Netflix’s hit seriesBridgertonisn’t the only period drama where gossip is happening and hearts are being broken.Mr. Malcolm’s Listis anunsung Regency romance classic, and deserves its flowers, much like many of its characters wish for from their crushes. An understated study on the stuffy hierarchy of courting during the Regency era,Mr. Malcolm’s Listputs a spotlight on the unfair gender politics that went into finding a spouse at the time. Directed byEmma Holly Jonesand written bySuzanne Allain, women not only rule the screenbut behind the scenes too.
Freida Pintostars inMr. Malcolm’s Listas a headstrong, single woman and societal outsider who’s called back to London by her best friend (Zawe Ashton) to help humiliate a coveted, single man, Mr. Jeremy Malcolm (Sope Dirisu), who has unrealistic expectations of women as he searches for a wife.Mr. Malcolm’s Listis the spitting image ofBridgerton, withelaborate ballroom scenes, forbidden love affairs, and gossip that rules over society.For those who missBridgertonand need another Regency romance to tide them over until the newest season premieres,Mr. Malcolm’s Listis a must-watch.
Mr. Malcolm’s List
Set in 19th-century England, Mr. Malcolm’s List follows the story of Julia Thistlewaite, a young woman who is rejected by the elusive Mr. Malcolm for not meeting his criteria for a wife. Seeking revenge, she enlists her friend Selina Dalton to play the perfect match, but their plan takes an unexpected turn as true feelings emerge.
What is ‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ About?
Selina (Pinto), a single woman living in the countryside, is summoned to London by her brash and bold best friend, Julia (Ashton), who has just gone on a failed date at the opera with the most eligible bachelor in town, Mr. Malcolm (Dirisu). After her suitor displays a lack of interest, Julia is made fun of in the gossip sheets posted all around town, and further humiliated when Mr. Malcolm never bothers to call on her after their outing. When Julia finds out through her cousin, Lord Cassidy (a hilariousOliver Cohen-Jackson), that Mr. Malcolm keeps a long list of requirements that women must meet to even be considered marriage material,she devises her own plan of revenge.
Julia prepares Selina to be the perfect romantic candidate for Mr. Malcolmby meeting all his so-called requirements, though her end goal is to rip the rug out from under him and have Selina reject him when he hopefully falls in love with her. But when Selina and Mr. Malcolm start to become fond of each other, it strains Selina and Julia’s friendship, and Selina begins to question whether she might actually be in love with the mysterious Mr. Malcolm. A dashingTheo Jamesco-stars as Captain Henry Ossery, who also vies for Selina’s heart but finds himself smitten with Julia instead, creating a dizzying love quadrangle worthy of anyBridgertonseason.
Initially a kernel of an idea,Mr. Malcolm’s Listwas first a short filmthat blossomed into the beautiful feature-length movie it became. Originally starringGemma Chanin the Zawe Ashton role as the pampered Julia, the 10-minute film was an origin story of sorts, following Julia’s humiliation in real time as she and Mr. Malcolm (Dirisu) attend the opera and he intentionally embarrasses her by asking questions about subjects she isn’t familiar with. Chan is a riot as Julia, furious at her failure to entrap the eligible bachelor. The short film then ends with the arrival of Selina at Julia’s estate before a cheeky title card writes, “to be continued…” The short film version was even more similar toBridgertonthan the final product, with a lively Pinto narrating its 10 minutes in true Whistledown style, serving as the omnipresent narrator who oversees everything. Also directed by Jones and written by Allain, its success as it went viral online ensured the production of a full-length movie.
If You Love ‘Bridgerton,’ ‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ Offers More of the Same
Promenades of longing stares and heartbreak set to searing violin solos are part of what madeBridgertona success when it premiered. AsPhoebe Dynevor’s Daphne andRegé-JeanPage’s Simon fell in love during Season 1 in a love affair that started as pretend and quickly became real, theirbest moments came on the dance floor.Selina and Mr. Malcolm’s most intimate moments also happen when they dance.In a film that does not have the luxury of filming steamy, R-rated love scenes in the bedroom,Mr. Malcolm’s Listgets creative, using the ballroom to its advantage to allow its characters to speak in ways their words could never allow.
