[S02.E02: Not In Scotland Anymore]

Nancy Mitford wrote a book about Madame de Pompadour, titled eponymously that gave me some detail (Claire and Jaime are in the court of Louis XV, so I wonder if we're going to see the Pompadour) and I can't remember where I read some of the more lurid details of Versailles and sanitation, but they were hair raising. The waxing seemed anachronistic and prurient to me, even if hair removal was known. This might be why Louise referred to the guy doing the honors as a Turk.

I did think they captured the grand spectacle of Versailles. I could love good political intrigue while trying to change history and I love the treacherous Duke. I just hope they give a little nod to how constricted court society was and how lives and fortunes literally turned on the most seemingly petty things. As a time traveller, it would be very easy to get yourself in trouble due to hubris. Watching some of that happen could be very interesting.

If there are other readers, Tim Powers wrote a different take on time travel, wherein the hapless traveller didn't fall into a niche in society but was broke, homeless and completely lost in the foreign country of the past called The Anubis Gate. I love time travel, which is part of why I'm watching this. I realize that Outlander is about the romance, but imagine if Claire had wandered on the moors for days before anyone found her. I do love the depiction of the 18th century and wish we were getting a little more of the ideas that were fomenting in this time that drive these revolutions they're trying to stop.

[S02.E02: Not In Scotland Anymore]

Kate47...I'm so glad I wasn't the only one that noticed this! In the apothecary scene, the shape of the hat and the shape of the jacket were completely New Look 1947/48 by way of the eighteenth century. The hat especially was veerrry late forties to early fifties and was entirely too simple for the time period portrayed and the social class Claire is supposed to be in. Though that is confounding as well because I don't think a mere wine merchant would be allowed anywhere near the Court of Versailles, one of the most mannered subcultures ever. Remember that this was a place where aristocrats competed to hand the king his hanky while the king was dressing and no changes to the strict ritual were allowed. I however thought the nod to the forties was brilliant and clever.

I loved the eye embroidered on the apothecary's vest. I embroider and the design and work on that vest was stunning, if a bit modern for the period. Does anyone know who is doing the embroidery for this?

As for honeypots and the forests in which they dwell, I believe the only cultures that removed hair like this earlier than now were middle eastern or eastern. Baths were a rarity at the court portrayed and sanitary measures in the palace of Versailles were abominable according to my reading......overflowing chamber pots in tiny closets usually miles of corridors from the main action of the court. And you had to have permission to leave the King's presence and sometimes permission from courtiers of a higher rank. Women suffered, men availed themselves of quiet outdoor spots whenever possible. The entire place stank to high heaven.

OK, I googled and answered my own question about the costuming. Interesting that the New Look of the post war forties was intended to be stripped down eighteenth century. I'm usually pretty good about echoes across time when it comes to fashion, but I missed this one.

France is fun in the show though.

Oh, and finally, the exiled Stuarts are known to history as kind of nasty, ineffectual men and kings....all of the entitlement of a king and none of the duty....and I say this as a person with Stuart ancestry - not the royal part. The portrayal of Bonnie Prince Charlie was pretty accurate in tone if not in absolute particulars.

[Flesh And Bone - General Discussion]

Yep, definitely her gross brother. And now she has the sexual politics with her gay, control freak artistic director to navigate as well. Though I did love that little bit of complexity in that character, because I've known guys like this. Gay guys who might f@ck other guys, but are still emotionally entangled with women when it comes to responding to their beauty and controlling them emotionally. His "remember you're mine" chilled me.

Counting down to the full series release on Sunday, though Mr. AuntieMame is going to make fun of my Dirty Ballet marathon. So psyched that Starz is responding to new viewing patterns and releasing it this way.

I cringe every time she smashes that mangled toe. Squirm. You just know that sends pain up the long nerves all the way to the knee.

[Flesh And Bone - General Discussion]

Well, I loved it. The dancing is amazing. As for the drama, I've been referring to the show to Mr. AuntieMame as Dirty Ballet. I'm really looking forward to having a dirty marathon on Sunday.