Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 4hThe whole premise is that Marple is a viciously brilliant woman who ever politely blends in. Someone usually asks her to help, but others see her as a fragile old lady who gossips over her knitting. Too many, she's an annoyance, a nobody, a fluffy old dear. 000
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 4hPeople think of the Miss Marple stories as cosy crime about genteel village life, but they are actually broadly realistic about the village through different eras. There's a grittiness to them that's inherent to Christie's vision - and how Marple herself fits in. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 5hWorse, you end up with versions that are extremely sentimental about Miss Marple, while also making her both excessively twee AND a dogged detective, eager to root out the murderer and get to the bottom of the crime. That's a totally different character. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 5hTV adaptations take great liberties - understandable with such a popular character. But giving us lots of Miss Marple through each very long episode is the opposite of Christie's approach. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 5hBut remember - Agatha Christie was a master storyteller. She knew exactly what she was doing with Miss Marple. Totally different approach to having a detective present through most/all of the story who chases clues and questions suspects. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 5hThat's why the Miss Marple short stories are more satisfying - there's a relatively smaller amount of each story without her. The novels have long stretches where you're waiting for her. Then she pops in for a bit, then it's another long wait. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 5hMy super hot take: Miss Marple works best in the short stories, since Christie's whole narrative conceit with her is that she is tangential to the mystery but wildly entertaining and perceptive. But she doesn't chase clues - she's a master of human nature and psychology. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 5hHaving a protracted conversation about Miss Marple with an old friend and may have just said "See, I'm a Joan Hickson gay." #IYKYK 100
Reposted by Brian HolmesJim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 11hAngel tube station is absolutely cooked and might have to close, Transport for London's maintenance backlog is causing big trouble. (And other stories.) 2010016
Reposted by Brian HolmesLeah Reich @leahreich.com · 13/10/2026Ah yes, perhaps the most beloved literary trope of all: the classic McMuffin 2355961967
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 12/10/2026Kentish Town is one tube stop north of Camden Town. Both in zone 2. They acted like it was out in the Home Counties or beyond the M25. 010
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 12/10/2026Extra funny because the flat before that - which the husband liked because it was hip and central - was in Camden. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 12/10/2026Just watched a House Hunters International where an American couple was deciding between 'city and suburbs' and the suburban option was...Kentish Town. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026could you do like a two screen simulcast - one for them, one for you 000
Reposted by Brian HolmesMartha, but like, super spooky @mostlymartha.bsky.social · 07/10/2026This is possibly the worst thing I have ever read. It should be the only headline on every news source. It won't be. If you've experienced sexual assault, maybe don't read the details. 13416142
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Very different positioning of the Americans, obviously, as well. Avoiding any and all spoilers...but yeah. Watch The Bureau! 000
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Currently available on Paramount+. The Agency is a broadly faithful adaptation, in terms of major plot points. But the sound design is more subdued/effective in the French show. And it works better to have French agents at home/abroad. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026But it's fundamentally about bureaucratic culture vs. fieldwork and the compromises people make, professionally and personally, in the name of national security - and to save a life. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Is it perfect TV? As close as it gets. Second season is certainly a top season of just about any show. And each season builds to obligatory scenes where characters make key choices and get - or don't get - what they want. Often, with life or death consequences. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Finished The Bureau - French TV show currently being adapted into The Agency - last night. An all-time favorite series. A stark, fitting finale for beloved characters. It's very French, but can't recommend highly enough. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026They're getting perms, right? This must include some kind of perm. 010
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Short answer: no one knows. Became very prevalent by 2018; can confirm it is still massively popular based on seeing it everywhere on my recent trips to London. metro.co.uk/2018/02/23/c...metro.co.ukWhy is it called a Meet Me At McDonald's haircut?Short back and side of fries please 110
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026The "Meet me at McDonald's" (very popular in the UK) 120
Reposted by Brian HolmesTom & Lorenzo @tomandlorenzo.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Farewell to Eva Marie Saint, the sharpest and sexiest of the Hitchcock blondes who got to wear one of the best dresses in cinema history 341865332
