Aug. 19th, 2009

curiosity

Campion

I watched the whole series. Someone suggested that it is a parody of the Lord Peter Wimsey series and I can see that. I can also see parelels to Jeeves and Wooster. But I''m not sure how much of a trope "the aristocrat and his manservant" are in British literature.

There is a bit of a problem with Campion's name: he says "Albert Campion" is not his real name but he keeps meeting people from his school days and old family friends. So it is sort of odd that they don't call him by his real name. Of course it is possible that everyone knows that he changed his name. There is something about him having a falling out with his aristocratic family. So the name change could be public statement rather than a disguise. It might be clearer in the books.

In the Campion episode "Look to the Lady"

There is wonderful curse by an old village witch:
"I curse you!
I curse by a right line, a crooked line, a simple and a broken,
by flame, by wind, by water, by a mass, by rain, by clay,
by a flying thing, by a creeping thing, by a serpent,
by an eye, by a hand, by a foot.
by a crown, by a crush, by a sword, by a scourge, I curse you."


There was bit of gibberish after that, but the part I could understand was quite impressive. I have to try to remember that if I ever need to curse someone. I tend to be too literal in my spell writing.

In "Sweet Danger" there is a ancient inscription they have to decode:
"If Pontisbright would crowned be, three strange happenings must he see:
The diamond must be rent in twain before he wear his crown again.
Thrice must the mighty bell be tolled and then thrice more the truth to unfold
and ere he to his birthright come, stricken must be Malplaquet drum."
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Aug. 16th, 2009

curiosity

"Campion: Look to the Lady"

I started watching the "Campion" series. It's a BBC period mystery drama. That is why I chose it. Then I noticed that Peter Davison plays the main character. He is a very Whovian detective. Odd and funny. Always saying and doing strange things.

So, if you are interested in odd and humorous BBC period mystery dramas, this is a very nice one.
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