fan of animation...or even any fan of great stories and movies in general go see it even if you’re not that big on Spider-Man. Now I’m demanding a Spider-verse Aunt May movie because I have so many questions! And the post credits scene was the best out of any Marvel movie. Period. 10,000/10

The Wiz (2015 musical): I should start making a section for musicals or plays instead of just lumping it in with the movies. It’s the Wizard of Oz...but cool. I’ve never seen any iteration of The Wiz and it seems like I’m constantly hearing about it. So I watched the 2015 version of the 1975 Broadway musical that NBC aired. And yeah it’s good. There were some great performances. But I wasn’t very impressed with the songs themselves, and it’s not really the same without a dog along for the ride, but whatever. 7.5/10

Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle: The surprisingly fun reboot/sequel thing of Jumanji where four teenagers get stuck in a video game that follows every “stuck in a video game” trope you can imagine but actually does it well. It’s a sweet, funny romp through the jungle with some great comedic performances. I really don’t have much to say about it except that this movie is better than it has any right to be. 8/10

The Christmas Chronicles: Two children stow away on Kurt Russell’s, I mean Santa’s sleigh and go on a dangerous, balls to the wall adventure throughout Chicago trying to save Christmas or something. After everyone started talking about how crazy this Netflix movie is I had to watch it to verify if it is indeed as wild as they said. And yes...yes it is. It is so laughably ridiculous and questionable that it’s impossible to actually hate. The elves are some unholy mixture of minions and gremlins, one of the children is a literal felon that no one is concerned about, and Kurt Russell is super into the role but has some sort of thing about fat-shaming Santa. I just...have so many questions! But it was certainly a trip, so I’d have to recommend it just so you too can witness the insanity. -10 “savvy, straight-talking St. Nicks”/10

Arthur Christmas: No, it’s not a Christmas special related to the aardvark cartoon! This is the 2011 animated movie that no one remembers exists. Santa’s clumsy but enthusiastic son Arthur must deliver a forgotten present in less than two hours while the rest of his family deals with some Arrested Development style family drama. This is by far the most underrated Christmas movie of all time; even I didn’t realize it was actually good until I watched it for the first time in 2016! The fun road-trip style plot and the entertaining characters were victims of bad marketing. Arthur is hilariously endearing, and there was so much heart and effort put into it that I can find new things to notice every time I watch it. Not to mention the amazingly animated opening spy sequence! And also Mrs. Claus is secretly a total badass and Bryony the elf is the coolest female character in a Christmas movie ever. The movie’s message of old vs new is nothing we haven’t seen before, but I really don’t care because at the heart of it all, it’s about making people happy on Christmas. If you’re like me and just assumed this movie would suck...or didn’t know it exists, please give it a chance. It’s not perfect, but it’s worth seeing. 9/10

Neo Yokio Pink Christmas: Yes, it’s the Christmas special for Neo Yokio. No I cannot accurately describe it with mere words. There’s a rich bachelor gift exchange, demon possession, and pompous French aunts slinging insults at each other. It is unironically my favorite holiday episode of a show ever, and to me it’s the best Christmas special ever made. I thought I was prepared for the absolute bat-shit ride I would go on, but no...I wasn’t even close. At this point I don’t know if it’s written like this on purpose or if some divine twist of fate made the executives believe this is truly brilliant television. Either way, it is a masterpiece in its own right. There’s even a somewhat intriguing plot and a message about gift giving and capitalism under all the crazy! If you haven’t jumped down the rabbit hole yet, I implore you to watch the insanity that is Neo Yokio and follow it up with Pink Christmas because it will truly make your holiday season. 100,000 demon DNA drugs out of 100,000!

Die Hard: Nothing says Christmas like terrorists taking over a skyscraper and Bruce Willis having to take them all down by himself. Yeah...so I’ve never seen Die Hard before, but this is one of those movies that is so famous that I felt like I’d already absorbed everything important through cultural osmosis. And even though it’s pretty good, I would have liked it better if I didn’t know what was going to happen. My only real complaint is that I think it goes on way too long. More than anything it just made me sad to remember that Alan Rickman is gone. And it bothers me so much that John McClane goes through this building that’s under construction WITHOUT SHOES! 8/10

Books!

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis: The 4th/6th book in the Chronicles of Narnia, in which Eustace Scrubb and his classmate Jill Pole go to the underworld to find King Caspian’s long lost son. Even though my children- the Pevensies aren’t in it, I actually think this book is my favorite of the series so far. Jill and Eustace are both sassy enough to play off each other, Puddleglum absolutely hilarious, and the book actually has a clear cut plot! It reads much more like a Greek myth than a children’s fairy tale since there aren’t nearly as many of Lewis’s trademark author interjections, and you know...it’s a literal journey to the underworld. And can I just say that it’s super refreshing to have an author write two main characters WITH ZERO ROMANTIC INTENTIONS! Especially since they’re freaking children! Now I just wish Disney had continued the movies even more! 9/10

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare: I’m going to do this with only minor spoilers. It’s the final book in The Dark Artifices trilogy. Will Emma and Julian break the parabatai bond? Will the reflection of the modern day American government- I mean the Cohort/ the Clave fuck up the relationships between Shadowhunters and Downworlders forever? You’ll have to suffer like the rest of us to find out! In my opinion, 99% of this book is amazing, but in the last 50 pages there are some...bullshit ways of solving problems. Like everything that went down with the Cohort in Idris. Not to mention we’ve been so invested in the parabatai curse and how Julian and Emma’s bond would go down and...let’s just say the resolution was way too easy. And if you thought Clare’s other finales were jam packed, you ain't seen nothin’ yet. My copy is 880 pages and there was still more stuff that I wanted to happen...like any sort of scene between Dru and Ash...or an ending between Kit and Ty that doesn’t make me want to cry (the Wicked Powers is going to be brutal). But the rest of that 99% is mind-blowing! There’s so much good I can say that it mostly outranks anything I didn’t like...I mean we finally got a Malec wedding and a proper polyamorous relationship for the Angel’s sake! It may be my least favorite of her finales by default but it was still a fun ride! 9/10

TV shows!

