#the voice acting is heartless. there is no chemistry between characters

[mcbitchtits]

i just watched the beauty and the beast live action and it is so deeply... uncharming. everything is beautiful and it completely sucks

[nadziejastar]

People think that Isa is just like Saix because he's sarcastic? But Saix isn't sarcastic at all.

Right!? Saïx had no sense of humor at all. It’s ridiculous. Besides, I always got the sense that a big reason why Lea liked Isa was his ability to engage in sarcastic banter with him. Some people enjoy that type of stuff with their friends. I know I do. Axel did it a little bit with Roxas and Xion, but he didn’t take the gloves off fully since he was basically their mentor.

This is how he interacts with Riku in the novels. And I would say this is probably how he interacted with Isa. He and Riku are a lot more similar in that way than he and Roxas/Xion were. They are both very caring deep down, but they find it difficult and awkward to express their feelings directly.

“Riku!” a voice called from behind him, and he froze.

“…Your Majesty?��� Quietly, Riku turned.

“Good thing I found ya!” King Mickey ran to him. Riku instinctively glanced in Axel’s direction and noticed the redhead was averting his gaze uncomfortably.

“Who are you…?” the king asked warily.

“Axel,” he replied, mildly annoyed.

“Got it memorized?” King Mickey nodded, then confirmed his suspicions.

“…You’re a member of the organization, huh?”

“You guessed it,” Axel said, quite unabashed.

“He betrayed them, though,” Riku added. At that, the king looked between the two, then focused on Riku.

I like how Riku introduces him to Mickey and he’s so awkward about it.

“Is he on our side?”

“No idea,” Axel interjected.

“It’s true,” said Riku, finding it a bit funny.  “We’re not sure whose side he’s on.”

“But you’re friends,” said King Mickey. Mildly surprised at that, Riku looked at Axel.

“Nobodies don’t have friends,” Axel snapped.

“I’m glad to see you’re not all alone, Riku!” the king said with genuine relief as Axel slumped wordlessly.

Axel’s quick to point out that Nobodies don’t have friends. He would like to be friends with Riku, but he doesn’t wanna admit it. Mickey can tell that they get along well, and is happy for Riku.

“Riku, come back to town once in a while. I’ll explain to Naminé about the organization.” Axel made a slight gesture with his right arm to create a passage behind him.

“You two are gonna help Sora,” he told them, smiling brightly. “Got it memorized?”

“Didn’t you want to make Sora into a Heartless?” Riku asked, on his feet again.

Axel shrugged. “Changed my mind.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t feel like telling you.” Still grinning, Axel sank into the dark portal.

They become friends after Riku and Naminé save him. Axel acts really happy, playful and upbeat with Riku in a way I found unique.

“Ansem… Oh, Riku, it’s you.” Axel breathed a sigh of relief, recognizing the face. “Don’t scare me like that, okay? I got people after me, y’know.”

“Well, if so, you should be a little more cautious.” Riku pulled up his hood again and went to join Axel in front of the computer.

“You’re weak anyway,” he added, and a small laugh escaped him.

“Wh— Hey, I just let my guard down for—”

“So this is Ansem’s computer?” Riku interrupted Axel’s protest.

Riku roasts him and calls him weak. And it’s kinda true. Axel’s character was never about raw strength. I’m sure Riku could make short work of him. Axel interacts with Riku as more of a peer than he did with Roxas or Xion. IMO, he’s able to be himself more.

“What should we do now, Naminé?” Riku asked as he reached for the little freezer under the computer. He removed a bar of ice cream and took a bite.

“…Aw, is it good?” Axel teased. “Seriously, you’re like a little kid. Even though you look like a mean old man.”

Riku made no response, keeping his gaze fixed on the computer screen. The comment did rub him the wrong way. But mentally, Axel was definitely older than him by at least a little. Not that you could tell from looking.

He basically calls Riku ugly, and then makes fun of him for liking the ice cream and being like a little kid. Axel was a savage asshole to Riku, but it’s just his way of showing affection. People think he didn’t constantly roast Isa the same way? Of course he did.

As Riku sighed, Axel stole the ice cream out of his hand.

���There’s plenty in there. Just get your own. And you call me a little kid,” Riku grumbled.

At his irritation, Axel only shrugged and chuckled to himself.

Sitting down on the threadbare sofa, Riku bit into a sea-salt ice cream bar.

He stole Riku’s ice cream out of his hand! LOL. There were plenty, but he just wanted to mess with him. I think Riku reminded him of Isa. Way too serious, so he felt the need to pester him. You can tell Axel enjoyed it a LOT. I really liked their banter.

He and Naminé and Axel were idly passing the time in the parlor on the mansion’s first floor, each with an ice cream bar in hand.

“You’re in a pretty good mood,” Axel remarked.

Riku glanced up.

“Seeing Sora just made you that happy, huh?”

“I don’t feel like telling you.” A little smile crossed Riku’s lips as he took another bite.

Axel saw how happy Riku was to see Sora and I guess that made him happy, too. Riku teases Axel back with the same line he used earlier. Axel can’t resist that one. They have such good chemistry.

“Y’know, it’s creepy when you smile with that guy’s face,” Axel said dryly, following suit and nibbling on his own ice cream.

He gets him back by calling him creepy, lol. I loved seeing this side of Axel.

Silence fell over the room. He paused in his munching to stare hard at Riku, then finally asked, “What is Sora to you?”

The question caught Riku off guard. He groped for words.

Axel is jealous of the bond that Sora and Riku have. He saw how devoted Sora was to Riku in Castle Oblivion, and he knows that Riku took on Ansem’s form because he wanted to help Sora.

On the sofa opposite him, Naminé spoke up instead.

“Sora and Riku are best friends.” Axel’s eyes crinkled as he remembered his own best friend—the only friend he’d ever had, in fact.

“If your best friend goes away, you’re sad, and if you get to be with them, you’re happy,” Naminé added.

“Isn’t that how it is, Axel?”

But the subject still hits too close to home for Axel. This scene was obviously a reference to Isa. The writer felt the need to inject that Roxas was the ONLY friend Axel ever had, when that clearly isn’t true. Axel is such a wonderfully complex character.

“…That’s about the size of it.” Axel nodded and sat down on the remaining empty sofa, staring at the sea-salt ice cream he held.

“So you are capable of sincerity,” said Riku.

Axel only shrugged at the jab and finished his ice cream pop.

Sora and Riku remind him of what he used to have. Riku could tell that he got more serious at that moment.

Riku had followed Sora to Disney Castle, and he was still there.

“He worries too much. Thinks he has to help Sora do everything…” Axel grimaced in irritation.

“But, Axel, aren’t you the one worrying about Riku and Sora?” Naminé giggled softly.

“Me, worry? You think I need to be worried about those two?” He stretched backward and rocked the chair back and forth, like a restless child.

Naminé returned to her sketchbook.

Axel’s comment gave me the impression that he knew what it was like to have someone worry too much over him, and also try to help him with everything. But he liked how much Riku worried over Sora. And he probably liked someone worrying over him, too. Isa seemed like he would be a worrier. It reminded me of the way Axel spoke about summer vacation. He’d put off the homework until the very last minute, and Isa probably felt the need to fuss over him, worrying he’d never get it done. I can see Isa staying up all night trying to help him.

He gave them a confident grin, but Riku’s expression remained stony.

“Are you sure you can pull that off?”

“You could pretend to have a little faith in me.” Axel rolled his shoulders back.

“I don’t. No matter what you believe, I don’t have much faith that a guy who let Kairi get kidnapped out from under his nose, lost a fight, and nearly disappeared is going to be strong enough for this.” Riku let out a small sigh.

More roasting when Axel says he’ll sneak into the castle to rescue Kairi. Sounds just like Isa.

But he didn’t waver. “If it starts going bad, just run for it. You’re pretty fast, right?”

Axel grinned at that. “Well, faster than you, anyway.”

Axel loves it. He roasts him right back.

Axel stretched his neck and munched on his ice cream. “You know, I don’t mind disappearing.”

Naminé’s breath caught.

Riku stared at him.

“Roxas is gone. When we bring Kairi here, Naminé will be gone, too. So, same for me,” he said, as if he were discussing the weather, and then punctuated his comment with another bite of sea-salt ice cream.

Then he suddenly gets dark. Out of nowhere, he says he wouldn’t mind disappearing. He knows that if he goes to help Kairi, he’ll have to face Saïx.

Xigbar and Saïx followed his glance, and there stood number 8—the Flurry of Dancing Flames, Axel.

“Good to be back.” With a smile curling his lips, he approached them and settled into seat number 8. He held a half-eaten ice cream pop. Pale blue sea-salt ice cream.

“What are you doing here?” The Claymore materialized in Saïx’s hand. “Foul traitor—”

He had to take the damn ice cream with him just to cope with it.

