Give Me A Second I Need To Get My Stories Straight
Oh, it's Friday. And you know what? I feel like doing a long and rambly post, so that's what I'm going to do...
I want to talk about Game of Thrones, Spartacus, True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, not necessarily in that order. In fact, this is probably going to go back and forth and not make a whole lot of sesne. TGIF. Let's get started.
So, earlier this week, we got the sad news that Spartacus: War of the Damned is going to be the show's final season. I'm sad, but I bet this has something to do with Steven DeKnight wanting to really be able to blow a huge budget and do things on a grand scale. And the way that this show has worked, the first season covered about three years, so the time constraint doesn't bother me so much. I really hated that article that I linked to the other day, that some group of fans were blaming the end of the show on Liam McIntyre not filling Andy Whitfield's boots. I mean, stay classy, fandom. How insensitive can you be? Truth is, I've never seen anything like that online, so I don't know if the publication is trying to stir up some kind of trouble (or why they would) but it seems like the Spartacus fandom has rallied around Liam. (And I think they're trying to get #weloveliamjmcintyre to trend on Twitter, if that's your thing).
But, like...and here's where I'm a child. Another reason that I'm sad it's all ending so soon is that it's probably not going to be able to make any kind of huge cultural impact. Mostly, I'm childish and I just want more people to love what I love, okay? I see a lot of GoT comparisons, and while I *like* GoT, I just see everything that they get attention and praise for, and Spartacus does it all so much better.
I know that these are all VITALLY IMPORTANT things that I should really be spending my time worrying about. But I've just decided that I'm going to be as immature as possible in the remaining 42 days of my 20's...
Okay, so beyond all that, I've spent the past few weeks doing a full series rewatch of The Vampire Diaries (and I think I'm more or less totally back on board with that show) and I'm constantly being reminded that True Blood is coming back. While I really love both of these shows, I do think it's kind of crazy that one gets all sorts of press and attention and the other one is just shuffled away as teen dribble (but that's just what happens when you have HBO going up against the CW.)
Anyway...
Oh, the PUNS.
So...first of all, the writers did actually a pretty good job of dropping hints all throughout this season (which, now that I've seen it in its entirety, I think it was pretty strong) that Elena was going to die. They started it all off with her last birthday, and I remember thinking her lacy white dress (while very pretty) was kind of an odd choice, because I remember even then thinking that it looked like a Christening or Communion dress. Caroline's birthday/wake, followed up by Elena and Matt on the bridge, saying goodbye to the girl she used to be (I cannot get over how sweet Zach Roerig is). At first, I was, like, heartbroken when Elena was turned. Because she never wanted it, she wanted to live, and grow old and have a family one day and she would have been so, so good at all those things (she's so good at life in general). And I do honestly believe that 'heartbroken' is the reaction that JP/KW/et al were going for.
But then I started thinking, about the mythology of this show and these vampires is that the strongest part of their personality gets heightened when they become a vampire, and then I think of Elena- compassionate, selfless, with the inability to ever give up on *anyone* she cares about. She's going to be a pretty incredible vampire. I'm not saying that it's going to boost her into sainthood, and I'm sure there is going to be a rough patch, especially at first, but one of the best things about her is that she is, perhaps, out of all them, the one who allows herself to feel and live the most. I am pretty excited to see how it goes. But the one thing I DON'T want is Katherine Lite. I know that this is unpopular (but what else is new), but I don't really have much use for Katherine. I think that Nina does a good job in the dual roles, and you can tell that she has fun when she gets to dig out the curling iron, but I just find Katherine to be kind of 'evilly boring', if you know what I mean. I've really never been able to see what makes her tick, or that she has any motivation beyond seeing her next sunset. That might be intriguing for some people, but it hasn't really worked for me. (Although, I will say that if she and Damon would just choose each other, it would solve a lot of my problems, but I'm not there yet.)
And then there's this (pay particular attention to Paul's segment)...
I know, right? So first of all, this might be him completely talking out of his ass, or maybe he's in HUGE trouble with Julie Plec, but let's take what he said at face value. I will say, that if a whisper of an idea that vampires can become human (reverse the curse, if you will)...they will find a way. And that's kind of an awesome angle that they can frame the rest of the series around, because there's any direction it could go to. I imagine it will involve some off-the-wall scavenger hunt (moonstones! white oak stakes! crystals!) and definitely some crazy magic (Bonnie...more on her later), and maybe there will be some sort of time constraint, like vampires can only be changed during this celestial event, or maybe only one per year, or something, or there will have to be some sort of human sacrifice or SOMETHING. Point is, there's a thousand ways it could go, and I'm excited to see it.
