Something grimly ironic about getting a bright and cheerful ad for Hello Fresh while watching a YouTube review of 1917. Felt a bit gross.

An annoying/fruitless branch of amatuer history is the comparisons. It leads fans to make obviously insane justifying statements (about the Mongols in OP's case). You can just enjoy something and appreciate its importance in its own setting. You don't have to make it 'best ever'.

Reciting Old English has the strange effect of stopping me in my tracks. So old and earthy, I think it's the closest experience to time travel I could imagine.

I'm trying very, hard hard not to pre-judge King & Conquerer. I keep seeing little things that raise an eyebrow, but I'm aware of my own bias. Has anyone seen it? What are its strengths and weaknesses as a show and/or as history?

Edward III and his 16 year old heir, Edward The Black Prince, score a brilliant victory over the French #OTD (26th August) 1346 at the battle of Crecy

I didn't know about this, a mural of Athelflaed in Runcorn.

I love this account.

Always Isaiah 40, 28-31 for me, never fails to get me back on my feet:

Now that is an incredible treasure. I'm just about to read Morte d'Arthur, but alas, my edition is not worth 1800 good American dollars...

The Abbasids

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is so very enjoyable. Are you even a proper movie villain if you haven't menacingly missed the hero's name, when he appears suddenly to ruin all your plans? Rickman and Wincott (Guy of Gisbourne) absolutely chewing the scenery to perfection.

TikTok speaking pattern, or people who begin replies with, 'Hi [subject] expert here...' Up against the wall. No trial, no appeals.

It's an incredible luxury to have such ancient and venerable buildings in England. Saxon masonry work really has a distinct vernacular.

This is an interesting balance to the generally negative reception of the show. However, my pedant hill to die on is - they're kings! They should be clean and richly dressed, and in battle would be clad in fine mail. Stop putting everyone in grubby biker leathers.

I'm going to look into this. I've often wondered where this trope originated, time to see where it goes. If anyone has any useful contacts among showrunners, writers, armourers etc, let me know.

The Queen Elizabeth class were such magnificent ships. Some battleships look sleek or dangerous, but the QEs had such an air of relentless menace, especially after their refits, with the blocky superstructure.

No matter how many times I watch Spartacus, it always weaves its spell. "I am not an animal." "Neither am I." Minimal script, but each scene means something.