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018): An elite soldier finds a sword that can transform her into a super buff magical girl who helps princesses take down the forces of evil. It’s a reboot of the 1980s cartoon, and holy crap it’s AMAZING! I have a whole new group of children to adopt, each episode is entertaining in its own way, and there’s so...many...good...ships! And it gives Steven Universe a run for its money with the care that went into making every character a different kind of warrior, which I love because the cast is 99% female. My only real complaint is that I never warmed up to Catra because she wasn’t particularly sympathetic to me from the beginning. But I understand why some people love her. If you love well crafted adventurous character driven cartoons and haven’t watched it yet WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?  10/10

Nailed It Holiday: Yes, my favorite baking show (and by that I mean the only baking show I watch) has a holiday season out on Netflix, in which newbie bakers are tasked with making incredibly professional desserts with a very short time limit. And whoever makes the best treat gets 10,000 dollars. I’ve talked about this show before in my June media madness, and I don’t know what it is but I’m so addicted to it. 10/10

Brooklyn nine-nine (season 5): Come on we all know the cop sitcom. It’s the best sitcom. Just in general it’s the best. Great characters that subvert expectations, great humor, and a lot of heart. I’ve known that this show is supposed to be amazing for years, but I only started watching it a few months ago. And since I couldn’t find season 5 anywhere...I got a Hulu subscription just to watch it before season 6 comes out. That’s how good this show is. 10/10

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (season 2): Our favorite underdog comedian is back, and she’s slowly gaining popularity and doing...stuff. Like going on tour. And hanging out with Zachary Levi. Yes, this season is great, but my problem with this series is that every character aside from Midge and Susie are the fucking worst, especially the parents. Midge’s parents suck, Joel’s parents suck, Midge and Joel are appropriately neglectful parents for the time period...I could go on. And it’s not even in a funny way; like it’s just disgusting to watch these power dynamics. Not to mention how old the comedic bits for the parents get (how many times can we hear about Joel needing to date or Midge needing to get married?!) Yes, I realize that we’re supposed to be annoyed AND YES I realize that this is a product of culture and how society was, but none of the parents have any redeeming qualities. In episode one, we’re led to believe that Midge’s parents will grow and change through the season and they never do! At least there are moments where Joel can kind of be redeeming and expand on his actual character before he reverts back to being an asshole. Anyway, my thoughts are pretty much the same as the first season. It’s funny and interesting to watch, but it can be ridiculously frustrating when you hate almost all the characters!  8/10

Fuller House (season 4): Yes I do watch the ridiculous Netflix reboot of Full House. And yes, it is absolutely terrible! I really really hate it! But will I stop watching it? Let’s just say you can pry this pile of garbage from my cold dead hands. I don’t know if I’d call this a guilty pleasure or a hate watch type of show... it’s certainly not so bad it’s good territory like Neo Yokio...but Full House was pretty much my entire childhood. And yes, the original show is also not great. I loved it as a kid, and it was my first real exposure to a non-traditional family in live action, but yeah it doesn’t age well. What I’m trying to say is...I have no good reason for watching this.

I don’t mean to say that there’s nothing good about it, especially this season. They really back off on the more cringe-worthy catch phrases, Stephanie being aware of how stupid the writing is and constantly pointing it out is actually funny, their Christmas episode was surprisingly genuine, and they impressed me by actually make two female characters try and work through their difficulties instead of pitting them against each other for laughs. It has its moments, just like the original but definitely not enough to make up for the worst of it. Maybe this generation of children will like it the way lots of my generation used to like Full House...but yeah it’s awful, I hate it so much. -1 missing Tanner child out of 3

Voltron Legendary Defender (season 8) SPOILERS: It’s the final season of Netflix’s Voltron, and boy it was...something. I didn’t want to make this a big rant/defense of the show...but I feel like I have to highlight some things because this fandom is a shithole that refuses to see the good in anything.

There is so much good and so much...not good I can say about it, so here’s a couple things. I know this show didn’t go the direction anyone wanted, but that doesn’t make it bad. In addition to the stunning fight scenes and music, the performances this season were just amazing! I literally wanted to cry every other episode even though sometimes I didn’t know why the fuck something was happening. I don’t know how I feel about Honerva’s plan. I understand her motivation, but I was constantly questioning how we got from point A to point B... so yeah the plot and writing could be...weird at times. Also everyone seemed to have super pointy chins this season...

