so it occurs to me that the fictional Friedrich II tv series I told you about could have had Gustav guest starring and dramatically dying.

YES PLEASE! I want all the historical/opera crossovers ever :)

Ohh, yes, these sound like I would really like them. The only Wagner I've listened to / watched has been (of course) the Ring, which I love (well, okay, I dislike Siegfried, who annoys me, but he is a tenor so what's new), and I have always meant to watch more, and this sounds like a useful entry point :)