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Good Wife and Once impressions...
Quickly because I have to go to bed. First a few things to get off my chest so to speak, although I always think this goes without saying or at least if feels obvious to me...which is 1) in response to a question of what sort of things I am willing to do for six hours at a time to relax and meditate, that I constantly practice at - I said, I write. Often in a blog. No rules, or few. Under another name. Sometimes delete. I feel free when I do it. As if I can be fully myself...just let it go and when I go into the zone, I feel a sense of peace. I seriously doubt anyone else blogs that way. But there it is. 2) I'm not a specialist, I'm a generalist. I am interested in tons of things and know a lot about a variety, yet not enough to be an expert...for some I think this looks arrogant or disingenuous or dangerous, but I disagree - specialists scare me more - because they see themselves as experts, nothing left to learn, so stuck in one area, they don't look outside of it, they become in a way bureaucratic stuck inside their own cubicle, they never look outside the box or think outside of it or admit...they don't know. I prefer generalists, I was raised by generalists and taught by them - to question everything and that the wisest thing was to say I don't know and admit when I am horribly wrong. And more often than not, as you well know, I am. Being wrong is being human. I think we need to admit it more. Or I do. Admitting when I am wrong, even when it is bone-crushingly embarrassing and it often is. It gives me at least the gift of humility. Arrogance...leads to bullying.
Case in point tonight's The Good Wife proved me deadly wrong on an assumption I'd made about the age of Eli's daughter and who her mother was. LOL! Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
*Well, apparently Eli's daughter is about 15 or 16 if that. And he was married to Parker Posey for at least 15 or 16 years if not more. And the daughter is definitely Parker Posey's. I completely misread those scenes or misheard them. Or they weren't that well written? I'm willing to take the blame though. (Another thing I am horribly good at.)
*Even though I saw it coming from a mile away, I squeed with joy that Eli's daughter and Alicia's son hit it off. They set that up really well - with Eli having computer problems and Alicia getting her son to help, after his daughter failed to be useful.
By the way the most hilarious scene in tonight's episode was Peter's mother trying to nose around in Alicia's lap-top computer - but unable to figure out how to turn the bloody thing on. LOL! I roared with laughter. It was a funny episode in places. The other hilarious scene was Peter's Mom greeting Grace's tutor at the door and the tutor is wearing bizarre makeup and a really out there outfit...her face is painted green and white. Meanwhile her grandson is showing Eli's kid computer skills. The whole family bit was hilarious. No one does kids and family better than the Good Wife.
*The bit with Alicia visiting the death row inmate and struggling with doing it because he has no remorse for killing and raping those girls - felt very deja vue.
Meeting someone who has killed people for their own personal amusement or gain, changes you. You are bascially looking evil in the face. It's not the same as watching a tv show. No where near it. I did it in 1992. I was working in Kansas Defender Project at the time. My job was to visit Leavenworth Penitentary and counsel clients looking for appeals, probation, etc. One of my clients was a hitman who killed people for a major east coast drug cartel - which ran from South Carolina to NY. He hailed from NY, but had killed over 20 people in South Carolina for the cartel and for money. He did it for heroine. (This by the way is one of the many reasons I can't watch and hate, really hate, the show Breaking Bad. I know that sounds self-righteous, but there it is.) My job was to read all of his trail transcripts, meet with him several times in what looked like an airport lounge, our knees touching. On the other side of me were convicted rapists from Florida. No bullet proof plastic between. I knew he'd done these things. He did not deny it. What I was there for - was he wanted to appeal his life imprisonment on the basis of ineffectiveness of counsel - so I thoroughly researched it and managed to get him his trail transcripts, read through them with a fine tooth comb, spoke with both counsels, one was ineffective, but he had a co-counsel who was not. The co-counsel knew his stuff - and was rather good. So no case. Visiting that man...was hard, even though I did it with a friend and not alone the first time. When you meet someone who has killed another person, more than one person and look in their eyes, you realize the world is not a simple place. There is no black and white, or definitive lines, and it well shakes you. I don't think television knows how to convey that experience. Although I thought the scene with Alicia came close. And Julianne Marguiles continues to rock in this role.