“Yeah, I figured you’d show up.” His smirk turned nastier as he turned to see Saïx. He didn’t take his eyes off the other man as he spoke to the girl in the cage. 

“Listen, Kairi! Trust me. I’m going to get you out!” Behind him, the portal closed.

“What are you saying…? Vile traitor!” The great Claymore took shape at Saïx’s back.

Axel didn’t waste a second grabbing his chakrams. But his body was reluctant somehow.

I don’t want to disappear… But still, it wouldn’t be so bad if I did. Not here.

Yep. He saw this coming. His body is still reluctant to fight. He felt like disappearing in that moment.

This is a pretty overwhelming disadvantage, Axel thought. Well, I knew that before we started fighting. I can’t win against Saïx with my own strength.

Still, he refused to hesitate. He had to force this path open.

He wanted…to find hope—the hope that Sora and Riku had.

I found it VERY telling that while Axel was being dealt a mortal blow by Saïx, he said he wanted to find the hope that Sora and Riku had. Sora still didn’t know that Riku was okay, but Axel knew he was.

“Do you need help with that?” Ansem asked him, glancing pointedly at his wounded chest.

“What’s the point? Nobodies aren’t supposed to exist, right?” Axel popped the rest of the ice cream in his mouth and dragged himself upright. 

“Besides, this way I’ll finally get to see Roxas again.” He tossed away the Popsicle stick and opened another dark rift in front of him.

“Well, I’m off, Ansem the Wise.” He smiled as he made his farewell.

He had to eat a LOT of ice cream to deal with the pain. Saïx just dealt him a mortal blow. He’s dying. And part of him doesn’t even WANT to live anymore.

In Twilight Town, the evening sun sank toward the horizon. Roxas was perched on the ledge, high up on the clock tower, watching the sunset and thinking of nothing in particular. He liked to sit up here where he could see the whole town.

“Finally awake, huh?”

Roxas looked up. “Axel…”

His only good friend—his best friend—Axel had arrived with two sea-salt ice cream pops.

And then he says goodbye to Roxas, stressing that he’s his ONLY good friend. They don’t want you to forget how hurt Axel was about Saïx.

Roxas gave a tiny nod.

He hadn’t thought he would get to have ice cream here with Axel one more time at the end. He hadn’t expected they would get to watch the sunset together.

The sea-salt ice cream tasted just like he remembered. The setting sun over Twilight Town was always so serene.

No matter how much misery or pain he was in, the light here was warm and gentle, Roxas thought.

“I’d better go.” He stood up. “Sora is waiting.”

“Oh. Right… You really can taste the sea salt in this, huh?” 

Axel turned away, his shoulders shaking. If he had no heart, then what were these feelings welling up in his chest supposed to be? Sorrow and…happiness?

Axel didn’t have a handle on it. But maybe not understanding these things was part of having a heart.

“See you, Axel,” Roxas told him.

And this is exactly why Lea simply chasing after Roxas in KH3 was NOT satisfying for me. Sure, I think he missed Roxas and had issues that needed to be resolved with him. But he had even worse unresolved issues with Isa. Axel was incredibly hurt by what he perceived as a betrayal. Axel cared about Isa more than anything in the world. And he repaid that by trying to kill him. Axel was trying to compensate by telling himself that he didn’t care—Roxas was his best friend now, anyways. And the only friend he ever had. Which is just B.S. It’s like a rebound relationship. That’s how Axel always came across to me.

Not to mention, Roxas had other friends. He didn’t remember Xion yet, but he had Hayner, Pence, and Olette. I’m sure Roxas wouldn’t want to be Lea’s only good friend, anyways. I adore Axel, but if you ask me, he was meant to be a dysfunctional character. He was cool. But needy and clingy. Axel clung to Roxas so desperately because his wounds over Isa were too painful to cope with. He was bitterly lonely. But he hid that side of himself from everyone. It’s why I found him so compelling. And in Days, he was still left all alone at the end. Xion had a greater purpose. She wanted to go back to Sora and left. Roxas also had one. He wanted to go find out who he really was and left him. But Axel had nobody else.

When he woke up after being recompleted, he had a dream about Roxas. Then he went to look for Isa. He was happy to forgive him even after everything he did. Lea was a brand new person at that point. He was filled with hope, and believed that anything was possible. Nothing would hold him back. He was on top of the word in KH3D. I loved it. The way he was depicted in KH3 felt so out-of-character to me. Even though Axel was lonely, he never came across that pathetic about it. He always stayed stoic and cool.

Roxas cared about Axel a lot. But Days made it VERY to me clear that Roxas wasn’t nearly as attached to Axel, as Axel was to him. The feeling was totally one-sided. KH3 regressed Lea’s character, in my opinion. Roxas was willing to leave Axel for good and not look back. Because he wanted his own life. And there was nothing wrong with that. I hated how Lea’s entire character arc in KH3 was reduced to sitting on the clock tower pouting about how he couldn’t bring Roxas back, with a pathetic expression on his face. Lea deserved so much better.

[saras-almanac]

What’s so frustrating to me is that there are kernels of good storytelling in Emmerdale currently but they either don’t trust themselves to write it, trust their audience to wait a little for it to happen naturally, or care to actually make it make sense within the narrative and the characters they’ve created. 

So Rebecca... it would be a lot easier to understand that she’s acting completely unlike herself if she, I don’t know, actually had a personality post ONS? Honestly, she came to the village as one person and over time she just changed to be whatever the narrative needed her to be. The problem with that is that she always feels out of character to me. As heartless as it might sound, this trend of Rebecca not caring for her son doesn’t feel as out of character as the show probably means it to be because to me her lack of character leading up to all this made it seem like she was having this baby out of spite for Robert and Chrissie. Of course, the show didn’t play that way, but like, they also didn’t really give Rebecca a voice post her demanding that she’s going to keep the baby because Robert wants her to terminate it. So in all honesty, this lack of care for Seb could just be her actual feelings manifesting because when you don’t want a baby 100% (*cough*Chas/Paddy*cough*), there’s probably going to be some resentment there. 

Of course, this is just one interpretation, but it’s something that could have easily been fixed if the show actually just allowed Rebecca to be a person instead of a plot womb. Everything still could have happened, but there could have been some comments on how Rebecca wasn’t a vicitm in this ONS. Let her own that a bit; the show completely forgets that she chased both before and after the ONS so like... where did her personality go? I’m just going to need more than Vic saying that things are bad and she’s not acting like herself for me to care more about what’s happening to Rebecca. 

Onto the Chas pregnancy thing... It’s so insulting that people have taken the stance to just “give it a go” because this will eventually be a baby? My thoughts are if you���re not 100% excited and sure of your decision to raise a child, then it has to be a no. All this talk of not wanting Chas to make a decision she’ll end up regretting. Not to be crass, but she could have a child after this even if she has an abortion now. The only decision she can’t undo is to actually have the child and decide she didn’t really want to raise it. On top of all that, Chas’s reasonsings for not wanting a baby stem from the fact that she messed Aaron up and doesn’t want to do that again. Why did we need this? She already had really good and valid reasons for not having a baby?? But those are not good enough because their selfish, apparently? It feels like we’ve been getting more of Paddy’s POV on why he wants a baby and not enough on Chas. 

It’s also incredibly rude and insulting that ED seems to think that the only way you can really have a bond with a child is through blood. 

Priya... I’m actually interested in where this situation is going. I can’t, in good faith, believe that ED is actually going to give us a child-abusing Priya because that’s really not something to mess around with. So I’m assuming that it’s not going to happen because I will be furious. 

But Priya’s had a bit of a rough time and all this pressure was bound to come crashing down on her eventually--welcome to the wonderful world of having anxiety my friend. Ever since her husband left, Priya has been trying to keep it all together and then she started an affair with Pete behind Leyla’s back (I’m still not sure why this was the route they went cause it came out of nowhere). Her break-down has been a long time coming in a sense. It’d be nice to see her and Robert maintaining that friendship they built the other week because if anyone knows what it feels like to hit rock bottom, my boy Rob does. 

Now the Laurel and Bob thing... I guess I get it? On one hand at least, but it feels incredibly out of character that Laurel would have slept with Bob to begin with and then is sneaking around Brenda’s back about it. 

That’s the thing with Emmerdale: they rely on cheating plots constantly because that’s Interesting and Fun and Sexy and Drama...but there are other ways to get there? The reason that Robert and Aaron worked so well as an affair storyline was because it was completely unexpected and they have such chemistry together. It doesn’t hurt that it all came crashing down around them when it all came out. 

Now, we have a BUNCH of cheating storylines (Moira and Cain while Cain was with Harriet, Leyla and David while David’s with Tracy, Laurel and Bob while Bob’s with Brenda). Those are just the ones from the past two months. 

