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hey btw, since i saw somebody asking what the significance of the butcher's shop is: textually there is no significance. the significance is meta-textual. it is a kosher butcher, where they practice shechita (butchering of an animal to make it kosher.) infringing on the laws of shechita renders meat inedible (treif) to jews as a sin against G-d. the butcher's shop has to be so clean you can lick the floor and certified kosher by a rabbi or kashrut supervision agency (kashrut are the dietary laws.) nothing can be slaughtered except by the shochet (butcher who understands kashrut) with the chalaf (very sharp knife designed to kill with one cut.) spilling human (or vampire) blood in the kosher butcher shop would make any meat prepared there treif (unkosher) possibly permanently? to be honest i don't know. but it's very, very, very serious, and specifically my read on this scene is that we're seeing armand and fareed (armand is muslim-coded although his religion is never specified or explained which is a seperate issue of orientalism, and fareed is pretty presumably muslim) torture louis and regina (both Black) in a kosher butcher's shop as a nod to white supremacist ideologies pitting muslims, Black people and jews against each other. because i can't see any other reason for it. and it might also be a subtle nod that yes, they are going to adapt the anti-semitic lore from the later books that is universally regarded as stupid (the reptlimoids, for one.) so.
Afful has experienced a séance in real life, so she pulled from that for this scene, among other connections to her ancestry. Two nights before filming, Afful was thinking about talks with director Jane Wu about wanting to make the séance “as authentic as we can within the TV world.”
Afful shares what she brought to Merrick that wasn’t on the pages of her script in order to do this.
“I come from Ghana, West Africa, originally. I was born in Calgary, Alberta, but I was raised by two Ghanaian parents,” Afful shares. “My mom’s way of helping me through hard times in my life was to bring me to her church, which mixed ancestral beliefs about spirits with Christianity, which is essentially what voodooism is. It was covering up Christianity or covering up voodooism with Christianity in order to be able to practice because of the slave trade and the slave trade saying, ‘Black people, you’re not allowed to practice your ancestral beliefs.’ So what I brought to it was trying to bring in the beginning of dance and breath, but within seconds, because that’s all I had.”
“I created a breathwork movement thing at the beginning,” she continues, “and there was a lot of deep channeling of, this sounds so silly, but I was really trying to channel the spirits with deep, deep breath and movement while being seated. And I came up with something a couple nights before and it helped me to actually do the scene because it was very revealing and vulnerable. And with all the people around, I just needed something to really ground me and to make me feel like I was actually doing it. So that’s what I brought to it and also my ancestry. I do feel connected to the Merrick that is an African woman who lives in New Orleans, who’s been going through the things that people in New Orleans go through.”
The séance and Merrick's family history with Louis explained.
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the reason i'm finally choosing to separate iwtv and tvl: i didn't understand the full meaning of tvl being marketed as separate show from iwtv at first, but now i understand. this is fundamentally different product. it's not just "they changed the tone!", it's a work of fiction that uses the same characters but exists on completely different terms and for different reasons. the genre is different, the structure of the episodes is different, the whole like... art movement is different. it doesn't have the same focus on emotional complexity and depth, but focuses much more on shock value and self-referential humor. the characters are written for different purposes. it explores completely different themes. it's written for completely different audience in completely different political climate.
this is very much peter jackson's lotr vs hobbit thing for me. it's two trilogies about the same universe with some shared characters, made by (mostly) the same people, but they need to be considered and analyzed separately. because analysis of lotr trilogy can't be meaningfully applied to hobbit trilogy. it's just two separate works of fiction connected through shared universe and creators. it was actually a smart decision to separate iwtv and tvl and i think literally everyone need to do this in the way they interact with tvl.
no dude it's so cool how attached you are to that character who is singled out and ostracized due to the external monstrousness that clashes with their internal spark of humanity. and i love how drawn you are to themes of horror and love, nature versus nurture, otherness, isolation, and the abject. i bet you have normal feelings about your own personhood
no woman should ever have to explain why she doesnt do something to her body.... 'why don't you wear makeup?' 'why don't you shave?' like. thats what i look like. idk what to tell you
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Having Armand repeat "rest" as a command was cheap. What happened between him and Daniel in season 2 was a seduction. Death's embrace quite literally. Armand lulls his victims, they want to rest by the end of it. Saying rest and the person knifes themselves each time is dumb. It's not a spell tf.
the thought i keep coming back to with the finale, and this season in general, is a sense of… infestation, i guess is the best way to describe it. because for the first two seasons, iwtv was a work that— even with all its gothic/horror themes— seemed deeply compassionate at its core, and it remained devoted to beauty and love in a way that felt like a reprieve from (even a small rebellion against) the rising fascism of the culture surrounding it. and now it feels like the hatefulness it was pushing back against has infested it somehow, like a swarm of fuckin termites, which has not only ruined this season but also calls into question the structural soundness of what came before it. like, how did we even get here? was this sort of mean-spirited derision always just lying in wait? idk. i don’t want to make a bad season of tv deeper than it is, but it does feel like witnessing another loss in the cultural battle when a careful, compassionate work that ostensibly cared about the marginalised experiences it depicted becomes just another conduit for hatred toward vulnerable groups. what a fucking bummer, man
Any TV show deserves criticism; it's how writers grow and improve, but TVL deserves real fucking criticism for a lot of things. It can be really easy, however, to dip into hate mail - which will not be treated seriously by the company or show runners - so here are some tips on how to write a critical review that will be taken seriously. I recommend, even if you enjoyed this season and the finale, you write your own critical review - it doesn't need to match the examples I list below.
An email address will need to be provided for the form, so if you have/have had an AMC account, be sure to use that one. I also am unsure if there is a character limit, so try to keep the review concise and 2000 words or less.
