#thb thoughts

[cynthia39100]

The History Boys -- Scripps/Dakin

Not the most popular but I love them so so much. I ship them as platonic best mates and romantic couple equally hard.

They were such good mates in canon 🥰 I only realised that in rewatch. They told each other everything (well, it’s mostly Dakin talking but I’m sure Scripps did too). Posner wasn’t actually involved if he didn’t insert himself in their talks.

They complimented each other perfectly (which is probably deliberate). Dakin was extremely active and self centred, while Scripps was passive and observant. Scripps was Dakin’s constant audience who not just listened to the his drama but also grounded him. Dakin brought excitement into Scripps' life and pushed him into action.

When it's a romantic dynamic (sex involved), they have this intrinsic tension coming from Scripps' repression and Dakin's activeness. So very intriguing. Very fitting for priest x demon trope ^^ They also had very different value and pursue for life so when they got together despite all it's very rewarding and heartwarming.

[cynthia39100]

The History Boys -- Irwin/Dakin

Teacher/Student trope. What's not to love xd

It’s their power dynamic that’s intriguing for me, in contrast to the soulmate level understanding and tenderness for Scripps/Posner, or the somewhat forbidden vibe for Scripps/Dakin (as in demon x priest trope… or is it just me?). Irwin has the intrinsic power as the teacher (and he does have it because Dakin craves his approval so much), and Dakin holds the power over Irwin because Irwin is so self conscious and passive (and homosexual… maybe? Dakin has more chance to pursue a “normal life”).

Dakin was very vocal about his feelings to Irwin but I only realised in rewatch that Irwin actually was quite fond of him since very early on too. There were from he directly addressed Dakin in classes when there wasn't a necessity. And then Totty basically spelled it out lol So funny in hindsight that the first time Irwin saw Dakin was without trousers. Might be what triggered the yearning ^^

They were so good in the movie... those couple of scenes they talked one on one might be my favourite romantic scenes ever. Insane sexual tension. So much going on on their faces. The script too of course. All that metaphor and subjunctive. My favourite one being the German and Poland 🥰 and the “Why are you smiling?” It’s not really a romance story but it’s better written than so many.

[cynthia39100]

The History Boys -- Scripps/Posner

The most popular ship but I don't have much thoughts on them... They could well be canon. They make a lot of sense. Maybe because it's so natural I'm not overly interested in the process??

I do love them being singer and pianist~~ Always dreaming about getting together with someone to play music together ^^

One thing I'd like to see more. I've read several fics in which Scripps was jealous of Posner's attention on Dakin. But what if it was Posner who was jealous of Dakin's attention on Scripps? Or Scripps on Dakin. I didn't realise it in first watch but Scripps and Dakin talked all sorts of things together all the time. Posner wanted to be part of it but because of his age they didn't include him as much. It'd be nice to see more of that aspect. Also Posner pining over Scripps. It's always Scripps pining after Posner. It makes sense because of Posner's big crush on Dakin but still.

[cynthia39100]

The History Boys -- Scripps/Irwin

Super rare pair. It's literally that one moment in the play where they smiled at each other (because Scripps thought Irwin was a new boy). It could be an awesome meetcute! They both had wonderful smiles 🥰 Also those two were my two favourite characters so...

I think what's interesting of this pair is that they seemed very equal from the start? There was little teacher/student tension between them, compared to say, Dakin (who wanted to impress Irwin) and Posner (who went to him for advice). Scripps thought Irwin was a new boy when he first saw him and so maybe that image didn't leave him. Also Scripps didn't like Irwin's method and didn't buy into Irwin's flashy facade from the start. In a way Scripps could be the one who saw through Irwin the most, excluding perhaps Totty.

And how interesting that Scripps and Irwin were the two journalists in the bunch. They don’t have many shipping fic but always love seeing them being good friends in fics~ I feel like they would get each other in a lot of ways and just being very chill and comfortable together.

[cynthia39100]

The History Boys (Play) - Notes

Scripps/Jamie Parker

I saw the movie first so I was pleasantly surprised that Scripps had so much more lines on stage! Love a narrator position character. And he got to sing <33

Jamie's smile is so... warm and adoring just in default. He looks like he likes everyone so much 🥹 He had that passing scene of meeting Irwin the first time. They exchanged a smile and suddenly I'm shipping them 🫣

Jamie hitting the piano with his foot made me unreasonably happy. He just looks so carefree.

"On my knee!" was hilarious. I wonder if they always did this in the play or it's changed afterwards (by Jamie, perhaps?) In the script it's more like the movie.

