Last summer movie fans across the world were thrilled by the simultaneous release of a most unexpected blockbuster film pairing: the “Barbie” movie from Warner Bros. Pictures and “Oppenheimer” from Universal Pictures.
Diametrically opposed in content and message, the juxtaposition of the feel-good feminism of “Barbie” with three hours of intensity about the lead scientist in the Manhattan Project sparked an international craze known as “Barbenheimer” and led to the fourth-largest box office opening on record. Millions of film fans either attempted the “Barbenheimer Challenge” — to view both films as a double-feature — or enthusiastically supported a side in the films’ rivalry.
This past Thursday saw the release of another incongruous narrative pairing, as Season 3 Part 2 of “Bridgerton” premiered on Netflix, and Season 4 of “The Boys” premiered on Amazon. Both series are based on books that take place in reimagined popular genres (specifically period romance and a superhero franchise), and both had a strong fanbase before the creation of the television series. Aside from these two similarities, the storylines could not be any more different.
The Netflix series “Bridgerton” is based on an eight-part book series by Julia Quinn released between 2000 and 2006. Set in a fictional early 19th century England, the series follows the Bridgerton family and their friends as they navigate the high-stakes matchmaking season between diverse aristocratic and wealthy families. Overseen by Queen Charlotte and chronicled by the mysterious Lady Whistledown, romance and gossip abound in the upper echelons of British society. While various forces always threaten to tear the season’s romantic leads apart, love always prevails in the end.
In stark contrast, the Amazon series “The Boys” is based on a 12-volume graphic novel series by Garth Ennis that ran between 2007 and 2012. It follows Billy Butcher and Hughie Campbell in a world populated by real-life “superheroes” and dominated by the megacorporation Vought Industries. The “superheroes” in this world are just as flawed as the everyday person, and many commit horrible crimes either out of incompetence or self-interest.
Hughie and Billy are determined to take down villainous “superheroes” while dishing out gory revenge for the injustices committed against their loved ones by superpowered individuals.
If either or both of these series have piqued your interest and you want to attempt a “Bridgerton-Boys” or “Boyerton” challenge, the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library’s collection has the past three seasons of “The Boys” on DVD and all eight of Julia Quinn’s novels in the “Bridgerton” book series. All of these are available for check-out. If neither of these series interests you, we have a number of new releases you can check out below. Have a great week, and we hope to see you at the library!
DVDs:
“The Old Oak”
“Sasquatch Sunset”
“Bob Marley One Love”
“Arthur the King”
Adult fiction:
“The Honey Witch” By Sydney Shields
“Songs in Ursa Major” by Emma Brodie
“Minor Detail” by Adania Shibli
“Forget me Never” By Susan Albert
“The Comfort of Ghosts” by Jacqueline Winspear
“Shelterwood” Lisa Wingate
“Only the Brave” by Danielle Steel
Non-fiction:
“Speech to Print” Mouisa Moats
“A Disability history of the United States” by Kim Nielsen
“The Evolution of the Juvenile Court” by Barry Feld
Young adult fiction/non-fiction:
“Storm Dawn of A Goddess” by Tiffany Jackson
Juvenile fiction:
“They call me NO SAM” by Drew Daywalt
“Bo and The Witch” by Rebecca Elliott
Audiobooks:
“One Perfect Couple” by Ruth Ware
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