Episode 44: [SAMPLER PLATTER] Harlots

This week we're kicking off a sampler platter miniseries, in which we watch the first episode or two of a period piece television show to give you a little taste of what they're about. We started with Hulu's Harlots, starring Samantha Morton and Lesley Manville as dueling brothel proprietors. 

Content warning: this show is about prostitution in the 18th century, so there is a lot of sexual abuse and assault depicted. It's definitely not for everyone, and that's ok. 

Episode 43: #TimesUp Bubbalub

Eww, a banana? Really?

An Education was our introduction to the luminous Carey Mulligan, wherein she played 17-year-old francophile Jenny Mellor in early-1960s suburban London. We relate to this character as a (less sheltered, more taken-advantage-of) version of our younger selves, who were similarly pretentious and culturally-obsessed. This is a (more or less) easy-breezy 100 minutes, and definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it recently. 

Episode 42: Nobody's jugs are bigger than Annette's

Episode 41: The King's Peach

This is a solid movie, dawg. Not much to say here. 

Episode 40: A Pebble in a Shoe

Episode 39: Good and Kissed

What is there to say, fellow millennial girls? You've probably seen this one a few dozen times at sleepovers (if you're on the older end of our generation like Lindsay), but if you haven't watched it again recently, give it another look. It's so charming, so sweet, so no-worries. 

Episode 38: Renai-Sossamon

This week we watched one of Lindsay's favorites from high school: A Knight's Tale. Despite a dope cast and a solid soundtrack, a lot of this movie's idiosyncrasies didn't super hold up, but if you can turn your brain off for a while, it can be a pretty good time.  

Make sure you check out Daniel Ortberg's brilliant Paul Bettany impression to make the most of your viewing experience (and your life). 

Episode 37: Fiona Apple presents The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fortd

This week we watched a Sherman family favorite, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. In addition to an absurdly long title, this movie boasts a pretty impressive cast, a beautiful and hypnotic soundtrack, and a whopping 3 female characters (none of whom ever get to interact with one another). 

Here are a few things we mentioned in the episode: 

• Daniel Ortberg's impression of Paul Bettany is so on-point. 
• "...and it makes good sense, it's the only way." 

Next week, we're watching A Knight's Tale. Get your high school life, older millennial ladies. 

Episode 36: Au Revoir, Shoshanna

This week we watched one of our all-time favorites, Inglourious Basterds. Here are a few things worth noting:

• Aldo Raine was loosely based on Aldo Ray
• Marlene Dietrich was cool as hell. Listen to her dope song Lili Marleen here. 
• Cher and Aretha are so shady, and I love it. 

Episode 35: Dahl's Chickens

Episode 34: Total Want of Chin

Here are a few other things to take a look at: 

• Scabies, rabies, Mickey Rooney sugarbabies
• The Victoria and Bertie in the 21st century
• Queen Victoria's appetites

Episode 33: Victoria's Real Secret

This week we watched Judi Dench's first turn as Queen Victoria in the film about her (alleged) affair with her servant John Brown in Mrs. Brown. The plot gave us very little to grab on to, unfortunately, but we had a good time nonetheless. 

• "But I'm a national treasure!"
• Germany is wild
• Scottish twitter is a delight

Episode 32: Vickie and Bertie Forever

Episode 31: Mandl

Hoo boy. Is it hot in here? Or is that just our boo, Mandy Patinkin? 

We're trippin' over our new older bae this week because, whoa, who knew he was a smokestack when he was younger? 

Also national treasure Barbra Streisand really did the damn thing on this movie. Her artistic vision was unfortunately a little less glitz and glam than I personally like in my musicals, but A+ feminist credentials, Yentl. 

Next week: Young Victoria.

Episode 30: Honestly, Amigo!

A few notes from this episode:

• The Duke is a classic example of the gay villain archetype
• We chatted with Nicole. This is why she hates John Leguizamo. I won't investigate further.
• On the other hand, here's why I'll always love him. 
• Ewan and Nicole reminisce 15 years later. 

Episode 29: Calamity By Your Jane

LOL Bill. I'm not going to wear any of the frilly things you want me to wear.

For some reason, the young Sherman sisters were allowed—nay, encouraged— to watch this movie by our allegedly feminist grandmother. Upon closer inspection... it's got some prombles. Namely, it's really racist and misogynistic. But hey, Doris Day's voice is clear as a bell, and she really put some cute mannerisms into this role. Unfortunately, she wasn't given the chance to "stay home and lez out."

Episode 28: Alan Turing, your company's computer guy

A few notes from our discussion this week: 

• "Hello, hello! My name's Terry and I'm a law abider!" 
• The real Joan Clarke
• The real Alan Turing was much cuter than Benzedrine Crinklecut, in my opinion
• Oscar Wilde (who for some BS reason didn't get pardoned until 2017) has gotten lots of lipstick tributes on his tombstone, and I'm here for it. 
• This just about encapsulates how I feel about Ed Sheeran.

Episode 27: Clue, but pissier

A few notes: 

• Ivor Novello was real, and he was spectacular
• In case you were wondering, this is what a Tam O'Shanter looks like
• Kodachrome totally slaps
• Convalesce. It's what we're up to.  Get into it, berb. 

Episode 26: Jack NASTY!

TFW you fall asleep on your feet like a horse. 

This week, Lindsay finally watched this twelve-year old tearjerker starring one of her all-time faves: Heath Ledger. Here are a few things we mentioned in the episode to check out: 

• Read Annie Proulx's short story (the inspiration for the film) here. 
• On the Media's segment about "Hillbilly Humanism" 
• An oral history 10 years after the film's release
• If you haven't listened to S-Town... what are you even doing?

Episode 25: Henry and Eleanor's Large Adult Sons

This week, we blessedly moved past our month of Jane Austen and into the world of the Plantagenet dynasty. With a script and timing that felt Amy-Sherman-Palladino-esque, plus Katharine Hepburn delivering some of the sickest burns we've ever heard, we absolutely loved all 135 minutes of this film. Get into some 1960s Medieval camp with us!

There will be pork in the treetops come morning.