5 more questions
Jul. 20th, 2003 12:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
castaliaI'm rather enjoying this interview meme. It's been fun, as well as good mental exercise.
1. How do you feel about the rummier episodes of Jeeves and Wooster?--the ones that really stray from their original source. Saying Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry pulled it off or made these episodes worthwhile despite the rumminess does not count; base it solely on the material--would you change anything? Would Plum have approved?
I think Plum might have approved, since the writers (and Hugh and Stephen) really loved the source material and were trying to be respectful and whatnot. That said, yes, there are some things I would have changed. Some of the more slapstick type humor wasn't really to my taste - ie. having Aunt Agatha hit by water from a fire hose and launching across the stage, Bertie flying backwards after being hit, etc. Some of the eps in the last season were a bit strange at times - the one with the fancy dress party in New York, I think it's "The Once and Future Ex", wasn't a favorite, as I thought the bit at the end with the tower and the lightning was rather silly. I've never been a fan of making things that would normally harm or even kill a person into a joke. The next episode, "Bridegroom Wanted", had a questionable ending as well. I haven't read the book for that one yet, but I'm not so sure Plum would have had Bertie and Jeeves escape by jumping off an ocean liner. Surely Jeeves would have found another, far easier and much more clever, way. I was also rather put out when they ended the series with that botched wedding, rather than use the real ending of Jeeves and the Tie that Binds. I loved the ending to that book, b/c we get to hear from Jeeves why he stays with Bertie, and I so wanted to see that on screen.
2. How would Bertie and Jeeves fare in modern times? What kind of lives would they have; would they maintain the old master/servant relationship?
Oh my, this is an inspired question, not to mention difficult. I honestly can't think of any way they *could* maintain the old master and man relationship, as we don't really have a modern parallel. I'm not sure Bertie, or Jeeves for that matter, would like London the way it is now (they might, but I'm sure it's not as clean as they would like), so we might have to move them to a slightly smaller city. Are there any valets left in today's society, even in an altered form? I'm not sure, but if there are, Jeeves would be the last and greatest of them. Bertie would likely come from old money once again, but it's also possible a family member along the way had made a fortune inventing some bit of technology or a silly invention.
I think Jeeves would enjoy using some modern conveniences, those that would make his duties easier. He'd be appalled at the state of modern clothing and fashion. I can see him pestering Bertie to take a holiday in Las Vegas so as to take in a bit of sport :)
3. I find High School stories of the nightmarish vein diverting; we’ve all been treated abominably at least once by those pimple-faced monsters known as teenagers, which experience did you find the most traumatizing? (not to raise the frightful past or anything…)
Well, let's see. I don't have any of the usual stories - I was quite the intellectual and a band geek to boot, but luckily escaped most of the targeting and soforth. Being smart wasn't so much of a crime at my high school. The most unpleasant memory I have, however, is of the weeks surrounding my senior prom. Desiring not to be without a date, I accepted the invitation of a guy I had barely met, after he was a last minute addition to the cast of our senior play (Little Women, I was Beth, he was the professor). This proved to be a mistake, for once I got to know him, I came to the immediate conclusion that this wasn't someone I'd care to know at all. He embarassed the hell out of me at prom, having left a video message on those tapes they go around collecting messages for the week before prom, and it was quite syrupy. I hate having that much attention called to me, plus it was stupidly saccharine coming from someone I had dated for only a few weeks, and I wanted to sink through the floor. Suffice it to say, that relationship came to a swift and sudden end. He's since been married, divorced, and has a child, so I can honestly say I don't regret the decision in the slightest.
4. This is skutir's question and I feel wretched pinching it, but it was such a good one that I’d love to know how you would answer it (this is the last Plum-oriented one, I promise): If you were the subject of a PGW story, what would it be like, and how would Jeeves enter the affair? This must either be a broken engagement with Tuppy, Bingo, Gussie, or one of Bertie's other hopeless friends, or an engagement to the old BWW himself. You may present this as fan fic if you like.
One thing that amuses me so about Plum's universe is how easily and quickly individuals enter into engagements. I can't imagine doing so, but if I did, it would be with Bertram himself. I have a tremendous crush on Bertie, and could conceivably set aside common sense in the face of such adorableness. Like you, I should like to think Jeeves would approve, as I'm not likely to try and change Bertie or boss him around or make him get rid of Jeeves. It could indeed be a perfect situation - I could adore Bertie while letting him continue most of his habits without interference, and find in Jeeves a source of intellectual conversation and stimulation. In the end, it's all up to Jeeves, who is a bit selfish and would likely want Bertie and control of the household all to himself. He'd probably conclude from our first meeting that I was wholly unsuitable, not at all respectable, and nip the entire affair in the bud (although I do like your blackmail idea) and I'd have to content myself with being a good friend to dear Bertie.
5. If you could pick up and move anywhere you wished--within the States, dash it--where would you pick and why? If you pick an area which is not your current one, why would you want to move from there?
Only within the States? That's right cruel, that. Ok, if pressed I'd have to say somewhere in the New England area, preferably not too far from the coast. Perhaps Pennsylvania or maybe Massachusetts. One of my biggest reasons for wanting a change of scenery is the climate here in the South. Beastly hot weather down here. The food is good and the land is pretty, but I can't abide the heat and humidity. I would also like to be in an area that's not so predominantly Pentecostal, and I'd find more Anglican type churches in the North. Really, if I had to stay in the US, I'd want somewhere with as close a resemblance to England as possible.
