#much obliged jeeves

[yeah-thats-probably-it]

It's not as dramatic as saving Bertie's life, but I think this is a really sweet gesture from Jeeves in Much Obliged Jeeves/Jeeves and the Tie That Binds. Bertie is stressed out and wants to go somewhere quiet and familiar to calm down and get some distance, so Jeeves offers to pretend to have made a careless mistake so Bertie can do that without hurting Aunt Dahlia's feelings.

He didn't NEED to do this. It wasn't part of his grand plan. The Jeeves in My Man Jeeves wouldn't have done this. It's up there with impersonating Bertie on the phone to spare him an unpleasant conversation (Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit) for demonstrating character growth.

#i love the way jeeves and bertie have adopted each other's families #jeeves goes to great lengths to help dahlia the way he would help bertie #bertie calls jeeves's uncle uncle charlie and asks jeeves to send him his love #they're married your honor #jeeves books #jeeves and the tie that binds #much obliged jeeves #jeeves and wooster #bertie wooster

[lesbiankiliel]

bertie, it still isn't the word! do not risk it!

#erina's irrelevant babbling #jeeves and wooster #bertie wooster #much obliged jeeves

[one-strugling-bean]

Some quotes from "Much Obliged, Jeeves" that i adore:

«[...]but whereas I sang a good deal as we buzzed along, he [Jeeves] maintained, as is his custom, the silent reserve of a stuffed frog, never joining in the chorus, though cordially invited to.»

«'I'm sorry to say I do,' said Spode, speaking like Sherlock Holmes asked if he knew Professor Moriarty.» «Mingled with the ecstasy which the sight of him aroused in my bosom was a certain surprise that he should be acting as cup-bearer.»

(more under the cut)

«'Euphoria.' 'I what?' 'That's what it's called, Jeeves tells me, feeling like that.' 'Oh, I see. I just call it being happy, happy, happy.'»

«Bertie, are you going straight now?' 'I beg your pardon?'»

«Pardon me, your tie.' 'What's wrong with it?' 'Everything, sir. If you will allow me.' 'All right, go ahead. But I can't help asking myself if ties really matter at a time like this.' There is no time when ties do not matter, sir.'»

«Especially as a few moments before this person appeared I had been interrupted by an extraordinary young man who gave me the impression of being half-witted.' 'That would have been my nephew, Bertram Wooster.' «Oh, I beg your pardon.' 'Quite all right.'»

«How about Jeeves?' 'What about him?' '[...] up till now Jeeves has always been right. His agony on finding that he has at last made a floater will be frightful. I shouldn't wonder if he might not swoon. I can't face him. You'll have to tell him.' 'Yes, I'll do it.' 'Try to break it gently.' 'I will.»

«He would have risen at my approach, but I begged him to remain seated, for I knew that Augustus, like L. P. Runkle, resented being woken suddenly, and one always wants to consider a cat's feelings.»

«No joke for a girl who thinks she's going to be the Countess of Sidcup to have the fellow say «April fool, my little chickadee. What you're going to be is Mrs Spode.»

«'Had bad news, has she?' 'No, sir, she was struck by a turnip.'»

«Her greeting could not have been more cordial. An aunt's love oozed out from every syllable. 'Hullo, you revolting object,' she said. 'So you're back.'»

«Getting hit in the eye with that potato changed his plans completely.»

Ngl, i had a few more cat-related quotes, but this post is already big enough sooo yea

#some of these are so silly #bertie really likes the cat augustus #this book endeared me to mrs travers #reginald jeeves #bertie wooster #jeeves and wooster #much obliged jeeves #jeeves and the tie that binds

[notanartist143]

in other news: Jeeves carries sedatives on him at all times

Jeeves really said: Ganymede book stolen? My 18 pages of my employer? Stolen by that bitch Bingley who had the audacity to touch me & call me Reggie infront of my dear Bertie (whom I had just saved from being ran over & tenderly nursed back to health)!? Also needed back for my employers dearest friend? Say no more. *knocks his ass out*

#god i think Much Obliged Jeeves is my fav wooster book #its insane #jeeves and wooster #reginald jeeves #bertie wooster #j&w #pg wodehouse

[bitchycasenthusiast]

Jeeves setting Bertie’s Junior Ganymede club book pages on fire: “Good luck trying to return me without the receipt, sir.”

