Here comes a story obstacle now!
Not-so-quick thoughts on Thursday Night Thunder and Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay:
Why are Troy and Dean Pelton suddenly my favorite characters? In fact, my entire ranking for favorite characters turned upside down this season. Loved Annie in season one and now I am not... interested in her story anymore? Meanwhile, Troy, Dean and Pierce have grown on me all season. Anyway, the birth. Laughed at Britta going under Shirley's skirt and being horrified. She tries so hard. It's grating, a little pathetic, but also funny. I like the Chang/Shirley moments. They made Chang even more of a nutjob this season but he genuinely cares about these people. He is normal and has a normal person's feelings. It was nice to see that here.
I was okay with Ben/Leslie this week. I'm not sold on them but they are pretty cute. A little too cute if you ask me, which is why I've been resisting this ship for so long. Look, in real life, I would definitely be rooting for a couple like Ben and Leslie. They're obviously perfect for each other. But I'm not too interested in watching their courtship play out on television. It helps that things are actually moving forward now. I would probably like them better once they get together.
Other than my indifference to Ben/Leslie, I thought it was a solid episode. They handled the censorship issue just right and it gave us another interesting glimpse into the Pawnee community.
I also enjoyed the Ben/Andy/April plot. (Ah. That's probably what endeared Ben to me this week and why I was okay with him and Leslie.) I thought April was being really bratty until she explained why she didn't want to do those adult things. Then I just wanted to high-five her because that is exactly how I feel sometimes.
This week's 30 Rock was crazy absurd. I want to say it was a lazy way to write off Avery but it was actually pretty darn creative. What's lazy is that the writers didn't explore Jack's feelings about this seriously. (I may be proven wrong in future episodes.) It's a fitting way to end Jack and Avery, I guess. Jack has just as much say about the end of their relationship as he did about its beginning. That is to say, none. Both moments should have crushed Jack, but he just... goes on with his life? I don't get it. I don't get it when Jack doesn't put up a fight. He could've put in more effort into the whole rescue mission. I mean, right? Well, anyway, I hope the writers show us how Jack deals with this because it's a pretty big deal to 1) lose your wife and 2) raise a child alone.
How cute was Liz in this episode, though? I like it when Liz is optimistic only to have things not go her way in the end. It doesn't get more real than that. It's nice to know that Liz still has some fight in her and some desire to improve her life in a way that doesn't involve men or babies. I'd like to see a little more of this next season please.
I also read Mockingjay this weekend. Probably my least favorite of the three because for one thing, there's too much Gale. I don't hate him but I'm so used to not caring about him. Second, this book lacks the tension and fear that the Hunger Games and run-ins with Snow provided in the previous two books - that feeling you get that there's no safe place for Katniss. I also missed the added stress on Katniss to fake it for the cameras. Those parts are usually funny but also crucial to understanding what goes on in Katniss' head. There's some of it in Mockingjay, which was a welcome break from the depressing shit that goes down in the rest of the book. Do not read this book if you are nearing your period. This book plus hormones is not a good idea. So many deaths. So much ugly-face crying.
On the other hand, this book also sealed the deal for me on Haymitch/Katniss. Not as a romantic couple, duh (although you could go there if you like - there are certainly enough moments in the trilogy for that), but an amazing friendship. They just get each other so well because they are the same person. That scene at the end with Coin and the other victors felt contrived actually, because Suzanne Collins didn't have to say it outright. She's already made it clear how alike they are and how much they trust each other. And their interaction is the best, okay. It's like a nice mix of Ron/April and Jack/Liz. Easily my favorite part of Mockingjay.
Overall, it was a satisfying end to the series. Maybe not as exciting as the previous two but no less horrifying. You care so much about the characters at this point that you just want to know if they'll pull through. And your affection for these people comes mostly from having Katniss' POV throughout the series. While she may be dense when it comes to romance, she is an excellent judge of character because she will have none of your bullshit, thank you very much. This series would not have worked as well without such a great heroine. Job well done, Collins.