*I rather like the understated Carey/Kalinda romance. And loved Kalinda and Dana. Actually preferred Kalinda and Dana to Kalinda and the other female investigator. Because for once Kalinda couldn't seduce the person she was working with. Also Dana is an interesting character. Good Wife has the best female characters.
*Eli...oh Eli, Alan Cummings is comic gold. How much I missed him last week. His case with the politician who had drunkenly fellated the statue of Santa Clause as a prank eventually revealed the real problem at the heart of the case - the guy is an alcoholic who needs help. And is running for State Senate against Eli's ex-wife. Apparently she ignored her ex-hubby's advice and is running anyway.
*Diane is so on-to Will and Alicia. She's watching them like a hawk. She likes Alicia.
But this is not good. Also Lockhardt/Gardner is being investigated - Gardner's involvement with a judge. I vaguely remember that one. He was playing Basketball with the guy, the guy who bought into Lockhardt/Gardner had set Will up with that judge, the judge decided to continue to make Will's life miserable, Kalinda found something, and the prosecution got rid of the Judge, not Will. Because if Will did, he'd screw up what was going on with the new partner and the firm. It was complicated and my memory is admittedly hazy on it. I don't rewatch these episodes, only see them once and I've been known to confuse people and things. But the show is doing a good job of referring to past episodes.
*At the end of the show - Kalinda comes to Will - because she's figured out from Dana that the DA's office is investigating Will. And Kalinda knows it is Peter. So she offers Will her help. Kalinda hates Peter for the loss of Alicia. She blames him for the loss of her friendship. And is rooting for Will/Alicia. And she guesses, correctly, the Peter is possibly behind it. (He is and he isn't...)
*Will asks Alicia if Peter knows anything about them. Alicia says that he doesn't know they are doing anything, or anything more than he did before. A sort of circumspect way of saying - well he's assumed from the beginning that we're involved.
He doesn't know that we are.
*Carey covers Kalinda's body with his own during the gun fight. God, Carey is growing on me. Outside of Eli, Carey is the only guy in this show that I like. I'm half in love with Eli and Carey. (While I find Will and Peter incredibly interesting characters and like them, they make my skin crawl in the romantic sense for different reasons...of the two? I prefer Peter, he's more straight forward. Will...there's something about Will that is, I can't put my finger on it exactly.)
* Lots of things building in this episode, lots of funny moments. Loved it. Love this show.
Once Upon a Time - my second favorite show. My favorite shows are right now: Good Wife, Once Upne a Time, Vamp Diaries, and Revenge. (currently airing - Game of Thrones is in there somewhere as well of course).
My only problem with Once is the male guest-stars could be better. CinderELLA's prince charming is no Dougray Scott, just saying. I liked the actress who played Ella/Ashley though. And I adore Rumplestilskin/Mr. Gold. Robert Carlyle's Gold is almost as good as Alan Cummings Eli Gould.
Of course, I love Rumplestilskin - he's a trickster character and I adore tricksters, you can't quite predict what they will do next. Also a character that makes things happen, a catalyste character - a character type that I am exceedingly fond of. Jimmy McNulty, Omar, Spike, Rumplestilskin. They aren't either good or evil, they tend to be ambiguous ...and often shake things up. They bring about change. Helps that Rumple is portrayed by the fabulous Robert Carlyle - who was the star of The Full Monty and various independent British flicks, before popping up as the star of Star-Gate Universe (which I tried to watch, but most military based sci-fi adventure bores me. I can't watch it.)
* They sort of combined the Rumplestilskin story with the Cinderella tale. And to great effect. Underlining the recurring theme that reliance on magic is not a good idea, it always comes with a hefty price. Emma Swan in the real world, or alternate world, is constantly the voice of reason. She tells Ashley/cinderELLA that there are no fairy godmothers, if she wants to change her life she has to do the hard work and do it herself. In other words, there's no easy way - or wave of a magic wand. Rumplestilskin in the fairy tale world more or less says the same thing - but she doesn't listen - "if you hate your life find a way to change it, don't rely on magic it always has a price."
* Hee, they channeled True Blood. Ella to Rumple - you just killed my fairy godmother, right before she was to change my life! Rumpel to Ella - I did you a favor, she would have done it for a price - her magic was evil. And I'll help you too, but also for a price. Her first born child. When she tries to get out of it - he tells her the same thing - there will be a price and there is - she loses her husband. She either gets the child or the husband.
