Tis Me Michelle

If you have any shows worth checking out, let me know in the comments! With my new iPhone (a much-needed upgrade), I got another round of Apple TV for a few months. I am likely going to rewatch Ted Lasso, but as I was looking around for something new to watch I saw a new show was just about to premiere, The Buccaneers. I figured it was worth a try.

I had a feeling that this show was based on a book, but for some reason I thought it was a more modern series, considering the vibe of the show. From the trailer, it seemed like Gossip Girl meets Bridgerton. I looked it up and the book was an unfinished novel from 1938. The original author Edith Wharton passed before finishing, but had outlined it and was finished by Marion Mainwaring. There was apparently a 1995 miniseries as well which starred Carla Gugino and Mira Sorvino. And as with everything these days, it was time for a new version of the same tale. I’m not particularly a fan of all the remakes these days. There are plenty of people with fresh ideas, waiting for their stories to be told. Considering I didn’t know any of this history before, it was brand new to me, and so I was willing to give it a fair shot.

Similar to Bridgerton, there is diversity in this cast, which is always nice to see in a period piece. The show follows five girls, a combination of sisters and friends. One of the girls, Conchita, has already found herself a British man and get married at the top of the show and then we follow them and the other four girls back to England where the other girls, well most of them, are in search of their wealthy British husband. And we take off from there.

As of this post being published, the first half of season 1 has premiered with 4 episodes. The modern-day American accents throw me off a bit, even though I know they are American. I just cannot picture that being how they sound in the late 1800s. This isn’t specific to this show though, I am always thrown off in period pieces when this happens. For example Romeo + Juliet (the Leo & Claire version). And they are kind of speaking in between phrases of the period and modern day. Not particularly a fan of that.

I am a big fan of the main character, Nan, so far. She’s honest and lives to the beat of her own drum, isn’t concerned with marriage or finding a man, and is a free spirit. I found her character to be so refreshing. A lot of protagonist characters like that can come off as ‘quirky’ and ‘weird’, but she comes off as honest and sincere. Obviously, being the one with no interest in finding a husband, she sparks the interest of the two most eligible bachelors in England. She’s the type of character that you wish you were like, but know is too good for any real person to actually be like.

As I’m getting old, these YA casts are getting younger, so these guys may be entirely too young for my eye. I’ve never seen the actors who play Theo and Guy before, but they are both swoon-worthy. As with any great love story, Nan was just going about her own business and talked to these guys like she would with anyone without any context as to who they were, which is what makes both of them fall instantly in love with her. She is candid and unfiltered in a world of women who are trying to grab their attention, especially Theo’s (the Duke). So within the first few episodes, there’s already a love triangle brewing.

There is plenty going on with each of the other girls as well. I’m not entirely invested in most of them. One of the subplots involving Lizzie is one I’m interested to see unfold, I’m hoping she has her moment. I’m really not a fan of Conchita’s character and was happy to see Nan call her out as they are best friends. It will be interesting to see if she develops any redeeming qualities, but the last episode ends with her husband in a peculiar situation…

So far, it is an easy watch and since I’m liking the main love triangle, I’ll keep watching. If you are interested in a review of the second half of the season, let me know in the comments!

Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️