All right, everything I'm going to say from here on out (like everything else in my journal, but I just want to make it super clear) is MY OPINION ONLY.
Okay, let me get into the triangle, which now that I've watched the whole story (so far), I'm really appreciating the way it's written. If we're picking sides, I'm still firmly on the side of E/S. On a shallow level, Paul Wesley just does it for me in a way that Ian Somerhalder does not (and I'm not just talking about comparing six-packs here, but as an actor, as the subjective 'chemistry' he has with Nina, just the whole package). Damon, as a character, is just not appealing to me, or he's at least always second to Stefan. Stefan's 'goodness' seems more genuine, and his darkness goes deeper. Damon is just always middling, compared to him.
That's why I take such issue with Rose's pronouncement to Jeremy that Stefan 'will always be good for her' but Damon 'is either the best or worst thing'. Throughout season 3, where D/E was really being given its first run of a relationship storyline, I really didn't see Elena falling for Damon so much as I saw him wearing her down when she desperately needed to be comforted. I'm not saying he was taking advantage, totally- he was a very good friend to her, and in a weird way, he (and Caroline!) is like, the Captain of Team Stelena. (There's a self-loathing there, that always seems to want to push her back to Stefan.)
I don't know what else to say, I will go down with this ship.
In other areas of the show, I just don't know how I feel about the Mikaelssons. Like, on the one hand, it's the kind of story that I really like, of complicated family relationships and the several siblings, but it's like, literally a whole other show. I heard that someone was trying to pitch an Originals spin-off, and you know what, I might watch it, because I do think that they both need their space. And spin-offs that are so closely related like these two would be, there's always the chance for exciting crossovers that are a treat at that point to see all the characters interacting.
Okay, here's comes the TB comparisons, so let's take Klaus and Eric, our two resident 1000-year-old Vikings (I'll get to Elijah later). Like, I do realize that being faithful to Nordic culture and history isn't really the *point* of either of these shows, but in this instance, I really have to hand it to TB. Forget that they futzed with Vikings settling in the New World, the Mikaelssons act like they are straight out of Downton Abbey, where I really do get the feeling from Eric that he fought with a sword and acted like a Viking prince savage. Also, that Klaus is, like, the very WORST vampire of all time, but so much of his story this year was about Mommy and Daddy issues and then he's presented (somewhat seriously?) as a viable love interest for everyone's favorite Supergirl Vampire Barbie. Also, there's Rebekah, who I actually grew to love in my second viewing of this season. (And knowing that Claire Holt is from Brisbane has me shipping her with Dan Feuerriegel, for no other reason.) But some things just do not work for her as a character. I get that for vampires, part of them stays the same age that they were when they were turned, but there needs to be a balance of this being older than old. She had lived for a thousand years (daggered on and off, granted) but all I ever got from her was sixteen-year-old who needed to be scolded and then hugged by a parent. (And I get that they were probably trying to make Elena parallels there.) Elijah is the only one who I felt had really seen the world, and watched it change over a millenium. Also, it's still kind of hard for me to swallow vampires 'only' being 1000 years old. I don't know, I guess I'm just much more used to the Buffy 'beginning of time' mythology.
Anyway, let's talk about some humans...
So, my two very favorite characters on this show? Bonnie and Matt. They are so the two quiet, unsung heroes of the group, who seem to really take care of *everything* when all is said and done (let's not forget, Matt was the first and only to really kill an Original), and they do it without a whole lot of fanfare, just because they love their friends and do what they can to help. I really, really want each of them to have real storylines this year. It's their turn. Caroline (who is awesome and I love her to bits) and Tyler (who I love but I forget about when he's not in my face) have pulled enough focus for two seasons. I want Matt to be able to find his place in the group, and for Bonnie to do something other than always saving everyone at the eleventh hour with a spell that has seemed impossible all episode, only for her to do it perfectly in the last act. Also (hey, this is me you're talking to) I really want them both to have wonderful love stories with someone who will put them first. I hesitate to say 'with each other', because I feel like that will only marginalize them, and they need to spread their awesomeness around to the rest of the cast. But with anyone, really, because one of the greatest strengths of this show is the liquid chemistry the whole cast shares (though Zach and Kat really kick it out of the park for me, whenever they share scenes with somebody new).
I will say, to go back to the triangle, for one quick second (and because this is going to be the fandom of my heart this summer, even if it's completely irrelevant to everyone but me and one other person), that it's really helping and affecting me as I explore Ethan/Kristina/Johnny. This kind of changes from day to day but I basically see Ethan=Stefan and Johnny=Damon (though J/K works for me in several sexy ways, oh yes it does).
