Forever and Penny Dreadful
Jan. 7th, 2015 12:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chelseagirlTragically, due to a majorly screwed up sleeping schedule, I catnapped through most of Agent Carter, and as I wanted to finish my binge-watch of Penny Dreadful, I decided that would keep 'til tomorrow, or possibly this evening. But I am feeling a sudden urge to wear red lipstick.
I did watch Forever, and squee'ed when Abe went into the locksmith's, as that is a few blocks from me and is the place where we sent to get our locks changed when we moved in. Also, you could see Lucien, one of our favorite restaurants, though the window. (That was the real interior of the place that they used.) Also, I'm ready to ship Henry with Jo, but only if he's completely honest with her first. I did wonder if Marco, Abe's old Army buddy, was looking oddly at Henry and if Abe just never had a picture of his parents around at *all* during the whole war? Also, Henry lived in NYC during the 60s, so isn't the 10s a bit soon to come back again -- shouldn't he have given it another decade or so just to make sure? Or was this part of a whole reunion with Abe -- I'm unclear how much time they've spent together or apart, as he hadn't met Abe's ex-wife until he does this season.
Penny Dreadful made my Victorian studies-trained heart beat faster, both because of what they got right as far as the feel went, and because of what was interesting about adaptation choices. I'd originally not been too excited because people dismissed it quickly as a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen copy. Then I heard better things but was busy. I binge-watched a few at I.'s house last summer but didn't get a chance to sit down with it again 'til just now. It's one of those things that I think gets better as it goes along and you begin to realize just how many layers there are to peel back. Vanessa must be such a dream role to play -- she's all over the board, and Eva Green has just the perfect face and manner for the part. I do wish there had been more significant female roles, but Victorian horror isn't great with that.
I thought the vampire plot was nicely done and the more-inhuman vampires are a relief after the current trend. It was a good idea to off Van Helsing because they needed not to know too much, though I thought David Warner was adorable in the role. My bet is that the vampire Master is Peter. He died of a wasting disease in Africa while his father was off; he was buried there and was practically a skeleton when his father buried him? There's just no way. And Vanessa is his destined bride? There's just been so much father-child stuff going on this season to let everyone have resolved their Freudian issues. (And wow, everyone wants to be Sir Malcolm's kid and everyone wants to adopt Victor.)
I wonder if Madame Kali is just a love interest for Sir Malcolm or whether she's got something up her sleeve; guessing the latter. I wonder if Dorian is going to be in it next season now that he's slept with everyone remotely credible (except Victor, who seemed to be so tremblingly in love with Proteus that I see him as gay). And I'm annoyed we never saw Dorian's Picture.
Have Frankenstein's Creature be named Caliban and you are covering *two* of my favorite characters in my favorite texts to teach. I wasn't entirely satisfied with this plot because it was quite clunky in places though I did love sticking the Creature in Grand Guignol and the kindly old theatrical gent; they really missed an opportunity not putting him onstage, though. I wish (since Brona was arguably on her deathbed anyway) that the whole Bride plot would work out okay for them, but it never does, does it? And I can't see Ethan forgiving Victor. (But then, I always think of Victor Frankenstein as an idiot.) I loved the Creature reading Milton, which he does in the book too, and Victor quoting Shelley (even if it was Percy; I wonder if theoretically Mary exists in this universe). (Actually I think Mary has him quote something by Percy; she also has him quote Coleridge.) Also, the Creature just kinda looks like a gothboy with scars to me; I want to tell him that, if he's really immortal, just go hole up somewhere for a century and then he'll be fine.
I LOVED that last scene with Vanessa and the priest and was she sure she was ready to be ordinary. She might be ready, but I don't think there's much chance of it.
I was spoiled on the big reveal on Ethan in the last minutes (I wasn't too spoiled overall but I'd heard bits and pieces) but I thought it was pretty clear from the wolf scene at London Zoo. I did wonder about the exorcism scene with the St. Jude medal and what else we didn't know about him. I guess An American Werewolf in London is kinda a trope now, isn't it? I can see why out West was good for him, as long as it lasted.
Oh yeah -- Anna Chancellor squee!! I do wonder, since Vanessa's mum was sleeping with Sir Malcolm, if there's any chance he *is* her father. We don't know how long that was going on. I guessed it pretty quickly though, as those two were hot (well, Timothy Dalton and Anna Chancellor, duh), and their respective spouses were not. I was also wondering if perhaps Sembene is Sir Malcolm's son; he said something about sharing blood and while he could have meant battles or he could have meant some kind of blood brothers ceremony, Sir Malcolm also seems to have slept with many African women. There was that conversation about life saving and what's owed with Ethan, but I'm still suspicious, or maybe I just want it to be true.
