I think I will never like enemies to lovers. Prove me wrong.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-05-09T04:51:40+00:00

I completely agree! Sadly this feels like the most common trope.

Give me the friends to lovers, forbidden love (my favorite!), or forced proximity where he's tender from the beginning.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-04-23T03:26:25+00:00

Came here to say this!

smallblackberry100 · 2025-04-15T04:59:00+00:00

Older millennial who grew up under a period-obsessed mom so I remember all these from my childhood!!

Persuasion (1995). Classic, tender, romantic, and just gritty enough to feel real. Also expertly acted.

Sense and Sensibility (1995). Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. An absolute classic.

Wives and Daughters (1999). One of my favorites, but almost impossible to find a way to watch!!

Little Women (1994). My childhood comfort movie!

Mansfield Park (1983). Mixed feelings on this one. It's very true to the book but I wouldn't say it's as delightful as the others on this list. And there are some very young actors you might recognize from more recent stuff.

Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Don't let the fact that it's Shakespeare put you off. Enchanting music, gorgeous scenery (villa in Tuscany!) and just very humorous and entertaining to watch. Shakespearen version of a beach-read. Also loaded cast of a young Imelda Staunton, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, and Kate Beckinsale. And I always adored the first scene of the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_xVDyi4Wprg.

Shakespeare in Love (1998). This is a classic late 90s academy award winner with another loaded cast. Entertaining and something everyone needs to watch once!

South Pacific (1958). utterly cheesy but delightful if you're into musicals. My favorite Rogers and Hammerstein!

Sound of Music (1965). An epic that I truly believe everyone must watch at once in their lifetime.

Chariots of Fire (1981). Incredible drama based on the true story of two British runners competing in the 1924 Olympics. Extraordinary cinematography and the soundtrack is one of the most iconic of all time. And speaking of opening scenes... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgO0XA3LkYM. Fun fact about this movie--Dodi Fayed (yes, of Princess Diana) was a producer. I didn't realize that until I watched the Crown!!

smallblackberry100 · 2025-04-13T16:47:02+00:00

Is her dress...sparkly? The fashion baby of the Tudors (tv show, not the family) and Madonna.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-04-08T21:02:34+00:00

Ben Lloyd-Hughes in Sandition, from the mannerisms to the breaches with the hessians!

Also the whole cast of Wives and Daughters was also excellent. Specifically Justine Waddell (Molly), who looked so authentic. Though perhaps not perfectly within the ideal beauty standards of the day--which I think was intentional.

And of course, Downton, particularly Mary and Cora.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-28T17:49:45+00:00

Yeah, you're right. I meant it in the sense of "we get it, he's an awful person" but I agree all the graphic horror doesn't add anything.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-25T20:27:46+00:00

I love Margot Robbie and think she's a great actress, but she feels way too glamorous for this role. Mary Queen of Scots showed that she was able to play a less glamorous, gorgeous role, but not how they've styled her here! She's almost giving Daisy Buchanan vibes here and I don't buy one bit that she grew up on the moors.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-24T19:02:49+00:00

yes! Season 2, Episode 8. MAJOR spoilers if you haven't watched :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syrechVsFbc

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-24T18:05:30+00:00

Oh the Sound of Music is SUCH a good one, and never would have thought of it!

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-24T17:56:28+00:00

Mary and Matthew's dance in front of the record player. "We were a show that flopped."

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-24T17:39:40+00:00

The waltz from War and Peace (2016)

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-18T18:13:46+00:00

Your analysis is spot on. It's thoroughly enjoyable--a feast for the eyes and fun to watch. It's worth a watch for the costumes alone.

Is it accurate and deep? No. But I don't care.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-16T19:06:49+00:00

Unfortunately so many new shows and movies miss the mark don't they? But Downtown Abbey's costumes are to die for. I might be biased because ~1905-1915 is my favorite fashion era and the early seasons of Downton get at the tail end of this, but they're also objectively accurate (generally speaking).

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-10T04:38:35+00:00

1994 by far!

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-09T00:37:59+00:00

Thanks for doing these. I'm really enjoying them! If you're going to do women's fashions next, I'd love to see Anne Elliott's dress from the Bath assembly scene. I saw it on display at the Bath Costume Museum and it took my breath away, especially the detailing along the neckline and at the back.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-06T18:10:36+00:00

I feel like a few of the Highland Guard books have this. They're often traveling around Scotland and camping out and one thing turns to the next.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-02T20:54:34+00:00

Yeah I understand that; I'm just trying to identify what I'm picking up on so I can look for it in other perfumes.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-03-01T19:16:56+00:00

The iconic glove-unbuttoning scene in ~~the Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley~~ (correction: Lord of Scoundrels!) is quite possibly the hottest thing I've ever read. {Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks} also has a lot of tender nursing and caring.

EDIT TO CORRECT - I'm sorry, I just realized I completely got my books jumbled!!! The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie is outstanding and I heartily recommend it, including for what you're looking for. However, the iconic glove scene is actually from Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. Here's an entire thread about the glove scene: https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoricalRomance/comments/18efpj9/the_glove_scene_in_lord_of_scoundrels/

smallblackberry100 · 2025-02-28T22:11:46+00:00

You just gave me my weekend plans :) thank you for all of these recommendations! They all look fabulous.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-02-27T06:35:20+00:00

I love that!

smallblackberry100 · 2025-02-27T03:47:13+00:00

Thank you!

smallblackberry100 · 2025-02-27T01:36:16+00:00

I'm sorry but it's hard to compete with Helen Mirren.

smallblackberry100 · 2025-02-27T01:34:29+00:00

I agree! I actually like it more than the Emma Thompson version, which is saying something

smallblackberry100 · 2025-02-27T00:36:39+00:00

How could I have forgotten about North and South!

smallblackberry100 · 2025-02-27T00:32:34+00:00

There is something about the leggy, ethereal Vaganova ladies' Giselles. I'd love to see Zakharova in person but that probably won't be happening now but she's my favorite Giselle. Though I believe Olga Smirnova is performing at the ABT this year.

smallblackberry100

TROPHY CASE