Lightning Field by bradcpu, commentary by such heights

[such_heights]

Title: Lightning Field
Vidder: bradcpu
Fandom: Legend of the Seeker
Link: http://bradcpu.livejournal.com/106629.html

Commentary By: such_heights

Comments

[bradcpu]

Blooming flowers and happiness abound! Briefly, at least: the reintroduction of the stormy sky from the opening of the vid at 2:08 reminds us that it's not exactly plain sailing
I wanted the lighting and weather to follow Kahlan's emotions and, specifically, her approval and disapproval of Cara's actions.... as though Kahlan was sort of defining Cara's world. There's a lot of really heavily contextual stuff in there - Cara urging Kahlan to kill the girl who confessed Richard (and Kahlan stopping her with a glare); Kahlan grabbing Cara by the arm and telling her not to be afraid to open her heart and love; and of course the talk with Denna that was the cornerstone for the whole segment.

then we see that desire to defend and protect her play out physically at 2:22 as she pushes Kahlan out of the path of an arrow
So glad that came through! This whole chorus was about Cara giving all of herself and sacrificing everything she has (including Leo) to protect Kahlan.

The sequence at 2:44 with the Richard/Kahlan shots juxtaposed with Cara turning her head away is totally heartbreaking in its simplicity. (CARA! ;_;)
Thank you so much. Seriously. THIS is what I wanted to express, more than anything, with the vid.

We see her full of remorse and regrets - being confronted with Kahlan's sister brought back to life and struggling to kill in order to remain alive as a Baneling
I don't think any of that would have really hurt her, in that way, before Kahlan's love (THERE! I said it!) opened her up to feelings again and helped her rediscover her humanity.

We see Kahlan the way Cara does - beautiful and somehow untouchable - and the shot of Kahlan killing her (from one of the show's many AU episodes) rams home just how much this hurts for Cara
OH CARA!! I'm back to that again. She's just such a beautifully poetic train wreck of angst. *sigh* Why won't you love her, Kahlan?!? :( ... Ok, I'm done. Getting a bit too into it now. :P

This was just a joy to read. Thank you so much for doing it.

[such_heights]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply, it's very cool to get more of an insight!

It actually reminded me a lot of the Faith/Buffy scene at the end of Revelations, though with the relationship turning in the opposite direction. I often got the sense that Cara/Kahlan is what Faith/Buffy *would* have been, if Faith had stuck around for the entire series.

Yes yes, agree! The parallels in the dynamics are quite striking in places, and also a lot of fun.

I don't think any of that would have really hurt her, in that way, before Kahlan's love (THERE! I said it!) opened her up to feelings again and helped her rediscover her humanity.

OH THE ANGST. But I really like what you articulate here about the downsides Cara suffers by developing her sense of empathy and compassion again - in some ways, it's really not helpful given the kinds of situations they find themselves in on the show.

Much to chew on! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I'm very glad and relieved you enjoyed the commentary and that it at least somewhat lined up to the way you see the vid.