OBSESSIONS

It's funny how one obsession can lead you to another.  

I became obsessed with Downton Abbey during its first season, though I admit I was a little late to the game-I started with the second to the last episode. I fell hard for the character of John Bates and the actor who portrayed him, Brendan Coyle:

Through Netflix I started watching some of Brendan's earlier work and made my way to:

I bought the dvd in an Elizabeth Gaskell set that included Cranford and Wives & Daughters. While watching Brendan in this I also fell for Richard Armitage:

Who wouldn't?

Because Brendan was in the first episode, I also fell for The Inspector Lynley Mysteries:

I bought the whole series.  Imagine my delight when Richard showed up in an episode too! I also decided I needed to read the books the series was based on and became an Elizabeth George fan. I've read fifteen of the books in the series and am almost caught up to the present. I love the character of Barbara Havers in both the show and the books.  

I saw the 2005 movie of Pride & Prejudice and fell for Matthew Macfayden:

Because of that I started watching some of his past roles and fell for:

or Spooks as it's known in its home country.  I had tried to watch it when A&E first aired it but couldn't get into it but that wasn't the case when I started again.  I was thrilled to find out that Richard was also in the series in later seasons:

Though I will admit I really didn't like how his story arch ended.

Going way back, I became obsessed with Star Wars:

when I bought the VCR tapes of one of the new editions that had come out.  I never saw Star Wars in the theater but did see The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in the theater.  I have a habit of falling for secondary characters in movies and tv shows and I fell for Wedge Antilles:

I later also fell for Zev Senesca:

Christopher Malcolm has a very nice smile.

Because of Wedge I started reading some Star Wars books.  I've really enjoyed the X-wing series but haven't finished it yet.  I was never fond of Luke Skywalker, I thought he was whiny  so I haven't read any of the Jedi series yet but I may.  I know one of the authors of the X-wing series wrote a character that later became a Jedi and I do have that book in my TBR pile. Besides Wedge, I like reading stories about Han Solo who was my original crush in the series.

Knowing my crush on Wedge, imagine my delight when I watched:

and found that the actor who played Wedge was in it as Mr John Jarndyce:

I really fell for Denis Lawson watching this and am now watching some of his other roles. 

Maybe he'll lead me to a new obsession!