Richard Armitage Blog Reunion- post #3: A Stick-Figure Richard update!

This is my last post of the day.

I couldn't end our festivities without a visit from SFR!

Click HERE to be taken to the YouTube link.

Check out other SFR adventures HERE.

Thank you to everyone who has participated

in our #RABlogReunion.  It has been so fun to 

reminisce and catch up.

The Richard Armitage Blog Reunion- Post #2: Berlin Station Review

Me trying to get fancy-artsy:

The moment has come for me to give a summary

of Berlin Station, Season 1...

in limerick form.

You're welcome!
(Even though you didn't ask for/desire such a thing. It's here.)

There once was an agent named Daniel,
worked in Germ'ny for ol' Uncle Samuel.

wore dark clothes and bit gloves,

(like Gizzy, our love)

wants to keep Station from growing more scandal.


He kissed ladies to solve certain crimes.

(Even bore nekkid peaches a few times!!!)

Had to chuck a few phones,
when his cover was blown...

 

and to get rid of the women in line.

Actual footage of mobs chasing Agent Miller

Though Danny may seem a bit sullen,
has a soft spot for his sweet German cousin.

When things go south,

he has a foul mouth
and self-soothes with lots of buttons.

The end.



Like I mentioned in my previous post, I just finished watching
Season 1 of Berlin Station. I've enjoyed seeing Richard play this
dark clothed, glove-biting, cussing American CIA agent.

It's very Lucas North in Spooks with a bit of Gizzy thrown in
and all the profile shots I love in North & South.
(The man has a great profile.)

At first, I hated Richard using an American accent since 
I LOVE his deep British voice. Either I got used to it, 
or he became better at it, because I stopped focusing on his
accent altogether.  Bravo, Richard!  I am excited to see
what happens next.  (No spoilers, please!)

Check out my previous post to see what
I've been up to since letting this blog gather too much dust.

I hope all of you awesome Armitage friends
are living your best lives and able to get your dose
of RA goodness often. :)  Don't forget to fill us in on
what you've been up to as well- either on your own blog,
twitter: #RABlogReunion, or comment below.
Cheers!

The Richard Armitage Blog Reunion

Welcome one and all

to the Richard Armitage Blog Reunion!
*trumpets sound dramatically*

It's like a family reunion, for old RA blogging buddies and
ALL Richard Armitage fans... except without the matching t-shirts
or awkward uncles. (Hopefully. Ya never know- the
Sheriff of Nottingham could show up, so watch out!!!) 

It's a time for us to share what our Armi fam has been 

up to since last blogging (or commenting) and fill each other in
on our current RA faves and any other new interests.

{Or just dust off the ol' blogs and write whatever the hell we want.}
Check out #RABlogReunion on Twitter to keep posted.

Life has been strange lately with a global pandemic

affecting all of us in one way or another.

Hopefully this post finds you all healthy and happy and
looking forward to better things ahead. *hugs*

Speaking of strange...
it has been so long since I've blogged,
this site had to verify it was ME trying to log into
my own blog by sending me a code through email AND text.

Is that you, Nat???

The limerick-writer?  The stick-figure drawer?
The one who abandoned me to oogle over that damn Scottish

drama series and my dwarf nephew-turned-tricorn hat-wearer?

It is I, dear Richard and fellow Armitage pals!!!

For I have never truly left you...

*sentimental music swells in the background*

Um. I lost my train of thought in the midst of all my dramatics.

But speaking of trains...

I don't think a person ever really stops being a
Richard Armitage fan, no matter how active or not they

are on social media.  How do I know this?
BECAUSE THIS SCENE ALONE, folks!

I mean, the end.
Go ahead and applause.  I'll wait.

fan art by LilyZ

As for me, personally, I have been busy the past few years

taking care of my big family (I have a lot of kids. They're awesome!),
traveling with family and friends when I get the chance
(Hawaii, Houston, Phoenix, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, DC, Austin, Denver),
leading an art program for elementary kids, being a book worm,
and watching ALL the period films I can.
(Still love a good costume drama.)

Richard Armitage favorites in my house:

*North & South, of course! 
It's like comfort food. I never get sick of it. Bring on the angst!

*Vicar of Dibley, which I watch every Christmas.

*The Hobbit Series. My oldest boys have watched it so

often over the years, it may have been played more than N&S.
We love Thorin (Richard was perfect for the role!) and

recently had a rewatch of the series while staying home
during this Covid-craziness. (Many family movie nights lately.)

My current RA viewing obsession:

*I just finished Season 1 of Berlin Station this week.
No spoilers, please!!!  I know I'm late to the game on this one,
but is has been fun catching up lately.

I have many thoughts on this show
and perhaps I'll write a review about it later. 

*My other current Richard fave is HIS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.

Love it!!! If you don't follow him, or haven't seen it yet,
click HERE. So cute, funny and a bit dorky.

My favorites are the childhood photo and a glimpse of him
wearing the old Gizzy costumes. He gets us.