Cain’s worked for me because of the emotional weight between him and Moria and then how it all came out to Harriet and she was allowed to feel whatever she was feeling. David’s doesn’t work because he’s an asshole who’s hiding it from his wife and then had the fucking gall to be an asshole to her for her past--from before she even knew him--while pretending like he’s husband of the year. While Tracy’s storyline lately was really good and well-acted, it lost so much of the punch because the entire time I’m like, David’s a dick girl, get out!

Now...Bob and Laurel don’t really have the chemistry to pull off this affair storyline. But you know what would have worked a lot better:  friends that are slowly developing feelings for each other. There’s no sex involved so there’s no actual cheating. It’s just the natural progression of some relationships that they have to work through. Bob’s worried that he just wants to try something new like a mid-life crisis or that he’s projecting onto Laurel. Laurel worried that she’s betraying Ashley and wondering if she’s latching onto Bob because he’s been there for her through so much. Are they really falling in love or is it something else? That could have gone on a bit and they would eventually have to come to some sort of decision. 

In summary, sometimes drama doesn’t have to come from cheating. It can come from other sources. Also... give characters personalities and you’ll be surprised how the story happens around them and to them. (It’s seriously like they’re trying to shove the circle block through the triangle hole and that just doesn’t work)

[bxebxee]

Do you have any kdrama recommendations? I want to watch another Miss oh but could also use some other recs. Thank you and p.s. I love your writing, thank you for sharing them with us ☺️

I have TONS of kdrama recs! Under the cut because it got long. 

1) Signal (16 episodes) - I enjoyed this so much, but it’s another one of those shows where you’re either automatically into it starting from episode 1 or not at all. I cried so hard at so many places because some of the storylines/events hit close to home. Fantastic acting, fantastic script, amazing direction… This had everything I ever wanted in a drama. It made me miserable at times in the best way. There was never a wasted moment. Also, I fell in love with ALL THREE OF THE MAIN LEADS.

2) Reply 1988 (20 episodes) - Great storytelling. Also, I know everyone had SO MANY issues with the whole romance portion, but it was never the writer’s intention to have the focus of this season be about who the husband was. This drama was hilarious at times, and there were so many moments where I had to pause so I could laugh without missing anything. This drama is particularly special to me because I watched it with mom and she pointed all the 80s stuff and we #bonded lol. 

3) Heartless City (20 episodes) - Noir done medium rare. It was visually pleasing to watch and Jung Kyungho… TTTT i’m a SUCKER okay. I’ve literally liked him since I was in high school, sue me! Anyway, I have a MAJOR issue with how they handled the main female protagonist’s story and the romance because it could have been perfect had they done a specific thing differently but… *shrugs* it was still good. 

4) Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People (30 episodes) - Literally the Hong Gil Dong legend has been done to death, but I’ll never get tired of it. Fun fact: I actually really don’t like historical dramas with few notable exceptions. This was great though because the writers set the backstory of Hong Gildong to mesh with Yeonsangun. Also, there was a specific brotherly moment that made me weep so hard while I was watching this eating dinner with my parents. And the DIALOGUE IN THIS. THE DIALOGUE. Oh my goddd, the oneliners are brilliant and it’s a historical drama!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? 

One last thing about this drama: I probably have a serious emotional attachment to this drama because of actual events that were happening in Korea. I doubt the writers were truly intending to have the timing of the show fit so well with real life events, but one of the best lines of this drama was “We don’t need to change the king’s mind. We just need to change the king.” 

5) High School King of Savvy (17 episodes) - I cautiously recommend this because of the whole minor/adult relationship. Also, I love Seo Inguk

6) Squad 38 (16 episodes) - another Seo Inguk drama! I love him! The humor in this show is amazing. The title itself is a portmanteau. 38사기동대 is pronounced “38 sagidongdae.” “Sagi” means scam and “Gidongdae” means unit/task force, and they put it together alksfjasdk! A tax collector goes around scamming rich tax evaders into paying their taxes. And that’s all I’m going to say about this drama because I want you to watch it.

7) Misaeng (16 episodes) - as an office worker, I #relate. Not much in the way of a story, but more character focused. It’s so good. It’s also really heavy stuff, so it can get really depressing to watch. 

8) Liar Game (12 episodes) - WHERE IS SEASON 2!? This drama was based on a manga. I never read the manga, but this drama was pretty good!!! There’s also scamming in this.

9) Oh My Ghostess! (16 episodes) - Park Boyoung plays a timid girl who gets possessed by ghosts, and Kim Seulgi plays a spunky ghost who has no recollection of how she died. Romance and Supernatural. There’s also a cooking element. (I literally wanted to write a ghost possession au just because of this show.) Bear in mind that this drama was super funny at times, but it also had really dark moments.

10) Splash Splash Love (2 episodes) - that’s right. 2 Episodes. Just Watch This if you don’t watch anything else on this list. It’s fusion historical, but it’s saved because Kim Seulgi is so funny. 

11) Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju (16 episodes) - it’s the lighthearted, coming-of-age rom-com I wanted after heavy dramas made me weak and emo. 

12) Let’s Eat Season 1 - I’m specifically recommending season 1 because I disliked season 2 so much. Season 1 had everything - food porn, mystery, romance, and did I mention the food????

13) My Daughter Seoyoung (50ish episodes? I think?) - It’s been a long while since I’ve seen this drama, but it was so much fun to watch. It’s one of those typical kdramas where an honest conversation would solve a lot of problems, but the acting makes it still enjoyable to watch and suspend your disbelief. Lee Boyoung and Lee Sangyoon had really good chemistry. 

14) Second Time Twenty Years Old (16 eps?) - Moral of the story: Be Good To Your Mom! It was such a heartwarming drama. Also, Choi Jiwoo is gorgeous. Like backing up a second, I found like a ridiculous amount of similarities between the main character in this drama and my mom, so obviously I’m rooting for the main character like 234235%. 

15) Who Are You—School 2015 (16 eps) - don’t be fooled. despite this being a “high school” setting drama, don’t take it lightly. I thought everyone acted really well and made this fun to watch. Bullying Is Bad!

16) High Society - Park Hyungsik but it was handled in such a tongue-in-cheek way that you could forgive it INSTANTLY.

17) Strong Woman Do Bongsoon (16 eps) - Park Boyoung AND Park Hyungsik AND Ji Soo. (But no really, this drama was so cute and I fell in love with Park Boyoung all over again.) 

18) Scent of a Woman (i forget how many eps. probably 16) - This is one of the CLASSICS. Woman-With-Terminal-Illness-Wants-To-Go-Through-Bucket-List. Romance Ensues. But it’s handled with such grace and depth in storytelling. 

19) Angry Mom (16 eps?) - suspend your disbelief for a second and imagine that your mom enrolls in your high school to find out who your bully is and then beat the ever loving shit out of them. :’) This show actually addresses some heavy topics. 

20) Valid Love (20 eps) - this show was fucking depressing and only watch it if you’re in the mood to get real emo real quick. I honestly had no idea what this drama was about going into it. All I saw were teasers for the main three characters, and I thought it was going to be about a drama regarding infidelity or a love triangle. Boy Was I Wrong. Infidelity was a big part of the drama, but it’s not the kind you’re expecting. 

21) Yong Pal (16 eps? maybe? i dont remember lol) - i fucking LOVE revenge dramas. Kim Taehee in red lipstick and REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE. It has a weak third act, but I’ll forgive it considering KIM TAEHEE IN RED LIPSTICK.

I am tired, so here are the rest without my lame opinions: 

22) It’s Okay, It’s Love

23) Pinocchio 

24) I Can Hear Your Voice 

25) Healer 

26) Witch’s Romance 

27) Discovery of Romance 

28) Kill Me Heal Me 

29) Can We Love? 

30) Fight My Way

[misssophiachase]

“I don’t need a Prince Charming saving me.” + KC, pretty please

Thanks darling Madina @arrenemris, great prompt (and so sorry for the delay). It became something unexpected so the prompt kind of evolved hehe. I was watching one of my fave Shakespearian film adaptions recently, so this modern spin is where the inspiration came from. Also because Beatrice and Benedick ARE Klaroline ( you know, just saying)! Also it is a bit of a different take on Klaus for once but I hope you like this still : )

Much Ado About Nothing

“Klaus Mikaelson doesn’t even need to act,” Katherine observed from the wings. She and Caroline were watching him and his younger brother Kol, who was playing Katherine’s love interest Claudio, rehearse centre stage. “He is Benedick.”

“Yeah, you’ve got that right. An arrogant and smug know-it-all,” Caroline muttered. “I can’t believe I have to kiss him, I mean who knows where those lips have been before? I might even need to sanitise my mouth afterwards.”

