Yess!

Yess!

Jonathan & Arabella aren’t they cute and adorable?

This sums it up!

Reasons why you all should be watching/reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

(because I will not rest until my tumblr is inundated with this stuff)

It’s about magic in Napoleonic England; it’s kind of nerdy and mystical and adventure and moral conundrums all at once.

(just. MAGIC)

The faerie world in this book/show is so deliciously eerie and well-done

There’s so much important social commentary in the story, all without it ever feeling as if you’re deliberately being taught a lesson. Seriously, the whole story takes apart classism, sexism and racism, all without ever really demonising individuals. Without spoiling too much, the entire narrative is about two white rich men who are able to get away with pretty much anything and - with the best intentions in the world - do not use that privilege responsibly. This post explains it better than I ever could.

The two main characters’ relationship is so wonderful and conflicted and dorky and painful all at once; and it’s only going to get so, so much worse…

Because Mr Norrell is all of us, and we are all Mr Norrell

We all are.

(except we’re really, really not)

This dork.

It is fundamentally impossible not to love Jonathan Strange, and his moral conundrums and his cockiness and his dorkish inability to behave like a grown-up. You have been warned.

LOOK AT HIM

The Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair

He might be a bastard with no morality or understanding of the human race, but just look at those eyebrows.

The Relationship of Jonathan and Arabella

LOOK AT THEM. JUST. LOOK. AT. THEM.

plus the book might go into more detail than the show, but I love love love how the book shows Jonathan’s inability to be the perfect husband and occasional lapses into prattishness without slamming him and immediately portraying Strange as a villain or a failure.

YOU GO, ARABELLA 

and on that note, Arabella Strange in general is just a complete marvel.

Ladies helping ladies

and friendships forged by adversity and looking after each other in impossible circumstances and just all things wonderful

It’s physically impossible to go through Stephen Black’s character arc and not dissolve into a puddle of emotion

MISTER SEGUNDUS

So I’m reasonably convinced fandom’s opinion on many different characters will split and divide as time goes on, but one thing I can promise you: no-one will think of Mr Segundus as anything other than a precious little lamb who should be protected at all costs.

Childermass

Oh Childermass. Grouchy sassy unexpectedly-attractive northerner of my heart. Everyone loves Childermass, and then some.

Finally, it’s just really really good. So go watch/read!

Arabella is by far my favorite female character in this show... Not that there were many female characters, though!

“I shall not detain your husband long, madam. Perhaps some tea? Seed cake?”

This is what happens when you paint things after the latest “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell” ep to WAY too much Depeche Mode on your playlist.

Haha, second that striked out part...

The Education of a Magician (aka the episode where Jonathan got really hot)

I am utterly shocked and saddened by the news of Christopher Lee’s death. May he rest in peace and travel back into the west. For all my life, he has been such a beautiful presence, not only being such a fantastic portrayer of Saruman but that of the countless roles he played.I remember growing up to LOTR and Star Wars, and my dad telling me about growing up to Dracula. His bravery, courage and resilience in life is a quality that he held highly. The very fact that he chose to act in The Hobbit at 92 is credit to the love of life he held. I really do not know what to say, this is heartbreaking. Utterly heartbreaking.

R.I.P. Sir Christopher Lee