Spoiler alert: Not many of us wanted Lance and Allura to happen, but I truly believe it wasn’t done in a half assed way. At the very least, I appreciate that they had a genuine bond that developed over so many seasons. BECAUSE YES IT DID! Anyone who says they had no development or that it felt forced never paid attention. I wanted it to stay platonic; I wanted Klance to happen, but...I can’t be too mad at the writers because they at least tried. I still believe that Klance was endgame and the creators were forced to change the outcome of the show later on. AND YES LANCE DID GET A CHARACTER ARC! It may not have been the one we wanted to see, but I’m baffled that people think Lance living with his family, surrounded by people he loves-which is what he wanted all along- is not a happy ending. I just wish his relationship with Keith wasn’t pretty much ignored all season. But I believe Allura is his past that taught him to genuinely love and Keith is his future who will make Lance his “first choice”. And I’m not even gonna try to explain how I feel about Shiro and Allura’s endings because everything I feel is so complicated and layered. There is good and there is bad.

TLDR: This show teaches us that we’re stronger together, and I think the “fandom” completely missed the point because they do nothing but tear others down and refuse to look at things from other perspectives. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT LIKE IT, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE AWAY OTHER PEOPLE’S ENJOYMENT AND BE A DICK ABOUT IT. It may not have been everything I wanted, but I’m glad I went on this ride. Besides, there are canonically infinite realities so there’s got to be a reality where all your dreams for the show come true. As a season, I’d say it’s a 7.5/10.

Honorable Mentions

I watched Avengers: Infinity War again. And yes it’s still great.

I’m watching Superstore because when another sitcom comes on before The Good Place, why not? Also since I finished season 5 of Brooklyn 99 I had to use my Hulu subscription for something.

Camp Camp has a holiday episode...so naturally I watched it...several times. Please watch Camp Camp.

Hellsing Ultimate Abridged finally ended, and I feel obligated to shout this out because, hey when you put out one episode a year it’s a big accomplishment to finish it!

Super Smash Bros Ultimate is finally here!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL THE WINTER ANIME IS ENDING!!! They were all so amazing! So shout out to Iroduku-The world in colors, Bloom into You, Hinomaru Sumo, Dakaichi, Banana Fish, Jingai no Yomen, Golden Kamuy, Skull-faced Bookseller Honda-san, Tsurune, AND RUN WITH THE WIND even though they’re not finished yet.

#media madness #long post #the wiz #jumanji #neo yokio pink christmas #die hard #into the spider verse #arthur christmas #the christmas chronicles #wont you be my neighbor #Avengers infinity war #The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel #marvel #she ra netflix #she ra and the princesses of power #nailed it #voltron #voltron legendary defender #voltron season 8 #fuller house #brooklyn 99 #superstore #queen of air and darkness #qoaad #the silver chair #the chronicles of narnia

[geeksofcolor-blog]

The film’s plot is yet to be revealed, but we do know that it is a holiday romance set in London. Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters, A Simple Favor) will be helming the project, making this his second collaboration with Golding. Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings are writing the script, and Thompson will also be producing alongside David Livingstone.

#last christmas #emilia clarke #henry golding #goc news

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #459

Top Ten Christmas Elves

It’s the last one of these before Christmas! And yet Christmas is still ages away really! Maybe I should have done the Christmas one next week! That’d be Boxing Day! Is that more Christmassy! Who knows! Woohoo!

Ahem.

Right, every year I try to do one of these that’s something about Christmas because, well, Christmas. Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. Just once I’d like a regular normal Christmas. Eggnog, a chuffin’ Christmas tree, a little turkey. But I’ve got to right these mother flippin’ lists all the time. And the more of them I do, the more I use up all the easy lists! Three years from now, what on Earth can I find to tie into Christmas? I’ll be ranking the Christmas specials of The Vicar of Dibley.

(That’s not a slam on Dibley, by the way, which is obviously in a particular style but can be devastatingly funny, and the recent specials have been quite moving, touching on the death of Emma Chambers. Anyway, there’s a Dibley Digression for you.)

Anyway, here’s another one that you kinda thought I’d have already done, and one that you’d kinda think would be pretty easy: best Christmas elves. Except when I sat down to write, it transpired that although there are a lot of Christmas movies, and a lot of movies featuring Santa Claus, elves are comparatively thin on the ground. Especially as I’m talking about real Christmas elves here; so Tony Cox in Bad Santa does not count.

And so, across movies, TV, and literature, and with a hearty “ho ho ho” in our hearts, and with no further ado, here I present my favouritest of favourite festive elves; a veritable cavalcade of Santa’s Little Helpers. Merry Christmas everybody! Be good – and what’s your favourite colour?

Buddy (Will Ferrell, Elf, 2003): I mean, it’s got to be, right? He’s the embodiment of Christmas spirit, he’s kind, he’s attentive, he throws a mean snowball, and he brings down the Elf Choir by a whole octave – in a good way! Elf is slight film, but a really enjoyable feel-good one, and Buddy is just so damn nice. He really is the best elf.

Bryony (Ashley Jensen, Arthur Christmas, 2011): a spikier, fast-talking elf, who seems so much tougher than Buddy (check out her two-tone hair and facial piercings). She’s got no time for any shit, but she is above all else just a top-notch wrapper.

Patch (Dudley Moore, Santa Claus: The Movie, 1985): a nice guy in the Buddy mould, but simultaneously more of a sadsack and more of an egotistical bellend, whose performative strop almost ruins Christmas. I’m being unduly harsh, of course: Patch is a sweetheart; naive and maybe a bit needy, but full of ideas and just wanting to make everything better. Has a sweet car, too.

