The Romeo and Juliet Effect

When I was 13 years old, I watched Romeo + Juliet - the one with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.

Two things surprised me about this movie:

#1: They talked funny

(Remember, I was 13. Shakespeare wasn't exactly my "thing," and I was surprised that they hadn't translated the movie into modern-day dialogue).

#2: The end

I didn't know the story, I just knew Romeo and Juliet had a majorly iconic romance. I had no idea that they died. It was the first time in my life I'd ever watched a movie without a happy ending.

I was stunned for several days. I remember sitting in my 7th grade science class the following day, unable to focus because I was still thinking about Romeo and Juliet. I gazed around at my peers wondering how many of them knew... were they as naive as I had been a mere 18 hours earlier?

(The next year we had to read the book in English, so any lingering ignorance was to be short-lived).

(Also, I feel like there's an unspoken rule that it's okay to blow the plot of Romeo and Juliet. There are some stories you're just supposed to know, so sorry if I just ruined your life).

Over Thanksgiving weekend I had a nasty stomach bug (exactly what everyone wants post-Thanskgiving). I took advantage of my sick day and decided to watch the BBC's miniseries, Tess of the d'Urbervilles. 

I tried to read the book once, but I confess, I didn't make it very far. I'm not good at classic literature (Pride and Prejudice didn't go so well - I think I made it to page 76).

Anyway, prior to watching the miniseries, I was familiar with Tess of the d'Ubervilles in title only. I had no idea what the story was about.

You guys.

YOU GUYS.

It gave me the "Romeo and Juliet Effect." I cannot stop thinking about it. I threw every emotion I had at the TV across the three days it took me to watch the four-part series. I smiled, I cried, I yelled. I felt horrified, I swooned, I gasped. I raised my fist in anger at the injustices of this world, and I peeked through my fingers at Eddie Redmayne's very white behind.

Whew. It took a lot out of me. And when it was done, I couldn't sleep. It gave me quite the adrenaline rush. I decided that in three years, I'm going to try reading the book again. Why three years? I'd like to get some distance between the movie and the book so I forget just enough about one or the other to not spend the entire time comparing.

See you in winter 2022, Tess.*

Tomorrow I'll tell you about some other shows I've watched lately.

*I don't want to give away any of the plot for Tess (the unspoken rules of Romeo and Juliet are not the same for Tess), but I do want to inform you that it does deal with sexual assault - something you may want to know in choosing whether to watch it.