What I have been reading
Nov. 2nd, 2015 03:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scripsiMostly Lost Girl and Doctor Who (spoilery)
I’m watching the last season of Lost Girl and enjoying it. The second to last was mostly confused and the beginning of this one a bit odd too, but the finale is shaping up very nicely. If you haven’t seen it, then I can recommend it, even if it can be a bit uneven. It’s a fantasy series about a young woman, Bo, who finds out she’s a faerie, specifically a succubus, though she has been raised by humans and has no idea of what she is. Though there is an overreaching story arc; Bo’s search for who she and her parents are, most of the early seasons is a kind of supernatural crime series with a crime of the week scenery. What I really, really love with this show is this: Lots, as in more than half of the characters, are well-developed female characters, with different interests and agendas. The core relationship in the series is not a love story, but the strong, loving and supportive friendship between Bo and her human friend Kenzie. There is zero slut-shaming. Bo sleeps around a lot and there is never a hint of disapproval. Several character’s are bi- or homosexual, most notably Bo herself who has two important love stories in the show, one to a male werewolf and one to a female human doctor. As far as I can tell none of these two love affairs are shown as better or more important than the other. Also, one of the main character is a little person which is, again, something that is treated as perfectly normal and b, his love interests are nice women of perfectly normal size, which no one ever comments on.
At times the show suffers from a muddled storyline and huge things that peters out into nothing, but on the whole it’s very enjoyable. The various kinds of fae are picked from mythology from all over the world and they also mix in the pantheon from Scandinavian and Greek gods, though they are not gods, merely very powerful fae. At the moment Hades, in the shape of Eric Roberts, is epy in a charming, soft spoken way. he also have a very disturbing habit of impregnating women against their will and keeping them in cages.
I’m still enjoying Doctor Who more than the last season. Capaldi feels more secure in his character and I also like that he is slowly softening up. I really like his relationship with Clara. And though Clara isn’t my favourite companion ever, she’s quite interesting. She’s not wholly likeable and even callous at times, but I read that as someone who is ultimately quite damaged by her adventures with the Doctor, even if it’s not by intention. I got a strong feeling she isn’t the best influence on the Doctor either- I felt he saved Ashildr against his better knowledge just because he knew Clara wanted her saved and as he wouldn’t and couldn’t save Danny, he saved Ashildr as a consolation price.
I liked The Woman Who Lived a lot. Lady My’s way of coping and her losses was effectively and moving at the same time. I also like the idea of an immortal woman keeping an eye on those the Doctor has left behind. I reacted a bit on him now wanting to travel with My because Susan and Romana, but then I thought he would probably don’t have problems with travelling with his own kind who, like him, has been born and raised with the concept of very long life and regenerations. It’s clear that My has reacted very differently to her long life- a life she shouldn’t have had, than a Time Lord would. I would love to see her and Jack meet and compare notes, though!
It was also very nice to see Twelve without Clara for the first time, and he did very well, IMO. I guess My will turn up again in Clara’s last episode. Didn't like the Big Bad, though- he felt more like a plot device than a real character.
Love, loved, loved the return of Osgood! Moffat do have a tendency to female character which are quite alike, but I feel Osgood is very and wonderfully different. She first shows up as the nerdy fan who worships the Doctor, and she clearly still do. But she has also grown through a terrible loss and I loved how she stood up to the Doctor. Not ranting or raving, but just calmly telling him no. I find her dignified and brave and I will be VERY miffed is she gets killed or if it turns out she was an impostor Zygon all along. I was, btw, convinced that it was Human!Osgood who survived just for the need of Zygons to keep their double alive, but this was side-stepped. I find I don’t mind- I hope we will never find out which Osgood was who. Also loved her asking about the question marks. I never liked them as part as his attire, but imagine him with question mark undies gives me the giggles. I also giggled when Kate wanted to blow it all up- so very Brigadier.
I don’t enjoy the sunglasses and I think the word hybrid is in danger of being as over-used as “Who is Missy” in the last season. And they managed to get in my biggest pet peeves in The Girl Who Die. Namely: VIKINGS DID NOT HAVE HORNs ON THEIR HELMETS! Most didn’t even have helmets but leather caps with metal plates attached. I know the viking with a horned helmet a well-known image, but it’s still wrong and I dislike it.
I’m watching the last season of Lost Girl and enjoying it. The second to last was mostly confused and the beginning of this one a bit odd too, but the finale is shaping up very nicely. If you haven’t seen it, then I can recommend it, even if it can be a bit uneven. It’s a fantasy series about a young woman, Bo, who finds out she’s a faerie, specifically a succubus, though she has been raised by humans and has no idea of what she is. Though there is an overreaching story arc; Bo’s search for who she and her parents are, most of the early seasons is a kind of supernatural crime series with a crime of the week scenery. What I really, really love with this show is this: Lots, as in more than half of the characters, are well-developed female characters, with different interests and agendas. The core relationship in the series is not a love story, but the strong, loving and supportive friendship between Bo and her human friend Kenzie. There is zero slut-shaming. Bo sleeps around a lot and there is never a hint of disapproval. Several character’s are bi- or homosexual, most notably Bo herself who has two important love stories in the show, one to a male werewolf and one to a female human doctor. As far as I can tell none of these two love affairs are shown as better or more important than the other. Also, one of the main character is a little person which is, again, something that is treated as perfectly normal and b, his love interests are nice women of perfectly normal size, which no one ever comments on.