I like this - because in fairy tales - often it is children that are the price paid for magic. A symbol of innocence lost. Too often when people re-tell fairy tales they focus on sexual awakening or sexual fears...but they ignore the other tropes, which are just as interesting and important.
Also in the real world the metaphor is well...her boyfriend, the guy who got her pregnant takes off, his father arranges the deal with Mr. Gold. Mr. Gold will give the child to a good family. Much as he did with Emma Swan's child. It's a barter or trade. Gold owns the pawn shop and Ashely signed her child away via her boyfriend's father. In the real world - men aren't that nice, or necessarily there for you, they abandon you, while in fairy tales - they are princes.
*Emma is a kick-ass heroine. And I adore her team-up with the erstwhile Henry who keeps taking off and tagging along. She keeps trying to get him to go home, but he refuses. Regina, you dope, you really think the kid is going to stay home if you tell him too? Considering you are the rich and powerful mayor, I'd think you could afford a baby-sitter for the kid. I mean seriously, you are leaving a ten year old kid all alone in a huge house - after he has successfully run away from home twice, taken off into the woods twice, and keeps tagging along with people you want him to stay away from? For someone who has a lot of power and control...Regina has gotten a bit cocky and arrogant. She also seems to forget, no magic in this new world. Little kid can take off without you realizing it.
*Regina is apparently having an affair with the Sheriff, who has a major crush on Emma and has asked her to be his deputy. Hee. Regina keeps trying to get Emma to leave town. Meanwhile Mr. Gold and the Sheriff and Mary Blanchard have gone out of their way to help her find a reason to stay. Henry has figured out that Emma is the only one who can leave Storybrook and never come back, she's outside of the curse, not trapped by it. She can do whatever she wants and is not held by any of the deals or rules of magic or the fairy tale kingdom. In short, Emma has free will and has a conveyor of free will - she has the ability to give it to others. Oh, you could have a field day with this show regarding free will and predetermination arguments.
This show is filled to the brim with metaphorical goodies. Haven't found a show like that since Buffy. Plus a heavy feminist theme. Yay! Lost had it to a degree, but is was so male centric, chauvinistic, sexist, racist, and violent, that I didn't want to go that far into the analysis...
Anyhow...I find it amusing that Regina's lover has given Emma a job.
*I loved this exchange:
Henry: You agreed to work for him, do you know who he is?
Emma: Of course.
Henry: Really? Who? Because I can't quite figure it out...
Emma: What? No, I mean in the real world, not in the fairy tale one...
Henry: Oh.
LOL!
He basically is the same thing in both. A deal maker. He likes Emma because like himself, Emma is chaos. She brings change. Breaks spells and shakes up the power balance. And he can make deals with her. Unlike Regina, Rumple's motives are far less clear. And much like the fairy tales...none of the characters are quite sure who or what he is. But he is the only one who understands the price of magic and treats it with the respect it is do.
*Emma makes a deal with Rumple - to "owe him a favor" but she asks what he wants first, "just to owe me a favor"- he states. And she agrees. And this frees Ashley and Scean (Ella and Tom) from their bargain with Rumple. They are free to be happy.
Interesting that the fairy tale characters names change in the real world. Well everyone but Emma's, Emma's name is the same in both.
Off to bed.
I really love these shows. They aren't perfect. But they make me happy. Play with my head in a good way. Don't leave a bad taste in my mouth and aren't negative. Aren't gross or violent or skeevy or offend me. What more can I ask?
Case in point tonight's The Good Wife proved me deadly wrong on an assumption I'd made about the age of Eli's daughter and who her mother was. LOL! Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
*Well, apparently Eli's daughter is about 15 or 16 if that. And he was married to Parker Posey for at least 15 or 16 years if not more. And the daughter is definitely Parker Posey's. I completely misread those scenes or misheard them. Or they weren't that well written? I'm willing to take the blame though. (Another thing I am horribly good at.)
*Even though I saw it coming from a mile away, I squeed with joy that Eli's daughter and Alicia's son hit it off. They set that up really well - with Eli having computer problems and Alicia getting her son to help, after his daughter failed to be useful.
