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Geek Girl Authority
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
BritBox Archives
Categories Select Category Games GGA Columns Movies Stuff We Like The Daily Bugle TV & Streaming Recaps & Reviews TV & Streaming The Mitford sisters were the height of societal scandal in pre-WWII England. Read our review of Outrageous, the new BritBox limited series. All the Rest Recaps & Reviews TV & Streaming Sir Lenny Henry's Windrush drama, Three Little Birds, is poised to take BritBox by storm. Is it worth a watch? Read our review to find out.
Geek Girl Authority
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
TV Review: OUTRAGEOUS
Nothing does your head in like family. In BritBox's limited series, Outrageous , they've set out to spotlight one of the most scandalous, chaotic, and ideologically disparate yet biologically bonded families on record. Based primarily on Mary S. Lovell's 2001 book, The Mitford Girls: The Biography of an Extraordinary Family, the series's six episodes span most of the 1930s when the sisters took some questionable cues from each other about the importance of following their hearts and persisting on unlikely paths of rebellion and revolution. RELATED: 6 Great Historical Fiction Novels Focused on Real Women From History For a series that chronicles the inevitable march to World War II, Outrageous 's initial impression is curiously upbeat. Lively music and frenetic activity open the premiere and paint the picture of a well-off family enjoying the privilege of a well-off life. As the story progresses quickly through the 1930s, the implications of small, mundane choices grow in significance as each sister takes a diverging path forward. The creators take creative license with some timeline points and personalities but lean in on the narrative context to build excellent tension. Photographer: Olly Courtney- Courtesy of BritBox BritBox's Outrageous The Mitfords were old-school aristocrats, tracing their English roots back to the Norman invasion and raised to the peerage twice. Nancy Mitford (Bessie Carter), the oldest of the six sisters, narrates the series and wonders repeatedly how they grew into such different women despite being raised in the same household by the same parents. The family's patriarch, David Freeman-Mitford (James Purefoy), addressed and referred to as 'Farve' by his children, loses his fortune in the stock market crash. Purefoy's portrayal of a man uncertain as to how to reverse his fortunes, untrained in asking for help, and overwhelmed by how quickly the world is changing, is a masterclass in foundational character development. Everything Farve has ever depended on — family, fortune, a sense of order — falls away over the span of the series. While almost always calmly stoic and outwardly convinced that things will right themselves with time, Purefoy allows hints of Farve's growing despair to show in his posture, his gaze, and a nearly imperceptible sigh. RELATED: My Lady Jane : Rob Brydon and Anna Chancellor Spill Their Parenting Secrets Meanwhile, 'Muv,' Sydney Freeman-Mitford née Bowles, played by the resplendent Anna Chancellor, must fulfill her mission as the mother of six daughters of status to see them all properly presented to society. It brings to mind Mrs. Bennett of Pride and Prejudice canon if the Bennett girls had actually had prospects. Chancellor conveys a substantial amount of determined patience as she juggles the obligations of society while keeping tabs on her husband's handling of the household finances. She is the epitome of steadfastness. The good of the family as a whole drives her every decision. Courtesy of BritBox The Siblings Often overlooked due to his sisters' sometimes history-making shenanigans, Tom Mitford (Toby Regbo), the lone brother among the siblings, stood to inherit everything, being a boy and all. In Outrageous , he acts as a bit of a weathervane for British society. Early in the series, he states emphatically at the family table that Britain will never accept a fascist government. Not much of a year later, he extols the charms of Hitler's regime and the good it's done for Germany. Nevertheless, various members of the family lean on him for advice, comfort, and support. He is the rock amongst the dynamite sticks. Obviously, the sisters are the swirling, combative, palpitating heart of Outrageous. Despite being the narrator, Nancy's life is anything but dull. She's already a published author when the series opens. However, her penchant for writing light romantic musings manifests in poorly thought-out real-life relationships. Carter somehow believably spins Nancy's character as unflinchingly clear-sighted when it comes to her family but inexplicably blind when it concerns men. RELATED: 15 Song Covers We Want to Hear on Bridgerton Of the six, Pamela (Isobel Jesper Jones) and Deborah (Orla Hill) have the least interest in politics or changing the world. Pam, as played by Jones, is refreshingly level-headed with skills in farming and agricultural management