<<<333
I want to talk about Game of Thrones, Spartacus, True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, not necessarily in that order. In fact, this is probably going to go back and forth and not make a whole lot of sesne. TGIF. Let's get started.
So, earlier this week, we got the sad news that Spartacus: War of the Damned is going to be the show's final season. I'm sad, but I bet this has something to do with Steven DeKnight wanting to really be able to blow a huge budget and do things on a grand scale. And the way that this show has worked, the first season covered about three years, so the time constraint doesn't bother me so much. I really hated that article that I linked to the other day, that some group of fans were blaming the end of the show on Liam McIntyre not filling Andy Whitfield's boots. I mean, stay classy, fandom. How insensitive can you be? Truth is, I've never seen anything like that online, so I don't know if the publication is trying to stir up some kind of trouble (or why they would) but it seems like the Spartacus fandom has rallied around Liam. (And I think they're trying to get #weloveliamjmcintyre to trend on Twitter, if that's your thing).
But, like...and here's where I'm a child. Another reason that I'm sad it's all ending so soon is that it's probably not going to be able to make any kind of huge cultural impact. Mostly, I'm childish and I just want more people to love what I love, okay? I see a lot of GoT comparisons, and while I *like* GoT, I just see everything that they get attention and praise for, and Spartacus does it all so much better.
I know that these are all VITALLY IMPORTANT things that I should really be spending my time worrying about. But I've just decided that I'm going to be as immature as possible in the remaining 42 days of my 20's...
Okay, so beyond all that, I've spent the past few weeks doing a full series rewatch of The Vampire Diaries (and I think I'm more or less totally back on board with that show) and I'm constantly being reminded that True Blood is coming back. While I really love both of these shows, I do think it's kind of crazy that one gets all sorts of press and attention and the other one is just shuffled away as teen dribble (but that's just what happens when you have HBO going up against the CW.)
Anyway...
Oh, the PUNS.
So...first of all, the writers did actually a pretty good job of dropping hints all throughout this season (which, now that I've seen it in its entirety, I think it was pretty strong) that Elena was going to die. They started it all off with her last birthday, and I remember thinking her lacy white dress (while very pretty) was kind of an odd choice, because I remember even then thinking that it looked like a Christening or Communion dress. Caroline's birthday/wake, followed up by Elena and Matt on the bridge, saying goodbye to the girl she used to be (I cannot get over how sweet Zach Roerig is). At first, I was, like, heartbroken when Elena was turned. Because she never wanted it, she wanted to live, and grow old and have a family one day and she would have been so, so good at all those things (she's so good at life in general). And I do honestly believe that 'heartbroken' is the reaction that JP/KW/et al were going for.
But then I started thinking, about the mythology of this show and these vampires is that the strongest part of their personality gets heightened when they become a vampire, and then I think of Elena- compassionate, selfless, with the inability to ever give up on *anyone* she cares about. She's going to be a pretty incredible vampire. I'm not saying that it's going to boost her into sainthood, and I'm sure there is going to be a rough patch, especially at first, but one of the best things about her is that she is, perhaps, out of all them, the one who allows herself to feel and live the most. I am pretty excited to see how it goes. But the one thing I DON'T want is Katherine Lite. I know that this is unpopular (but what else is new), but I don't really have much use for Katherine. I think that Nina does a good job in the dual roles, and you can tell that she has fun when she gets to dig out the curling iron, but I just find Katherine to be kind of 'evilly boring', if you know what I mean. I've really never been able to see what makes her tick, or that she has any motivation beyond seeing her next sunset. That might be intriguing for some people, but it hasn't really worked for me. (Although, I will say that if she and Damon would just choose each other, it would solve a lot of my problems, but I'm not there yet.)
And then there's this (pay particular attention to Paul's segment)...
Click to viewI know, right? So first of all, this might be him completely talking out of his ass, or maybe he's in HUGE trouble with Julie Plec, but let's take what he said at face value. I will say, that if a whisper of an idea that vampires can become human (reverse the curse, if you will)...they will find a way. And that's kind of an awesome angle that they can frame the rest of the series around, because there's any direction it could go to. I imagine it will involve some off-the-wall scavenger hunt (moonstones! white oak stakes! crystals!) and definitely some crazy magic (Bonnie...more on her later), and maybe there will be some sort of time constraint, like vampires can only be changed during this celestial event, or maybe only one per year, or something, or there will have to be some sort of human sacrifice or SOMETHING. Point is, there's a thousand ways it could go, and I'm excited to see it.