By the way the most hilarious scene in tonight's episode was Peter's mother trying to nose around in Alicia's lap-top computer - but unable to figure out how to turn the bloody thing on. LOL! I roared with laughter. It was a funny episode in places. The other hilarious scene was Peter's Mom greeting Grace's tutor at the door and the tutor is wearing bizarre makeup and a really out there outfit...her face is painted green and white. Meanwhile her grandson is showing Eli's kid computer skills. The whole family bit was hilarious. No one does kids and family better than the Good Wife.
*The bit with Alicia visiting the death row inmate and struggling with doing it because he has no remorse for killing and raping those girls - felt very deja vue.
Meeting someone who has killed people for their own personal amusement or gain, changes you. You are bascially looking evil in the face. It's not the same as watching a tv show. No where near it. I did it in 1992. I was working in Kansas Defender Project at the time. My job was to visit Leavenworth Penitentary and counsel clients looking for appeals, probation, etc. One of my clients was a hitman who killed people for a major east coast drug cartel - which ran from South Carolina to NY. He hailed from NY, but had killed over 20 people in South Carolina for the cartel and for money. He did it for heroine. (This by the way is one of the many reasons I can't watch and hate, really hate, the show Breaking Bad. I know that sounds self-righteous, but there it is.) My job was to read all of his trail transcripts, meet with him several times in what looked like an airport lounge, our knees touching. On the other side of me were convicted rapists from Florida. No bullet proof plastic between. I knew he'd done these things. He did not deny it. What I was there for - was he wanted to appeal his life imprisonment on the basis of ineffectiveness of counsel - so I thoroughly researched it and managed to get him his trail transcripts, read through them with a fine tooth comb, spoke with both counsels, one was ineffective, but he had a co-counsel who was not. The co-counsel knew his stuff - and was rather good. So no case. Visiting that man...was hard, even though I did it with a friend and not alone the first time. When you meet someone who has killed another person, more than one person and look in their eyes, you realize the world is not a simple place. There is no black and white, or definitive lines, and it well shakes you. I don't think television knows how to convey that experience. Although I thought the scene with Alicia came close. And Julianne Marguiles continues to rock in this role.
*I rather like the understated Carey/Kalinda romance. And loved Kalinda and Dana. Actually preferred Kalinda and Dana to Kalinda and the other female investigator. Because for once Kalinda couldn't seduce the person she was working with. Also Dana is an interesting character. Good Wife has the best female characters.
*Eli...oh Eli, Alan Cummings is comic gold. How much I missed him last week. His case with the politician who had drunkenly fellated the statue of Santa Clause as a prank eventually revealed the real problem at the heart of the case - the guy is an alcoholic who needs help. And is running for State Senate against Eli's ex-wife. Apparently she ignored her ex-hubby's advice and is running anyway.
*Diane is so on-to Will and Alicia. She's watching them like a hawk. She likes Alicia.
But this is not good. Also Lockhardt/Gardner is being investigated - Gardner's involvement with a judge. I vaguely remember that one. He was playing Basketball with the guy, the guy who bought into Lockhardt/Gardner had set Will up with that judge, the judge decided to continue to make Will's life miserable, Kalinda found something, and the prosecution got rid of the Judge, not Will. Because if Will did, he'd screw up what was going on with the new partner and the firm. It was complicated and my memory is admittedly hazy on it. I don't rewatch these episodes, only see them once and I've been known to confuse people and things. But the show is doing a good job of referring to past episodes.
*At the end of the show - Kalinda comes to Will - because she's figured out from Dana that the DA's office is investigating Will. And Kalinda knows it is Peter. So she offers Will her help. Kalinda hates Peter for the loss of Alicia. She blames him for the loss of her friendship. And is rooting for Will/Alicia. And she guesses, correctly, the Peter is possibly behind it. (He is and he isn't...)
*Will asks Alicia if Peter knows anything about them. Alicia says that he doesn't know they are doing anything, or anything more than he did before. A sort of circumspect way of saying - well he's assumed from the beginning that we're involved.
He doesn't know that we are.