that keep her financially secure when the rest of the family is floundering. Meanwhile, Debo has envisioned her future clearly: Married to a rich, handsome man who can keep her status quo afloat. She likes things the way they are. Why any of her sisters would want something different confounds her to no end. While neither Pam nor Debo takes action to support their more radical sisters' causes, they do not censure or oppose them either. Photographer: Kevin Baker – Courtesy of BritBox The Tinderbox Sisters One has to imagine that there are roles that actors face with some trepidation. Imagine taking on the part of a historical figure known as 'The Communist,' or 'The Fascist,' or 'The Hitler-lover'? Taking these controversial figures and imbuing them with humanity and authenticity is a tremendous challenge. The writers deserve a lot of credit for creating opportunities for Jessica (Zoe Brough), Diana (Joanna Vanderham), and Unity (Shannon Watson) Mitford to demonstrate genuine affection and humor. They are people before they are headlines. Jessica comes across as the most sympathetic of the extremist sisters. Believing that communism can solve the inequality in the world, she's committed to turning her back on her heritage and using any resources she has to effect change. As the second-youngest sibling, she's also torn by her love and allegiance to her older sisters, who do not share her sense of global justice. She and Unity, in particular, have a close connection despite their opposing ideologies. Zoe Brough effectively conveys a youthful fervor that grows into a strong determination to actualize her plans. RELATED: Read our Outrageous recaps While Diana and Unity seem to follow their hearts into fascism, both present erudite intellectual arguments for their belief in it. With the benefit of hindsight, their devout loyalty to Mosley (Joshua Sasse) and Hitler (Paul Giddings), respectively, tracks like extreme fanaticism. However, taken in the moment, they were not alone in their leanings. Diana's choices involve sacrificing her marriage, her good name, and her physical well-being. Vanderham does it all without ever letting Diana seem weak or dominated. While she dotes on Mosley, she feels very much his equal, if not more impressive, in how she manages the life she chooses. Unity Valkyrie Mitford Shannon Watson is a phenomenon. As Unity Mitford, she manages a wide-eyed, childlike wonder as she throws herself into stalking Hitler, then insinuating herself into his inner circle. With that same guilelessness, she spews anti-Semitic rhetoric and Nazi propaganda. When she returns home after writing a shocking letter to Der Stürmer, she confronts Farve with the zealotry of Joan of Arc facing the flames. Courtesy of BritBox We can never know what fueled Unity's love of Hitler and Nazism. The comments made about her by other characters imply a lifelong pattern of obsessive behaviors. And yet, despite knowing the terrible path her infatuation will take her down, the look on Watson's face when Unity is first invited to meet Hitler is nothing less than transcendental. RELATED: TV Review: Three Little Birds Family Holds the Key While Outrageous 's story is very much a well-paced, engaging setup for a historical train wreck — seriously, just Google how the Mitfords' stories play out — the show is insidiously charming. The characters, no matter how flawed, are relatable — fallible in their decisions, facing consequences, and reacting with appropriate emotion. Through all the chaos of the many scandals and tribulations, Outrageous emphasizes the importance of family bonds. Farve and Muv make their choices for the good of their children. The siblings come together in times of need. In Episode 4, when Jessica asks if she can keep loving a sister who does an awful thing, Pamela responds, 'Perhaps we don't get a choice about loving sisters. Maybe the love's just there, in the background, and always will be. Whether we like it or not.' Image Credit: BritBox Although billed as a limited series, Outrageous closes out on the brink of the Mitfords' most significant era, the onset of WWII. Each member of the family is set to embark on individual odysseys. While it's unlikely a second season could maintain the lighter moments that provided relief and respite from the darker implications of the times, it would invariably be great television. Outrageous streams on BritBox, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday. Book Review: A FAR BETTER THING Diana lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she invests her time and energy in teaching, writing, parenting, and indulging her love of all Trek and a myriad of other fandoms. She is a lifelong fan of smart sci-fi and fantasy media, an upstanding citizen of the United Federation of Planets, and a supporter of AFC Richmond 'til she dies. Her guilty pleasures include female-led procedurals, old-school sitcoms, and Bluey. She teaches, knits, and dreams big. You can also find her writing at The Televixen, Women at Warp, TV Fanatic, and TV Goodness.