#I THOUGHT THE SHIPPERS WERE MAKING TOO MUCH OUT OF IT #BUT NO THEY ACTUALLY GET MARRIED #JEEVES PLEDGES TO STAY BY BERTIE’S SIDE PERMANENTLY #AND BERTIE COMPOSES HIS OWN VOWS IN RESPONSE #i am dying omg #jeeves and wooster #much obliged jeeves/jeeves and the tie that binds might actually have pushed thank you jeeves out of first place in my personal ranking

[my-mistake-lets-do-this-again]

found a copy of jeeves and the tie that binds (the american version of much obliged jeeves) and here’s the gay ending we all want. have fun everyone. i’ll analyze all of this one later, don’t worry

#jeeves and wooster #bertie wooster #reginald jeeves #jooster #pg wodehouse #jeeves and the tie that binds

[frogayyyy]

Jeeves & Wooster + Mirrors analysis

S1E01: Jeeves Takes Charge

under the cut because it got ridiculously long for just the first episode lol

We first meet Bertie as a dishevelled, hungover young gentleman currently being charged with petty theft. He stumbles home to a disordered house, with clothes all over the floor and cupboard doors wide open, then he immediately passes out on his bed. To put it lightly - he’s a mess.

Enter Jeeves.

Jeeves sweeps in and fixes the place up with what feels like a magic wave of his hand. He mixes a little restorative drink without so much as a word from Bertie (not for lack of trying). The drink doesn’t magically fix Bertie’s rumpled appearance like the flat, but the effect on his mind and spirit is clear.

Bertie stands in front of the large mirror in his living room, apparently inspecting himself and the effects of Jeeves’ drink.

Despite his still ruffled hair and crooked tie, Bertie is viewing a reflection of a restored, fresh, well put together gentleman. He’s seeing an echo of a future self, one that accepts Jeeves into his life.

He turns away from the mirror and immediately hires Jeeves.

This could indicate that Bertie sees what he wants to see in mirrors, the version of himself that he likes most. Or perhaps, rather than reflecting his outward appearance - the mask he displays to the world - the mirror reflects his inner mood and emotions.

After their first back and forth about Bertie’s outfit, in which Bertie asserts that he will wear the clothes he already has on, it cuts to Bertie on the station platform and we see through the steam that he is wearing the tweed suit Jeeves had suggested.

He inspects himself in the train window, seemingly coming to the conclusion that Jeeves was right and the tweed suit was indeed the better choice. This troubles him, not wanting Jeeves to get the wrong impression that just because he conceded on this occasion that he would continue to do so, and reasserts himself to Jeeves.

W: Jeeves, I have to make one thing crystal clear.

J: Yes, sir?

W: I am not one of those who become absolute slaves to their valets.

J: No, sir.

W: Very well. We understand each other.

J: Perfectly, sir.

The phrase ‘smoke and mirrors’ comes to mind. As we know, eventually Bertie does in essence become an “absolute slave” to his valet, albeit willingly. Jeeves seems to know this perfectly well. The steam from the train serves as the ‘smoke’ obscuring the deception: Jeeves happily allowing Bertie to believe that he is in complete control.

I mention this scene because it highlights the beginning of an important evolution in their relationship. At first, Bertie strongly resists being “moulded” (“I’m not a jelly” as he said to Aunt Agatha earlier in the episode, though referring to a possible future wife) and Jeeves (falsely) reassures him that he isn’t.

However, even by the end of the first episode, Bertie starts to realise that he doesn’t mind these changes as much as he imagined he would.

Another important part of Jeeves and Bertie’s relationship is music. Music is used throughout the series to show the change in familiarity and ‘feudal spirit’ between them and the relaxing of their positions as servant and master.

The first time we see Bertie at his piano playing a simple call and response song on his own. When he asks Jeeves to join in singing the responses, we see Bertie through the mirror and Jeeves continuing his tasks.

Jeeves obliges and joins in, but still adds the proper ‘sir’s at the end of every line.

Bertie is disappointed with this and asks Jeeves to sing it again but to drop the sirs. He pauses his task and moves forward closer to the piano, and now we no longer see them separated in the mirror but side by side.

Although he can’t fully let go of etiquette, he tries to acquiesce and Bertie seems delighted with this.

Afterwards, they both move back to the mirror this time, firmly returning to their roles as master and servant as they prepare for dinner with the Glossops.

This could suggest that the mirror is being used to show the barrier of propriety between them. Bertie being isolated in the mirror at first but inviting Jeeves closer and trying to get him to abandon his feudal spirit. Here, the only time Jeeves joins Bertie in the mirror is when he’s performing his duties.

(Bertie realising he might not mind being moulded (not a euphemism) a little bit by Jeeves)

At the end of the episode, after Bertie escapes the engagement to Honoria Glossop and avoids being sectioned by Rodrick Glossop, we find them in the bathroom.

As we view them both only through the mirror, Jeeves reveals that he did indeed ‘work the whole thing’.

J: Well, if you’ll pardon the liberty, sir, I doubt if the young lady would have been entirely suitable for you.

