Entry tags:
TAKE A SAD SONG AND MAKE IT BETTER
My social life is getting in the way of my life. For the past two weeks, ever since I got back from home, life has been a blur of 'WHERE ARE YOU/WHYYYYY AREN'T YOU DOING [INSERT ACTIVITY HERE] WITH US/LET'S GET DRUNK RIGHT NOW', and it shows no sign of stopping. This is very troubling.
Anyway, Seeker Sunday! I received a very excited text message from my sister this afternoon, saying, 'Wat?! richard? servant of keeper? REALLY?!'
For a clip-show, it was a bearable episode (unlike 'Home', which made me fall asleep) and set up some interesting things for the finale. The best thing, of course, was Cara's Many Faces of Barely Concealed Laughter and Mockery, which was a joy to behold:
I also enjoyed the exploration of the show's mythology, particularly the Creator/Keeper thing, and the return of the Sisters of the Light and the INSANE Prelate (have you seen her hairpiece? of course she's insane. also EVIL. and INSANE). What was really interesting was Maya's little chat with Kahlan in the beginning, with some lovely insights into her character and her past (that used to pray, and doesn't, now). I do not believe for a second that Richard will end up serving the Keeper - the writers have clearly inserted some self-doubt in order to make him more interesting and conflicted. Too bad it doesn't work, because unlike with Cara or Kahlan (who have made me a wibble A LOT in the course of the season), Richard's self-doubt is momentary and never convincing enough. No matter what happens, Richard has this iron core of stability, of faith in himself and what is right - which would be deeply Marty Stu-ish if it weren't for episodes like this, putting his actions to question. And this is why Kahlan's chat with Maya was more interesting to me (erm, not that Richard is ever any competition), because what that scene does is plant doubt in Kahlan's mind - Kahlan, who, as we know, is already prone to doubt and questioning. She prayed to the Creator once, and doesn't anymore, as this episode reminds us. Her iron faith in Richard did not develop in a day. It happened gradually, over the course of the first season as she grew to know him and have faith in his uncanny ability to stand up for what is right, his belief that everyone deserves a chance and everyone can change, even at the cost of his own life. As we saw in the S1 finale, it's her faith in him - ACROSS TIME, OMG - that ultimately saves the day (and the combined forces of Richard, Kahlan and Cara; OT3, it is canon). And the surest way to ensure Richard's failure? To make Kahlan doubt, and eventually, turn against him.
In the previous episode, Richard tells Nicci that he does not believe in either the Creator or the Keeper, and neither does he believe that their prophecies are set in stone. The only thing he does believe in is himself, and that's where all his strength comes from. And this is where things get really interesting, because the way they're setting things up now, it's clearly Richard vs. Prophecy, and, in a way, Richard vs. Kahlan. I don't think it's a coincidence that they introduced the Keeper/Creator story in this episode, while aligning Richard with the Keeper and Kahlan with the Creator. And, okay, this is where my speculation becomes really speculation-y--look at these two caps:
Do you see the way they are walking? Cara is walking in the front with Richard instead of at the back in her guard dog position, and Kahlan is set a little apart from everyone else. Given how subtle this show is (read: NOT AT ALL), I wonder if this is pointing to something. I think this is pointing to some sort of disagreement, with Kahlan vacillating between her faith in Richard and her faith in prophecy, her lifelong training (possibly something Cara vs. Kahlan disagreement leading to ladyfight? OMG, WHY IS IT NOT SEXY TOMBTIEMZ ALREADY?). It will obviously end in Richard and Kahlan reuniting and defeating Destiny through the power of their TWU WUV and not ending up like the Creator and the Keeper, with Cara and Nicci chipping in.
Thoughts? Is it wrong that I now have Thinky Thoughts about this show?
