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shadowkatTonight's Revenge was interesting...more so than last week's. It is definitely building and Em-Amanda is beginning to lose control over the proceedings, as is Victoria Grayson. Other players have entered the game, including the Talented Mr. Tyler, as Nolan has so adeptly titled him, and the SWF (Single White Female psycho case) Carrie. The road to Revenge is a rocky one indeed.
* Am rather impressed with Gabriel Mann's Nolan. He grows on you. And there's so many layers. Sending him off to handle Tyler, may not have been E-Amanda's best idea.
But he did volunteer. Tonight he figures out that Tyler pieced together Lydia's speech outting the Grayson's frame of David Clark, E-Amanda's father, for the terrorist money-laundering scheme to protect their own necks. He calls E-Amanda, and apparently this does not fit in with her scheme. Or theirs. E-Amanda tells him to invest in Grayson's company, via Tyler. And to work Tyler at the party - with the end goal of acquiring the speech. He does, but they have a teasing flirtation, and he is clearly intrigued by the Talented Mr. Tyler. Meanwhile Ash is pissed that Tyler is having a fling with Nolan, even if it's just a hustle. Tyler calls Ash on it - and says when are you going to enter the game and become a player?
*Ash decides to do it - in this episode, and tells Victoria that she took the job with Victoria in part because of E-Amanda, her so-called friend. Turns out E-Amanda is right not to trust Ash. And keep her at arms length. The only people who know E-Amanda's secrets are Nolan, the real Emily Thorne, the Warden, and Satsoi (who pops up - wondered when they'd send the mentor - which is also a character in The Counte of Monte Cristo). I don't think Ash will be much of a problem. The real Emily Thorne, aka Carrie, aka Amanda Clark...on the other hand.
*Okay how can E-Amanda be in love with Jack? It was too long ago. I'm confused on the romantic bit. I get how she might be falling for Daniel...although Daniel doesn't quite register for me, a bit of a cypher. That's the problem with Jack and Daniel, they are highly undeveloped characters, very good looking, but feel like eye-candy at the moment. It's hard for me to care that much about either. Both feel sort of cliche. The show is unevenly written in that respect. Jack, Daniel and Declan don't quite work. Everyone else does and everyone else has an agenda. The one's who don't...are a bit one-dimensional and somewhat boring. This is a problem and what keeps Revenge from being as good a drama as The Good Wife, although it's not fair to compare the two - totally different genres. And the difficulty I'm pointing out in Revenge is actually common in the soap serial.
*I have no idea where this thing is going. I think that either Tyler or Carrie/Amanda will end killing Daniel. Carrie makes the most sense, because that would explain why Jack is busy trying to cover it up. The question is why? I can see why Tyler would, but why would Carrie/Amanda? Carrie has decided to go by Amanda Clark now - and take over Amanda Clark's life fully - this in a way provides E-Amanda with the perfect cover. No one will figure who she really is now. OTOH...if they look too deeply into C-Amanda...they might. It's not hard.
*Lydia has played Victoria well, and has managed to shack up with Conrad again. I really don't want Conrad and Lydia to ride off into the sunset. I'm more sympathetic towards Victoria than those two. Victoria is a fun villain. She and E-Manada are quite good in this. Equally matched.
* Charlotte has also played her mother...letting her mother believe she's broken up with Declan and that she's forgiven Mom. Bright. Just wish I didn't agree with Victoria regarding Declan - he is a whiny waste of space, I'm sorry, but there it is.
But she'd have been better off, leaving it alone, and letting that story play itself out.
Interesting episode, no clue where it will go.
* I need a brainless romance...that hits my kinks. Been eyeing Harlequin's on Kindle.
These aren't my mother's Harlequin's or Grandmother's. When did Harlequin's get so risque? Not that I mind or anything, just wondering. Any recommendations would be helpful. (I like tough women and sardonic sensitive guys - examples: Aeryn Sun/John Crichton, Doctor Who/River Song, Buffy/Spike, Olivia/Peter, Cordelia/Xander, Lilah/Wesely, Angel/Darla, Caroline/Tyler, Kalinda/Carey, Diane/Gary Cole, Damon/Rosemarie. Women like Sookie, Bella, Elena and guys like Stefan, Bill, Edward turn me off.) Kinks? Smart woman, smart guy - competitors. I adore banter. Recs? Highly appreciated.