In contrast to his earlier remarks about not ‘becoming a slave to his valet’, Bertie now seems perfectly content to know that Jeeves was controlling the whole evening.

We no longer see them divided by the mirror - the barrier between master and servant. Although the mirror is still there, it’s not separating them anymore. Jeeves has revealed his plan and his intentions and has been allowed into Bertie’s space (in a private and intimate place as his bathroom, no less), almost elevated to his equal.

It’s also interesting to note that for Jeeves, the mirror is used when he confesses a truth - in this case his role in getting Bertie out of the soup and his reason for doing so. We see this again in future episodes 👀

#jeeves and wooster #jooster #bertie wooster #reginald jeeves #j&w #analysis #should i do more?

[obsidiannebula]

Love how much of the real problem in this installment is Bertie and Jeeves essentially just having a petty marital spat. Like maybe Jeeves would have helped to alleviate the issue of the unwanted guest but Bertie ignored his advice in order to feel more manly and now Jeeves is pettily staying within the bounds of his employment obligations and going no further. It's just. They're so married it's silly

#letters regarding jeeves #jeeves and the unbidden guest #like LITERALLY if the character of jeeves were a woman #he would be the quintessential 'demure and dutiful wife who is in fact the mastermind in control of the couple and estate' #like... jeeves literally performs the functions that a poorer man of the time would have a wife for... #jeeves is bertie's wife. do you understand my vision

[huanglaoshu]

"Jeeves," I said. "Sir?" he responded. "Sorry to interrupt you again. Were you reading Spinoza?" "No, sir, I was writing a letter to my Uncle Charlie." "Charlie Silversmith," I explained in an aside to the ancestor. "Butler at Deverill Hall. One of the best." "Thank you, sir." "I know few men whom I esteem more highly than your Uncle Charlie." ... "Then you may leave us, Jeeves. Much obliged for your Daniel come to judgmenting." "A pleasure, sir." "Give Uncle Charlie my love." "I will indeed, sir."

-- Jeeves and the Tie That Binds, chapter 15

#bertram wooster #reginald jeeves #reasons why jeeves likes bertie

[lettersregardingjeeves]

I say, hello! I’m dashed well looking forward to the book club in the spring. It’s a frightfully good idea. Is there any chance that some notes will be provided along with the letters, as the references can rather overwhelm one like a whole flock of overwhelming things— particularly if one didn’t take home the prize for scripture knowledge during their jolly schooldays, or if they’re not familiar with blighters like Oswald Mosley who were influential at the time the stories were written. I’m much obliged to those who are running the whole bally thing whether notes will be added or not! Cheers!

Oh gracious, I entirely forgot to respond in a timely fashion! (One is always distracted by the daily grind, I fear… if only we all had a Wooster’s independent wealth!)

Regrettably, I am not a strong enough chap to annotate these stories by myself. But not-so-regrettably, I don’t need to be - because Madame Eulalie has already done it for me! That lovingly-crafted website has annotations for the majority of Jeeves novels and short story collections, including all the stories + the one novel used in this Substack, as well as some annotations on its transcriptions of the stories as printed in magazines. It’s extremely useful for picking up on references you wouldn’t otherwise get, and it’s also the site where I source all the magazine illustrations from!

#letters regarding jeeves #lrj #it’s a very fun site and I’ve learned lots about Ukridge for example #it doesn’t have every Jeeves book on there but it’s got quite a lot #and it’s a VERY solid source for older stuff #I need to contact the site runners and ask some questions about Reggie Pepper actually

[yeah-thats-probably-it]

Am I supposed to take it that by burning the club book pages, Jeeves is effectively forfeiting his membership in the Junior Ganymede? I mean, even if they never find out about the multiple times he’s used it for blackmail, and even if he manages to convince them that the pages were destroyed by accident or by Bingley or something, he presumably won’t be writing any NEW pages. He can’t very well explain to his club “no, see, my employer and I are married now, so his exploits are none of your business anymore.” He said himself, club rules are very strict

Plus another thing: I know it’s pretty much established by now that Bertie never wants to marry, but this basically formalizes it, doesn’t it? Jeeves doesn’t work for married men and Bertie’s fiancées tend to want him to get rid of Jeeves, so by telling Jeeves that he can stay permanently (permanently!) in his service, Bertie is essentially promising to remain unmarried forever

Look at them forsaking all others in order to be together

#the fact that he used the word ‘permanently’ and not ‘indefinitely’ #makes it sound like jeeves doesn’t even plan on retiring #am i crazy? #if another valet will NEVER need to read bertie’s club pages then that has to mean #that jeeves intends to stay with bertie for LITERALLY the rest of their lives yeah? #i’m chewing glass #i’m going feral #// #jeeves and wooster #j&w spoilers #jeeves and the tie that binds #much obliged jeeves #jooster #jeeves books