Bernard (David Krumholtz, The Santa Clause, 1994): another fast talker who takes no guff, Bernard is suitably business-minded, caring only about completing Christmas satisfactorily, and giving little heed to the mental gymnastics poor old Scott Calvin is having to go through now that he’s murdered Santa in a cold-blooded attempt to seize the throne, Lannister-style. At least, I think that’s what happens. Anyway, Bernard is cool and funny, like many Krumholtz characters.

The “Santas” (Rare Exports, 2010): a sinister and slow-burning mystery surrounds the naked old men who show up during an industrial digging expedition in Lapland; is it Santa? But there’s more than one! The truth is shocking and, frankly, hilarious; a superb little pitch black comedy. The naked old men are grimy and gruesome but you wouldn’t want it any other way.

The Elves (The Christmas Chronicles, 2018): coming across almost Gremlin-esque (especially in the sequel), these CG critters are a fun and fresh take on Christmas elves. They’re part Minions, part Mogwai, part Attack of the Clones’ Yoda; leaping about in a dervish to help deliver Christmas.

Wiser Older Elf (David Graham, Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, 2008-2013): Graham’s Wise Old Elf is one of the best things about Ben and Holly (a show I’ve regrettably not had cause to talk about for far too long – it’s awful when kids stop watching the best shows, isn’t it? I really miss this and Hey Duggee being on all the time in our house); giving him an older (twin!) brother who has the more “important” Elf job of running Santa’s workshop is suitably hilarious.

Ian and Wolf (Dan Starkey and Nathan McMullen, Doctor Who “Last Christmas”, 2014): they’re supporting characters – barely more than cameos, really – in a one-off Christmas special of Doctor Who; their very existence is all wibbly-wobbly. But they’re delightful fun, especially when they sarcastically chide Clara for not believing in Santa. And while we’re at it, Moffat’s writing of Santa in this episode is exemplary, one of the finest screen Santas.

The Forest Spirits (Klaus, Grant Morrison and Dan Mora, 2015): another excellent and rather post-modern take on Santa and Elves. In this comic, Klaus is betrayed and left for dead, but saved by mystical and mysterious “spirits of the forest” who may or may not be aliens. They grant him strange powers and eternal life, in a way that marries Christmas folklore with superhero mythology. It’s another intriguing idea from Morrison.

The North Polar Bear (The Father Christmas Letters, J.R.R. Tolkien, 1976): what? He’s not an elf! He’s a bear! But Tolkien’s accounts of Father Christmas’ life at the North Pole are rather interesting in that there’s not really a great deal of elfishness about them. Various clans of elves do crop up – especially during the wars with the goblins or if there’s a party, which feels typical of Tolkien Elves – but really for the most part the role of “elf” (as in “Santa’s Little Helper”) is given to the North Polar Bear Karhu. Intensely helpful and good-natured, but also incredibly clumsy and thin-skinned, he’s probably responsible for more chaos than anything else, but he’s sweet and adorable and the friendship between him and Father Christmas is genuine. He’s a truly terrific character, and although he’s not technically an elf, I think we can afford him honorary elf-hood for the purposes of this list.

#top ten #christmas #elves #christmas elf #elf

[lameflare-a-blog]

A team flare redemption au?

sorry for my inactivity! anyway, onto the redemption arc headcanons

1.) She quits shortly after the whole thing with Xerosic’s experiments on Emma. Basically, that’s where Celosia found out EXACTLY how shady Flare can be.

2.) She sometimes questions if she can truly redeem herself, and worries she may fall back on old behaviors. To combat this feeling, she is writing down all the horrible things she did while part of Team Flare and reflecting back on them.

3.) In an attempt to fit in with the rest of society, she has taken her old pseudonym of ‘Violet Durand’ and is using it as if it was her real name.

4.) She still harbors romantic feelings for Bryony, and hopes that one day she may resign as well, but isn’t counting on it.

5.) She’s letting her hair grow out.

#Anonymous

[barmcakemag]

Barmcake A-Z

This is a list of all the people I’ve interviewed for Barmcake (well nearly all - RIP Ken Dodd) and one or two others I’ve done features on, with details about where you can buy their stuff direct and/or news about what they are up to (new releases/fundraisers/delivery details etc).

These people make great music, theatre and art, write fantastic books, perform wonderful comedy routines. I wanted to do a small bit to help people through what is likely to be a difficult year. Without them, it would be a much more bland and boring place.

Barmcake interviewees (and others)

8bitnorthxstitch www.etsy.com/shop/8bitnorthxstitch

A Certain Ratio www.acrmcr.com/

Age of Chance @ageofchance

Viv Albertine www.faber.co.uk/tutors/viv-albertine/

Mik Artistik https://www.mikartistik.com/Fundraising

Jenn Ashworth http://jennashworth.co.uk/ Latest book: Notes Made While Falling

Babybird www.babybird.info/

David Barnett @davidmbarnett Latest book: Things Can Only Get Better

Bear Tree Records www.beartreerecords.com/

Beer Mat Movies @beer_mat_movies

James Bentley http://buryfcinthemid90s.co.uk/

The Bluetones https://thebluetones-uk.myshopify.com/

BOB @BOBindieband

Kevin Boniface https://kevinboniface.co.uk/work

John Bramwell http://www.johnbramwell.com/

Elkie Brooks @ElkieOfficial

Buzzcocks @Buzzcocks Boxset (1991-2014) and new single, Gotta Get Better, recently released