Klaus had quite the reputation in theatre circles as a ladies man and from all reports it was fairly common for his on-stage romances to carry over off-stage. But only for the duration of the production because after that he apparently moved onto his next project and next unwitting co-star. Caroline knew for a fact that she had no interest in being his latest victim.

“Well, I had to kiss his brother in rehearsal yesterday.”

“And?”

“It was okay, I suppose,” she offered indifferently, her eyes flickering to the front row of the theatre where the show’s director sat keeping a watchful eye over proceedings. While extremely handsome, Caroline had noticed just how brooding he was given the deep set frown he wore most of the time during rehearsals.

“But not an Elijah Mikaelson kind of kiss,” Caroline teased. The chemistry between the reverred director and Katherine, who was playing Hero, had been palpable to say the least.

“He’s far too serious for me,” she murmured, although her gaze remained unflinching.

“Yes, because that seems to be such an issue,” Caroline joked. “I can practically see the drool, Pierce.”

“Funny roomie,” Katherine drawled.

They’d been best friends for as long as Caroline could remember and it was comforting to have someone in the same field who always had your back, especially when you moved to a foreign and big city like London. For the most part she liked it, not only because it was a vibrant and intriguing city with plenty to do but because she felt a lot more immersed in her role being there. 

It was unusual to cast Americans for such classic Shakespearian roles but Katherine and Caroline were highly skilled actresses and had impressed Elijah Mikaelson during the audition. Something she’d been told wasn’t such an easy feat.

What she hadn’t expected was just how frustrating her co-star would be. She’d heard the stories about Klaus Mikaelson, everyone had, but Caroline liked to give people the benefit of the doubt given just how misleading the media could be when it came to celebrity gossip. 

Klaus however had proven to be just as insufferable as she’d expected. She would have complained but it was kind of difficult when one brother was the director of the production and the other one playing a leading role.

When she’d met Klaus at the initial table read a few weeks earlier, he’d been equal parts frustrating and arrogant. He may of been an outstanding actor, that much she couldn’t dispute, but he didn’t have to act like he knew it in front of the entire cast. Caroline knew types just like him and the thought of having to co-star in such close proximity was going to be a struggle. 

After rehearsals a few days later, Klaus had propositioned her and then, after she rejected his blatant advances, he’d proceeded to ignore her. Not only was he conceited, he was also a man child in her view.

Caroline had subsequently made the decision to act professionally on stage and then hopefully never cross paths with Klaus Mikaelson ever again. Unfortunately she had to get through another two weeks of rehearsals and a three month season on the West End before she could put any miles between them. 

The only upside she’d decided was being able to look at his pretty face for extended periods. He may of been an ass but there was no doubting his extremely good looks.

“You can’t lie to me Pierce, I know you too well,” Caroline replied.

“Says the girl who supposedly doesn’t want to kiss Klaus Mikaleson,” she sing songed, nudging her in the ribs teasingly.

“Who wants to kiss me?” A very familiar and annoying voice enquired behind them. She gave Katherine a brief dirty look and then closed her eyes momentarily, trying to come up with a sassy response. There was no way she was going to inflate his oversized ego any further. “I know I’m irresistible but..”

“Nobody,” she shot back, thinking just how lame it sounded. She spun around on her heel to face him defiantly, there was no way Klaus Mikaelson was going to intimidate her. “Unfortunately I have to do it though. Luckily I’m getting some form of monetary compensation for that particularly unpleasant task.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll try to make it as least unpleasant as possible for you, princess,” he quipped moving dangerously closer, those annoying dimples appearing from nowhere and flashing in her direction. Caroline only hoped that her cheeks weren’t as flushed as they felt at that particular moment.

“Listen up everyone,” Elijah called out from front of stage. Caroline was relieved for the interruption at that particular moment. Especially given he was standing entirely too close and his aftershave was messing with her concentration. “I want to practice the Benedick and Beatrice scene in Act 5 scene 2 after the break.” Caroline knew what that meant, the kiss she’d been dreading for weeks.

“I think he heard your desperate cries for that kissing scene,” Klaus smirked, his hot breath tickling her earlobe. She reached up attempting to swat him out of her personal space, making connection with his cheek. “How did you know I liked it rough?” Caroline didn’t respond, just pushed past him towards backstage. She needed a drink to steady her nerves, she just wished it was straight vodka and not water.

15 minutes later

Klaus was nervous, that much was obvious given the way he was pacing back and forth in his dressing room. He looked up at the wall clock wearily, knowing that he was due on stage already. Before he knew it Elijah would be bleating at him incessantly like when they were children.

Having his brother as director had definitely been an adjustment, so too Kol as his co-star. The media had joked in interviews in the lead-up that it was a family affair and Klaus had to hold his tongue before he shared his real thoughts on the matter. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his siblings but preferred their contact to be in much smaller doses. He was just happy that Rebekah hadn’t joined this project in her costume designing capacity given she was busy on another project in the States. Klaus could only take so much Mikaelson blood in his vicinity.

What he hadn’t expected was to meet Caroline Forbes. Sure, he’d heard about her impressive talents during the audition process but he hadn’t quite expected to almost lose his voice upon meeting her at the table read. She was even more stunning in person with those faultless, golden waves and creamy complexion. Then he’d heard her melodic laugh and Klaus wasn’t quite sure what to do. His pathetic response had been to put on an overly inflated and arrogant persona that Klaus liked to call his Mr Hyde impression.

Nobody knew it but Klaus had unpredictable, anxious tendencies (he liked to blame his parent’s dysfunctional marriage) which is why he’d taken up a career in acting. What better way to hide them than pretend to be someone completely different? 

It had worked for him thus far but Caroline’s sudden appearance had thrown him and his pretend playboy act into disarray and now seemed to have escalated out of control. First on the table read then his attempt to ask her out which had fallen flat. Klaus really shouldn’t have been surprised. He hated that character as much as it seemed Caroline did.

After his first college production the rumours had travelled thick and fast that he was some womaniser. The true story was that Hayley Marshall didn’t appreciate rejection and decided to make up her own story depicting him as some heartless romeo. Rather than address the rumours he’d chosen to embrace it. Klaus figured if women thought he was such a player then that meant he didn’t need to bother getting hurt. 

“Niklaus!” Elijah baulked, coming to the door and banging his hand against the frame. “We’re waiting, Your Majesty.” Klaus had to resist the urge to roll his eyes, let the incessant bleating begin.

“I need a minute,” he murmured softly.

“You’ve had multiple minutes,” he warned. “I’ve never known you to turn down a kissing scene, little brother.” He’d managed to even fool his own family it seemed. It was at that point Klaus decided he deserved a bloody Toni Award.

“I’m not feeling the best,” he uttered, feigning sickness. It was the one line he knew would work given Elijah’s deep aversion to germs. Klaus coughed, hoping that his act would convince his brother to call off rehearsal. Elijah considered him gravely before moving backwards and Klaus knew he had him.

“Well, in that case,” he muttered, retreating even further. “We’ll pick this up in the morning.” Klaus definitely deserved the ‘fooling your own sibling’ award, that was for sure. He was gone before Klaus could reply or add another fake cough for effect.

He momentarily wondered what Caroline would think about his sudden disappearance but for some reason he was just pleased he didn’t need to face her today. As pathetic as it sounded, Klaus was scared of what kissing those pink lips would mean. It had been so easy to fake with others until she turned up in his life unexpectedly. So beautiful, brash and intelligent and Klaus had no idea how to handle her.

45 minutes later

Caroline was annoyed. She’d psyched herself up for their possible kissing scene earlier and Klaus had been a no-show. She should have been relieved but for some reason she felt rejected, not surprising when it came to him. Apparently he was sick but there was no doubt Klaus was playing games with her. 

She’d headed down to the costume department shortly afterwards. One of her dresses had accidentally torn during the last scene and she needed trusty Ruth and her sewing machine to fix it before final dress rehearsal.

Caroline knocked on the door but there was no answer so she pushed it open slowly. The darkness enveloping Caroline telling her that everyone had gone home for the day after Klaus’ premature departure no doubt. She decided to remove the dress there and put one of the white robes nearby to return to her dressing room. After she’d come all this way she figured it was probably best given how soon they were due to open.

Caroline grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it upwards, she felt the light fabric inch over her warm skin from her thighs and over her abdomen softly. It wasn’t until she tried to ease it over her head that Caroline realised she was stuck. The dress wasn’t going any further and she was standing there unsure of what to do next to dislodge the material from her underwear clad body.

She inhaled slowly, feeling her claustrophobic tendencies returning with a vengeance. What the hell was she supposed to do now? It wasn’t like anyone could help her and she was growing increasingly worried about being found dead with her white dress strangling her body and cutting off all possible oxygen. If that wasn’t a visual to make you anxious she didn’t know what was.

