Is anyone else watching "Colonial House" on PBS?

[pjlla]

Just wondering what some other opinions might be. I have watched all of the PBS "House" series, I believe. Victorian House and Pioneer House are the other two. I liked Victorian House because they really tried to stay true to the period. Pioneer House disappointed me because they seemed to stray from what the "norm" during that period would have been (especially concerning the women and their clothing). Plus it was hard to watch that couple (Karen and ?) who didn't get along at all.

I am enjoying this one so far. SOOOO sad about the young girl's fiance!!! I was crying as I watched. But they are having so much trouble enforcing the "rules". Why come on a show like this and then try to avoid following the rules/norms? If women covered their heads, then these women should have their heads covered! If it was a law that people went to Sabbath service, then everyone should be attending. I understand about the couple that doesn't believe in God, but just go and don't participate!! Daydream, think about Disney. Maybe these people didn't do enough research into what was going to be expected of them. Just my .02 of course!

Anyhow.... anyone else watching???.........................P

 

[powellrj]

I watched the first 2 hours and I have to say I am glad I was not a settler. I think the difference with this show is that they have many more people trying to live together than the other shows had.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

I think I have watched them all too. Manor House (last year), Frontier House (the year before), 1900s House, 1940s House (how they had to keep running into the bomb shelter in the back yard when the air raid signals kept going off really helped them focus on the period).

I like this one too, but I do think they need to focus more on what the 1620s were really like. That is what they are there to experience. I wouldn't like to be "forced" to church, but that's what the period was about. I wouldn't like to cover my hair all the time (and I'd be going crazy not being able to wash it every day), but again...that's the law of the time.

They're only there for 15 weeks or so right? So you might as well just go and do it.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I can't understand why people sign on for something like this and have no intention of following the 'laws' of the day. The one guy just left and was gone for 2 days. What the heck? They should have kiccked him off.

 

[pjlla]

Originally posted by Annie&Hallie'sMom
I think I have watched them all too. Manor House (last year), Frontier House (the year before), 1900s House, 1940s House (how they had to keep running into the bomb shelter in the back yard when the air raid signals kept going off really helped them focus on the period).

Wait a minute!!! I think I missed one.... I never heard of the 1940's house!! Boo-hoo Do you think I can buy it on DVD?..... I'd love to see that!...................P

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

1940s House, like Manor House & 1900s House was set in England. I actually saw the whole "series" in one Sunday afternoon. I think it was the first series after 1900s House. PBS might have it for sale (since they have the others).

 

[alabamaalan]

I had never watched any of the other series and I watched some of the first night of Pioneer House.

Last night I tuned in for awhile and finally turned it off in disgust. I agree with everyone else in wondering why you would sign up for such a think if you aren't willing to play by the "rules" of the time.

What is the poor governor supposed to do. They were just so full of themselves I couldn't stand anymore and will not be watching any more of it.

 

[Towncrier]

Even the governor was whining about not being able to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary as planned. Didn't he realize when they would be filming the show?

So far I have managed to watch the first 4 hours of the series, but if the whining doesn't stop soon, I'm go back to watching ER reruns.

Can I ask an honest question without getting flamed? Why did the Lay Preacher's servant make such a huge deal about being gay? Perhaps it is the producers of the show, but I just don't get why he was miserable because he had to hide that fact from the others. I didn't notice the other 17 folks on the show fretting about what the others would think if they somehow found out that they were not gay. I am totally serious about this and would like to understand why the producers of the show focused on this aspect. I understand that in the 1600's, he would have most likely been ridiculed and put to death (not unlike the 21st century attitude of some people towards gays).

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I agree TC, I think it's just a case of 'I'm special because I'm gay and I feel like I'm lying to myself by not telling everybody'. Why they focused on it is beyond me. It's clear none of these people really wanted to take part in this 'experiment', so why bother?

 

[pjlla]

Originally posted by Towncrier
Even the governor was whining about not being able to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary as planned. Didn't he realize when they would be filming the show?