At times the show suffers from a muddled storyline and huge things that peters out into nothing, but on the whole it’s very enjoyable. The various kinds of fae are picked from mythology from all over the world and they also mix in the pantheon from Scandinavian and Greek gods, though they are not gods, merely very powerful fae. At the moment Hades, in the shape of Eric Roberts, is epy in a charming, soft spoken way. he also have a very disturbing habit of impregnating women against their will and keeping them in cages.
I’m still enjoying Doctor Who more than the last season. Capaldi feels more secure in his character and I also like that he is slowly softening up. I really like his relationship with Clara. And though Clara isn’t my favourite companion ever, she’s quite interesting. She’s not wholly likeable and even callous at times, but I read that as someone who is ultimately quite damaged by her adventures with the Doctor, even if it’s not by intention. I got a strong feeling she isn’t the best influence on the Doctor either- I felt he saved Ashildr against his better knowledge just because he knew Clara wanted her saved and as he wouldn’t and couldn’t save Danny, he saved Ashildr as a consolation price.
I liked The Woman Who Lived a lot. Lady My’s way of coping and her losses was effectively and moving at the same time. I also like the idea of an immortal woman keeping an eye on those the Doctor has left behind. I reacted a bit on him now wanting to travel with My because Susan and Romana, but then I thought he would probably don’t have problems with travelling with his own kind who, like him, has been born and raised with the concept of very long life and regenerations. It’s clear that My has reacted very differently to her long life- a life she shouldn’t have had, than a Time Lord would. I would love to see her and Jack meet and compare notes, though!
It was also very nice to see Twelve without Clara for the first time, and he did very well, IMO. I guess My will turn up again in Clara’s last episode. Didn't like the Big Bad, though- he felt more like a plot device than a real character.
Love, loved, loved the return of Osgood! Moffat do have a tendency to female character which are quite alike, but I feel Osgood is very and wonderfully different. She first shows up as the nerdy fan who worships the Doctor, and she clearly still do. But she has also grown through a terrible loss and I loved how she stood up to the Doctor. Not ranting or raving, but just calmly telling him no. I find her dignified and brave and I will be VERY miffed is she gets killed or if it turns out she was an impostor Zygon all along. I was, btw, convinced that it was Human!Osgood who survived just for the need of Zygons to keep their double alive, but this was side-stepped. I find I don’t mind- I hope we will never find out which Osgood was who. Also loved her asking about the question marks. I never liked them as part as his attire, but imagine him with question mark undies gives me the giggles. I also giggled when Kate wanted to blow it all up- so very Brigadier.
I don’t enjoy the sunglasses and I think the word hybrid is in danger of being as over-used as “Who is Missy” in the last season. And they managed to get in my biggest pet peeves in The Girl Who Die. Namely: VIKINGS DID NOT HAVE HORNs ON THEIR HELMETS! Most didn’t even have helmets but leather caps with metal plates attached. I know the viking with a horned helmet a well-known image, but it’s still wrong and I dislike it.
no subject
Date: 2015-11-06 01:00 am (UTC)Osgood, though. Man. I'm so sad she lost her "sister", but I'm so so happy that the fan speculation that there were still two of them turned out to be true.
Re: Viking helmets--we recently went to a display at the local museum about Vikings. They had a whole bunch of artefacts imported from Scandinavia, and they made a point of mentioning the thing where the horned helmets comes from, like, Wagner and not actual Vikings.
And then in the gift shop...toy horned helmets for the kiddos! *facepalm* :P
no subject
Date: 2015-11-06 06:02 pm (UTC)Osgood, though. Man. I'm so sad she lost her "sister", but I'm so so happy that the fan speculation that there were still two of them turned out to be true.
Me too! I would love to have her as a companion, though I guess that won't happen. I hope she will be a recurring character, though.
And then in the gift shop...toy horned helmets for the kiddos! *facepalm* :P
Sigh! It's the same in Swedish souvenir shops. :(
no subject
Date: 2015-11-06 07:37 pm (UTC)Ahaha! Even the descendants of Vikings get it wrong. I forget if you've said--are you Swedish? (I think you mentioned you were ESL, which I had not noticed from your writing.)
I think I need Osgood icons. I hope she (and Kate) keeps on as a recurring character. Also did I hear it right and River is returning? I want badass archaeology professor River, bantering with Twelve, and (the part I'm sure I won't get) flirting madly with Missy. :D
no subject
Date: 2015-11-06 07:59 pm (UTC)Indeed! I didn't notice while I watched either, it struck me when I thought about it. I asked my husband, and he hadn't noticed either.
I just saw Battlefield from the last Classic season and thought that this was the 80's version of this story, genderwise. Not more female character's than male, but almost. Huge step forward. Have you seen it? I liked it very much.
I forget if you've said--are you Swedish? (I think you mentioned you were ESL, which I had not noticed from your writing.)
ESL? But yes, I'm Swedish. :)I'm glad you can't tell from my Writing, though! (I actually almost flunked in English when I was 18, so I have improved.)
Also did I hear it right and River is returning? I want badass archaeology professor River, bantering with Twelve, and (the part I'm sure I won't get) flirting madly with Missy. :D
Yes, we will get River in the Christmas epsiode. I hope they will make something great of it as I Think she and Twelve would be wonderful together. And yes to her and Missy too, even if we won't have that luck, I'm sure. :)
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Date: 2015-12-15 06:33 am (UTC)("Do you like my new body?" "I don't know, I've only seen the face!" Oh, you two wonderful people. <3)
no subject
Date: 2015-12-15 01:13 pm (UTC)