Geeks logo

Stick with the Classics

If glaring historical inaccuracies make you cringe,

By Renée BPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
2
Stick with the Classics
Photo by Sandra Ahn Mode on Unsplash

If you love Les Miserables, Downton Abbey, or Pride & Prejudice, but you cringe when you hear a string quartet playing Ariana Grande, consider something else for a show to take you back in time.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good period drama. I am a self-proclaimed history nerd, but that doesn't mean I want to watch boring, dimly lit renditions of the great dominating historical figures. However, listening to Emily Dickinson say, “This is bullshit” and “We hang out, like, all the time” made me wince. I get it, creative license! It's supposed to be like that. People want to recreate the events of the past in more common vernacular. But, can we just take out the thee's and thou's and at least make the accents correct?

I find that I want more character development, better plots, and a deeper reverence to the greatness of time and the complexity of humanity. These aren't usually offered in current trending hits like Bridgerton or past ones such as Reign. The latter featured a scene with Lorde’s "Royals" being played by another set of strings. They are fun, yes, and I have watched many hours of series such as these.

But if you want a show that requires you to put your phone down and pay attention, something that incites frustratingly complex characters, try something like Poldark.

The show follows Ross Poldark upon his return home to England after the Revolutionary War. In an effort to not give away too much of the plot, I'll go with the overly dramatic and painfully trite, "It wasn't what he was expecting."

We see his numerous failures and his triumphant successes. We start to simultaneously cheer for him and want to hit him over the head with something very heavy. His fatal flaw is his unchanging desire to do what he thinks is right. He is the champion of the underdog, the defender of the innocent, and the protector of the persecuted- although often at high costs. Bear with him, because it happens often.

The true star of the show, I think, is his wife. I won't give away who she is, but you'll find out soon enough. She is the one who carries the brunt of the weight as Ross goes off to save the world. She is steadfast in her love and stands up to him. She doesn't leave the relationship but rather leans into all the complexities and difficulties of family life. We get to see a bit of what happens behind the scenes of the heroes that we put up on such high pedestals. They still go home at the end of the night, and to what? It can be exhausting, because it is real and honest. As an ex-boyfriend of mine put it, “I just couldn’t watch him ruin his marriage again.”

All of that being said, it is a masterpiece of a series. The series stretches on for five seasons, each with around eight or nine hour long episodes. While looking at the hero, it also examines the psyche of the villain. It isn't as cut and dry as the bad man loses and the credits roll. We see the impact of evil, loss and envy on a character. This show isn't something you want to binge (although I did watch three episodes in one night), but rather appreciate over the course of a long while. And, I'll admit, the fifth season is a bit of a wash, but we all get overexcited sometimes, don't we?

Take a break from those shows that would make the Dowager Countess Grantham, Violent Crawley, have a fit. If you are looking for a historical drama to steal your attention away from the tiny screen in your hand that constantly screams doom and despair of the present, try Poldark. Or Victoria. Or anything by Masterpiece classic... after all, it's called masterpiece for a reason.

vintage
2

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.