Why are Troy and Dean Pelton suddenly my favorite characters? In fact, my entire ranking for favorite characters turned upside down this season. Loved Annie in season one and now I am not... interested in her story anymore? Meanwhile, Troy, Dean and Pierce have grown on me all season. Anyway, the birth. Laughed at Britta going under Shirley's skirt and being horrified. She tries so hard. It's grating, a little pathetic, but also funny. I like the Chang/Shirley moments. They made Chang even more of a nutjob this season but he genuinely cares about these people. He is normal and has a normal person's feelings. It was nice to see that here.
I was okay with Ben/Leslie this week. I'm not sold on them but they are pretty cute. A little too cute if you ask me, which is why I've been resisting this ship for so long. Look, in real life, I would definitely be rooting for a couple like Ben and Leslie. They're obviously perfect for each other. But I'm not too interested in watching their courtship play out on television. It helps that things are actually moving forward now. I would probably like them better once they get together.
Other than my indifference to Ben/Leslie, I thought it was a solid episode. They handled the censorship issue just right and it gave us another interesting glimpse into the Pawnee community.
I also enjoyed the Ben/Andy/April plot. (Ah. That's probably what endeared Ben to me this week and why I was okay with him and Leslie.) I thought April was being really bratty until she explained why she didn't want to do those adult things. Then I just wanted to high-five her because that is exactly how I feel sometimes.
This week's 30 Rock was crazy absurd. I want to say it was a lazy way to write off Avery but it was actually pretty darn creative. What's lazy is that the writers didn't explore Jack's feelings about this seriously. (I may be proven wrong in future episodes.) It's a fitting way to end Jack and Avery, I guess. Jack has just as much say about the end of their relationship as he did about its beginning. That is to say, none. Both moments should have crushed Jack, but he just... goes on with his life? I don't get it. I don't get it when Jack doesn't put up a fight. He could've put in more effort into the whole rescue mission. I mean, right? Well, anyway, I hope the writers show us how Jack deals with this because it's a pretty big deal to 1) lose your wife and 2) raise a child alone.
How cute was Liz in this episode, though? I like it when Liz is optimistic only to have things not go her way in the end. It doesn't get more real than that. It's nice to know that Liz still has some fight in her and some desire to improve her life in a way that doesn't involve men or babies. I'd like to see a little more of this next season please.
I also read Mockingjay this weekend. Probably my least favorite of the three because for one thing, there's too much Gale. I don't hate him but I'm so used to not caring about him. Second, this book lacks the tension and fear that the Hunger Games and run-ins with Snow provided in the previous two books - that feeling you get that there's no safe place for Katniss. I also missed the added stress on Katniss to fake it for the cameras. Those parts are usually funny but also crucial to understanding what goes on in Katniss' head. There's some of it in Mockingjay, which was a welcome break from the depressing shit that goes down in the rest of the book. Do not read this book if you are nearing your period. This book plus hormones is not a good idea. So many deaths. So much ugly-face crying.
On the other hand, this book also sealed the deal for me on Haymitch/Katniss. Not as a romantic couple, duh (although you could go there if you like - there are certainly enough moments in the trilogy for that), but an amazing friendship. They just get each other so well because they are the same person. That scene at the end with Coin and the other victors felt contrived actually, because Suzanne Collins didn't have to say it outright. She's already made it clear how alike they are and how much they trust each other. And their interaction is the best, okay. It's like a nice mix of Ron/April and Jack/Liz. Easily my favorite part of Mockingjay.
Overall, it was a satisfying end to the series. Maybe not as exciting as the previous two but no less horrifying. You care so much about the characters at this point that you just want to know if they'll pull through. And your affection for these people comes mostly from having Katniss' POV throughout the series. While she may be dense when it comes to romance, she is an excellent judge of character because she will have none of your bullshit, thank you very much. This series would not have worked as well without such a great heroine. Job well done, Collins.