maplemood: (peter pan)
...it's sometimes hard to believe that this show exists?? It's just such an over-the-top, more-is-more, capital-G-Gothic confection, and sure, it gets ridiculous in places, and the finale had its problems (there were parts I wasn't completely satisfied with, but no parts I was completely unsatisfied with, if that makes any sense), but when everything gels together and works...boy, does it work. I've watched shows with a really strong aesthetic and atmosphere that left me cold when it came to the characters, so for a long time I stalled out on the first two episodes or so of s1 figuring I'd have the same problem. The found-family dynamics that I love to bits did take a little while to get off the ground, but by the s1 finale I was hooked and s2 ended up being my personal high point for the show (specifically episode 3 of s2, because nothing will top the devastation of its last couple of scenes for me--NOTHING). If I had to pick a least favorite season, I'd have to go with s3, solely because it's the last one and I had to watch every episode knowing I was getting closer and closer to the absolute end. It's still a really lovely story, though, and brought everything to a (for me, anyway) mostly-satisfying close.

Then, of course, I went looking for fic. Spoilers? ) All of these stories focus on what became my favorite part of Penny Dreadful: the fact that, yes, so many of these characters have made less-than-perfect choices and become deeply screwed-up because of them, but they love each other, and rely on each other, and look out for each other because...well, if not them, then who else? And of course half the time they won't or can't admit how much they really do care for each other, but that's all part of the angsty, over-dramatic goodness that is this show. Gosh, I'm going to miss it.
maplemood: (gamora)
Okay, but is this month flying by or what?! Midterms happen this week for me, though I'm lucky enough to have only one class this semester with a midterm assignment--one six-page essay with no secondary sources required--and no midterm exams. So I have been able to catch up with a few of my shows and watch a new movie or two in the meantime. 

Penny Dreadful

Two more episodes to go before the series finale, which I was spoiled for around the the time it first came out--so, well before I was even interested in watching. And now that I am watching and emotionally invested, I'm just very much Not Ready. At all. I mean, I'd much rather have it end after three mostly-solid seasons that see it drag on to the point that they're beating a dead horse with a dead horse, but I've fallen in love with so many of these characters, and the platonic and found family dynamics are lovely, and I know I'm going to miss this show badly once it's done. It's not perfect (not by a long shot, in some ways), but for me it's been just the right mixture of stylish, over-the-top Gothic horror and genuine emotion. I've been rationing out the last few episodes, so I still have a little time left. Not much, though...

Iron Fist

[personal profile] sholio  convinced me to give this another try, and after trying to get back into s1 and failing miserably, I went ahead and skipped to s2 (since I've been spoiled for most of s1 anyway). I definitely think I made the right choice--the first episode of s2 was about 100x more engaging and did end up pulling me in. I love Colleen, found myself shipping Colleen and Danny more than I first expected I would, and I think Ward's very much in the vein of former-asshole-trying-to-do-the-right-thing-while-still-being-a-bit-of-an-asshole, aka one of my favorite tropes ever. I'm honestly a little relieved to finally have found a way in, since I do love messy emotional dynamics and this show promises to be chock full of them.

Black Panther

FINALLY got around to watching this, and I have nothing to say that hasn't been said before, but: it was beautiful and awesome and both realistic and optimistic when it came to its characters--one of the things I loved most was that just about everyone (with a few exceptions) is genuinely principled when it comes to their beliefs, so even if you don't necessarily agree with them, you see where they're coming from and can sympathize with them. The worldbuilding was also fantastic and so, so intriguing from a fic-writing standpoint--I could read about a thousand different stories set in this world. (Though I haven't had time to browse through the AO3 tag yet. Sigh.)  

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Alex

June 2022

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