New interests over the last few years:
Poldark, Outlander (more the books than the show, but I like both),
Victoria, Vikings, Call the Midwife, Miranda (funniest show ever!),
I also love the movies Brooklyn and A United Kingdom.
I just finished watching the World on Fire series.

I look forward to reading updates about all of you!
I've thought about many of my old RA buddies over the years

and especially recently while revisiting some of Richard's 

old work, like Sparkhouse. It led me back to this blog to find out

what my initial thoughts were. This blog is like a journal in a way.

(A rather goofy one.)  Thanks for visiting!

Just gonna leave this here because *swoon.*

Richard Through the Royal Sass~ An "Alice Through the Looking Glass" Review

I tried really hard to come up with a good title...
Richard Through the Red-Robed Mass?
Richard Through the Oleron Brass?
Richard and the Giant Sea Bass?

Whatever.  You're here.  Let's chat about this film because
I finally watched Alice Through the Looking Glass! 

(Just  a year late… don’t judge.)

I watched it twice, actually, since my 6 year-old daughter
is kind of obsessive in her viewing habits.
(I wonder where she gets that from?)

*Not my daughter, but totally fits her enthusiasm!


I enjoyed the sequel much more than the first.
Is that because Our Richard is in it? Or is it a better movie?  I’m not sure…
I will have to rewatch Alice in Wonderland to answer those questions fairly.


Anyway- back to Richard Armitage.
His role as King Oleron was THIS BIG. 
He said a few lines and scowled a few scowls

and told his daughter, the future Queen of Hearts,
that she was bat shit crazy
and therefore unfit to rule after him.


So why did he agree to such a small role?
Because there are no small roles to Richard, people!
(I'm guessing. RA didn't actually tell me that.)

Plus, one of his 2 scenes included these awesome folks:

Not bad.

He once again portrayed a bearded king with a furrowed brow.

If Thorin (The Hobbit) and Monet (The Impressionists) had a baby, it would be King Oleron.

+  =

But this king looked ultra-royal with one of those fluffy red robes.

While Older King Oleron wasn’t too attractive in my opinion 

(it’s the bob he’s sporting- not my thing), 

Young King O was HOT!

I loved how he swooped in and carried his injured daughter to safety,

all while sporting a beard, close-cropped hairdo and those puffy renaissance-looking sleeves. 

*sigh*  How sweet.


Y'all know I'm a fan of The Armitage, 
but my favorite character in Alice Through the Looking Glass
is Sacha Baron Cohen's character, Time.
(Despite the man-bun hidden under that hat...)

I like his quirky, misunderstood personality and hidden soft side.

Overall, I would give this movie

3 out of 5 Oleron Beards.

I liked it, but it's not one of my favorites.

It is definitely worth viewing at least once.

Awesome fan art by elfko-namaja:

What did you think of this film???

There and Back Again...

Oh, haaay!

It is I, Nat:

writer of limericks,

drawer of stick-figures,

admirer of Richard Armitage.
(That can go on my headstone some day.

Better put it in my will.)

Long time, no see!!!

It has been nearly 2 years (two years!)
since I last blogged.

I'm feeling a little awkward at the moment...

like I just showed up at a high school reunion

and I'm suddenly my insecure 16 year-old self again.

What do I say?  What do I do?
Who is that bald guy winking at me over there???

Oh, it's the OTHER Richard Armitage.

It's not meant to be, Other Richard.


But before I can go overboard here, 
wondering if I still have a place amongst the crowd,

I remember...

we ALL have something in common.
(And I'm not just talking about a love of Ben & Jerry's.)

I'm talking about this fellow!

(Though RA + Ben & Jerry's is a good combo too.)

Richard tux-wearing Armitage:

grower of beards,

brooder of broods,

actor of passion.

Our favorite trouper.

You furrow that brow, Richard.

So where have I been???

If you must know, I went on an Armitage sabbatical.

I visited all of the locations where Richard's films took place

and collected memorabilia and made a little shrine upon my return.

Just kiddin'.

I've been living life!
A lot has happened in the last 2 years...

There are now 5 littles. That's right- FIVE.
(Jim Gaffigan and I are not married, but we completely understand each other.)

We moved.  My husband went back to school.  

I started a new business venture.  I've binge-watched a lot of Netflix 

and Amazon Prime goodies. (More on that later.)  

I've thought about my old RA buddies and wondered 

how Mulubinba is doing Down Under and Traxy in the UK.

Plus all the others I've "bumped into" online on blogs or forums.

I've skimmed over the RA blogs now & then

and kept tabs on Richard's twitter account a bit,

but to be honest, I am totally out of the Armitage loop!

But don't worry... I know all about the Angler's Loop

thanks to being a cub scout leader.

You're welcome.

I've still enjoyed watching RA's greats,

as I tweeted last week...