Any good books? Any page-turners? Like The Hunger Games? Something not too taxing on the brain? I'm going to try The Marriage Plot, but I have my doubts. And I'm tired of horror and violence - I think George RR Martin's Feast of Crows is doing me in. That book is incredibly grim. And oddly? I'm not enjoying being in Jamie's head that much this round. Too whiny. Him and Cersei. Ugh. My favorites are Asha, Sansa (yes, I'm surprised too), Arianne (the Princess of Dorne), and Ayra. Sam's is just painfully depressing. Brienne's ditto. Don't get me wrong - Martin writes beautifully and very well, he has a mastery of the language (you'd hope he would considering he's only been writing for 40 years, possibly more). And he is a good story teller. Has amazing characters. And his world is so real, it sticks between your teeth or to your teeth like gum. But.
Here's the thing about writing?
Outside of the basics, it's all pretty subjective. I mean, I can say Breaking Bad is expertly written, it is. I saw the first season and about five episodes into the second. But I hate the story and the characters, so I don't really care. Same deal with the award winning novel "Atonement" or "House of Sand and Fog" or Edith Wharton's Ethan From (I hated Ethan From, not a fan of Edith Wharton). While I admit, freely admit that there are tv shows and books that are unevenly written or sloppily written ...which I love to pieces, because I love the story - I remember adoring Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Riders of Pern series (haven't read it in 20 years, but I read them to death as a kid) and I loved Elizabeth Peters Vicky Bliss mysteries (with the exception of the final novel which is truly awful - stop at Night Train to Memphis, do not go beyond that book, you will thank me later) or Katherine Neville's A Calculated Risk. (All these books are unevenly written and have problems, but I enjoyed them). I also love great literature - such as Pride and Prejudice or James Joyce's Dubliner's. And right now? Adoring Once Upon A Time - and yes, I realize it's sloppy in places, but I so don't care. It's hitting my kinks hard. Same deal with
Ringer - it's fun. OR True Blood - which is like crack. And I really adore the television series Game of Thrones...in some ways far more than the books. For some reason the tv series is not as grim as the books and more humorous. I like it better than the critically acclaimed fair..which frankly puts me to sleep at times.
It's a story I want to inhale and memorize and repeat in my head. While say a tale that is brilliantly written like Atonement or Ethan Fromm - I want to exorcise from my skull or I find my eyes drooping during and my attention wandering. That's where the subjective part comes into play, I think. And I think it explains why some stories, which are admittedly poorly written are incredibly popular, while others which are brilliantly written aren't. It's not always about the writing - it's well, about the story, the characters (archetypal or otherwise), and the plot. Stephen King once said that the story was the most important thing in writing fiction, nothing else mattered. Story and characters. Writing was merely a way of communicating it. If a story hits us where we live, it doesn't matter how well written it is...does it? Sure the writing and how it is conveyed does help, but often love isn't rational. It can't be explained. We just love it is all.
* Am rather impressed with Gabriel Mann's Nolan. He grows on you. And there's so many layers. Sending him off to handle Tyler, may not have been E-Amanda's best idea.
But he did volunteer. Tonight he figures out that Tyler pieced together Lydia's speech outting the Grayson's frame of David Clark, E-Amanda's father, for the terrorist money-laundering scheme to protect their own necks. He calls E-Amanda, and apparently this does not fit in with her scheme. Or theirs. E-Amanda tells him to invest in Grayson's company, via Tyler. And to work Tyler at the party - with the end goal of acquiring the speech. He does, but they have a teasing flirtation, and he is clearly intrigued by the Talented Mr. Tyler. Meanwhile Ash is pissed that Tyler is having a fling with Nolan, even if it's just a hustle. Tyler calls Ash on it - and says when are you going to enter the game and become a player?
*Ash decides to do it - in this episode, and tells Victoria that she took the job with Victoria in part because of E-Amanda, her so-called friend. Turns out E-Amanda is right not to trust Ash. And keep her at arms length. The only people who know E-Amanda's secrets are Nolan, the real Emily Thorne, the Warden, and Satsoi (who pops up - wondered when they'd send the mentor - which is also a character in The Counte of Monte Cristo). I don't think Ash will be much of a problem. The real Emily Thorne, aka Carrie, aka Amanda Clark...on the other hand.
*Okay how can E-Amanda be in love with Jack? It was too long ago. I'm confused on the romantic bit. I get how she might be falling for Daniel...although Daniel doesn't quite register for me, a bit of a cypher. That's the problem with Jack and Daniel, they are highly undeveloped characters, very good looking, but feel like eye-candy at the moment. It's hard for me to care that much about either. Both feel sort of cliche. The show is unevenly written in that respect. Jack, Daniel and Declan don't quite work. Everyone else does and everyone else has an agenda. The one's who don't...are a bit one-dimensional and somewhat boring. This is a problem and what keeps Revenge from being as good a drama as The Good Wife, although it's not fair to compare the two - totally different genres. And the difficulty I'm pointing out in Revenge is actually common in the soap serial.