Rob Chapman www.rob-chapman.com/?LMCL=Gndvmz

Helen Clapcott  https://paintingsofstockport.co.uk/

Comma Press @commapress

Heath Common @CommonHeath

John Cooper Clarke @official_jcc

Cornershop www.cornershop.com/Latest LP: England Is A Garden

Cud @CUDband

AA Dhand www.aadhand.com/

The Distractions @DistractionsMcr Nobody’s Perfect LP reissued and expanded

Fuzzbox @FuzzboxOfficial

Glossop Record Club https://glossoprecordclub.wordpress.com/ Monthly radio show to continue

Tony Hannan www.tonyhannan.co.uk/

Bella Hardy www.bellahardy.com/shopBest of compilation out now

Joanne Harris www.joanne-harris.co.uk/

Dave Haslam www.davehaslam.com/#/dave-haslam-short-biog/Latest book: Searching For Love

Olivia Hemingway http://www.oliviahemingway.com/

Mark Hodkinson www.markhodkinson.com/

HOME @HOME_mcr Commissioned new work which will be on website. Also asking for donations

Steve Huison http://stevehuison.net/

Independent Salford Beer Festival www.salfordbeerfest.com/

Nat Johnson https://natjohnson.bandcamp.com/

John Keenan www.liveinleeds.com/

Bryony Lavery www.unitedagents.co.uk/bryony-lavery

Jeffrey Lewis www.thejeffreylewissite.com/

The Lovely Eggs @TheLovelyEggs New LP: I Am A Moron

Marble Brewery @marblebrewers Web shop and deliveries

Helen McCookerybook http://mccookerybook.com/Latest LP: Pea Soup

Ross McGinnes http://rossmcginnes.com/

Ian McMillan @IMcMillan

The Monochrome Set @themonoset Latest LPs: Little Noises box set and reissues of Strange Boutique and Love Zombies

Diane Morgan @missdianemorgan

Nicola Mostyn http://www.nicolamostyn.com/  Latest book: The Love Delusion

Chris Nickson @ChrisNickson2

The Nightingales thenightingales.org.uk/New LP in May: Four Against Fate. New film later this year: King Rocker

David Nolan @Nolanwriter

Northern Broadsides @NBroadsides

O’Hooley and Tidow  https://ohooleyandtidow.bandcamp.com/

Martin Parr www.martinparr.com/

Pomona Books www.pomonauk.com/

Record Café @TheRecordCafe Take outs/home deliveries

Jennifer Reid http://jenniferreid.weebly.com/

Revolutions Brewing Co @revolutionsbrew

Root & Branch Productions @root_branchprod

Route @Route_News Latest book: Paul Hanley’s Have A Bleedin’ Guess: The Story of Hex Enduction

Ruts DC @therutsdc

Paul Salveson @paulsalveson New book: The Works

Saul Hay Gallery @SaulHayFineArt

Miranda Sawyer @msmirandasawyer

John Shuttleworth @johnshuttlewrth New book: Two Margarines

The Skids @richardjobson

Something Left Behind @TWPdocumentary

Square Chapel Arts Centre @squarechapel

Statement Artworks @PosterboyEric

Adelle Stripe @adellestripe

Count Arthur Strong www.countarthurstrong.com/

Mark Thomas https://markthomasinfo.co.uk/

Sarah Tierney http://sarahtierney.co.uk/

John Toolan @MrToolan

The Undertones @TheUndertones_

Emma Jane Unsworth @emjaneunsworth

Vinyl Tap @vinyltaprecords

Jane Weaver @JanelWeaver

The Wedding Present https://scopitones.co.uk/

Rosie Wilby @rosiewilby

Kathryn Williams www.kathrynwilliams.co.uk/

Bernard Wrigley https://bernardwrigley.com/

Pete Wylie www.petewylie.co.uk/

[londontheatre]

Nina Sosanya

Nina Sosanya (W1A, Last Tango in Halifax) has today been announced as playing the role of Agnetha in Bryony Lavery’s Award-Winning play, Frozen. Nina joins the previously announced Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster, Scott & Bailey) who plays the role of Nancy and Jason Watkins (Line of Duty, Taboo, W1A) who plays the role of Ralph. This psychological thriller about a mother whose child goes missing is directed by Jonathan Munby and will play a strictly limited twelve-week season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Friday 9 February 2018.

One sunny evening a young girl walks to visit her Grandma, she never arrives. A play about retribution, remorse and redemption, Frozen explores the interwoven lives of three strangers as they try to make sense of the unimaginable.

