Together, They Fight Crime

[andraste]

It's always delightful to go back to something you loved some eight years ago and find that it's just as good as you remembered. The other day I was in JB Hi Fi when I spotted not one but two of my favourite BBC mystery series on DVD, the first season of Jonathan Creek and the collected Mrs. Bradley Mysteries. Jonathan is well-known among devotees of British television, but perhaps the splendid Mrs. Bradley requires some introduction.

Back at the turn of the century, the BBC loosely adapted several of Gladys Mitchell's novels into five TV episodes starring the luminous Diana Rigg as Mrs. Adela Bradley. Our heroine is a bit like a naughtier version of Miss Marple. Terminally bored with being a wife and mother, she long ago abandoned her handsome but dull husband and became a famous criminologist, psychoanalyst and ardent feminist. Now she swans about 1920s Britain with her chauffeur and solves mysteries.

With her impeccable wardrobe and razor wit, she's one of my favourite TV detectives. I often find anachronistically progressive attitudes annoying in historical fiction, but Mrs. Bradley gets away with it. This is partly because of the show's comic elements, but more than that, it's because she frequently turns to the camera to make witty asides. ("I've always thought of the countryside as a soggy sort of place where animals and birds wander about uncooked.") It seems entirely natural that a character aware of the modern audience would share its values.

Mrs. Bradley's Watson is her devoted chauffeur, George Moody. Also divorced after his wife ran off to better herself, he's found his calling as her sidekick and ... well, let's just say Mrs. Bradley doesn't keep him around just to polish the Rolls Royce. Their relationship is one of the major delights of the series, and it makes a change to find a heterosexual pairing that has all the subtexty, innuendo-laden fun of a slash 'ship. (I've read reviews that called this UST, but as far as I can see there's no U about it. They just have to be discreet because of the whole chauffeur thing.) George is lovely in and of himself, too. I wish I had a driver who would bring me flowers and help me fight crime.

The plots are frequently silly, but no more so than Agatha Christie. As with all BBC period drama, the sets and costumes are lucious and there's great fun to be had actor spotting. David Tennant has a minor part in the second story, while Peter Davision has a recurring role as a policeman and rival for Mrs. Bradley's affections.

All in all, if BBC historical mysteries are your sort of thing or you love Diana Rigg - who doesn't? - I highly recommend the series. If only so there is someone to write me fic next Yuletide.

Comments

[wal-lace.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty certain we passed a law about loving Diana Rigg back in the 1970s. It's why George Lazenby got sacked from the James Bond franchise - he didn't get on with her.

[andraste]

I'm pretty certain we passed a law about loving Diana Rigg back in the 1970s. It's why George Lazenby got sacked from the James Bond franchise - he didn't get on with her.

How could anyone NOT GET ON with Diana Rigg? I am glad to hear that he was appropriately punished for his transgression.

[marag.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I vaguely remember those and I remember loving them. I adore Diana Rigg and Peter Davison, so that's why I watched to begin with.

[andraste]

Oooh, I vaguely remember those and I remember loving them. I adore Diana Rigg and Peter Davison, so that's why I watched to begin with.

It's a great part for Rigg, and it's nice to see Davison get a shot at a role other than 'clueless nice guy'.

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

They're out on DVD? Cool! I caught them on PBS and adored them!

[andraste]

They're out on DVD? Cool! I caught them on PBS and adored them!

I don't know if they're out in Region 1 or not, but I guess if all else fails you could always order them from Amazon.co.uk.

[lizvogel.livejournal.com]

I adore Mrs. Bradley. Diana Rigg being clever and non-stop snarky -- what's not to love?

Back at the turn of the century,

You have no idea how you sprained my brain with that. "But -- it was in color, and with sound! What, was there an earlier version? Maybe radio?

....Oh. That century."

/* is old */

[andraste]

I adore Mrs. Bradley. Diana Rigg being clever and non-stop snarky -- what's not to love?

Diana Rigg for the win!

You have no idea how you sprained my brain with that. "But -- it was in color, and with sound! What, was there an earlier version? Maybe radio?

....Oh. That century."

Heh. I like saying 'at the turn of the century' to confuse people, because I am cruel and perverse *g*.

[rheanna27.livejournal.com]

How did I ever miss this when it was on? ::runs off to check out::

[andraste]

How did I ever miss this when it was on? ::runs off to check out::

I highly recommend it to any fan of British drama!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ooh! I've never heard of that but I adore Diana Rigg. I'll have to order that.

[andraste]

Ooh! I've never heard of that but I adore Diana Rigg. I'll have to order that.