Caroline heard a slight rustling from the corner of the room and froze. Were there mice in here and she didn’t know about it? Vermin and small spaces were definitely in her top five fears. She was just wondering which was going to be next. Spiders, snakes or birds. She continued in her pose, wondering if she could locate some scissors and cut this thing off her, even just to escape the mice.

“Hello? Who’s there?” She paused thinking that he was the worst person to find her in this precarious position.

“It’s just me.”

“I thought you were a mouse or, even worse, a bird,” she squeaked, silently relieved. If all else failed, Caroline figured you should try to distract said sexy but arrogant actor with a serious personality problem.

“Not so white and furry, plus I don’t like cheese,” he offered. She had to fight the urge to smile even in her current and awkward state.

“That’s blasphemous,” she chided. “Don’t ever say that if you try to cross the border into France.”

“They don’t like us English much anyway, so no great loss,” he quipped. Caroline was surprised to hear him being so easy going and friendly after their previous encounters. “As much as I’d like to ignore the elephant in the room, do you need some help, love?” Suddenly she felt their fragile relationship going back to where they started off. Bastard.

“I bet you’d love that,” she hissed, trying to remember to breathe through her growing anger. “I don’t need some ‘pretend’ prince charming trying to save me. What are you doing here anyway, Mikaelson? Spying on me?”

He didn’t speak for a while, Caroline would have guesses in her current predicament at least forty seconds, she could hear his increasing and ragged breathing from this vantage point though. She wasn’t quite sure how to take that silence, especially partially dressed. As much as she wanted to beg for help it wasn’t in Caroline’s make-up to show weakness. 

“I was resting actually. A room full of costumes and no one else kind of relaxes me.” Caroline wasn’t quite sure how to take it but his sincere tone was telling her she may of misjudged him initially.

“Do you like try them on or something?” She asked, against her better judgment.

“No,” he chuckled softly. “I just kind of sit here in silence.”

“Seriously? Are you playing with me again?”

“Surprisingly no,” he conceded. Caroline couldn’t miss his sincerity yet again.

“Am I on Punk’d or something?”

“Well, if you are,” he offered. “Might I suggest you get that dress off and stop flashing your underwear sooner rather than later.” Caroline had to admit, he did have a point. She’d kind of forgotten her bare predicament in all of their banter.

“You tell anyone about this and I kill you,” she threatened.

“Noted.”

Before she knew it, Caroline could feel his hands sliding over her abdomen and brushing the skin on her arms softly. 

Caroline shuddered involuntarily thinking this was obviously his ploy to get women into his bed. She made a mental note to reject him as soon as this dress wasn’t strangling her. It took all of five second for the material to loosen and her sight was restored. Unfortunately it was restored straight into his dark, blue eyes that were watching her intently. If she wasn’t pretty much naked Caroline knew she could have stayed there with him like that.

She eventually managed to avert her eyes, finding a stray robe hanging nearby. Caroline threw it on, knowing that as soon as she was clothed the weird tension would hopefully dissipate. Unfortunately it didn’t, their gaze still unwavering. Suddenly all the insults and quips weren’t enough to save Caroline and she had no idea why.

30 seconds later

She was beautiful. Klaus knew that without having to witness her partially dressed in the costume department. He’d been surprised to hear a slight knocking and then see Caroline enter, attempting to take off her dress for some reason. 

Klaus had tried to look away, his eyes immediately averted. The one thing he respected was privacy and the fact she didn’t know he was sitting there wouldn’t bode well. It wasn’t until she got stuck that Klaus knew he needed to intervene but how exactly?

He’d managed to find his voice, although it was difficult given her stunning form in such close proximity. He’d been surprisingly playful until she dressed herself and then things became awkward, their eyes unflinching.

“I should get going,” he barely managed.

“What? No smart and untoward sexually charged remark?” Klaus immediately felt bad. He’d been so busy playing a foreign role to repel her that he’d forgotten how to be the guy he actually was. Suddenly, Klaus knew he didn’t deserve anyone’s sympathy after his behaviour.

“I’m so sorry,” he admitted. “I have a tendency to act like a jerk because it’s easier than being myself.” He noticed her face softening slightly.

“So, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s wrong with yourself exactly?”

“That’s an extremely long story,” he smiled, knowingly.

“So how about you tell me about it, over dinner. You know when I’m properly dressed,” she offered. “And just so you know, I have no intention of putting out, Mikaelson.“ 

“Are you at least going to tell me about the bird phobia?” He teased.

“Funnily enough, that’s an extremely long story too. It involves a mean pelican and my seventh birthday party cake”

The tabloids were feverish with the news that leading theatre couple Klaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes had cemented their onstage relationship off stage a few months later. 

Caroline and Klaus didn’t care what the rumoured reporting was because they knew what they shared was the real thing unlike everything else that had come before it.

You can read on FF HERE

[theinquisitivej]

‘Gifted’ - A Movie Review

Starring Chris Evans and child actress Mckenna Grace, ‘Gifted’ is a film by Mark Webb that tells the story of Mary, a six year old girl being raised by her uncle Frank. Despite the love they share for one another, Frank struggles raising her by himself, especially as Mary is a child prodigy with a remarkable talent for Mathematics. Her teachers encourage him to send Mary to a school that can facilitate her gifts, but he is reluctant to do so, believing that she deserves a chance to live a normal life among other children her age, and that sending her to such an institution will make her feel even more isolated from everyone else. This leads to a custody battle between Frank and Mary’s grandmother, whose past and relationship with Mary’s deceased mother has led to a determination to cultivate Mary’s abilities and develop her into the next influential genius in the field of mathematics.

          I was interested in ‘Gifted’, as the two central performances the story hinges upon drew my attention. Films that centre on a child character usually necessitate a confidence in the strengths of its child actors; critics and audiences alike are, perhaps unfairly, especially critical of child actors. A weak performance from a child is much more noticeable than a weak performance from an adult. To be fair on them, not all of the pressure rests on their shoulders – writers have a daunting job ahead of them when putting together dialogue for children that feels natural and appealing for an audience to watch.

          Despite these obstacles, Mckenna Grace turns in a solid performance that has more care and consideration to it than a lot of other ones I’ve seen from less competent adult actors. She engages with the other actors in a way that makes her character seem aware of what they are saying, without always understanding exactly what they mean. She exudes a sense of curiosity that is natural for any child, but she also offers a lot of the kind of considerate insight that we forget children are capable of. Finally, when it comes to demonstrating Mary’s gifts and astute calculations, she does so in a way that doesn’t make it seem strange or unusual for a young girl to be able to do these kind of things, just that it’s part of who she is and the result of a mind with its own strengths and weaknesses, just like any other kid. I wouldn’t go so far as to rank it as highly as Dafne Keen’s performance from ‘Logan’ earlier this year (another film that shows a superhero finding themselves in the unexpected position of taking care of a young girl), but I absolutely think ‘Gifted’ is a decent film due to the merits of this child performance alone.

          The other most notable performance in the film is Chris Evans as Frank, Mary’s guardian and parental figure. I am fascinated by casting choices which take actors who are usually associated with kickass heroes, but instead show them as vulnerable and powerless men when confronted with issues of family and fatherhood. The film that started this interest of mine was the exceptional 2013 film ‘Prisoners’, in which Hugh Jackman gave one of the best performances of his career as the masculine head of a household losing his grip on his identity and morality as he struggles to protect his own family.

          I wouldn’t say that Evans turns in as transformative a performance as Jackman did in ‘Prisoners’. After all, the virtues of Evans’ take on Captain America is that he sells the fact that Steve Rogers never lost the perspective or personality traits of a down-to-earth guy who just wanted to do the right thing. Taking an actor best known for this type of performance and having him play Frank, a simple but not unintelligent guy who tries his best to do right by someone depending on him, is not radically different to what we’re used to seeing Evans do. Still, this is a great role for Evans, as it enables him to show off what he can do when playing a guy who isn’t always sure if he’s doing the right thing. Evans and Grace share excellent chemistry that warms the heart, and gets you invested in the relationship between their characters from the word go. You never doubt that Frank deeply cares about Mary, and you might not buy the possibility that she would be better off without him, but you can believe that Frank would doubt himself. This is where some of the film’s best conflict comes from, and it works because Evans turns in a successful performance as a strong man who wishes he could be stronger for the people that mean the most to him.