[lesbiankiliel]

I give up

ejaculate all you want, bertie

#erina's irrelevant babbling #jeeves and wooster #much obliged jeeves #bertie wooster

[noandnooneelse]

i didn't quite like aunts aren't gentlemen as much as i would have expected to and i'm not quite sure what exactly it is about it that i didn't like. i mostly liked the beginning, i mostly liked the ending, i think the series was done with much obliged, and this is the sort of Ehrenrunde that wasn't quite necessary. all the old threats to bertie are gone, madeline is married to spode, stiffy bing is married and can't blackmail him anymore, florence thinks he's a criminal and won't marry him, i have completely forgotten what happened to honoria but bertie ends the book un-affianced and about as nicely as anyone could, and while bertie's problems in general have something sisyphean about them, and that is usually a nice thing! we like what wodehouse is doing and now we're reading another one! its somewhat depressing this time when in aunt's aren't gentlemen all the same problems are back, when one would have expected him to be free of all that stuff. i think its that the book breaks the contract of wodehouse for me and i'm not sure if it's because i read it after Ring for Jeeves, which has a very different sort of contract and isn't quite the real world, but it's real world-adjacent, and in aunts aren't gentlemen we're not quite in berties world either, i think. at the end of the day the book isn't any less slapstick than the others, and it isn't that there's a tangible difference - all dangerous situations bertie ends up in are quickly resolved, und während sich in aunts aren't gentlemen genau wie in den anderen büchern auch letzten endes alles in wohlgefallen auflöst it seems to me like the world has gotten a little. meaner. it's like the illusion that keeps wodehouse contained in its own little world isn't quite there in aunts aren't gentlemen, and i can't quite put my finger on what it is, or if its something that the book itself does or if i'm imagining it

[andietries]

What-ho, old sports! Would you be so kind of pointing out to me the v. of that scene in which Jeeves buys a flower for Bertie? Important research!

Much obliged in advance

#jeeves and wooster #i think it was the one of the waitresses #but I can’t remember

[soupnoodle]

let me know if you think about jeeves and wooster swap!au as much as I do. because I'm on the edge of insanity every time I imagine bertie being unable of coping with basic valet obligations. he will overcook fried eggs, break all the plates and burn a hole in your favorite pants while ironing on a daily basis

#you don't get it just don't get it #i wanna scream i love them so much #poor jeeves #jeeves and wooster #my posts

[semper-legens]

26. Rebellion on Treasure Island, by Bali Rai

Owned: No, library Page count: 229 My summary: Clara wants to read the classics, and the universe obliges. The TARDIS takes her and the Doctor back to the Caribbean in the 1700s, where there's a war brewing. The Crown is oppressing the enslaved people of the area, but they're starting to fight back. A terrible mist has swept in over one island, providing both cover and danger. And there's pirates in the land... My rating: 2.5/5 My commentary:

I love Doctor Who. I love pirates. So even though it is a book aimed at children, this Doctor Who book about pirates was certainly on my radar when it appeared on the shelves at work. Look, I have a lot of fondness for the Doctor Who novels of my youth - the 9th and 10th Doctor series, of which I owned the whole collection, if I recall rightly. Although I very seldom dabble in straight-up children's books, I thought that at the very least my nostalgia for the older series of books would carry me through, even if I am about a decade or two older than the target audience. Alas, I found this book to be entirely bland, and I am sure that I will forget it the second it is out of my vision.

The problem was that the premise, Doctor Who meets Treasure Island, never really happens? They're on a Caribbean island in the 1700s; the Doctor gets summoned by a colonial officer, then they go to this island which is beset by thick fog. Nanny is there, as in Queen Nanny of the Jamaican Maroons, but we don't learn enough about her for this book to be in any way educational. If I didn't already know about Queen Nanny, I'd just have assumed this was an original character. Then Clara gets kidnapped by the mist and largely disappears from the story, to be replaced by River Song, Jenny, Vastra, and Strax. Which…ugh, I am not their biggest fans at all, but even aside from that they didn't belong here. Their presence cluttered up the narrative - it stopped being a Treasure Island story and started being a River Song story. Even the Doctor got sidelined! It was just too busy, there was so much going on and none of it was at all interesting. Characters don't talk about unusual things for a while (the fact that the colonial officer can call the TARDIS phone goes unmentioned for quite a while), morality is black-and-white, and the whole things gets wiped from everyone's memories at the end. A very frustrating and utterly unmemorable book. Bleh.

Next, a little bit of Jeeves and Wooster.

#Doctor Who #Rebellion on Treasure Island #Bali Rai #bookblr #book blog #2.5