Selina and Mr. Malcolm’s most climactic dance is shot in a stunning ballroom with gorgeous costumes, as Selina is dressed as the goddess of the moon. Both Pinto and Dirisu master the complex dance moves, weaving in and out of each other’s space while never touching the other,exemplifying the tension of unspoken feelingsbetween them. Jones directs the scene with a sweeping style across the dance floor, and it could easily fit into anotherBridgertonball. For those who miss Daphne and Simon’s relationship,Selina and Mr. Malcolm harness that same energy, as what was supposed to be a facade and game of revenge becomes all too real when they dance with one another.
LikeBridgerton,Mr. Malcolm List’s main couple hasa major encounter in an estate’s beautiful, luscious garden. Selina and Mr. Malcolm’s meet-cute is an intimate moment when they unexpectedly come across each other in the orangerie, something many Regency romances boast. In the same vein asBridgertonSeason 1, Selina stumbles upon Mr. Malcolm at her first ball, which she and Julia had already planned as her first venture into wooing him. As the two stand in the dark, candle-lit room filled with beautiful statues and various plants, bathed in moonlight, they instantly have a connection. Discussing the price of hope and dreams, Selina meets Mr. Malcolm’s cynical nature with positivity. When the two move ever closer to each other in the atmospheric space, it hearkens back to Daphne and Simon’s forbidden meeting in a moonlit hedge maze that starts their entire relationship inBridgerton. Both relationships are born in privacy, away from the prying eyes that love to interfere.In Regency romances, true intimacy is only possible outside stifling ballrooms, which raises the stakes, and in turn, makes for exciting and potentially steamy drama.
InMr. Malcolm’s List,Ashton runs away with her comic relief roleas a woman out for vengeance. As Ashton’s Julia develops an unspoken romance with scene-stealer James Captain Henry Ossery, they breathe a different life into the film. For those who enjoyedJames’s mischievous qualities inThe White Lotus, he still has the same playful energy inMr. Malcolm’s List, but uses it for good rather than evil. Ossery’s composure as a former, somewhat rakish war hero matches the gutsy Julia to perfection, and James' teasing flirtation with Ashton is a welcome change of pace from Selina and Mr. Malcolm’s more serious courtship.
Mr. Malcolm’s Listis alsobased upon the critically acclaimed novel written by Allain, and Mr. Ossery gets his moment to shine with the best proclamation of love throughout the film, courtesy of Allain’s eloquent dialogue. His and Julia’s storyline of enemies-to-lovers addsa classic element that romance lovers will swoon over,with James delivering a witty proclamation of love worthy of anyBridgertonmonologue. With his earnest eyes and delicate delivery, his vulnerable admission adds a welcome moment of honesty to a film that mostly revolves around deception.
‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ Is a Refreshing, Feminist Regency Romance
Though it doesn’t have the same exact scenes thatBridgertondoes, Mr. Malcolm’s Listcarries that same cadence of passion through subtlety, offering a steamy romance that still happens to be family-friendly in nature. During a more playful moment, Mr. Malcolm teaches Selina how to play cricket by placing his arms around her for an instant. You could cut the tension with a knife, and it’s a lesson thatless can be more.
Ultimately, the best part ofMr. Malcolm’s Listis the building relationship between Selina and Mr. Malcolm, as well as its excellent examination of the role gender played in marriage and love during the Regency era, which often aimed to suppress women. By highlighting the imbalance of power dynamics between genders, Mr. Malcolm’s infamous list literally symbolizes the boxes men tried to force women into during the time while not receiving the same criticism. However, Selina’s intellect and willingness to teach Mr. Malcolm more progressive ways of courtship encourage him to throw his list out altogether. As Mr. Malcolm lets go of judgment, realizing that he can find a wife who doesn’t need to check off all his so-called boxes, the film becomesa message of female empowerment, throwing toxic masculinity out the carriage window.