          The film’s performances and characters are what props it up. Jenny Slate plays the teacher who discovers Mary’s gifts and unwittingly leads the Grandmother straight to her. Slate’s voice has a very upbeat quality to it, which she has used to great effect as a voice actor for Widget in ‘Secret Life of Pets’, Harley Quinn in ‘The Lego Batman Movie’, and the Mayor’s lamb secretary from ‘Zootopia’, so I’m glad to see her play a character who brings a sweet, positive element to a live-action film. Lindsay Duncan plays the grandmother, and while her naturally cool, classy British accent makes her a strong force of opposition for Frank to go up against, I appreciated her injecting the character with some humanity and emotional moments. It ensures that the story avoids reducing the other side to a heartless monster, and makes you at least appreciate some of what the grandmother is trying to do, even when she can act cold at times. Even the friendly neighbour played by Octavia Spencer, who initially seems like the stereotypical Oscar-bait supporting black character whose life revolves around helping the lives of these pretty white people, is played with conviction and sincerity, making me appreciate her presence in the film.

          What prevents this good film from being an all-out classic is that, once you take the performances out of the equation, there’s not a lot of other memorably great qualities to talk about. The cinematography is solid throughout, and we see a range of colours across a set of diverse locations, but apart from one scene which holds on the silhouette of Frank and Mary against a setting sun as they discuss God in a sweetly low-key way as they play, the film doesn’t have a huge amount of striking or memorable visuals. I was engaged in the plot, but that was probably only because I cared for the characters. Otherwise, things proceed in a predictable fashion with few twists and turns that haven’t been explored a hundred times before. The soundtrack was also very safe, accompanying moments and signposting the key emotion you’re supposed to be responding to them with, but rarely enhancing them in the same way that truly great music can in movies. Some people may also be turned off by the movie for it being overly saccharine, and while it never got too bad for me, it did come dangerously close to over-egging the pudding from time to time. Still, I’ll hold my hand up and freely admit that the scene in the hospital waiting room did get to me and make me tear up, which few films this year have been able to do.

          ‘Gifted’ is a movie that will struggle to stay in the public consciousness for its lack of a striking identity, but if you’re in the mood for a sweet movie with a range of commendable performances, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

7/10.

Somewhat predictable, but held up by strong performances that make you care about its characters.

[oxfordeliterp]

CONGRATULATIONS, PEYTON!

You have been accepted to play the role of LANA CHAMBERS with the faceclaim of IM JINAH. Please create your account and send it to the main in the next 24 hours. I know that there was no other application for this role, but even if it were, I can’t imagine anybody being able to capture who Lana is as a person better than you did. The application is immaculate, beginning to end, and you are clear proof of not only a talented writer, who twists words around with incredible skill, but also an amazing, vivid story-teller. Your paragraph sample caged my heart and it is yours forever, for you developed, with just the right amount of humor and snark, a balanced dynamic that I would sell my soul to read more of. Maybe soon. Anyway, I cannot wait to see the things Lana has to do that keep her too busy for love, for she already is such an asset and I believe you’ve only begun unfolding her.

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

Name and pronouns: Peyton, they/them pronouns

Age: 19

Time-zone: EST/-5 GMT

Activity level: It’s actually the end of the semester for me so I have a lot of free time! I’d give myself a 7/10 though because I do have a job, but with summer right around the corner I’d love to get back into roleplaying.

Triggers: None!

IN CHARACTER INFORMATION

Desired character: Lana Theodora Chambers

I love Lana because she is more than the stereotypical mean girl trope, having many hidden layers that make her only more complex. She’s unassuming with her background and scholarship, yet a shark in the water that no one at Oxford could have ever prepared for. She’s smart, witty, and acts like the ground is blessed the moment she walks on it. I admired the fact that Lana is so great and unapologetic about it because I believe there needs to be more female characters like that. A character like her is so important as she stays true to herself (even if she isn’t the most moral human being) and breaks the stereotypes that come with her kind of character. Gender and pronouns of the character: Cis female. She/her/hers.  A crystal clear idea of what is meant to be masculine and what is meant to be feminine was ingrained in her from a young age. With her parents holding their more traditional beliefs, sons were celebrated, considered to be a great honor and cherished by their families, while daughters were but a small happiness. As the only child of the Chambers family, there was extra pressure for Lana to prove that she is a child to be proud of and oh how she has rubbed it in their faces.  

Changes: I was just wondering if I could change her faceclaim to Im Jinah? 

Traits: a m b i t c h i o u s → To say Lana aspires to be at the top would be a severe understatement. If she wants something, she fights tooth and nail and takes it. One thing people can say about Lana is that she has the uncanny ability to never give up. She’s worked too hard, put in too much effort to allow herself to slip now. In her hungry, unyielding eyes, she has yet to take everything the world owes her. When she’s surrounded by those who get whatever they want served to them on a silver platter, her perseverance and her determination will bring her on top of all of them. i n t e l l i g e n t ��� She learned four languages by the time she was seventeen. Auditoriums full of people would applaud after she played during her piano recital. Her poetry left those in awe as the words flourished, dripping down her chin like honey. She’d leave teachers singing her praise as she excelled academically, top of her class in every class, and captain of as many clubs she could be in. It’s impossible to deny that Lana has an impressive mind and may be one of the brightest girls of her age. Although she does not stand out quite as much in Oxford as she did back home, she isn’t going to let that inhibit her showing off her intellect in any way. She’s worked three times as hard as the rest of them and she’s going to prove her worth. r a t i o n a l → Lana is a fairly realistic thinking person. She’s goal orientated while keeping the important things the same. When she’s angry there are no fires burning down forests, and when she’s upset there are no oceans flooding cities. She watches Gwendolyn and her other peers and sees them for what they are– entitled dreamers without a care in the world. She’s the first to come up with a solution under pressure, the one to go to for guidance if she is willing to give you it, the one who keeps going despite any hardships. Lana is the type who appears to never lose her cool or allow herself to get carried away, if her head is in the clouds then she will lose sight of the path she’s been taking, both feet on the ground. i n s e n s i t i v e  → To put it plainly, Lana cares for few people, and none of her peers at Oxford have proved show they are worth caring about. She’s got a tongue sharp as a whip and has no problem cutting even those she is friendly with down to size. She didn’t get into Oxford University on scholarship to make friends or to try and turn herself around. Her whole life has been taking what is rightfully hers, leaving bodies in her self righteous wake as she adamantly bulldozes her way forward. From what she knows, and she knows a lot, the world is a cruel place. Call her a cynic, call her immoral, call her a heartless bitch, she’ll just examine her nails and ask if you said anything important. i c y  → If Gwendolyn is fire then Lana is ice, cold and calculating just like the slow touch of winter. She is fresh fallen snow, beautiful but it’s best if you do not touch. She’s the type of person to stare at you blankly when you approach her, not so patiently waiting until you walk away if you take too long to get to the point. Lana can ignore someone or rip their head off if they made the wrong move and honestly it’s impossible to tell which reaction she will go for. She is cold and harsh and comes off as someone who cares for so little it’s actually fairly alarming. c o n t r o l l i n g → It is no mystery that Lana loathes being held back and makes her own rules as if it is her own divine right. The moment she walks into the room she radiates power, and like so many others, said power goes right to her head leading her to be controlling and manipulative. She’s extremely perceptive and will store up gossip while oozing charisma that leaves people in awe the moment she opens her mouth. Lana is self serving and power hungry and will not allow anyone to stand in her way or let them inhibit her with their own issues. No exceptions.

Extras:

headcanons.

She’s actually changed her major quite a few times upon getting accepted into Oxford. From political science major to mathematics major to classical studies to biomedical engineering, Lana was actually unsure what she wanted to do. With such a brilliant mind she knew she was perfectly capable of doing just about anything. Finally, she has settled on pursuing a law degree and got into Oxford’s graduate program with flying colors.

Lana is an excellent dancer. While she enjoys many of her extra curricular activities, she’s been attending classes since she was little and it has a special place in her heart. With a ponytail tied tightly on top of her head, she would walk in with the same air of authority she has to this day. Unlike what her personality and appearance may give off, she loves ballet with a passion (although she occasionally she does contemporary dance as well), she can practice it for hours and relieve her stress that way. Her routines are impressive, like everything else she does, and when she was small her dream was to be a dancer.

Her father had left the family when she was too young to remember, not that she cares if he ever comes across her mind. It isn’t something she’s supposed to feel guilty over all and she barely remembers him. Her entire life has been her, her mother, and grandmother all under one roof. Her halmeoni was born and raised in South Korea, and is a big inspiration for Lana as she is a proud woman who takes no shit and goes right for the jugular. Lana loves her and hates her at the same time, mostly because their temperaments are so similar. Her mother is not negligent, albeit distant from her one and only daughter. She’s worked everyday during Lana’s childhood in order to make ends meet. The dynamic between the three of them is not very close, but still they’re family and one thing she took away from her upbringing was how your own blood trumps everything else.