I did watch Forever, and squee'ed when Abe went into the locksmith's, as that is a few blocks from me and is the place where we sent to get our locks changed when we moved in. Also, you could see Lucien, one of our favorite restaurants, though the window. (That was the real interior of the place that they used.) Also, I'm ready to ship Henry with Jo, but only if he's completely honest with her first. I did wonder if Marco, Abe's old Army buddy, was looking oddly at Henry and if Abe just never had a picture of his parents around at *all* during the whole war? Also, Henry lived in NYC during the 60s, so isn't the 10s a bit soon to come back again -- shouldn't he have given it another decade or so just to make sure? Or was this part of a whole reunion with Abe -- I'm unclear how much time they've spent together or apart, as he hadn't met Abe's ex-wife until he does this season.
Penny Dreadful made my Victorian studies-trained heart beat faster, both because of what they got right as far as the feel went, and because of what was interesting about adaptation choices. I'd originally not been too excited because people dismissed it quickly as a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen copy. Then I heard better things but was busy. I binge-watched a few at I.'s house last summer but didn't get a chance to sit down with it again 'til just now. It's one of those things that I think gets better as it goes along and you begin to realize just how many layers there are to peel back. Vanessa must be such a dream role to play -- she's all over the board, and Eva Green has just the perfect face and manner for the part. I do wish there had been more significant female roles, but Victorian horror isn't great with that.
I thought the vampire plot was nicely done and the more-inhuman vampires are a relief after the current trend. It was a good idea to off Van Helsing because they needed not to know too much, though I thought David Warner was adorable in the role. My bet is that the vampire Master is Peter. He died of a wasting disease in Africa while his father was off; he was buried there and was practically a skeleton when his father buried him? There's just no way. And Vanessa is his destined bride? There's just been so much father-child stuff going on this season to let everyone have resolved their Freudian issues. (And wow, everyone wants to be Sir Malcolm's kid and everyone wants to adopt Victor.)
I wonder if Madame Kali is just a love interest for Sir Malcolm or whether she's got something up her sleeve; guessing the latter. I wonder if Dorian is going to be in it next season now that he's slept with everyone remotely credible (except Victor, who seemed to be so tremblingly in love with Proteus that I see him as gay). And I'm annoyed we never saw Dorian's Picture.
Have Frankenstein's Creature be named Caliban and you are covering *two* of my favorite characters in my favorite texts to teach. I wasn't entirely satisfied with this plot because it was quite clunky in places though I did love sticking the Creature in Grand Guignol and the kindly old theatrical gent; they really missed an opportunity not putting him onstage, though. I wish (since Brona was arguably on her deathbed anyway) that the whole Bride plot would work out okay for them, but it never does, does it? And I can't see Ethan forgiving Victor. (But then, I always think of Victor Frankenstein as an idiot.) I loved the Creature reading Milton, which he does in the book too, and Victor quoting Shelley (even if it was Percy; I wonder if theoretically Mary exists in this universe). (Actually I think Mary has him quote something by Percy; she also has him quote Coleridge.) Also, the Creature just kinda looks like a gothboy with scars to me; I want to tell him that, if he's really immortal, just go hole up somewhere for a century and then he'll be fine.
I LOVED that last scene with Vanessa and the priest and was she sure she was ready to be ordinary. She might be ready, but I don't think there's much chance of it.
I was spoiled on the big reveal on Ethan in the last minutes (I wasn't too spoiled overall but I'd heard bits and pieces) but I thought it was pretty clear from the wolf scene at London Zoo. I did wonder about the exorcism scene with the St. Jude medal and what else we didn't know about him. I guess An American Werewolf in London is kinda a trope now, isn't it? I can see why out West was good for him, as long as it lasted.
Oh yeah -- Anna Chancellor squee!! I do wonder, since Vanessa's mum was sleeping with Sir Malcolm, if there's any chance he *is* her father. We don't know how long that was going on. I guessed it pretty quickly though, as those two were hot (well, Timothy Dalton and Anna Chancellor, duh), and their respective spouses were not. I was also wondering if perhaps Sembene is Sir Malcolm's son; he said something about sharing blood and while he could have meant battles or he could have meant some kind of blood brothers ceremony, Sir Malcolm also seems to have slept with many African women. There was that conversation about life saving and what's owed with Ethan, but I'm still suspicious, or maybe I just want it to be true.
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no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 06:45 am (UTC)Too exhausted to expound further, but really, you hit all the good and important parts well.
As an unrelated aside, K was so thrilled with our birthday surprise and especially touched that you and B sent something. (Of course, I told her. They love you, too.) :)
And, oy!! Yesterday was crazy - too much to write here, but the short of it is that I had my first assignment today and spent last night scrambling to prep - and I totally forgot about Agent Carter. :( Thank goodness for On Demand...
Off to bed, and - if my neighbors will stop yelling at each other - to sleep...
no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 10:52 am (UTC)We watched the first hour of Agent Carter last night. I already think this is going to be a DVD purchase; I'm a sucker for shows that focus on women in action roles. And *the clothes*!
no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 03:50 pm (UTC)Good to hear it's a strong show! And yes, it's a genre type (female action) that needs more entries in it. :)
Meant to comment in my last response re: Anna Chancellor. I always enjoy her, but kick myself bc my automatic response to seeing her is to yell "Duckface!!" with glee... Four Weddings ruined me, apparently...
no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 04:55 pm (UTC)