Many thanks for the lovely questions! I'm afraid I did blither on a bit, so do forgive me for the length of my answers. There are times when one is succinct, and times when one is decidedly not :)
1. How do you feel about the rummier episodes of Jeeves and Wooster?--the ones that really stray from their original source. Saying Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry pulled it off or made these episodes worthwhile despite the rumminess does not count; base it solely on the material--would you change anything? Would Plum have approved?
I think Plum might have approved, since the writers (and Hugh and Stephen) really loved the source material and were trying to be respectful and whatnot. That said, yes, there are some things I would have changed. Some of the more slapstick type humor wasn't really to my taste - ie. having Aunt Agatha hit by water from a fire hose and launching across the stage, Bertie flying backwards after being hit, etc. Some of the eps in the last season were a bit strange at times - the one with the fancy dress party in New York, I think it's "The Once and Future Ex", wasn't a favorite, as I thought the bit at the end with the tower and the lightning was rather silly. I've never been a fan of making things that would normally harm or even kill a person into a joke. The next episode, "Bridegroom Wanted", had a questionable ending as well. I haven't read the book for that one yet, but I'm not so sure Plum would have had Bertie and Jeeves escape by jumping off an ocean liner. Surely Jeeves would have found another, far easier and much more clever, way. I was also rather put out when they ended the series with that botched wedding, rather than use the real ending of Jeeves and the Tie that Binds. I loved the ending to that book, b/c we get to hear from Jeeves why he stays with Bertie, and I so wanted to see that on screen.
2. How would Bertie and Jeeves fare in modern times? What kind of lives would they have; would they maintain the old master/servant relationship?
Oh my, this is an inspired question, not to mention difficult. I honestly can't think of any way they *could* maintain the old master and man relationship, as we don't really have a modern parallel. I'm not sure Bertie, or Jeeves for that matter, would like London the way it is now (they might, but I'm sure it's not as clean as they would like), so we might have to move them to a slightly smaller city. Are there any valets left in today's society, even in an altered form? I'm not sure, but if there are, Jeeves would be the last and greatest of them. Bertie would likely come from old money once again, but it's also possible a family member along the way had made a fortune inventing some bit of technology or a silly invention.
I think Jeeves would enjoy using some modern conveniences, those that would make his duties easier. He'd be appalled at the state of modern clothing and fashion. I can see him pestering Bertie to take a holiday in Las Vegas so as to take in a bit of sport :)
3. I find High School stories of the nightmarish vein diverting; we’ve all been treated abominably at least once by those pimple-faced monsters known as teenagers, which experience did you find the most traumatizing? (not to raise the frightful past or anything…)
Well, let's see. I don't have any of the usual stories - I was quite the intellectual and a band geek to boot, but luckily escaped most of the targeting and soforth. Being smart wasn't so much of a crime at my high school. The most unpleasant memory I have, however, is of the weeks surrounding my senior prom. Desiring not to be without a date, I accepted the invitation of a guy I had barely met, after he was a last minute addition to the cast of our senior play (Little Women, I was Beth, he was the professor). This proved to be a mistake, for once I got to know him, I came to the immediate conclusion that this wasn't someone I'd care to know at all. He embarassed the hell out of me at prom, having left a video message on those tapes they go around collecting messages for the week before prom, and it was quite syrupy. I hate having that much attention called to me, plus it was stupidly saccharine coming from someone I had dated for only a few weeks, and I wanted to sink through the floor. Suffice it to say, that relationship came to a swift and sudden end. He's since been married, divorced, and has a child, so I can honestly say I don't regret the decision in the slightest.
4. This is skutir's question and I feel wretched pinching it, but it was such a good one that I’d love to know how you would answer it (this is the last Plum-oriented one, I promise): If you were the subject of a PGW story, what would it be like, and how would Jeeves enter the affair? This must either be a broken engagement with Tuppy, Bingo, Gussie, or one of Bertie's other hopeless friends, or an engagement to the old BWW himself. You may present this as fan fic if you like.
One thing that amuses me so about Plum's universe is how easily and quickly individuals enter into engagements. I can't imagine doing so, but if I did, it would be with Bertram himself. I have a tremendous crush on Bertie, and could conceivably set aside common sense in the face of such adorableness. Like you, I should like to think Jeeves would approve, as I'm not likely to try and change Bertie or boss him around or make him get rid of Jeeves. It could indeed be a perfect situation - I could adore Bertie while letting him continue most of his habits without interference, and find in Jeeves a source of intellectual conversation and stimulation. In the end, it's all up to Jeeves, who is a bit selfish and would likely want Bertie and control of the household all to himself. He'd probably conclude from our first meeting that I was wholly unsuitable, not at all respectable, and nip the entire affair in the bud (although I do like your blackmail idea) and I'd have to content myself with being a good friend to dear Bertie.
5. If you could pick up and move anywhere you wished--within the States, dash it--where would you pick and why? If you pick an area which is not your current one, why would you want to move from there?
Only within the States? That's right cruel, that. Ok, if pressed I'd have to say somewhere in the New England area, preferably not too far from the coast. Perhaps Pennsylvania or maybe Massachusetts. One of my biggest reasons for wanting a change of scenery is the climate here in the South. Beastly hot weather down here. The food is good and the land is pretty, but I can't abide the heat and humidity. I would also like to be in an area that's not so predominantly Pentecostal, and I'd find more Anglican type churches in the North. Really, if I had to stay in the US, I'd want somewhere with as close a resemblance to England as possible.
Many thanks for the lovely questions! I'm afraid I did blither on a bit, so do forgive me for the length of my answers. There are times when one is succinct, and times when one is decidedly not :)