+
Dear![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
roga, I believe this is relevant to your Interests. It's not happymaking (actually, it's scary and utterly insane), mind you, but I did ask you to take a sad song and make it better, so... *hopeful*
Also, guys, today I spotted the paperback of A Lion Amongst Men, the third Wicked book. Anybody read it? Is Glinda in it? Should I buy?
Anyway, Seeker Sunday! I received a very excited text message from my sister this afternoon, saying, 'Wat?! richard? servant of keeper? REALLY?!'
For a clip-show, it was a bearable episode (unlike 'Home', which made me fall asleep) and set up some interesting things for the finale. The best thing, of course, was Cara's Many Faces of Barely Concealed Laughter and Mockery, which was a joy to behold:
I also enjoyed the exploration of the show's mythology, particularly the Creator/Keeper thing, and the return of the Sisters of the Light and the INSANE Prelate (have you seen her hairpiece? of course she's insane. also EVIL. and INSANE). What was really interesting was Maya's little chat with Kahlan in the beginning, with some lovely insights into her character and her past (that used to pray, and doesn't, now). I do not believe for a second that Richard will end up serving the Keeper - the writers have clearly inserted some self-doubt in order to make him more interesting and conflicted. Too bad it doesn't work, because unlike with Cara or Kahlan (who have made me a wibble A LOT in the course of the season), Richard's self-doubt is momentary and never convincing enough. No matter what happens, Richard has this iron core of stability, of faith in himself and what is right - which would be deeply Marty Stu-ish if it weren't for episodes like this, putting his actions to question. And this is why Kahlan's chat with Maya was more interesting to me (erm, not that Richard is ever any competition), because what that scene does is plant doubt in Kahlan's mind - Kahlan, who, as we know, is already prone to doubt and questioning. She prayed to the Creator once, and doesn't anymore, as this episode reminds us. Her iron faith in Richard did not develop in a day. It happened gradually, over the course of the first season as she grew to know him and have faith in his uncanny ability to stand up for what is right, his belief that everyone deserves a chance and everyone can change, even at the cost of his own life. As we saw in the S1 finale, it's her faith in him - ACROSS TIME, OMG - that ultimately saves the day (and the combined forces of Richard, Kahlan and Cara; OT3, it is canon). And the surest way to ensure Richard's failure? To make Kahlan doubt, and eventually, turn against him.
In the previous episode, Richard tells Nicci that he does not believe in either the Creator or the Keeper, and neither does he believe that their prophecies are set in stone. The only thing he does believe in is himself, and that's where all his strength comes from. And this is where things get really interesting, because the way they're setting things up now, it's clearly Richard vs. Prophecy, and, in a way, Richard vs. Kahlan. I don't think it's a coincidence that they introduced the Keeper/Creator story in this episode, while aligning Richard with the Keeper and Kahlan with the Creator. And, okay, this is where my speculation becomes really speculation-y--look at these two caps:
Do you see the way they are walking? Cara is walking in the front with Richard instead of at the back in her guard dog position, and Kahlan is set a little apart from everyone else. Given how subtle this show is (read: NOT AT ALL), I wonder if this is pointing to something. I think this is pointing to some sort of disagreement, with Kahlan vacillating between her faith in Richard and her faith in prophecy, her lifelong training (possibly something Cara vs. Kahlan disagreement leading to ladyfight? OMG, WHY IS IT NOT SEXY TOMBTIEMZ ALREADY?). It will obviously end in Richard and Kahlan reuniting and defeating Destiny through the power of their TWU WUV and not ending up like the Creator and the Keeper, with Cara and Nicci chipping in.
Thoughts? Is it wrong that I now have Thinky Thoughts about this show?
+
Dear
roga, I believe this is relevant to your Interests. It's not happymaking (actually, it's scary and utterly insane), mind you, but I did ask you to take a sad song and make it better, so... *hopeful*Also, guys, today I spotted the paperback of A Lion Amongst Men, the third Wicked book. Anybody read it? Is Glinda in it? Should I buy?