Nina Sosanya theatre credits include: ‘Anna Petrovna’ in Platonov and Ivanov (National Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre), ‘Laura’ in The Vote, Privacy and ‘Clara Hibbert’ in The Vortex (Donmar Warehouse), ‘Woman’ in Where’s My Seat? and ‘Claire’ in Apologia (Bush Theatre), ‘Mae Pollitt’ in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (Novello Theatre), ‘Rosaline’ in Love’s Labour’s Lost, ‘Rosalind’ in As You Like It, ‘Hester Fletcher’ in The Herbal Bed and ‘Boy’ in Henry V (RSC), ‘Alice’ in Fix Up, ‘Pearl’ in House and Garden and ‘Iras’ in Antony and Cleopatra (National Theatre), ‘Sara’ in Almost Nothing (Royal Court Theatre), ‘Suzanna’ in The Marriage of Figaro (Manchester Royal Exchange), ‘Mary’ in The Nativity (Young Vic), ‘Melanie’ in Deadmeat (West Yorkshire Playhouse), ‘Rita’ in Educating Rita (Southampton). Nina is currently shooting the role of ‘Sister Mary Loquacious’ in Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens. Also: Strike Back, Marcella, Apocalypse Slough, W1A, Last Tango in Halifax, Shetland, Wizards vs Aliens, Lewis: The Indelible Stain, Vera: The Ghost Partition, Hustle: Curiosity Killed the Cat, Treasure Island, Silent Witness: Fear, Twenty Twelve, Silk, FM, Framed, Bonekickers, Messiah: The Rapture, Cape Wrath, Doctor Who, Sorted, The Reichenbach Falls, The Wide Sargasso Sea, Casanova, Much Ado About Nothing, Nathan Barley, The Debt, People Like Us, The Jury and Teachers. Films include Juliet, Naked, David Brent: Life on the Road, Manderlay, Code 46 and Love Actually.

Suranne Jones is currently reprising her BAFTA Award-winning title role in the second series of BBC One’s hugely successful drama Doctor Foster. She recently completed filming for Save Me opposite Lennie James and Stephen Graham for Sky Atlantic. Other recent television work includes five series of the popular ITV drama Scott & Bailey, playing ‘Rachel Bailey’ opposite Lesley Sharp, as well as The Brian Pern Show and The Crimson Field for the BBC. Other television credits include Lawless, Touch of Cloth, Doctor Who, Unforgiven and Coronation Street. Suranne’s theatre credits include Top Girls at Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End, A Few Good Men at Theatre Royal Haymarket with Rob Lowe, for which she received the Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress, Blithe Spirit and Terms of Endearment. Suranne played the role of ‘Sandra’ in the 20th anniversary West End revival of Beautiful Thing at the Arts Theatre, as well as the title role in Orlando at the Royal Exchange in 2014.

Jason Watkins is best known for his performance in the title role in acclaimed drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, for which he won Best Actor at the 2015 BAFTA Television Awards. He is also known for playing ‘Gavin Strong’ in Sky 1 comedy series Trollied, as well as ‘Simon Harwood’ in the popular BBC comedy W1A. Airing this September, Jason will be playing ‘Roger’ in the BBC One sitcom Hold The Sunset. He has appeared in over 70 plays and was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2001 for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Servant To Two Masters for the RSC/Young Vic production in the West End. Recent theatre includes The Late Henry Moss by the late Sam Shepard at the Almeida Theatre and A Farewell to the Theatre at the Hampstead Theatre. Film credits include Hampstead opposite Diane Keaton, Gordon Shakespeare in the Nativity! film series and future releases, The Children Act with Emma Thompson and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, directed by Terry Gilliam.

Bryony Lavery’s plays include A Wedding Story, Last Easter, Her Aching Heart (Pink Paper Play of The Year 1992) Smoke, Dirt, and More Light. Her play Frozen, commissioned by Birmingham Repertory Theatre, won the TMA Best Play Award, the Eileen Anderson Central Television Award and was then produced on Broadway where it was nominated for four Tony Awards. Stockholm, for Frantic Assembly, won the Wolff-Whiting award for Best play of 2008. Beautiful Burnout for The National Theatre of Scotland and Frantic Assembly received a Fringe First at Edinburgh, before performances in the UK, New York, Australia and New Zealand. Stage adaptations include 101 Dalmatians (a musical), Chichester 2014, A Christmas Carol (for Birmingham Rep/Chichester Festival Theatre), Precious Bane, The Wicked Lady, Treasure Island (National Theatre 2014-5) and Behind The Scenes At The Museum for York Theatre Royal. Recent work includes The Believers for Frantic Assembly, Thursday for ETT/Brink, Australia, Queen Coal at Sheffield Crucible, and Brideshead Revisited for York Theatre Royal/ETT and Our Mutual Friend for Hull Truck. She is currently writing Balls for One Year Lease Theatre Company, New York, Forever Young for Manchester Royal Exchange, adapting Brighton Rock for Pilot Theatre The Lovely Bones for Birmingham Rep, and developing Cruising for TV.