All right, everything I'm going to say from here on out (like everything else in my journal, but I just want to make it super clear) is MY OPINION ONLY.
Okay, let me get into the triangle, which now that I've watched the whole story (so far), I'm really appreciating the way it's written. If we're picking sides, I'm still firmly on the side of E/S. On a shallow level, Paul Wesley just does it for me in a way that Ian Somerhalder does not (and I'm not just talking about comparing six-packs here, but as an actor, as the subjective 'chemistry' he has with Nina, just the whole package). Damon, as a character, is just not appealing to me, or he's at least always second to Stefan. Stefan's 'goodness' seems more genuine, and his darkness goes deeper. Damon is just always middling, compared to him.
That's why I take such issue with Rose's pronouncement to Jeremy that Stefan 'will always be good for her' but Damon 'is either the best or worst thing'. Throughout season 3, where D/E was really being given its first run of a relationship storyline, I really didn't see Elena falling for Damon so much as I saw him wearing her down when she desperately needed to be comforted. I'm not saying he was taking advantage, totally- he was a very good friend to her, and in a weird way, he (and Caroline!) is like, the Captain of Team Stelena. (There's a self-loathing there, that always seems to want to push her back to Stefan.)
I don't know what else to say, I will go down with this ship.
In other areas of the show, I just don't know how I feel about the Mikaelssons. Like, on the one hand, it's the kind of story that I really like, of complicated family relationships and the several siblings, but it's like, literally a whole other show. I heard that someone was trying to pitch an Originals spin-off, and you know what, I might watch it, because I do think that they both need their space. And spin-offs that are so closely related like these two would be, there's always the chance for exciting crossovers that are a treat at that point to see all the characters interacting.
Okay, here's comes the TB comparisons, so let's take Klaus and Eric, our two resident 1000-year-old Vikings (I'll get to Elijah later). Like, I do realize that being faithful to Nordic culture and history isn't really the *point* of either of these shows, but in this instance, I really have to hand it to TB. Forget that they futzed with Vikings settling in the New World, the Mikaelssons act like they are straight out of Downton Abbey, where I really do get the feeling from Eric that he fought with a sword and acted like a Viking prince savage. Also, that Klaus is, like, the very WORST vampire of all time, but so much of his story this year was about Mommy and Daddy issues and then he's presented (somewhat seriously?) as a viable love interest for everyone's favorite Supergirl Vampire Barbie. Also, there's Rebekah, who I actually grew to love in my second viewing of this season. (And knowing that Claire Holt is from Brisbane has me shipping her with Dan Feuerriegel, for no other reason.) But some things just do not work for her as a character. I get that for vampires, part of them stays the same age that they were when they were turned, but there needs to be a balance of this being older than old. She had lived for a thousand years (daggered on and off, granted) but all I ever got from her was sixteen-year-old who needed to be scolded and then hugged by a parent. (And I get that they were probably trying to make Elena parallels there.) Elijah is the only one who I felt had really seen the world, and watched it change over a millenium. Also, it's still kind of hard for me to swallow vampires 'only' being 1000 years old. I don't know, I guess I'm just much more used to the Buffy 'beginning of time' mythology.
Anyway, let's talk about some humans...
So, my two very favorite characters on this show? Bonnie and Matt. They are so the two quiet, unsung heroes of the group, who seem to really take care of *everything* when all is said and done (let's not forget, Matt was the first and only to really kill an Original), and they do it without a whole lot of fanfare, just because they love their friends and do what they can to help. I really, really want each of them to have real storylines this year. It's their turn. Caroline (who is awesome and I love her to bits) and Tyler (who I love but I forget about when he's not in my face) have pulled enough focus for two seasons. I want Matt to be able to find his place in the group, and for Bonnie to do something other than always saving everyone at the eleventh hour with a spell that has seemed impossible all episode, only for her to do it perfectly in the last act. Also (hey, this is me you're talking to) I really want them both to have wonderful love stories with someone who will put them first. I hesitate to say 'with each other', because I feel like that will only marginalize them, and they need to spread their awesomeness around to the rest of the cast. But with anyone, really, because one of the greatest strengths of this show is the liquid chemistry the whole cast shares (though Zach and Kat really kick it out of the park for me, whenever they share scenes with somebody new).
I will say, to go back to the triangle, for one quick second (and because this is going to be the fandom of my heart this summer, even if it's completely irrelevant to everyone but me and one other person), that it's really helping and affecting me as I explore Ethan/Kristina/Johnny. This kind of changes from day to day but I basically see Ethan=Stefan and Johnny=Damon (though J/K works for me in several sexy ways, oh yes it does).
<<<333