I’d like to start a petition to kill off Mr. Selfridge from the next season of “Mr. Selfridge,” only they almost never will kill off the lead. Especially when the whole show is titled for him. And it’s based on history. And he lived into his 90′s.
…I can’t take watching Jeremy Pivin that long.
…I can’t take watching him this long.
I get this horribly overwhelming empathy for every poor bastard he does a scene with, which actually drives me to continually shout at the screen in every scene he is in. Things like:
“HOW ARE YOU THIS BAD AND STILL EMPLOYED?!”
“WHY DO YOU HAVE TO YELL EVERY SINGLE FUCKING LINE?!”
“HOW DO YOUR BRITISH CHILDREN AND AUSTRALIAN WIFE ALL SPEAK WITH BETTER AMERICAN ACCENTS THAN YOU?! YOU COME FROM ILLINOIS!”
“I’VE WATCHED TAMPON COMMERCIALS WITH PEOPLE WHO EXPRESS MORE CHARACTER MOTIVATION!”
“WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE THE ONE REPRESENTATIVE AMERICAN…YOU MAKE US ALL LOOK LIKE TOTALLY TALENTLESS, INCOMPETENT, ASSHOLES!”
“I HAVEN’T BEEN THIS PISSED OFF FROM TOTAL WASTE OF CO-ACTORS SCENE-GIFTING, SINCE THE TOM CRUISE CASTING FIASCO IN ‘VALKYRIE’!”
“HOW DO YOU NOT HAVE SEXUAL CHEMISTRY WITH THAT? HAVE YOU SEEN HER?!?”
…and…
“WHHHHHHY?!?”
…I’ve stuck with it because the critics are right: tons of other characters are totally invested and worth it. ‘Specially the women. Which just makes him stick out worse. My old favorites are acting perfectly up to speed of my expectations of their excellence, and new ones have been found to join them in the ranks. It is often delightful, always eye-candy, the wigs make me breathless, (and the Frenchman), I’m appropriately in love with everyone I’m supposed to be, and hate the ones I’ve been taught to…except for the leading character…which is just totally screwing up the whole balance of everything.
…He was bedridden for one episode and it was one of the best parts of my day. Cuz he slept through about 85% of it.
…Then the bastard woke up again.
…And I yelled at the screen some more.
Meantime, I feel I should clarify that this is not merely a matter of a “character” I happen to dislike, (as one frequently does in BBC drama…and usually for well plotted and planned out reasons, as supplied by the writers.) I am saying that the character would be ideal if played as written…by a seductive, charismatic, likable human, with some shred of sexual chemistry, and the ability to deliver a line without yelling it in a monotone manner at whomever he happens to be facing at the the time.
…And yes, I have to say “yelling AT” because he has yet (7 episodes in) to have an actual “conversation” with anyone.
…And I have to say “facing” because that is all he does.
…And I have to say “lack of any sexual chemistry” as he (apparently) fucks everything that moves, and yet every times he goes to kiss one of the poor women I actually, physically wince for them.
If one was looking for someone to “SHARE” a scene, or converse appropriately, or conduct some sparks with: Joe American Entourage King, sure as hell ain’t it.
…He ain’t.
…And isn’t.
…And I’ve been festing this now across some days.
…So I feel like I’ve certainly given him more than a fair share of opportunity to prove me wrong.
…But he didn’t.
…And he won’t.
…And I know there is a second season coming.
…And because I’m a history geek, I know that bastard is gonna live forever.
…And I’m sorta really bummed out about it, frankly.
…(And that Lady Mae didn’t re-sign. Cuz she’s one of my most delicious character favorites.)
Oh, the woe that is my LIFE!
…Good thing I’m back to rehearsals tomorrow. My artistic frustration needs a good blowout. Obviously, yelling at the TV isn’t quite cutting it.
~D
