Desperate Romantics - Season 1 (2009)

Fred Walters recalls his friendship with the Victorian artists who called themselves the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais. Initially patronizing they welcome him into their circle when he secures the modelling services of Lizzie Siddal with her long auburn tresses.Rossetti also engages another redhead, barmaid Annie Miller, but Hunt is wholly smitten by Lizzie. The boys' early work is not popular but Fred persuades the influential - and unhappily married - art critic and writer John Ruskin to lend his ...

With only Ruskin giving them a favourable newspaper review the Brotherhood continue painting, Rossetti and Millais clashing professionally and emotionally over Lizzie. Millais paints her as the drowning Ophelia , lying in a cold bath and she almost dies of hypothermia. When her father bans her from further modelling, Millais is concerned for his work but Rossetti is concerned for Lizzie, and bribes Mr. Siddal, with money Millais gets from Ruskin, to allow her to continue. Annie Miller gives an appreciative Hunt more sexual lessons but Ruskin still fails to consummate ...

Millais is puzzled when Effie suggests her husband wants him to do more with her than paint her. However Annie correctly guesses that Ruskin wants Millais to have sex with her so that he can name him in divorce proceedings so Rossetti persuades Effie to sue Ruskin first for non-consummation of the marriage. Milais and Effie are falling in love and end up in bed, planning to wed. Hunt sets out for a painting trip in the Holy Land, promising to marry Annie on his return but Lizzie is annoyed that Rossetti has no plans for their future. Rossetti sneakily flatters Ruskin ...