"Gunpowder" - BBC

[LurkingHusband]

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05j1bc9

Anyone looking forward ?

The dipping in tar was as a preservative btw. Lovely. I couldn't watch the executions and asked DP for a brief summary instead.

Haha fair point @Elendon

There's a beautiful old Hall near us used for all kinds of events and open for public tours. I asked the owner why it's not seen more often in historical dramas and she said it's just out of the catchment area for the main production studios so they use the same properties again and again rather than pay for overnights for cast and crew.
I enjoyed the drama, very dark and not cosy Sunday TV though!

It was rather gory. Unfortunate consequence of having to complete with Netflix, Amazon etc History was pretty gory.

We were pretty barbaric back then. Unfortunately some people still are

I don't want to post spoilers or anything, but do you think they might try and blow up the Houses of Parliament?

I thought it was very good. Surprised that the Gunpowder plot hasn't be dramatised before. It's the first piece of history children learn about in school and we all know the story so well.

Thanks a bunch, Manic. You have ruined the surprise ending for me now.

Was looking forward to this.

Slow, slow, slow.

Loved this - great viewing for a stormy night. Watched it with just candles and a fire for full effect. Didn't think it was slow at all. And, yes, how cool a name is Guy Fawkes.

Agree with pp that it's surprising it's not been dramatised before. And Kit Harrington's background makes it interesting. We've supposedly got recusant Catholics in our family history I've no evidence for this but like the idea.

There's a museum in Ripon, I think, with a little Guy Fawkes display.

I haven't watched this yet, but read the thread as DS1 was interested in watching it. Given the descriptions here, I shall definitely say no (he's nearly 12)! Can't wait to catch up on iPlayer later myself though.

Do you think it will change how we as a nation think of bonfire night ? Guy Fawkes at the end seemed like a badass - if we all connect with him - then see him as a hero - are we then going to burn a Guy on a fire again come November 5th - brutal tradition when you think of it!

Surprised that the Gunpowder plot hasn't be dramatised before

Four centuries of bonfire night not dramatic enough

I love gore so now I'm looking forward to it even more!

Do you think it will change how we as a nation think of bonfire night?

I doubt it. He came down on the wrong side of history and I think it's fairly well cemented that the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter is often how successful they were. I think the most we can hope for is that it reinforces the idea that it's not all black and white.

Do you think it will change how we as a nation think of bonfire night ? Guy Fawkes at the end seemed like a badass - if we all connect with him - then see him as a hero - are we then going to burn a Guy on a fire again come November 5th - brutal tradition when you think of it!

Ultimately, it's a celebration of religious intolerance, persecution and suppression. Given these times, I'm surprised it's not been made into a national holiday .

It's curious (but not a bad thing ) it's not exported too well.

Bonfire Night certainly isn't celebrated as it used to be, it's been overtaken by Halloween. When I was young, no one had even heard of Trick or Treat, 5th November was the big deal. How many kids roll out Penny for the Guy now, I haven't seen one for years?

On one hand I think it's a shame the tradition is dying out, but on the other, it is basically celebrating the appalling persecution of Catholics, which makes me feel queasy to say the least.

Got off to a good start. The suspense while they were looking for the priests was great. No way could I watch theses executions though. Much to gory for me. Ended up on MN instead. Won't be watching any more.

"it is basically celebrating the appalling persecution of Catholics, which makes me feel queasy to say the least."

Is it? Or is it celebrating the fact that the perpetrators were caught?
Who initially decided to celebrate bonfire night, and when?

Who initially decided to celebrate bonfire night, and when?

I think it was instigated by sycophantic MPs, who passed a resolution in parliament ...

Is it? Or is it celebrating the fact that the perpetrators were caught?

As a Catholic (in Scotland, of Irish heritage incase that makes a difference), Bonfire night hadn't been traditionally acknowledged in my extended family and church community until about 25-30 years ago (i.e. my generation was born). It was very much viewed as celebrating Catholic persecution, though I can't speak for all Catholic families. Mine might have just been particularly chippy

It was very much viewed as celebrating Catholic persecution

celebrating or commemorating ?

I am learning a lot from this, the programme and google. I never realised it was about Catholic persecution, and I suspect most people don't.

Celebrating. I'm not saying it actually was celebrating, but that was how it was perceived by those who weren't on the winning side (again, purely in my experience of older relatives, family friends from Church etc).

I remember my dad being properly baffled at my requests to go to a fireworks display and bonfire when I was 6 or 7, and being told not to tell my grandparents that we went!

Was it implying that King James was gay? I certainly got that impression.

It's widely accepted that he was gay.