*Carey covers Kalinda's body with his own during the gun fight. God, Carey is growing on me. Outside of Eli, Carey is the only guy in this show that I like. I'm half in love with Eli and Carey. (While I find Will and Peter incredibly interesting characters and like them, they make my skin crawl in the romantic sense for different reasons...of the two? I prefer Peter, he's more straight forward. Will...there's something about Will that is, I can't put my finger on it exactly.)
* Lots of things building in this episode, lots of funny moments. Loved it. Love this show.
Once Upon a Time - my second favorite show. My favorite shows are right now: Good Wife, Once Upne a Time, Vamp Diaries, and Revenge. (currently airing - Game of Thrones is in there somewhere as well of course).
My only problem with Once is the male guest-stars could be better. CinderELLA's prince charming is no Dougray Scott, just saying. I liked the actress who played Ella/Ashley though. And I adore Rumplestilskin/Mr. Gold. Robert Carlyle's Gold is almost as good as Alan Cummings Eli Gould.
Of course, I love Rumplestilskin - he's a trickster character and I adore tricksters, you can't quite predict what they will do next. Also a character that makes things happen, a catalyste character - a character type that I am exceedingly fond of. Jimmy McNulty, Omar, Spike, Rumplestilskin. They aren't either good or evil, they tend to be ambiguous ...and often shake things up. They bring about change. Helps that Rumple is portrayed by the fabulous Robert Carlyle - who was the star of The Full Monty and various independent British flicks, before popping up as the star of Star-Gate Universe (which I tried to watch, but most military based sci-fi adventure bores me. I can't watch it.)
* They sort of combined the Rumplestilskin story with the Cinderella tale. And to great effect. Underlining the recurring theme that reliance on magic is not a good idea, it always comes with a hefty price. Emma Swan in the real world, or alternate world, is constantly the voice of reason. She tells Ashley/cinderELLA that there are no fairy godmothers, if she wants to change her life she has to do the hard work and do it herself. In other words, there's no easy way - or wave of a magic wand. Rumplestilskin in the fairy tale world more or less says the same thing - but she doesn't listen - "if you hate your life find a way to change it, don't rely on magic it always has a price."
* Hee, they channeled True Blood. Ella to Rumple - you just killed my fairy godmother, right before she was to change my life! Rumpel to Ella - I did you a favor, she would have done it for a price - her magic was evil. And I'll help you too, but also for a price. Her first born child. When she tries to get out of it - he tells her the same thing - there will be a price and there is - she loses her husband. She either gets the child or the husband.
I like this - because in fairy tales - often it is children that are the price paid for magic. A symbol of innocence lost. Too often when people re-tell fairy tales they focus on sexual awakening or sexual fears...but they ignore the other tropes, which are just as interesting and important.
Also in the real world the metaphor is well...her boyfriend, the guy who got her pregnant takes off, his father arranges the deal with Mr. Gold. Mr. Gold will give the child to a good family. Much as he did with Emma Swan's child. It's a barter or trade. Gold owns the pawn shop and Ashely signed her child away via her boyfriend's father. In the real world - men aren't that nice, or necessarily there for you, they abandon you, while in fairy tales - they are princes.
*Emma is a kick-ass heroine. And I adore her team-up with the erstwhile Henry who keeps taking off and tagging along. She keeps trying to get him to go home, but he refuses. Regina, you dope, you really think the kid is going to stay home if you tell him too? Considering you are the rich and powerful mayor, I'd think you could afford a baby-sitter for the kid. I mean seriously, you are leaving a ten year old kid all alone in a huge house - after he has successfully run away from home twice, taken off into the woods twice, and keeps tagging along with people you want him to stay away from? For someone who has a lot of power and control...Regina has gotten a bit cocky and arrogant. She also seems to forget, no magic in this new world. Little kid can take off without you realizing it.
*Regina is apparently having an affair with the Sheriff, who has a major crush on Emma and has asked her to be his deputy. Hee. Regina keeps trying to get Emma to leave town. Meanwhile Mr. Gold and the Sheriff and Mary Blanchard have gone out of their way to help her find a reason to stay. Henry has figured out that Emma is the only one who can leave Storybrook and never come back, she's outside of the curse, not trapped by it. She can do whatever she wants and is not held by any of the deals or rules of magic or the fairy tale kingdom. In short, Emma has free will and has a conveyor of free will - she has the ability to give it to others. Oh, you could have a field day with this show regarding free will and predetermination arguments.