Jonathan Munby’s UK Theatre include: King Lear starring Ian McKellen and Sinead Cusack, First Light (Chichester Festival Theatre); All The Angels: Handel and The First Messiah, The Merchant Of Venice starring Jonathan Pryce, Anthony and Cleopatra starring Eve Best and Clive Wood and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (WhatsOnStage nomination for Best Shakespearean Production) (Shakespeare’s Globe); Wendy and Peter Pan, The Canterbury Tales (Stratford, Tour and West End) and Madness In Valencia (RSC); Twelfth Night (UK Theatres Awards nomination for Best Touring Production) Company starring Daniel Evans, The Comedy Of Errors and Bird Calls (Sheffield Theatres); Thérèse Raquin starring Alison Steadman and Pippa Nixon (Theatre Royal Bath); ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (West Yorkshire Playhouse); The Prince of Homburg starring Charlie Cox and Life Is A Dream starring Dominic West (Donmar Warehouse); A Number (WhatsOnStage Theatregoers Choice nomination for Best Regional and Best Off-West End Production) (Menier Chocolate Factory and Sheffield Theatres); Serious Money and She Stoops To Conquer (Birmingham Rep); The White Devil (WhatsOnStage Theatregoers Choice nomination for Best Off-West End Production) (Menier Chocolate Factory); 24 Hour Plays (Old Vic); Henry V And Mirandola (Manchester Royal Exchange); Nakamitsu (Gate Theatre Notting Hill); Opera includes: Carmen (Opera Holland Park); Don Giovanni (English Touring Opera); Sweetness and Badness (WNO Max Project). International Work includes: King Kong: Legend Of A Boxer, the South African Musical (Fugard Theatre Cape Town and Joburg Theatre Johannesburg); Othello and Julius Caesar (Chicago Shakespeare Company); The Crucible (Cocoon Theatre Tokyo); A Human Being Died That Night (Recorded for BBC Radio 3) (BAM New York, Fugard Theatre Cape Town and Hampstead Studio); Measure For Measure and The Dog In The Manger (Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Director) (Shakespeare Theatre Company Washington DC); Romeo And Juliet (Akasaka Act Theatre Tokyo and Theatre Brava Osaka); The Recommendation (Old Globe San Diego); The Winter’s Tale (Guthrie Theatre Minneapolis); Noises Off (Kreegar Theatre Washington).

Writer Bryony Lavery Director Jonathan Munby Designer Paul Wills Lighting Designer Jon Clark Video Designer Luke Halls Composer Rupert Cross Sound Designer Christopher Shutt

Frozen is presented by Jonathan Church Productions, TRH Productions and Scott M. Delman.

FROZEN Theatre Royal Haymarket Haymarket London SW1Y 4HT

Box office number: 020 7930 8800 Website: FrozenThePlay.com Dates: Friday 9 February – Saturday 5 May 2018

http://ift.tt/2x2b1dK LondonTheatre1.com

#IFTTT #LondonTheatre1.com

[chrisshepherdfilms]

We had an incredible night last night at The Little Theater for our Edna Welthorpe Joe Orton Tribute night. Both myself and Dr Emma Parker presented our homage to Joe Orton on the 50th anniversary of his death. The brilliant and lovely Frances Barber read the original Edna Welthorpe letters followed my presenting the film. After which Frances read all of the new letters. We had some of the authors present including Matthew Sweet who wrote an Edna letter to the BBC and OED. Jake Arnott’s Edna poked fun at a hipster haunt which was converted from a pub loo. I wrote a letter about the emotive topic of the general size of Wagon Wheels. Other letters which Frances read were by Felix Massie, Arthur Mathews, Jesse Armstrong and Caroline Moran who had Edna exclaiming about dustbusting a Punto. Frances also presented the letter by the winner of the Edna creative writing competition - Bryony Adshead from Derby High School.  After the letter reading we had a heated debate with David Quantick and Graham Fellows. But the climax of the night was when Leonie Orton read passages from her book and sections from Joe’s unpublished teenage diary. One really touching entry was about him performing in The Little Theatre and really hoping that he would get a place in the RCA because he really wanted show people he was good at something. Joe Orton certainly did this.

Id like to thank everyone involved and I’m truly honored to have been a part of such a special night. If you want to read the Edna letters go to www.ednawelthorpe.co.uk and if you want to watch our Edna film check out https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ednawelthorpe.

The next Edna Welthorpe event will be at Encounters Short Film Festival in September coupled with a very special retrospective of my films. So why not come along on the 21st September.

Special thanks to Sarah Graham for taking some of these photos.

#Edna Welthorpe #Joe Orton #Dr Emma Parker #Frances Barber #Leonie Orton Barnett #David Qunatick #graham fellows #bryony Adshead #derby high school #felix massie #the little theatre #matthew sweet #Arthur Mathews #Jake arnott

[londontheatre]

Suranne Jones and Jason Watkins star in a new West End production of the award-winning play Frozen.

Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster, Scott & Bailey) and Jason Watkins (Line of Duty, Taboo, W1A) will star in Frozen, Bryony Lavery’s Award-Winning play. This psychological thriller about a mother whose child goes missing is directed by Jonathan Munby and will play a strictly limited twelve-week season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Friday 9 February 2018.

One sunny evening a young girl walks to visit her Grandma, she never arrives. A play about retribution, remorse and redemption, Frozen explores the interwoven lives of three strangers as they try to make sense of the unimaginable.

Suranne Jones is about to reprise her BAFTA Award-winning title role in the second series of BBC One’s hugely successful drama Doctor Foster. She recently completed filming for Save Me opposite Lennie James and Stephen Graham for Sky Atlantic. Other recent television work includes five series of the popular ITV drama Scott & Bailey, playing ‘Rachel Bailey’ opposite Lesley Sharp, as well as The Brian Pern Show and The Crimson Field for the BBC. Other television credits include

Suranne Jones

Lawless, Touch of Cloth, Doctor Who, Unforgiven and Coronation Street. Suranne’s theatre credits include Top Girls at Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End, A Few Good Men at Theatre Royal Haymarket with Rob Lowe, for which she received the Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress, Blithe Spirit and Terms of Endearment. Suranne played the role of ‘Sandra’ in the 20th anniversary West End revival of Beautiful Thing at the Arts Theatre, as well as the title role in Orlando at the Royal Exchange in 2014.