Reposted by Brian HolmesJack Mendel @mendeljack.bsky.social · 05/10/2026‘Next stop, the gas chamber’: London bus adverts to be removed www.jewishnews.co.uk/next-stop-ga...jewishnews.co.uk‘Next stop, the gas chamber’: London bus adverts to be removed - Jewish NewsEXCLUSIVE: TfL acts after Jewish passengers criticise vegan group’s campaign targeting methods used to slaughter pigs 72315
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Did you see the video of her a few years back when she pronounced microwave in a... distinctive way? 110
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 06/10/2026British side? But I'm only ethnically British (English/Scottish) on one side. The challenges of binational life... 000
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Finally caved and betrayed my British half by turning on the heating. It was down to 65F in the house. Hands and nose too cold to deal. 🧣 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 05/10/2026If you live/stay in the city centre, there are no bus lines (all terminate there). So unless you want to go somewhere along the tram line - you walk or get cab/Uber. 000
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Half surprised it's not 'forward slash' true 90s style 010
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026I also learned that prescription bottle lids (in the US) come with two sides. One is non-child safety. Much easier to open! 000
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Ended up with a sinus infection after whatever happened in France (cold? environmentally triggered nasal drainage?) never really cleared up, then got worse over last few days. Thanks to the excellent nurses at urgent care saw me quickly and arranged for antibiotics. 💊 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026The worst is when you're at the airport in Europe and the plane is still on the way to the UK from 2 flights earlier. 🧐 000
Reposted by Brian HolmesTressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026“For months, Anthropic has been hosting private meetings like this one, shuttling in dozens of religious scholars from across the world, papering them with nondisclosure agreements and demanding that key aspects of many conversations remain confidential.“ www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/u...nytimes.comIs Claude Conscious? Inside Anthropic’s Quest to Instill Morality Into Its A.I. Models (Gift Article)In a series of private meetings, the company consulted religious scholars to help instill morality into its A.I. models — and make the case that Claude could be conscious. 620266
Reposted by Brian HolmesHetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 01/10/2026What was the moment you realised you had no grasp of the world anymore? This did it for me www.ft.com/content/f109... 39119
Reposted by Brian HolmesTom Roberts @tpgroberts.bsky.social · 29/09/2026"Lord does the Park not have any brains these days? WHAT WERE THEY ACTUALLY DOING NEAR RAF FAIRFORD" "Dogging?" "Thanks for the offer Diana, but I'll pass if it's all the same to you, my knees aren't up to it and the citroen's gear stick makes me nervous. NO, THEY WERE ROBBING DIESEL." 2316
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Just had to explain the concept of "cuck chair" to a close relative, leading to me citing this specific example and then having to dig up the story. www.reuters.com/investigates...reuters.comBusiness partner of Falwells says he had affair with the power coupleGiancarlo Granda said he had sex with Becki Falwell while Jerry Falwell Jr, head of Liberty University, looked on. 001
Reposted by Brian HolmesJosh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026These sound like non-trivial problems. 60940224
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026cannot overstate the number of tourists over the years who I've overheard in the British Museum thinking they were at the British Library (or vice versa) 020
Reposted by Brian HolmesJulie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 25/09/2026- À la carte living conditions where everything is hyper personalized and you get what YOU want delivered to YOU when YOU want it. And therefore, you don't have to think beyond yourself, so you assume everything is either for you *specifically* or it's wrong. 92255176
Reposted by Brian Holmesryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 26/09/2026great piece. man social media is a cancer themomoftheyear.substack.com/p/im-the-mom...themomoftheyear.substack.comI’m the Mom in That Viral Giants Clip. Let Me Tell You About My Husband.You saw me carrying our baby and food. There was more happening in our family that night. 12253031366
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Thank you! It's not bad, it was just rough when I got very ill in France a week ago Wednesday and then flew home early a week ago yesterday. But seem to have mostly recovered from it 🤧 110
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026That awkward moment when you cut off the Dayquil and Nyquil but then the cough comes back (a bit) as you have no more suppressant. 😷 110
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I just think certain shows are better enjoyed on a larger screen. Like a laptop or tablet (big one). 000
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Must avoid any view of it. Don't want a single spoiler. 100
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 19/09/2026The lady next to me is watching Slow Horses (first episode of the new season) but ON HER PHONE 110
Brian Holmes @mrbrianholmes.bsky.social · 19/09/2026When your thumb bumps an adjacent emoji by mistake and you have to quickly delete the WhatsApp 🤦🏻♂️ 000