Lana is bisexual, with no particular preference for one or the other. She does get around, however, as human contact is important for the mind and she knows that. She doesn’t have the time or optimism for anything long term though.

here’s some incorrect quotes for lana because they made me laugh.

lana: gwendolyn and i have the kind of easy chemistry where we finish each other’s- gwendolyn: sentences lana: please don’t interrupt me

nicohlas: you read my diary? lana: at first, i didn’t realize it was your diary. i thought it was a very sad, handwritten book

jacob: you’re probably one of those beautiful women that don’t even know it lana: no, i know it

lana: sophia, thanks for agreeing to see me sophia: i didn’t, you just walked in and started talking lana: i don’t have time for a history lesson

jacob: can we talk, one ten to another? lana: i’m an eleven, but continue

also here is a pinterest board for lana!

PARA SAMPLE

Lana pools her hands into her bag for the pack of Marlboro reds, her mother’s words echoing in her head as she does so. That stuff’s poison, the more you smoke the more you’re killing yourself and me. She knows it’s a bad habit and she tells herself she’ll break it by the she graduates. Realistically, cigarettes don’t have an adverse affect on your health if you only smoke them for a few years. Besides, with Sophia failing to get back to her, she needed something to take the edge off. There was always some sort of edge to Lana, in her voice, her body language, her opinions, she supposed was always sort of high strung (or as she preferred to think, high maintenance).

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, she wasn’t out at parties snorting angel dust in the bathroom, craving a constant high she couldn’t handle the harshness of reality. She wasn’t like that. She wasn’t like them. Life is tough but so is she, tougher than anyone else she knew. A little self medication here and there so she could stay focused and grounded was not something to feel ashamed about. Lana was more concerned with the consequences if people found out, if the perfect ice queen turned out to not be so perfect. She couldn’t allow the scholarship she fought so viciously for to slip through her fingers like sand.

“Thank god.” She mutters under her breath, pulling the carton out, finding a lighter already nestled in between the cancer sticks. The flame erupts and she watches it briefly, before bringing a cigarette to her lips and lighting it. Lana feels the smoke enter her body, swirling around her lungs, before exhaling out the open window. Oxford University on a Friday night meant parties and the rich’s definition of mischief, something she wanted no part of. She leans on the window sill, eyes ice skating around her view of the campus. Drunk students stumbling around, party music blasting in the distance, and lights flickering all around, she couldn’t believe this was an esteemed private school sometimes.

Lana looks at the cigarette for a moment, letting it burn. She could think of something poetic here, something deeper and better than the thousands of bland male writers that describe how a woman is like a cigarette. It’s familiar and she can’t quite put her finger on it until her mind goes back to her tan, witty but not as witty as her, Romeo.

Perhaps not Romeo. Things did not end well for him and he was too much of a cliché for Lana’s liking. Anyone could be a romantic these days.

The homecoming ball was an event she reveled in, enjoying dressing herself up and enhancing the beauty she already possessed. Although there was only so much of Gwendolyn’s rambling that Lana could listen to before needing a break, causing the girl to escape and find solace on the marble steps of the building and curbing her nicotine craving. The architecture taking her breath away as she sat in blissful silence– until she was rudely interrupted by a handsome stranger. Not that handsome was that much of a compliment, he was conventionally attractive after all.

“Mind if I sit with you?”

“Depends. What’s in it for me?”

“A stimulating conversation.”

“Stimulating? I’m already starting to fall asleep, pretty boy.”

“You think I’m pretty?”

She was amused, something that was near impossible for anyone to do. Yet, as he sat down next to her she found herself to be more welcoming than usual. After much contemplation, Lana figures it was the champagne that had caused her to be friendly to the boy. There wasn’t anyone worthwhile at Oxford, no one that would come across her mind once or twice. None of the boys there were King Midas, she was golden without their touch. The girls were more tolerable, though ultimately just as entitled.

“These things are such bullshit.”

I rather like them.

“They’re just another way for the entitled elitists around here to prance around like everyone cares about their Dior suits and Versace bags. The champagne’s good, though.”

“I thought all girls liked Versace.”

“I thought boys thought of girls to be something more than their clothes.”

“Of course. We care about what’s underneath.”

“You’re a neanderthal.”

Despite herself, he had made Lana laugh. She allowed herself to get lost in the moment for once. He had this charisma to him and she found herself being pulled deeper into the water until she was drowning in the conversation. They talked about school and philosophy and this and that. Not that it got personal– Lana had the ability to make people feel as if they knew a lot about her without giving away any secrets. A lost and nosy Gwendolyn had found the two and she had to deal with the same warning the leader had told them since she was recruited into the Quarrel Club, stay away from the Riot Club.

She remembers leaving her half lit cigarette by his side as she was ushered back inside. Not that it mattered now. They didn’t even exchange names and perfect strangers came and went. Her grandmother always told her to stay away from things like love, and to focus on her future because she was going to be something great and couldn’t afford any distractions. Lana was convinced she’d never allow anyone to get close to her. She had things to do.

[imyourplusone]

The Winter of Our Discontent

4.15 Winter Finale thoughts on Dembe, the subtle and not so subtle Lizzington and some other stuff…

Well first the Loulou character was fantastic but learning the reason behind her name was really lovely. Tptb may be brainless at times but not heartless and how wonderful to know they heard the voices of the many fans wanting to honor their friend. I didn’t know her but you have to think she was somewhere smiling at Red and “Lou Lou” breaking and entering and talking about Elizabeth. This was a class act by the writers and they should be commended

Thoughts:

-What do you bring the most wanted when he’s under the weather? A fruit basket of course because who doesn’t like papaya. And apples but thats neither here nor there. So Red and Lizzy may be the heart of the TBL but I think Aram is its soul and conscience. Thanks for the big No! Aram it meant a lot coming from a friend.

-The great extras: We’re back at the weird little apartment with Mr. Cattington. Glen and his awesome self making a surprise appearance. Red driving a green saturn station wagon I honestly can’t and shaking the pill bottle at the doctor. Also hot wiring the car….did he learn that from Lizzy when they were on the run hehe. He’s such a badass and the putting on the fedora one handed porn thing. Damn Red.

-I see you Lizzy and you’re not fooling anyone. So who was it that Red called when he learned of the poisoning? Who did he go to? Who MET HIM IN THE PARKING GARAGE AND RODE WITH HIM IN THE ELEVATOR BECAUSE SHE COULD’T WAIT TO SEE HIM? Lizzy that’s who. Who had little to say as Red explained his predicament because THEY WERE TOO BUSY PACING BEHIND HIM UNTIL HIS COUGHING PREVENTED HIM SPEAKING AND SHE PLACED HER HAND ON HIS BACK AND TOOK OVER THE BRIEFING. Elizabeth that’s who! 

-Well I knew Spader would do that poisoning justice but wow and wow again! He is a gift. Oh and Red is so horrible that the woman he threw in a trunk ends up trusting him, helping him and wishing him well. Ha! Take that Coop and you too Donald just for good measure. “I hope you get to see Elizabeth again.” Loulou you speak for us all and thank you.

-Red is now unwilling to go gentle into that good night. Calling out for Elizabeth and that little moment thinking of the possibility she would miss him. Her’s is the name he speaks when it seems all hope is lost. This woman he loves. This woman who is his heart. I can still ship that all day every day.

-way Way WAY too much time spent on this Panetti situation that could have been used for Liz at Red’s side at the end. Then our discontent would be delight but instead the emotional payoff is lacking. This was a good episode and Spader makes it a great episode but they could have taken it so much further. This is what tptb do though. Leave out the missing ingredient which is the emotional connection between Red and Lizzy. Not to be dramatic but the absence of this connection is throwing the universe out of whack.

-So we didn’t get our bedside scene but I see you Liz standing vigil outside the mobile unit. I see the fear and emotion and I’ll ignore Coop and focus on Lizzy with Aram comforting her because he knows. She wanted to see Red and that is what counts.

And last but not least….

-Dembe drove Red to the mobile medical unit and waited until he was stabilized before leaving so you know what It’s All Good. People don’t go around wasting perfectly good poison by taking their intended victim to the doctor. Also, if Samar can track Red using a diblock copolymer nanoparticle marker in the brown dye in his overpriced Zegna ties then certainly someone can slip a mickey in his damn bottle of scotch!

Wait one more thing….Whoever poisoned Red knew his medical history intimately and had the toxin designed for his body chemistry. We don’t yet know the extent of the damage!  Well hell.

[showbizchicago]

Reviewed by: Jim Schneider

Lyric Opera is drawing to the conclusion of their 2016-2017 series with a new production of George Bizet’s classic opera about out of control passion, Carmen; an opera containing some of the most well-known melodies and loved by many.

When it premiered at the Opera Comique in Paris on March 3, 1875 it was considered one of the most scandalous operas to ever be performed and, seeing it again made me realize why. Carmen is what I refer to as a down and dirty opera that generates from the groin; it is hot blooded, Spanish and as seamy a story as any found in romance fiction today.