Jason Watkins is best known for his performance in the title role in acclaimed drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, for which he won Best Actor at the 2015 BAFTA Television Awards. He is also known for playing ‘Gavin Strong’ in Sky 1 comedy series Trollied, as well as ‘Simon Harwood’ in the popular BBC comedy W1A. Airing this September, Jason will be playing ‘Roger’ in the BBC One sitcom Hold The Sunset. He has appeared in over 70 plays and was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2001 for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Servant To Two Masters for the RSC/Young Vic production in the West End. Recent theatre includes The Late Henry Moss by the late Sam Shepard at the Almeida Theatre and A Farewell to the Theatre at the Hampstead Theatre. Film credits include Hampstead opposite Diane Keaton, Gordon Shakespeare in the Nativity! film series and future releases, The Children Act with Emma Thompson and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, directed by Terry Gilliam.

Jason Watkins

Bryony Lavery’s plays include A Wedding Story, Last Easter, Her Aching Heart (Pink Paper Play of The Year 1992) Smoke, Dirt, and More Light. Her play Frozen, commissioned by Birmingham Repertory Theatre, won the TMA Best Play Award, the Eileen Anderson Central Television Award and was then produced on Broadway where it was nominated for four Tony Awards. Stockholm, for Frantic Assembly, won the Wolff-Whiting award for Best play of 2008. Beautiful Burnout for The National Theatre of Scotland and Frantic Assembly received a Fringe First at Edinburgh, before performances in the UK, New York, Australia and New Zealand. Stage adaptations include 101 Dalmatians (a musical), Chichester 2014, A Christmas Carol (for Birmingham Rep/Chichester Festival Theatre), Precious Bane, The Wicked Lady, Treasure Island (National Theatre 2014-5) and Behind The Scenes At The Museum for York Theatre Royal. Recent work includes The Believers for Frantic Assembly, Thursday for ETT/Brink, Australia, Queen Coal at Sheffield Crucible, and Brideshead Revisited for York Theatre Royal/ETT and Our Mutual Friend for Hull Truck. She is currently writing Balls for One Year Lease Theatre Company, New York, Forever Young for Manchester Royal Exchange, adapting Brighton Rock for Pilot Theatre The Lovely Bones for Birmingham Rep, and developing Cruising for TV.

Jonathan Munby’s UK Theatre include: King Lear starring Ian McKellen and Sinead Cusack, First Light (Chichester Festival Theatre); All The Angels: Handel and The First Messiah, The Merchant Of Venice starring Jonathan Pryce, Anthony and Cleopatra starring Eve Best and Clive Wood and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (WhatsOnStage nomination for Best Shakespearean Production) (Shakespeare’s Globe); Wendy and Peter Pan, The Canterbury Tales (Stratford, Tour and West End) and Madness In Valencia (RSC); Twelfth Night (UK Theatres Awards nomination for Best Touring Production) Company starring Daniel Evans, The Comedy Of Errors and Bird Calls (Sheffield Theatres); Thérèse Raquin starring Alison Steadman and Pippa Nixon (Theatre Royal Bath); ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (West Yorkshire Playhouse); The Prince of Homburg starring Charlie Cox and Life Is A Dream starring Dominic West (Donmar Warehouse); A Number (WhatsOnStage Theatregoers Choice nomination for Best Regional and Best Off-West End Production) (Menier Chocolate Factory and Sheffield Theatres); Serious Money and She Stoops To Conquer (Birmingham Rep); The White Devil (WhatsOnStage Theatregoers Choice nomination for Best Off-West End Production) (Menier Chocolate Factory); 24 Hour Plays (Old Vic); Henry V And Mirandola (Manchester Royal Exchange); Nakamitsu (Gate Theatre Notting Hill); Opera includes: Carmen (Opera Holland Park); Don Giovanni (English Touring Opera); Sweetness and Badness (WNO Max Project). International Work includes: King Kong: Legend Of A Boxer, the South African Musical (Fugard Theatre Cape Town and Joburg Theatre Johannesburg); Othello and Julius Caesar (Chicago Shakespeare Company); The Crucible (Cocoon Theatre Tokyo); A Human Being Died That Night (Recorded for BBC Radio 3) (BAM New York, Fugard Theatre Cape Town and Hampstead Studio); Measure For Measure and The Dog In The Manger (Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Director) (Shakespeare Theatre Company Washington DC); Romeo And Juliet (Akasaka Act Theatre Tokyo and Theatre Brava Osaka); The Recommendation (Old Globe San Diego); The Winter’s Tale (Guthrie Theatre Minneapolis); Noises Off (Kreegar Theatre Washington).

CREATIVES Writer Bryony Lavery Director Jonathan Munby Designer Paul Wills Lighting Designer Jon Clark Video Designer Luke Halls Composer Rupert Cross Sound Designer Christopher Shutt

Frozen is presented by Jonathan Church Productions, TRH Productions and Scott Delman. Further casting to be announced in due course.

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION FROZEN Theatre Royal Haymarket Haymarket London SW1Y 4HT Social media handles: Facebook: Frozen The Play (url: http://ift.tt/2wrVCjb) Twitter @FrozenThePlay Hashtags: #FrozenPlay Dates: Friday 9 February – Saturday 5 May 2018 Press Night: Wednesday 21 February 2018

FROZEN Theatre Royal Haymarket Haymarket London SW1Y 4HT Box office number: 020 7930 8800 Website: FrozenThePlay.com

http://ift.tt/2wsArgO LondonTheatre1.com

#IFTTT #LondonTheatre1.com