Rewatched North&South w/ #RichardArmitage & felt like I bumped into a long lost love. #Thornton #LookBackatMe #TrainScene #Cravats #Thud pic.twitter.com/AUJgvoYZoU

— Natazukii (@Natazukii) May 18, 2017

However, I have a lot of catching up to do because Richard 

has been a very busy bloke. I haven't watched
Urban & the Shed Crew, Berlin Station, or Brain on Fire yet.  

I didn't even know Richard was in

Alice Through the Looking Glass!  (My daughter has been wanting

to see that one and now I realize that I finally have motivation.)

I plan to be a bit of a couch potato during my summer evenings.
I'll exhaust the kids with the park and pool and chores (heh, heh *evil laugh*)

and then by night... it'll be me and RA.

And this random guy on the couch.  (What???)

I know there are probably loads of

photo shoots, fan art, and fan videos for me to view.

I mean, I didn't even know about THIS masterpiece 

until I saw it on Serv's blog.  Which makes me wonder,
WHAT ELSE HAVE I BEEN MISSING?

Please fill me in!

As I once again dip my toe into the RA pool,

I will be posting my thoughts here and/or on twitter.

So stay tuned!

My Hannibal Experience

I've been wanting to write this post
for a while, but just didn't get around to doing it until now.

HANNIBAL.

Oh my goodness gracious...

where to begin?

Rewind to my teen years.

Ah, those glorious carefree days when I could eat all the junk food I wanted 

and never gain a pound!!! Where were we?  Oh yes. Sorry- got distracted there.

Like many folks, I was first introduced to the character Hannibal Lecter 

by watching "Silence of the Lambs" when I was 16 years old.

 Anthony Hopkins was amazing.  I was horrified and intrigued by the 

entire movie. It stuck with me for a long time.

"Hello, Clarisse..."

Eeeek! *Freaked out squeal while hiding behind a pillow*

I haven't watched the other films

in which Hopkins portrays Dr. Cannibal Lecter.
Maybe I will someday.

*      *      *      *     *

When I heard that our dear Richard

had been cast in a role in the Hannibal TV series...

I was excited for him, yet disappointed because I wanted to avoid

being sucked into the world of Lecter again.
It's just a creepy place, and I'm a wuss!

On a wussy scale of 1 to 10, I am a 9.  Solid 9.

I thought, "Sorry, babe... I'm gonna sit this one out.
Call me when you decide to do some smexy period piece again."

But then...

I stood.

Sit the hell down, Richard!!!

Don't you know I avoid viewing anything

too suspenseful/creepy/horrific???

Actually, I DID sit there, but I was bored one

April night and decided to check out Hannibal on Amazon Prime.

(Damn you, AP, it's partially your fault!)

I watched the first episode and was like:

I'm scerrrred!
The blood!  The gore!  The creepy deer antlers!
(I know I use the word "creepy" a lot in this post.)
The cannibal cooking!  How in the heck are they allowed

to show this kind of stuff on prime time TV?
This is like Rated R material.  I guess TV ratings aren't

so strict these days.

I knew the show would be suspenseful and scary.

I guess it didn't help that I watched episode 1 late at night,

in the dark while it was raining outside.

*cue daunting background music*

I was a little bit traumatized and decided

I wouldn't continue watching the series.  Too-da-loo, handsome
Will Graham and sexy, yet menacing Hannibal Lecter!

A month later, I watched episode 2.

I don't know why I decided to give it another try, but I did.
I'm glad because Hannibal is a wonderfully written and acted show.

One of the best I've ever seen.  Yes, there are many chilling

events that take place.  Yes, I may want to pee my pants

at times... but once you get past that (just change your undies,

you'll be fine), the real meat of the story (sorry... shouldn't mention

meat, should I?) are the dynamics between Will, Hannibal and at

times, Jack Crawford.  Very enthralling!

Side note:

I can't help but wonder if I became desensitized

to the shocking murder scenes after the first few episodes?
(That is a topic for another post, I guess.)

I knew I liked actor Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal)

after seeing him in "A Royal Affair"

and Hugh Dancy (Will) in many films,

but wow.  They are better than ever in this series.

So, if you are like me, as in a Wimpy McWimpkins,

and too afraid to view Hannibal... just give it a try.

If it's too much for you to handle, I understand.

But you may find yourself watching another episode,

and then another, sitting on the edge of your seat, 

wondering what will happen next!

I ended up loving Season 1 and 

enjoyed Season 2 even more.  Hopefully

Season 3 will surpass them both!

Awesome cast.  I can't wait to see Richard join them!
(Well, some of them... *sniff*)

Don't be too scary, Richard!

Now...

I have a bone to pick (get it?) with Dr. Lecter.

Why can't he just make a freaking hamburger and fries!?

I mean, he has to be all fancy-shmancy all the time, making 

dishes nobody has ever heard of before.

If he tried to serve me "Langue d’agneau en papillotte
served with a sauce of duxelles and oyster mushrooms"

I'd know right then and there he was a sick bastard. 

Ew.

Just no.

I guess I don't have a refined palate.