Synopsis:
In this period drama starring Aidan Turner, Samuel Barnet and Rafe Spall, 19th century London is in the throes of the industrial revolution. Amongst the dirty red bricks and smoke stacks are four young, thrill-seeking artists -- steadfast William Holman Hunt, naive John Millais, mischievous Dante Gabriel Rossetti and budding journalist Fred Walters -- otherwise known as the Brotherhood. Their quest for artistic immortality takes them into some of the lewdest, darkest and funniest corners of the city. Joining them is sassy, sexy model Lizzie Siddal. But is she risking it all with this dangerous bunch?
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) was a secret 1848 group of English artists, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, and William Holman Hunt, who rejected the Royal Academy's academic style by returning to the detail, color, and sincerity of Italian art before Raphael, focusing on nature, literature, and medieval themes with intense realism and symbolism, influencing later movements like Arts and Crafts.
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) was a secret 1848 group of English artists, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, and William Holman Hunt, who rejected the Royal Academy's academic style by returning to the detail, color, and sincerity of Italian art before Raphael, focusing on nature, literature, and medieval themes with intense realism and symbolism, influencing later movements like Arts and Crafts.
My thoughts:
Desperate Romantics was included in the list of best British miniseries that most Americans don't know about. You know my penchant for finding hidden gems, so I was absolutely tickled to hear about this series. This is not the first dramatization of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, but this is the most relatable one for modern audiences.
This is a highly stylized adaptation. You should not expect 100% historical accuracy when it comes to mannerisms and attire. It was not typical for Victorian women, regardless of social status, to wear their hair down. It was impractical and unsafe. The fact that Lizzie Siddal wears her iconic ginger mane untamed is very anachronistic. The choice of coif emphasizes her status as woman outside of social norms. The punk soundtrack is very suitable for the overall ambiance of rebellion.
Comedy and tragedy, rough sex and death are intertwined in the best British tradition.
The show explores the painful topic of being "friendzoned". Fred Walters, a journalist and narrator, finds himself pining for the romantic "leftovers" of the brotherhood. He hovers over the models and exploits the opportunities to get close to them. He appears reconciled to the fact that he's never the first choice and makes most of what his position within the brotherhood gives him.