Scripps, Dakin, Posner

Posner seems more mature and melancholy to me in the movie, while in the play he seems more cute and pouty lol

I kind of like that in the play Scripps and Dakin seemed more deliberate in their keeping stuff about Hector from Posner. In the movie Dakin had that little exposition line about Hector touching pupils but in the play it's just "you don’t fill the bill, be grateful". Also he and Scripps stopped talking about what happened on the bike when they noticed Posner. I like the hint of protectiveness they exhibited, even though Posner really wasn't that much younger than them. I also like the sense that they knew what happened was awful, even though they joked about it between themselves.

Maybe it's because the set was always the classroom, every time Dakin (took the effort to) move over/lean closer and talked to Scripps it felt like he was so keen on chatting with his best mate <33 That little gleeful smile when Scripps asked him to go on talking about Fiona (after pretending to be uninterested) was precious.

Longer Bewitched song 🥰the fact that Scripps started it was fascinating. (very in tune with Posner's pining, did you?)

Dakin bit his nail/pencil a lot in the play I feel... flirt.

Scripps bumped Posner's shoulder to get his attention because Posner was distracted by Dakin while singing with Scripps 😏

Mix

That French Class scene worked best on stage I think. The most dramatic lol

I have a strange fondness for Irwin sitting on the desk while reading out Dakin's essay. Cute.

That little video clip of Irwin watching Totty teaching through the window was so cute. They had a nice relationship.

I'm kind of happy that in the play version of the group photo Hector wasn't in there with them... even though the boys probably preferred the movie version. They looked much happier there than in the play one...

"Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye" is freaking adorable 🫠🫠Can't believe they actually had a full dance.

I really like the ominous way Scripps and Dakin were left on the stage after Hector and Irwin left for that last motorbike ride.

[cynthia39100]

The History Boys (Movie) - Notes

Scripps + Dakin

Scripps did call Dakin "Stu"!! Thought that was fandom invention. It made me happy that the two of them sat together in classes <3 All that little looks and faces <33 BFF!

Dakin and Scripps' post-shower scene was… not unappreciated, but also why😂Is it because they were talking about wanking

"Are you jealous?" "Not of the sex, just your being up for it." Very intriguing addition. I think this exchange was linked to some of Jamie's acting choices, how Scripps sometimes looked... sad? angry? watching Dakin flirted with Irwin or Fiona. Maybe he felt like he should live a bit more instead of just observing. Or maybe he was in love with Dakin too.

Dakin x Irwin

Dakin's tiny "Sir?" when Irwin told him to not take the piss!!🥹He was nursing the first damage on his self-esteem xd

All the Dakin x Irwin scenes benefited the most from the movie format imo. They could be closer physically the entire time and they could build up the tension with whispery words and subtle facial expressions. I really, really love Stephen Campbell Moore's acting in the movie. So many of their scenes were Dakin saying the important lines and Irwin making complicated faces xd And then there was the movie originals like the shared cigarette, hiding behind closed doors, shoulder tap in that Abbey trip...

Mix

The opening scene is probably my favourite movie addition 🥰🥰The boys were just so happy🥹 It's nice to see how they normally interact with each other and the teachers. Want to pause every 0.5 second to examine.

I really like how Scripps covered his eyes with one hand while praying. I don't know why Jamie did it or why I like it.

I like that in the movie the tiny panic was visible on Dakin's face when Hector tried to give someone a "lift".

The PE teacher was kind of awful but also delightful lol Delightful that he got told off by Scripps, Posner and Akthar.

Scripps kept grinning sunnily watching his friends 🥹🥹Jamie Parker's smile was always so warm and adoring.

"Controlled explosion" excellent additional line for Fiona lol

Posner looked very young and beautiful in the movie. Kind of doll like. Or sad literature boy.

Akthar made me blush a little… I can see how Sacha Dhawan became the Master.

[cynthia39100]

Wanted to see young Jamie Parker and casually clicked open The History Boys. Now I’m looping the radio play and hunting for fics 🙃🙃

I didn’t even like it that much the first time around. Mostly because the way Hector stuff was handled at the end. But then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I still can’t quite pinpoint what exactly it is that draw me in. The characters are interesting, the actors are great, but like, the theme isn’t something I have strong interest in, and the time and place are very far from me too. I guess there are just so much to explore in the text? Even the element I don’t like I can’t categorically say they did bad in this. And the lines very well written I can’t help but want to keep reading/listening to it.

Also the quality of the fics are so good?? Is it because of the quality of source material? Possibly being that long ago helps too. Some selection has happened on the internet lol