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
TV tonight: the return of excruciating sitcom Such Brave Girls
11.40pm, BBC OneKat Sadler's Bafta-winning cringe-fest about the small screen's most dysfunctional family returns with its rapid-fire outrageous comedy. Josie (Sadler) has started art school and has a crush, but her unbearable, debt-ridden mother Deb (Louise Brealey) and demanding sister Billie (Lizzie Davidson) remind her she's meant to be in a relationship with Seb (Freddie Meredith). Cue an unpredictable and hilariously tragic episode of failed seductions and missing teeth. Hollie Richardson 8pm, Channel 4A confusingly uninspiring new documentary series that follows staff and travellers on two luxury cruises. It's not that you are left wanting a disaster to happen, just something a tad more dramatic than a basket-sleigh-riding excursion in Madeira. Where's Jane McDonald when you need her? HR 9pm, U&DramaThe superb period drama about the scandalous lives of the six Mitford sisters gets chillingly prescient as the growing fascist movement divides the family. Nancy attends an Oswald Mosley rally as research for her next book, Unity moves to Munich in the hope of meeting Hitler, and Jessica is inspired by her cousin, who has left school to join the communist cause. HR 9pm, Channel 4Chaos reigns. Of course it does – it's the grand final of this purely delightful show. While Rosie Ramsey sports a wooden box like an oversized fascinator, Mathew Baynton menaces a puppy, Jason Mantzoukas and Stevie Martin start a local business and Fatiha El-Ghorri kicks a door in. There can be only one winner. Ali Catterall 9pm, Sky Max Justin Theroux joins a roster of top-tier guest stars for the penultimate episode of Natasha Lyonne's hit whydunnit caper. This time, prolific amateur sleuth Charlie (Lyonne) helps a mate who is the prime suspect in a murder at a wedding. HR 10pm, Channel 4The final two-parter of Rosie Jones's eccentric comedy about disabled drug dealers. Emily (Jones) finds herself in danger when she meets her girlfriend's dad, who is none other than fearsome rival crime boss Lennie Kennedy. Cue a finale filled with mayhem, blood and Emily forgetting to wipe her sophisticated plan off a hospital whiteboard. Hannah J Davies PGA Golf: The John Deere Classic, 7pm, Sky Sports Golf Day one of the tournament at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The 9 Best Books by the Mitford Sisters
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." If you've watched Outrageous and want to hear more from Nancy, Diana, Jessica, and Deborah—including the correspondence between them and those bookless sisters, Unity and Pamela—there's plenty to read. But where to begin? Here's T&C's short the least scandalous of then Mitford sisters, Deborah (or 'Debo') would grow up to become the Duchess of Devonshire and the chatelaine of Chatsworth House, which she managed to change from being a crumbling country estate into a booming attraction for tourists, history buffs, and garden fiends. This memoir is among the most charming of those written by the Mitfords, and recounts her happy childhood, a loving marriage, and a gimlet eye towards the eccentricities of her family. It's thankfully not lacking in gossip or glamour, and is a fine entry point to newcomers to the Mitford memoir universe. at 'Decca' Mitford ran away from home, heading to Spain with a second cousin she would marry. Later, she'd move to the U.S. and become a respected journalist and speaker as well as a devoted Communist. Her best known work, this deep dive into the American funeral industry was first published to wide acclaim—thanks to its sharp observations and unexpected humor—in 1963 and made Decca something of a literary star; this revised version includes additional intelligence and information from the decades after the book was first released. at she became an expert in the big business of dying, Jessica Mitford wrote this memoir about growing up in her eccentric, exceptional family. The book is a charming and memorable recollection of the singular circumstances under which Mitford was raised, but also a great coming-of-age story on its own—who wouldn't admire a kid who kept a Running Away Fund hidden in her room and then actually used it? at Mitford married one of the richest men in the U.K., then left him for a Fascist