In defence of historically inaccurate period dramas.

Like clockwork, the conversation about historically inaccurate period pieces has resurfaced, once again. This time, it’s courtesy of the upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation and those circulating images of Margot Robbie’s rather questionable costume choices. Social media is ablaze with opinions about her decidedly not-1800s attire that appears to have time-travelled from several different eras at once.

I’ll admit, I’m on the fence about that adaptation.

First of all, why is Jacob Elordi playing Heathclif, a man who is famously described as having “dark skin” in Brontë’s novel. It’s 2025. Let’s do better, casting directors.

The film’s casting director, Kharmel Cochrane, actually did respond to the criticism, claiming that while “some English Lit fans” may not be happy with the changes, ultimately it’s fiction and can be interpreted differently.

“There was one Instagram comment that said the casting director should be shot. But just wait till you see it, and then you can decide whether you want to shoot me or not. But you really don’t need to be accurate. It’s just a book. That is not based on real life. It’s all art,” Cochrane said, per Deadline.

“Wait until you see the set design, because that is even more shocking. And there may or may not be a dog collar in it,” she added.