Ferdinands 🌸

1. We watched The Sandman when it came out a few weeks ago. In the ep about Hob Gadling, I said, "Who's that? He looks familiar." It turns out he is Ferdinand Kingsley, the son of the distinguished iconic Sir Ben Kingsley, and I knew him because he's been in Agatha Christie's Poirot (my favorite show, and the subject of like 10 000 screencaps that I made a whole blog for - maisouipoirot). We both remarked on the name "Ferdinand", which is unusual and a little old-fashioned (the actor is in his early 30s). We couldn't think of other celebrity examples; my primary association is Ferdinand the bull.

2. I picked up a Mrs Bradley mystery by Gladys Mitchell for the second time and was introduced to the character of Ferdinand Lestrange, eminent defense barrister and the son of the protagonist. (I've read four and a half of them in a row now.)

So even though Mrs Bradley is frequently described as old, wrinkly, alarming, crocodilian, and at times even as yellow and green (I mentioned the unfortunate anti-semitic overtones, didn't I? The fact that the descriptions are deployed sort of gleefully and the character is the hero and uses her appearance to her advantage doesn't completely make it comfortable to read)... I not only have been picturing Ferdinand Kingsley, unavoidably, as her son, but I've also been picturing Ben Kingsley as her. Even though, obviously, he is not particularly wrinkled, and definitely neither crocodilian nor yellow, and also not a little old lady.

This is probably adding to my overall enjoyment, really.