Carmen, a Spanish gypsy who men find devastating, works in a cigarette factory in Seville, Spain occupied with soldiers. A young girl, Micaela (in one of the strongest, most well-rounded performances of the evening by Eleonora Buratto) is in love with a Spanish soldier, Don Jose, and has come with a message from his mother telling of her approval of Micaela as a wife for her son. Being the dutiful son he tells her he will follow his mother’s wishes.

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The bell rings inside the factory signaling a smoke break for the girls where Don Jose meets Carmen for the first time and instantly falls in love with her. Carmen teases him by tossing a flower at him before going back into the factory. Shortly screams are heard in the factory and the girls run out asking the soldiers for help. Carmen has slashed another girl across the face with a knife, a foreshadowing of things to come.

Carmen is arrested by Lieutenant Zuniga (superbly performed by Bradley Smoak) and he tells Don Jose to lock her up. She pleads with Don Jose and offers him her love if he will let her escape, which he does.

Now considered a traitor by his men, Don Jose is forced to leave his regiment and he runs into the mountains with Carmen. Six months has passed and she has grown tired of her controlling new lover and wishes to be rid of him. Being a gypsy and superstitious she draws cards from the pack to let her know of their future and comes up with the death card; she realizes that Don Jose will be the end of her.

Glamorous bullfighter Escamillo, (in an outstanding comical performance by Christian Van Horne who possesses a velvety bass voice rich in tone) enters and Carmen is immediately attracted to him, which enrages Don Jose, threatens to kill her if she leaves him.

In the final act, which takes place at the bullfighting arena where Carmen is waiting for her new lover, Escamillo when she is warned about Don Jose being in the crowd. Carmen, unapologetic and unafraid, laughs this off. After the crowd has gone inside to witness the bullfight Don Jose approaches Carmen and pleads for her not to leave him. Carmen, although still very much in love with Don Jose, does not want to be controlled by any man at the cost of her freedom, and rejects him again. Since he can’t have her he kills the only thing he has ever loved and the curtain falls with him weeping over her dead body.

The libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy combined with Bizet’s lush, passionate and memorable score makes a compelling opera; it is intimate in scope and gets lost in vast spaces.

Director Rob Ashford’s inspiration for Carmen derived from a famous Picasso painting “Guernica” which he translates into his conceptual design. He has also moved the action from 1875 to the Spanish Civil War of 1936-37 where fascists attempt to overthrow democracy (quite timely and relevant with what is going on in America at present with the demonstrations).

Rob Ashford’s concept unfortunately comes off passionless and unengaging in the much acclaimed Lyric production, lacking any true passion. If fact this is the most passionless production of Carmen I have seen. I never got the feeling that Ashford really understood the through line of the opera and that Carmen was a woman capable of intense love and does love Don Jose. However her Achilles heel is that she is largely a character who does not want to be controlled by passion or love. It appears that Ashford has directed his Carmen (sung beautifully by Russian soprano Ekaterina Gubanova) to remain distant and aloof which limits the complexity of his heroine and completely undermines her character development, making for a shallow and clichéd characterization. It is apparent that Gubanova is highly capable of delivering such a Carmen but her hands appeared to be tied and, as a result, she just wanders across the stage striking poses, fanning herself and falling into the trap of every cliché of a heartless and cold Gypsy prostitute.

In the role of Don Jose baritone Joseph Calleja does not fare much better, only acting from the head; his body and gestures are largely stiff. It is apparent why the Lyric engaged him as his voice is one of the finest tenor voices in opera. However he appears lost at times and director Rob Ashford has not done him any favors when staging his big aria where he confesses his love for Carmen “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” with him downstage facing out and her lying upstage directly behind him on a table with her back to him. Much of the problem with the lack of chemistry between Gubanova and Calleja lies in the fact that they are seldom singing to one another but always facing out and at separate places on the stage; they cannot and do not connect for much of the evening.

The scene in Act two with the revolutionary Gypsies singing about the gypsy way of life, Dancaire (Emmett O’Hanlon), Remendado (Mingjie Lei) and Carmen’s good friends Frasquita (Diana Newman) and Mercedes (Lindsay Metzger) works very well and all four give delightful performances.

I also must fault the set design by David Rockwell as being one of the most singer unfriendly designs I have recently seen in opera, most apparent with the dramatic final act and layout of the entrance to the bullfighting arena where the singers are forced to play out because we lose their voices if the try to face one another. The result is a highly unnatural, look front and deliver staging of an opera that demands a highly naturalistic approach and visceral connection between the main players. Ashford’s production is highly presentational which works completely against Bizet’s score and the action of the libretto. I will credit him with the wise choice of translating many of the recitatives which are sung into a naturalistic dialogue, making the opera more accessible to non-opera goers.

Julie Weiss’ bland costume design is largely devoid of color and reinforces the passionless world of Ashford’s vision, lacking in individuality of characters by having all of the women in the cigarette factory in variations of the same black dress.

In contrast Donald Holder’s lighting design is Technicolor and provides the scorching heat and vibrancy which should have been carried through the rest of the design.

As always the Lyric chorus was in outstanding form and produced a tremendous wall of sound in their crowd numbers. Likewise the Lyric orchestra under the baton of Harry Bicket played Bizet’s score with passion and urgency.

Choreographer Rob Ashford states in his notes of the important role of the dancing in Carmen and his dancers and choreography are top notch. However I often found them to be distracting, especially when they mirror the action of the main couple, thus creating a further barrier to the intimacy of the story, drawing the eye away of action that should take precedence.

I think that Rob Ashford’s idea of making his Carmen more theatrical and less operatic is a wise move for engaging newer opera patrons. In fact this is the perfect opera for a new opera-goer. However much of it did not translate or form a cohesive whole. As a result we are given a mixed bag of ingredients instead of a fully baked vision.

Carmen runs at Lyric Opera of Chicago through March 25th. Tickets are available at www.lyricopera.org.

Lyric Opera’s Newest CARMEN Is Beautifully Sung, Poorly Acted Reviewed by: Jim Schneider Lyric Opera is drawing to the conclusion of their 2016-2017 series with a new production of George Bizet’s classic opera about out of control passion, …

[dontreallycareaboutthename]

2013 And the award goes to..

Drama of the Year - Secret

Disappointment of the Year - When A Man Loves, The Heirs

Something Went Wrong - Marry Him If You Dare, Flower Boys Next Door, 7th Grade Civil Servant

Channel of the Year - ?

Best Drama - Secret

Best Comedy - Reply 1994, Master’s Sun

Best Actor - Ji Sung as Jo MinHyuk (Secret), Joo Won as Park ShiOhn (Good Doctor), Bae SooBin as Ahn DoHoon (Secret)

Best Actress - Hwang JungEum as Kang YooJung (Secret)            

Best Rookie (Discovery) - Kim SeulGi (Flower Boys Next Door), Yoo YunSuk (Reply 1994)

Best Couple - So JiSub as Joo JoongWon and Gong HyoJin as Tae GongShil/Taeyang (Master’s Sun), Lee BoYoung as Jang HyeSung and Lee JongSuk as Park SooHa (I Hear Your Voice), Ji Sung as Jo MinHyuk and Hwang JungEum as Kang YooJung (Secret)

Best Couple That Did Not Happen - Go AhRa as Sung NaJung and Yoo YunSuk as Kim SeonJoon/ChilBong (Reply 1994)

Best Kiss - Jung KyungHo as Jung ShiHyun/Doctor's Son and Nam GyuRi as Yoon SooMin (Heartless City)

Best Bromance - Jung KyungHo as Jung ShiHyun/Doctor's Son and Yoon HyunMin as Kim HyunSoo (Heartless City)

Triangle of Death - Jung KyungHo, Yoon HyunMin, Lee JaeYoon (Heartless City)

Best OST - Master’s Sun

Best Innovation (Content) - Good Doctor, Reply 1994

Special Award - My Daughter SeoYoung (if you want to watch a good family drama with an interesting plot), I Miss You (if you want to cry) but can I say Lee JunKi for the 3rd time? hehehe

I guess people will be surprised by the one of the disappointments of 2013. The Heirs.. It felt basic even though some characters did stand out. After so much hype my expectations were too high hence a big disappointment. After watching the drama I could not tell what was it all about. Secret is definitely the winner of the year. The whole cast’s acting is on point. I was very impressed! Master’s Sun was entertaining. I could feel the chemistry between So JiSub and Gong HyoJin. Heartless City deserves much more appreciation. Everything about this drama is underrated, even the soundtrack (especially 상처 by Kim YongJin of Bohemian). With Reply series I have love/hate relationships. I love it but the ending.. I always root for the wrong couple. Joo Won is amazing in Good Doctor. How could he play such a character so well?! Overall, there were some amazing dramas and there were bad ones as well.