Still Star-Crossed

It's interesting how certain reviewers (is it even released in Luxembourg yet?) are reacting negatively to the casting. It's a TV show based on a YA novel that used secondary characters from a play where all female roles were played by men. Mind you, Shakespeare borrowed heavily from other sources ("The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet" and "Palace of Pleasure"), rewrote and adapted other writers' concepts, and his history plays are straight up Tudor propaganda. Oh, not to mention all of the in jokes and innuendos throughout his plays. I bet he'd be tickled that his play spurned a new tale AND TV show.

All that to say that I enjoyed the episode. While fast paced, it did do the job of establishing the conflict, introducing the players, and teasing just enough to whet your appetite.

I think the casting is phenomenal. So many talented English, Australian, and American actors. While the writing was clunky in bits, I do believe the actors elevated the material, which usually doesn't happen. The costuming is exquisite and so vibrant. I appreciate the attention to detail (although some costumes are a bit out of time, it's not too distracting, especially when so many get it right).

But truthfully, the star of the show is Salamanca (standing in for Verona). For a show set in one city, the fact it's filmed on location gives the scenes so much more power, authenticity, and depth that a sound stage would remove. You feel as if you're there with them walking the streets of this beautiful city.

I'm pleasantly intrigued by what is to come, and if the preview is any hint, it'll be explosive!

This is the show I've been waiting for, seriously. Not only because it explores the aftermath of one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, but because of the amazing cast! Just WOW WOW WOW.

The cast is beautifully diverse, the acting is absolutely phenomenal, the chemistry between the characters is literally to die for (pun intended).

And everything else about the show? On point. From the costumes and sets, to the dialogue, to the fight sequences? Just A+++, folks. I saw absolutely no disappointments in the premiere and I doubt I'll see many in future episodes.

Just please please please give this show a chance. It's worth it, I promise.

Well done for a first episode. It wasn't perfect and did have its faults, but the casting is superb despite, perhaps, being a little inconsistent in terms of family lines (as a personal desire, it'd be nice to have consistency there for immediate families). But the actors and actresses themselves, do a great job capturing their character perspectives, particularly when one takes into consideration the plot, time period, and what would have been their ages. They also did fairly well with the writing they were given, which was lacking at times, but that, of course, wasn't their faults.

And for all of those making claims that this "turns Shakespeare on its head," or that it's pushing "political correctness" or pushing unnecessary diversity, such are knee jerk reactions from uneducated individuals who cry about authenticity, but usually have no problem with the fact that women are acting in the productions, even though authenticity would mean men playing the women's parts; it's selective outrage that's usually R.W.S.-based.

Please don't let negative reviews that have no legitimate criticisms of the show itself persuade you from watching it, especially if you're like me and have a personal interest in Shakespeare anyway which has pushed you to do your proper due diligence, leading to the truth of yes, there being Black people around at the time (as if Othello didn't make that obvious, anyway). For those still not convinced and in need of visuals, a page online titled, "People of Color in European Art History" (the pg is: medievalpoc) proves it, too.

Besides, let's be honest, if nothing else, it's a great breath of fresh air from what we usually see with such renditions. In Leo DiCaprio's version of R+J, for example, it was nice to see Harold Perrineau, Vondie Curtis-Hall, etc, but the production was still pretty boring in terms of lead character casting, and bland in terms of their performances. It is nice to see TV branching out to cover more period pieces, and as far as diversity goes, I hope things like this continue, as they promote what is a more genuine sense of authenticity and truth, ignoring what is popular belief about the time period in question.

So... based on the first episode, at least, I hope the show's given room to grow into another season or more, allowing it to continue improving and continuing to surprise me. Much like one of my fav shows, "Reign," I have a feeling this, too, will end up blossoming into a wonderful show if it's given a chance/time to.

In reading some of the reviews, I was rather surprised by some of the snooty remarks about the racially mixed cast. Especially, given that all the actors did an extraordinary job. Truly, they exceptional in their respective roles. I am, however a HUGE Anthony Stewart Head fan girl. He was so very dreamy as Giles. The set, costumes, and cinematography were absolutely gorgeous. In my opinion, the script adaption was done rather well for a TV series. The only reservation that I have keeping me from becoming fully invested is it's uncertainty regarding staying in production. I never fully recovered from NBC's dick move in canceling Constantine, (seriously I truly hate them for that). That all being said, I do hope for it to become a regular, especially with Scandal coming to an end, I will need something from ShondraLand to appease my broken heart.

I love this. It makes no attempt to pretend that its some kind of historically accurate representation - costuming for example is all over the place! But the fact that the cast is diverse - and its not an issue, it just simply is - is really refreshing.

Still star crossed is the post Romeo and Juliet story, focusing on the Montague's and the Capulets in the aftermath of the teenagers' deaths. Rosaline and Benvolio are forced into an arranged marriage in an attempt to unite their families and as you can imagine, there is a rocky road ahead as these two figure out they actually DO like each other.

I've seen this show get some heat, which I don't understand. Its not the best thing on television. But its certainly not the worst. Its fun, its a period drama and thus far, the cast seem great.

I'm definitely watching.