Fic Reccs: Mrs. Bradley Mysteries
Apr. 2nd, 2011 03:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andverygingerThere are a few shows I love that don't have large fandom followings -- the Mrs. Bradley Mysteries are one of them. A character created by Gladys Mitchell, Mrs. Adela Bradley is a once-divorced amateur detective with strong interests in Freud and forensics, unconventional for even the Roaring '20s. In the series, she's played by the always-awesome Diana Rigg. Her trusty chauffeur, George, is played very well by Neil Dudgeon.
The series itself consisted of a 2-hour movie, "Speedy Death," followed by a short run series of four episodes. They were broadcast here in the States on PBS, during "Mystery," hosted by Dame Diana herself. Needless to say, there's not a huge following, nor are there usually any fanfics.
And then, after re-watching the series this week, I went digging today. I found three of the best written fics I've seen in a long time. All are written by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thisiszircon.
"A Good Team," George/Adela. Set a few months after the final episode in the series ("The Worsted Viper"), George bends the conventions to offer a heartbroken Mrs. Bradley friendship and comfort.
"With Flowers," George/Adela. At the end of "The Worsted Viper," George places a single yellow rose in the vase at the back of the Rolls -- an assertion of friendship and apology, not the norm between a chauffeur and his employer.
"Fate and Firelight," George/Adela. Since divorcing her husband, Adela hasn't been one much to stand on convention. Left alone on holiday with George, she feels the pull to give in to feelings she has kept tightly bound over the years. The question then becomes whether or not he'll break convention himself to express what he feels.
The characterization on these stories is amazingly faithful to what is seen on screen, and the author manages to convey a depth of feeling that is equally as true; the emotional tension, mingled with the social tension of their separate stations is almost palpable. Just a really good job, all around.
So, if you get the chance, check out "The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries," (looks like a few are on YouTube), and I highly recommend these fics as companion pieces. =)
The series itself consisted of a 2-hour movie, "Speedy Death," followed by a short run series of four episodes. They were broadcast here in the States on PBS, during "Mystery," hosted by Dame Diana herself. Needless to say, there's not a huge following, nor are there usually any fanfics.
And then, after re-watching the series this week, I went digging today. I found three of the best written fics I've seen in a long time. All are written by
thisiszircon."A Good Team," George/Adela. Set a few months after the final episode in the series ("The Worsted Viper"), George bends the conventions to offer a heartbroken Mrs. Bradley friendship and comfort.
"With Flowers," George/Adela. At the end of "The Worsted Viper," George places a single yellow rose in the vase at the back of the Rolls -- an assertion of friendship and apology, not the norm between a chauffeur and his employer.
"Fate and Firelight," George/Adela. Since divorcing her husband, Adela hasn't been one much to stand on convention. Left alone on holiday with George, she feels the pull to give in to feelings she has kept tightly bound over the years. The question then becomes whether or not he'll break convention himself to express what he feels.
The characterization on these stories is amazingly faithful to what is seen on screen, and the author manages to convey a depth of feeling that is equally as true; the emotional tension, mingled with the social tension of their separate stations is almost palpable. Just a really good job, all around.
So, if you get the chance, check out "The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries," (looks like a few are on YouTube), and I highly recommend these fics as companion pieces. =)
