Re: Gunpowder

and still would.

Re: Gunpowder

I was interested to read that the Producer of Gunpowder, Kit Harington (also of Game of Thrones) is a direct descendant of Robert Catesby, the part he is playing in Gunpowder. Obviously he has a vested interest in both the part and accuracy of the details.

Re: Gunpowder

Some with disastrous results through mass hysteria as at this famous hanging in Nottingham...


William Saville had been hanged on 8th August, 1844, for the murder of his wife and three children, in Colwick Wood, on 21st May, 1844. The crowd was immense. Immediately after the man had been launched into eternity, the crowd broke up in great disorder. Twelve people were killed and more than a hundred severely injured. As Button says:— "heaps of victims were thrown down and trampled upon on the Pavement, and then the pent-up tide found an outlet at Garner's Hill, down which it rolled with destructive velocity. Some fell in their involuntary descent of the steps, others became entangled with them and overthrown, and in a few seconds the steep and narrow thoroughfare was completely choked up. There the struggling mass lay—men, women, and children— promiscuously heaped together, and each moment receiving additions to its number. The shrieks of the female sufferers were fearful but not protracted, for a brief interval brought on either insensibility or the silence of death. Seldom has the eye beheld a sadder spectacle. The mass were literally writhing with agony. Groans, mingled with hurried prayers and curses, resounded on every side."

Re: Gunpowder

Turned it off after five minues. Realised it wasn't for me.

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Why ? If you don’t mind me asking?

I accept the violence wouldn’t be for everyone ( we were eating supper and I gave up on that idea) but past that I found it interesting and may I say educational

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Don't like the violence it showed. And I'm not a fan of period dramas, anyway.

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The trailer was enough to show me it wasn't for me!
I loathed the air of pure menace, you knew you were in for some shocking stuff, you don't need to see to know.
It's a kind of porn, I've nothing against it but it's not for me.
I'm not reading the accounts within this thread either!

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I found episode one just a little bit slow for my liking but will watch the rest as I have always been interested in the gunpowder plot.

For years I thought we celebrated Guy Fawkes night because he tried to blow up parliament rather than celebrating because he didn't.

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I always watch (and usually enjoy) any accurate historical drama. Found this had too much (to me) gratuatious violence. I had recorded it and f.forwarded those bits. Surely suggestion would have been just as good for the play, rather than 'showing. I also watched the very excellent docudrama on Elizabeth's Secret Agents. Obviously, we were made to understand that horrific tortures would have been used to get information/confessions - but they did not need to shown. Even the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, which was pretty horrific, was reported. I think this is a far better way.

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Making history more palatable by cleaning up the unacceptable elements makes no sense to me. Do accept that for some this is not necessary.