History Is a Lie

Lands of Magic is back, with the next round beginning 27 September!

So come and join lands_of_magic a challenge/landcomm community. All fandoms, including historical ones, and non-fandom options are available for graphics, games, writing, team challenges and more. Go here to sign up and tell them I sent you ;)

Come and join lands_of_magic a challenge/landcomm community. Now welcoming all fandoms including your fave history inspired ones for graphics, games, writing, team challenges and more. Go here to sign up and tell them I sent you ;)

For the a_war_of_roses "Fandom History 101" challenge; 5/5 The Knick




Title: The Knick
Format: TV Show
Era/Location: 1900, New York
Brief Summary: The Knickerbocker Hospital deals with poor patients others won't touch and pushes the boundaries with regards to surgery and new techniques; opium addict Thackery is brilliant but needs to learn restraint. He is less than impressed when told to work with a black surgeon, Edwards, but finds that Edwards is exceptional and that together they can reach new heights.
Why you like it/would recommend it: Excellent cinematography and effects and Clive Owen is wonderful as troubled if brilliant surgeon, Thackery. The show doesn't shy away from themes including racism, poverty, corruption, and reproductive rights, and there are many great characters and storylines. The more modern musical score provides an interesting contrast and it's amazing to see how far medicine had – and had not – yet developed by this time period.

For the a_war_of_roses "Fandom History 101" challenge; 4/5 Versailles



Title: Versailles
Format: TV Show
Era/Location: 17th Century France
Brief Summary: King Louis XIV, determined to oppose the nobles working against him in Paris, begins an ambitious building project at his father's hunting lodge, Versailles. His personal life is complicated by his relationship with his bisexual brother, Philippe, his affair with Philippe's wife, Henriette, plots against his life, and war with Spain.
Why you like it/would recommend it: The hair! The costumes! The scenery! Phillipe – Alexander Vlahos is amazing as the second son who has never been allowed to overshadow the Sun King and resents his brother's vanity. There are a lot of complicated relationships to explore, a conspiracy to uncover, and some great side characters like Fabien Marchal, the king's head of security, and Claudine, who becomes the king's chief physician despite her gender. There are certainly flaws, historical and otherwise, but there is enough splendour and interesting characters and their relationship dynamics to overlook them.

For the a_war_of_roses "Fandom History 101" challenge; 2/5 The Borgias



Title: The Borgias
Format: TV Show
Era/Location: 16th century Italy
Brief Summary: When Rodrigo Borgia finagles his way to the Papacy, his son Cesare is forced to become a cardinal rather than the warrior he wants to be, younger son Juan becomes a lacklustre leader, and, to Cesare's horror, Lucrezia is forced into a violent marriage with a Sforza for political reasons. Cesare forms an alliance with assassin Micheletto and they do their best to protect the family from the myriad threats, and Rome from her enemies.
Why you like it/would recommend it: Cesare (Francois Arnaud) is amazing and the chemistry he has with Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) is off the charts. Cesare's character development is second only to Lucrezia's as she goes from naïve young woman to ruthless opponent, while Juan's selfishness, cruelty, and short-sightedness proves his downfall. Rodrigo is an interesting character – sometimes genuinely spiritual, sometimes pure plotter, and willing to put women in positions of great power. The triumvirate of Lucrezia, her mother, and her father's mistress Farnese is a high point when they work for the good of the Roman poor, and the relationships between Cesare and Lucrezia, Lucrezia and Micheletto, Micheletto and Cesare, are convincing and a pleasure to watch, and Micheletto is a canonically gay character.*
Another one not for historical purists but a show built around fascinating characters.

(*arguably bisexual but the only woman we see him bed is one he does so before killing her to frame a third party for the murder; it was business and not pleasure)

"When She Was Bad" (19571 words) by cool_cbear_g
Chapters: 16/16
Fandom: The Borgias (2011)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Cesare Borgia & Lucrezia Borgia
Characters: Cesare Borgia, Lucrezia Borgia, Micheletto (Borgias), Vannozza dei Cattanei, Charlotte Albret
Additional Tags: Jealousy
Summary: Cesare has a new girlfriend, and Lucrezia isn't happy. At all.

An excellent modern AU with endgame Ces x Lu and plenty of Lu & Micheletto on the way there, featuring a wonderfully dark Lucrezia, loyal Mick, and a Cesare who finally admits what he wants :D