*I have no idea where this thing is going. I think that either Tyler or Carrie/Amanda will end killing Daniel. Carrie makes the most sense, because that would explain why Jack is busy trying to cover it up. The question is why? I can see why Tyler would, but why would Carrie/Amanda? Carrie has decided to go by Amanda Clark now - and take over Amanda Clark's life fully - this in a way provides E-Amanda with the perfect cover. No one will figure who she really is now. OTOH...if they look too deeply into C-Amanda...they might. It's not hard.
*Lydia has played Victoria well, and has managed to shack up with Conrad again. I really don't want Conrad and Lydia to ride off into the sunset. I'm more sympathetic towards Victoria than those two. Victoria is a fun villain. She and E-Manada are quite good in this. Equally matched.
* Charlotte has also played her mother...letting her mother believe she's broken up with Declan and that she's forgiven Mom. Bright. Just wish I didn't agree with Victoria regarding Declan - he is a whiny waste of space, I'm sorry, but there it is.
But she'd have been better off, leaving it alone, and letting that story play itself out.
Interesting episode, no clue where it will go.
* I need a brainless romance...that hits my kinks. Been eyeing Harlequin's on Kindle.
These aren't my mother's Harlequin's or Grandmother's. When did Harlequin's get so risque? Not that I mind or anything, just wondering. Any recommendations would be helpful. (I like tough women and sardonic sensitive guys - examples: Aeryn Sun/John Crichton, Doctor Who/River Song, Buffy/Spike, Olivia/Peter, Cordelia/Xander, Lilah/Wesely, Angel/Darla, Caroline/Tyler, Kalinda/Carey, Diane/Gary Cole, Damon/Rosemarie. Women like Sookie, Bella, Elena and guys like Stefan, Bill, Edward turn me off.) Kinks? Smart woman, smart guy - competitors. I adore banter. Recs? Highly appreciated.
Any good books? Any page-turners? Like The Hunger Games? Something not too taxing on the brain? I'm going to try The Marriage Plot, but I have my doubts. And I'm tired of horror and violence - I think George RR Martin's Feast of Crows is doing me in. That book is incredibly grim. And oddly? I'm not enjoying being in Jamie's head that much this round. Too whiny. Him and Cersei. Ugh. My favorites are Asha, Sansa (yes, I'm surprised too), Arianne (the Princess of Dorne), and Ayra. Sam's is just painfully depressing. Brienne's ditto. Don't get me wrong - Martin writes beautifully and very well, he has a mastery of the language (you'd hope he would considering he's only been writing for 40 years, possibly more). And he is a good story teller. Has amazing characters. And his world is so real, it sticks between your teeth or to your teeth like gum. But.
Here's the thing about writing?
Outside of the basics, it's all pretty subjective. I mean, I can say Breaking Bad is expertly written, it is. I saw the first season and about five episodes into the second. But I hate the story and the characters, so I don't really care. Same deal with the award winning novel "Atonement" or "House of Sand and Fog" or Edith Wharton's Ethan From (I hated Ethan From, not a fan of Edith Wharton). While I admit, freely admit that there are tv shows and books that are unevenly written or sloppily written ...which I love to pieces, because I love the story - I remember adoring Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Riders of Pern series (haven't read it in 20 years, but I read them to death as a kid) and I loved Elizabeth Peters Vicky Bliss mysteries (with the exception of the final novel which is truly awful - stop at Night Train to Memphis, do not go beyond that book, you will thank me later) or Katherine Neville's A Calculated Risk. (All these books are unevenly written and have problems, but I enjoyed them). I also love great literature - such as Pride and Prejudice or James Joyce's Dubliner's. And right now? Adoring Once Upon A Time - and yes, I realize it's sloppy in places, but I so don't care. It's hitting my kinks hard. Same deal with
Ringer - it's fun. OR True Blood - which is like crack. And I really adore the television series Game of Thrones...in some ways far more than the books. For some reason the tv series is not as grim as the books and more humorous. I like it better than the critically acclaimed fair..which frankly puts me to sleep at times.
It's a story I want to inhale and memorize and repeat in my head. While say a tale that is brilliantly written like Atonement or Ethan Fromm - I want to exorcise from my skull or I find my eyes drooping during and my attention wandering. That's where the subjective part comes into play, I think. And I think it explains why some stories, which are admittedly poorly written are incredibly popular, while others which are brilliantly written aren't. It's not always about the writing - it's well, about the story, the characters (archetypal or otherwise), and the plot. Stephen King once said that the story was the most important thing in writing fiction, nothing else mattered. Story and characters. Writing was merely a way of communicating it. If a story hits us where we live, it doesn't matter how well written it is...does it? Sure the writing and how it is conveyed does help, but often love isn't rational. It can't be explained. We just love it is all.