It's a great role for Rigg, so I highly recommend it to you.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I shall see if I can order it!

[npkedit.livejournal.com]

This sounds divine. I love Diana Rigg. Will put it on my monthly "mad money" list.

[andraste]

This sounds divine. I love Diana Rigg. Will put it on my monthly "mad money" list.

I don't know if it's out on Region 1 or not, but I guess if all else fails you coud order it from Amazon.co.uk.

[saltedpin.livejournal.com]

I noticed the DVD there when I was at yours and was covetous -- I loved that series when it was on. And yes, their relationship is an absolute joy -- I think I always enjoy subtext more than text, no matter what the orientation XD

[saltedpin.livejournal.com]

Also, here's that icon you wanted XD

[andraste]

I could see it when you first posted this comment, but I have taken so long to get around to saving it, it has vanished. Oh noes!

[saltedpin.livejournal.com]

I have re-uploaded it!



XD

[andraste]

Yay! Thank you so much for making this!

[saltedpin.livejournal.com]

No probs at all XD

[andraste]

I noticed the DVD there when I was at yours and was covetous -- I loved that series when it was on.

I shall force you to borrow it when, next we see each other! Which reminds me that I still have your sunglasses and copies of Twisted Toyfare Theatre. We must meet up again soon so I can give you a big pile o' stuff.

And yes, their relationship is an absolute joy -- I think I always enjoy subtext more than text, no matter what the orientation XD

Somehow jumping up and down shouting 'OMG THEY ARE SO DOING IT!' is more fun when canon does not directly state that this is the case *g*.

[saltedpin.livejournal.com]

I would like to meet up again soon anyway! :D I'd love to borrow them, but will see how I go -- still got a lot of Armada and Beast Wars to watch (at the moment I'm sticking with Armada for Megatron -- I have been told it gets better though XD) I have a bunch of free time at the moment, so just let me know when is a good time for you :)

Somehow jumping up and down shouting 'OMG THEY ARE SO DOING IT!' is more fun when canon does not directly state that this is the case *g*
SO TOTALLY. I think this is why I cannot get more than slightly enthused about Torchwood (aside from the fact that the sci-fi stuff makes NO SENSE) -- it's no fun when they're all actually doing each other :((((

[andraste]

I'd love to borrow them, but will see how I go -- still got a lot of Armada and Beast Wars to watch (at the moment I'm sticking with Armada for Megatron -- I have been told it gets better though XD)

It does - I was lucky to watch it with apathocles who could skip me past the duller parts. The last few episodes are brilliant. And the Armada
'Cons are love.

I have a bunch of free time at the moment, so just let me know when is a good time for you :)

Fridays are usually good for me, although not this Friday, as my parents are in town. Maybe the Friday after that?

SO TOTALLY. I think this is why I cannot get more than slightly enthused about Torchwood (aside from the fact that the sci-fi stuff makes NO SENSE) -- it's no fun when they're all actually doing each other :((((

I treat Torchwood a bit like filmed fanfic, which is even more apt now that Spike has shown up.

[saltedpin.livejournal.com]

I think I've seen a lot of the eps towards the end of the show -- my friend Teo and I watched a bunch on YouTube, and yes, those ones were pretty fantastic :D At the moment I can't comment on the other 'Cons or pretty much anyone other than Megatron -- oh my Goooooooooodddddd I must marry David Kaye's voice.

Friday the 8th? Should be fine for me!

I treat Torchwood a bit like filmed fanfic, which is even more apt now that Spike has shown up.
Hee, yeah, it pretty much is -- Rusty just lets his self-indulgence run wild XD

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

I failed to watch this because it sounded too ridiculously toned-down and bowdlerised from the books, in which Mrs Bradley is a terrifying crone with a quite deranged approach to detection and, in the mid-to-later ones, and incredibly femslashy relationship with her female "secretary" (is I read them well before I was in fandom, and got suspicious).

[andraste]

I failed to watch this because it sounded too ridiculously toned-down and bowdlerised from the books, in which Mrs Bradley is a terrifying crone with a quite deranged approach to detection and, in the mid-to-later ones, and incredibly femslashy relationship with her female "secretary" (is I read them well before I was in fandom, and got suspicious).

I haven't read the books, but I suspect it's a bit like Blade Runner vs. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. Blade Runner is one of my favourite films, but considered as an adaptation of the book it's supposed to be based on, it's lousy.

[ljmomo]

Is this fandom getting shown ANY love these days? I still love it and would love to read some more fanfic:)