Well.... I think he thought he would be there with his family. But since they had to leave after that tragic accident, he was the only one who returned as of that day.................P

 

[Towncrier]

It just sounded to me like the governor had great plans for his 25th anniversary and spending times re-enacting a colonial village didn't seem to be his first choice. I am glad that things turned out the way that they did. I know that I shed a few tears.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Is anyone else getting really annoyed with these people? If you are going to agree to be on a show like this you better be prepared for it to be difficult and not so much fun! These people never stop whining, they think it's funny to get letters for swearing or not attending Sabbath, etc... That would NEVER have happened back then. They are lucky they aren't being 'fake killed' and kicked off the show! I feel really bad for the Governor. He is trying to stay true to the times and do what the people really would have done, but it seems like everyone else wants to make it a 21st century spin on the 17th century. That is NOT the point of the show! It was making me so annoyed last night that I didn't watch the end (plus show biz moms and dads was on ) I know that no reality show is ever really reality, but they aren't even trying!

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

One more thing, I wonder how common it was in 1628 for an entire family to go skinny dipping DURING the Sabbath service!!! The would have been stoned to death. I think they should send those people packing, and was it my imagination or was the Mother smirking when the Governor said they wouldn't punish people for not going to the church? Hardly anywhere near the reality of the day.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Boy, and I thought I was the only one who thought the participants were whiners! I don't mean to sound critical, but they just don't want to follow the rules, and they would not survive 5 minutes if they were really in the 1620's. Plus, they owe a debt to their sponsors--why are they not making a serious attempt to pay it?

The whole "gay" thing bugged me--if you truly were a gay man in the 1620's, you would keep your mouth shut. Period. Plus, out of 9 weeks of filming, they devoted 20 minutes out of 240 (4 hours showing the 9 weeks) to this issue. It was completely irrelevant to survival. Plus, I have not seen one musket (or firearm of any kind) on the show. Not only would they have had them for protection, they would be hunting and trapping animals for food and pelts (that whole debt thing, plus material for clothes and so forth). Again, I can't help but wonder if this is a producer thing, they show what they want to show, but being "anti-gun" is a very 20th-21st century thing--you didn't have the luxury of being opposed to guns back in colonial times.

I could go on and on, but I won't. I watched this because the idea sounded so intriguing, and it turned out to be "Survivor" in corsets!

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by BuzznBelle'smom


I could go on and on, but I won't. I watched this because the idea sounded so intriguing, and it turned out to be "Survivor" in corsets!

Who woulda thought it would turn into more of a Big Brother with corsets (and without in some cases). Completely ridiculous. How slack of the producer to go for sleaze instead of substance.

 

[Evil Princess]

I love this show, but I can't STAND a few of the characters. The preacher and his wife are totally out there. Both are perfect for each other, but both are quite odd and really annoy me.

The one who wouldn't go to church and was compliaing that she didn't know if she would be able to survive back then because of her strong viewpoints and desire not to just go along with everyone else? I've got news for her, back then the thought of not going to church probably wouldn'tve even crossed her mind. These people were worried whether or not they and their loved ones were going to survive the next day, not about not agreeing with the Sabbath. Chances are back then if you were raised in a certain religion, you wouldn't question it. I love how she compares her 21st century mind and puts it in the place of Colonial women. She just irks me.

That's not to say that some people didn't question the religion, but I'm just saying that the majority of them didn't at that time. The way of thinking was much different back then, and I'll bet that if she were raised in that time the thought of missing the Sabbath probably wouldn't ever even cross her mind.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I am watching it.
I am a history major focusing specifically on US history so this is great for me.
But I get kind of bored with this one really easily.

 

[Pete's Mom]

I'm addicted. The whining is getting on my nerves though. Boo hoo! These people signed up for the show and were explained the rules and how life would be. If they don't like it, tough.

The lay preacher and his wife totally get on my nerves. His voice drives me nuts especially if I had to sit through two 3 hour sermons every Sunday. Also, I think is really jealous of the governor. Ever notice how he says negative things about him when he is not around and then kisses up to him during meetings.

Soooooo.....when is the next episode going to be broadcast?

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Next 2 episodes will be on Monday

 

[Pembo]

I'm watching too. About the boy who "came out", I think that is the first time he ever came out to anyone. He mentioned he was southern baptist and went to sb school, not a very affirming environment. DH & I were more appalled at the governor's response to the whole thing. His comments were very 21st century anti-homosexual. blech.

I really don't like the governor! The preacher's voice is very grating.

I watched some of the Pioneer's and it was much more interesting.

Dh was amused by the fact that in the 1600's people got drunk to celebrate! LOL!!!! That hasn't changed.

And one more thing, why would any parent subject their children to such a harsh environment? Starving my kids is not my idea of good parenting. IMHO