Hornblower: The Marathon and its Aftermath
I have just watched six Hornblower films in just over 24 hours. Excuse this, as I am slightly tearful right now, but I absolutely had to get this all off my chest.
And slashers all - WATCH IT. It's beautiful, and perfect drama.
'The Even Chance' - It started well enough, two midshipman on the Justinian. Both abused by an evil b*d. The friendship sparks, but dear Archie is cast off in a boat and Horatio is shot by Simpson. Simpson dies, and Horatio moves on. An interesting start; Steph (marzie_pan) and I laugh at Horatio's hat.
'The Fire Ship' - Horatio is daring and bold lots and lots, and we both fall steadily in love with him, even though I have always held Archie to be my love. I put them about even at this point.
'The Duchess and the Devil' - The slash truly shows her face, when Horatio finds Archie, starving himself to death, and brings him back from the brink. 'I need you to survive' - loverly. And when Horatio himself is locked away, Archie reassures him and Horatio falls smartly in his lap. Scenes of beauty indeed. (Archie and Horatio still even, though Archie marginally ahead)
That was yesterday. (And though I knew quite clearly the events of all these films, I have never had such a rollercoaster as today...)
'Frogs and Lobsters' - a failed enterprise in France, lots of Madame Guillotine, a smidgen of totally uncalled for het. Which leads to some damn fine slash. Horatio falls for a French peasant, Archie panics and loses himself - Horatio could have been a tad mroe caring, I feel. Then Archie has to blow up the bridge, leaving Horatio stranded with the enemy. He waits until the last moment and then can't do it - Matthews must do it for him. Horatio appears at the other end while the fuse is burning, aiding his woman but she is shot dead. Horatio is too distraught to move, so Archie runs across the about-to-explode bridge and comforts him, before dragging him back across and being all undestanding and comforty. *sigh* (Archie now ahead, due to Horatio being a whore *smirk*)
And then the high drama and despair.
'Mutiny' - they have a b*d, insane Captain and they have to Mutiny. I waited this whole film for Archie to be shot, and he wasn't. It was such drama - Steph and I couldn't watch, it seemed to last forever. It was tense and sob-worthy, and totally gripping. With mild outbursts of Hornblower humour, like Horatio showering on deck. The looks Archie shot him - my life! Such loyalty, such friendship, such slashiness. Steph and I lament the lack of hattery that has been present in all other films.
'Retribution' - the reason I'm still teary over this damn program. Archie was shot and Archie took the blame for the mutiny and Archie died so that Horatio didn't have to. And the goodbye scene broke my heart, and he actually died onscreen, and I'm desperately trying to rewrite it in my head, cos it must be done, it must.
So frustrated, what a terrible (but slashy) end to Horatio/Archie. And still two more films to go, sans Archie, and with a love for Horatio. I don't know if I can cope - but, if I am to write Alive!Archie fic, I must know what happens to Horatio. The dilemma.
And slashers all - WATCH IT. It's beautiful, and perfect drama.
'The Even Chance' - It started well enough, two midshipman on the Justinian. Both abused by an evil b*d. The friendship sparks, but dear Archie is cast off in a boat and Horatio is shot by Simpson. Simpson dies, and Horatio moves on. An interesting start; Steph (marzie_pan) and I laugh at Horatio's hat.
'The Fire Ship' - Horatio is daring and bold lots and lots, and we both fall steadily in love with him, even though I have always held Archie to be my love. I put them about even at this point.
'The Duchess and the Devil' - The slash truly shows her face, when Horatio finds Archie, starving himself to death, and brings him back from the brink. 'I need you to survive' - loverly. And when Horatio himself is locked away, Archie reassures him and Horatio falls smartly in his lap. Scenes of beauty indeed. (Archie and Horatio still even, though Archie marginally ahead)
That was yesterday. (And though I knew quite clearly the events of all these films, I have never had such a rollercoaster as today...)
'Frogs and Lobsters' - a failed enterprise in France, lots of Madame Guillotine, a smidgen of totally uncalled for het. Which leads to some damn fine slash. Horatio falls for a French peasant, Archie panics and loses himself - Horatio could have been a tad mroe caring, I feel. Then Archie has to blow up the bridge, leaving Horatio stranded with the enemy. He waits until the last moment and then can't do it - Matthews must do it for him. Horatio appears at the other end while the fuse is burning, aiding his woman but she is shot dead. Horatio is too distraught to move, so Archie runs across the about-to-explode bridge and comforts him, before dragging him back across and being all undestanding and comforty. *sigh* (Archie now ahead, due to Horatio being a whore *smirk*)
And then the high drama and despair.
'Mutiny' - they have a b*d, insane Captain and they have to Mutiny. I waited this whole film for Archie to be shot, and he wasn't. It was such drama - Steph and I couldn't watch, it seemed to last forever. It was tense and sob-worthy, and totally gripping. With mild outbursts of Hornblower humour, like Horatio showering on deck. The looks Archie shot him - my life! Such loyalty, such friendship, such slashiness. Steph and I lament the lack of hattery that has been present in all other films.
'Retribution' - the reason I'm still teary over this damn program. Archie was shot and Archie took the blame for the mutiny and Archie died so that Horatio didn't have to. And the goodbye scene broke my heart, and he actually died onscreen, and I'm desperately trying to rewrite it in my head, cos it must be done, it must.
So frustrated, what a terrible (but slashy) end to Horatio/Archie. And still two more films to go, sans Archie, and with a love for Horatio. I don't know if I can cope - but, if I am to write Alive!Archie fic, I must know what happens to Horatio. The dilemma.