politician. She socialized with celebrities, heads of state, and royals, but spent more than three years in prison. She was a card carrying member of the Bright Young Things who later earned the title of 'The Most Hated Woman in Britain.' Why wouldn't you want to read her memoir? at there was anyone who was more talked about and ridiculed than Diana Mitford, it was Wallis Simpson. In this book, Mitford explores what made the Duchess of Windsor such a divisive character—and why her husband gave up the throne to be with her. The story benefits from Mitford's friendship with Simpson, but isn't a deification. Instead, it's a clear-eyed look at a woman whose love life made her a pariah, written by one of the only people who might understand that situation perfectly. at of Nancy Mitford's most beloved books are packaged together in this volume. The Pursuit of Love tells the story of the fictional Radlett family—eerily similar to Mitfords own, the depictions here would haunt her relations for years after publication—through the eyes of a visiting cousin. Love in a Cold Climate has the same narrator but focuses on another aristocratic British family and their daughter's attempts to find love and her own place in a rapidly changing world. Both show off Mitford's stylish writing and offer an unforgettable glimpse into the world she inhabited. at Mitford might be best known for her novels, but she was also an accomplished biographer. This book tells the story of Madame de Pompadour, the longtime mistress of the French king Louis VX who had incredible sway over France's politics and culture—and made plenty of enemies along the way. Mitford rethinks her subject's role and legacy, offering an informed and entertaining look at life in the royal court and what it took to have the kind of staying power Madame de Pompadour did. at six Mitford sisters contributed—unwittingly—to this book, which is a collection of the sharp, affectionate, funny, and revealing letters sent among them during their lifetimes. This peek into the private world of the women serves not only as a history of the 20th century, but also a rare look behind their public personas and into the complicated relationships they had with one another. at of what the Mitford sisters wrote (and said) about one another made for uncomfortable family interactions, but perhaps nothing more than Wigs on the Green, Nancy's satirical book—which was long out of print—that sends up the Fascist sympathies of upper class Brits, including her sisters Unity and Diana. Viewers of Outrageous will recognize the book as a plot point, and those yet to see the series will appreciate it for its astuteness and knowing commentary on the politics of early 20th century aristocrats. at You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
Times
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Those silly Mitford sisters? It's hours of mindless fun to binge-watch
A contestant on the teatime quiz show Tipping Point (ITV, Mon-Fri) was asked which British prime minister had a controversial portrait painted in 1953 by Graham Sutherland. She looked askance for a moment and replied: 'I'm not entirely sure, but for some reason the name Ronald is coming to me. Ronald … Ron … Reagan?' Another question on the same show was: 'The Jacobite rising in Britain in 1745 took place in which century?' All of human life is on television, somewhere, including that tranche of life that needs instructions on how to breathe. Indeed, Tipping Point is a repository for people so dim that you marvel where ITV finds them. Is there really, beneath the surface of our country, a depthless lagoon of pig-ignorance? Are the people who think Ronnie Reagan was our prime minister in 1953 in the majority? The people for whom history is a blank canvas except maybe for Henry VIII — he had some wives, he lived a long time ago, possibly the 1920s? How do they make sense of the world? It was in the 1920s (possibly as Henry VIII was embarking on his fourth marriage) that the six Mitford sisters came along and their various cheeky little escapades (marrying Oswald Mosley, hobnobbing with Hitler and Goebbels, joining the Communist Party) were a useful reminder that the aforementioned lagoon of pig-ignorance is also full of yer toffs as well as the kinds of non-U people who make it on to Tipping Point. Outrageous (U&Drama, Thu) was a delightful scamper through the lives of these gilded, thick-as-mince slappers, or 'bright young things' as they were known at the time. They were, of course, ludicrous human beings bred from a ludicrous family — you know you're in for a good time when Oswald Mosley is the most likeable person in a drama. We had the glacial, beautiful Diana (fascist, bit of a goer) and the debutante Unity (fascist, lumpen and awkward), plus Debo (SDP!), Jessica (quite fetching, commie) and the comparatively sane Nancy, who sadly missed out on the looks and was still a virgin at 28. They were swooned upon by various indistinguishable chinless scions, all of whom were encouraged by the senior Mitfords so that their brood might be financially provided for. There was an excellent performance from Joanna Vanderham as Diana, simpering after Mosley (Joshua Sasse) like an alley cat on heat ('Is that the fifth column or are you just pleased to see me?'), and indeed by Shannon Watson as Unity — soon to eclipse Diana as the most hated woman in the country — who took her pet rat in a handbag to her coming-out party. I shall binge-watch this one because, even though this country might be a marginally better place if old Pa Mitford had kept it zipped up, it's hours of mindless fun and we could all do with that, no? Also, it bestowed on us a neat euphemism for homosexuality. 'Is he, you know, a fan of Oscar Wilde?' • Read more from Rod Liddle in the Sunday Times I like to think I would not have binge-watched the Japanese show Susunu! Denpa Shonen if it had made it over here. This exercise in calculated cruelty was a reality show — possibly the first — at the end of the 1990s. For one challenge a contestant, chosen by lottery, was stripped naked and left alone in a tiny apartment. To procure food (and clothing) he had to enter magazine competitions each day and hope that one might offer the prize of a pack of rice or some crisps. And he was kept like that for how long? One year and three months. This grotesque abuse of television was the subject of Storyville — The Contestant (BBC4, Tue). I vaguely remember covering the show when it was broadcast and was pulling in 30 million viewers every week. The poor dupe chosen for this exercise was the comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi because his long face was supposedly like an aubergine. And to cover his nakedness on screen they used an aubergine emoji, which is how it has come to represent a penis on texts today. Nasubi almost died from malnutrition and began displaying Stockholm syndrome. When he was finally released in front of a huge live audience he had already stripped off his clothes once again. The documentary would have been improved if it had shown the odious, smug producer (not unlike Ed Harris's character in The Truman Show) being pelted with excrement in the stocks at the end until the stupid smile was wiped from his face. This was dehumanising and vile television, dreamt up by a megalomaniac and sadist and watched, shamefully, by so many millions. • Read more TV reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews The true crime series Murder 24/7 (BBC iPlayer) kicked off with the investigation of the killing of a delivery driver in Shrewsbury and we learnt quickly that robbery had not been the aim of the exercise. Aurman Singh got a golf club wrapped around his head as well as a huge axe wound to his skull. He died in the arms of the police officer who was first to attend. Another intrepid copper soon tracked down one of the two suspect cars and tailed it through half of Shropshire. It turned out the perps were all called Singh and there had been some barney at a sporting event. It was a revenge killing. This was a neatly edited and produced chunk of television and slightly renewed my faith in the police, who handled the case with speed and assiduity. They do very well on the quiz show The Chase, coppers and ex-coppers. Much better than teachers or doctors. What have you been enjoying on television recently? Let us know in the comments below Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows , the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer , the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don't forget to check our critics' choices to what to watch this week and browse our comprehensive TV guide