This show is filled to the brim with metaphorical goodies. Haven't found a show like that since Buffy. Plus a heavy feminist theme. Yay! Lost had it to a degree, but is was so male centric, chauvinistic, sexist, racist, and violent, that I didn't want to go that far into the analysis...
Anyhow...I find it amusing that Regina's lover has given Emma a job.
*I loved this exchange:
Henry: You agreed to work for him, do you know who he is?
Emma: Of course.
Henry: Really? Who? Because I can't quite figure it out...
Emma: What? No, I mean in the real world, not in the fairy tale one...
Henry: Oh.
LOL!
He basically is the same thing in both. A deal maker. He likes Emma because like himself, Emma is chaos. She brings change. Breaks spells and shakes up the power balance. And he can make deals with her. Unlike Regina, Rumple's motives are far less clear. And much like the fairy tales...none of the characters are quite sure who or what he is. But he is the only one who understands the price of magic and treats it with the respect it is do.
*Emma makes a deal with Rumple - to "owe him a favor" but she asks what he wants first, "just to owe me a favor"- he states. And she agrees. And this frees Ashley and Scean (Ella and Tom) from their bargain with Rumple. They are free to be happy.
Interesting that the fairy tale characters names change in the real world. Well everyone but Emma's, Emma's name is the same in both.
Off to bed.
I really love these shows. They aren't perfect. But they make me happy. Play with my head in a good way. Don't leave a bad taste in my mouth and aren't negative. Aren't gross or violent or skeevy or offend me. What more can I ask?
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LOVE YOUR META!
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Exactly why I stopped watching 'American Horror Story' and 'Walking Dead'... they didn't 'offend' me but they are both so violent and depressing, and I just don't need that before bed (real life is violent and depressing enough).
But OUaT is fun and charming and very surprising (I didn't expect Rumplestiltskin to show up and blow away the Fairy Godmother! LOL).
And I do love Robert Carlyle a lot.
I loved that Cinderella's name was Ashley in the real world (silly but fun).
There are always a lot of things I love about OUaT: the characters are all interesting (even if some of the actors aren't, I agree about this Prince being weak), and I have no clue about what they are going to do next.
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I'm admittedly at a point in my life in which dark and excessively violent shows appeal less and less to me...I don't know why.
On OUAT - I agree, it's very unpredictable. No clue what they'll do next or where they will take the series. I knew Ella made a deal with Rumple to get to the ball, but I didn't know he killed her fairy godmother. He literally changed Ella's story.
Some of the actors are a bit on the weak side, and it is a very female centric/female cast heavy series. While we have recurring male characters - outside of the little boy, they seem to be supporting. Also, the choice to make Emma - the free will character - female and a bail bondsman, is quite interesting and innovative. In most versions - the protagonist is male - see Willingham's Jack of Fables, Grimm, Supernatural, etc. Although that was a wise choice - it works better.
I just love this little series. And it is doing very well in the ratings. Still within the top 20, about 12 last week. Holding Steady. Beating its competition. So no worries about cancellation any time soon - it got a full-season pick-up right out of the box.
Oh, last night's episode was directed by David Solomon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, etc...director).
Thank you!!
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Re: Thank you!!
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EW is my guilty pleasure mag, and the reason I know far too much about pop culture for my own good.
Re: Thank you!!
I have my DVR set to record all episodes of it (new and repeats) on all channels... hoping I'll manage to catch up on all the ones I've missed.
Re: Thank you!!
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Ella lost her husband in the trade for her kids. With Disney, magic didn't really come with a hefty price. This is a bit more tongue in cheek cynical.
It can go in a lot of different directions...I honestly don't know what the writers are going to do next, which is really fun.
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Nice to have a female heroine who isn't dressed up as male eye-candy.
Sort of different. Nor is she 18 or 19. 28 instead.
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Wait...I googled it, Jennifer Morrison is 32. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Morrison (hee, she's two years older than Buffy.)
Hee. I guess if James Marsters can pretend to be 26 when he was actually 32 on Buffy, Jennifer Morrison can get away with it.
Heck, Charisma Carpenter pretended to be 16 when she was actually 26.
Same with Nicholas Brendan.