Your goal is constructive criticism
I know, this feels like playing nice, or giving them flowers they may not deserve, but the people receiving the review will not know you participated in good faith unless you show your work. This is basic communication 101; you need to communicate that you see TVL as a work of art, and show that you did engage with the material with intent to understand. Lie, if you have to, but pure vitriol will not be taken seriously.
Before you start writing the review, identify:
1 or 2 CREATIVE decisions you liked. This could be actors, costume, set design, original content, dialogue, music, ect. These are things that make the work artistic. Map them out, and treat them seriously: for example, I really liked that the gift to walk in sunlight is a skill that can be taught, and doesn't come from age.
1 or 2 ADAPTIVE decisions you liked. This could be how they condensed something satisfyingly, an ambitious change that you think was compelling, character choices that surprised you, ambiguous details that have you thinking, or things you thought were interesting and were disappointed they did not explore more. Adaption is an art, so let them know how the art impacted you. For example: I really liked the choice to have Magnus be depicted in a music video first, and return as an aggressive and haunting muse. I think it was extremely effective, and I would have liked to see more music-video style narration.
1-2 points of strong criticism. It is easy to dogpile on a whole bunch of flaws, especially when you are irritated, upset, disappointed, or disgusted. Take a deep breath, and make sure your criticisms are substantial. I think everyone who reads this post should make one of these points reference the offensive and poorly framed racialized dialogue, and the striking and hurtful orientation of Louis as a character punished by the narrative.
The conclusion should include actions you wish to see taken to prove the creative team has considered and respected our critique. One or two requests are enough, and I will share my example at the end.
Once you have clearly identified your points, you can move onto the next step
Organize your points
Part of what makes a successful critical review is how it summarizes and analyzes a text's strengths and weaknesses, which means you won't just be writing bullet points. In academia, this would be an introduction and paragraphs based around topics abc, but we don't have to do that. These will be organized into "sections," but that's more to prevent rambling than to grade you. I'll include examples of what I would say, but don't be afraid to use your own voice and just use my words as inspiration.
I'll give you guys 3 methods you can choose between:
Concerned Viewer
If strong criticism scares you, this is a good option.
Start with a short introduction using casual language: "Hi, I am a fan of AMC's Immortal Universe, and I wanted to reach out to share some concerns I had watching the latest season of 'The Vampire Lestat.'"
Next, mention one of your negative points, and follow up with a positive point: "When watching the adaption, I was struck by the realization that ___. This disappointed me so much, because the story and themes could have added so much more to the world and characters, but I don't feel ___. I was happy that some elements made it through, such as ____. I would have loved more moments like this."
The next section should be this, but reversed. Start with a positive point, end with a negative point: "____ really stood out in their performances this season. ___ and ____ stuck with me for days after I watched. I was, however, distracted from complete enjoyment because of _____."
-- I will address the conclusion under a different header --
End with: "I would love to continue to watching The Immortal Universe franchise, however I do not feel comfortable returning to the franchise unless these criticisms are taken seriously. Thank you."
Analyst
This is a good structure if you have very precise critiques that extend beyond surface-level impact that you want to convey.
Start with a strong overview of your impressions of the season. Briefly address one good point and one bad point. You will return to these later: "Dear writers and producers of 'The Vampire Lestat,' as I have tuned into this season weekly, I found myself increasingly dismayed at ____ which damaged my enjoyment of ____ and I wanted to convey my impressions to all concerned parties, to avoid a repetition of this experience."
First section should include your weakest points. You're leading them into the criticism. It is good, also, to describe what story-telling elements you were paying attention to: "I was most excited to see the portrayal of ___ to explore the themes of ___. I was, however, distracted by ___, and found my attention torn between enjoyment and confusion."
Next section should hit your most appreciated moments, but why the flaw you chose made this feel lacking, despite your appreciation: "I was most impressed by ____ which landed with me in ways I didn't expect [fill in details]. However, the ____ were not only distracting, they completely circumvented my deep appreciation for ____ [fill in with details].
-- I will address the conclusion under a different header --
End with: "I am disappointed in the result of this project, despite how interested I was in the story being told. Unless these points are seriously addressed, please do not consider me to be a returning viewer."
Offended Viewer
If you cannot find it in yourself to be polite or logical, you are not a problem. There are ways to structure your argument to convey that emotion without having to "play nice." This will be if you can't seriously commit to the positives from above, but you should still mark things you COULD have enjoyed if the other things didn't ruin your experience.
Start with a direct address (don't name names - yet.), and then give a summary of your issues: "For those at AMC who take criticism for 'The Vampire Lestat,' I have some things that need to be said. ___ and ___ were flaws of the project that ruined my enjoyment, and taxed by emotional and intellectual well-being because I tried so hard to give this adaption a fair chance."
Next section, start with the creative/adaptive things you were looking forward to, and then transition into the moments/episode when you realized that they disappointed you. If you can name the scene, do so. Precision will get you everywhere.
Next section is when you really beat the drum. Name head writers of the episode that pissed you off, detail 2 or 3 moments that you cannot in-good-conscience accept as art, and then provide the summary of what the show seemed to tell you while depicting these things. Tell them what the story impressed on you, because a message delivered ignorantly is still as painful as a message delivered intentionally. Make sure they KNOW what you took from the story.
-- I will address the conclusion under a different header --
End with your earnest disappointment and frustration, and what guided you to this show in the first place: "I expected to enjoy this season. I wanted to respect the changes and experimental approach. I wanted to see ___ and ___, but I did not enjoy it, and my opinion of the project is forever changed because of it."
Conclusion and Action
I put this under its own header because any activist will tell you that you get the most reward out of being united, and if our demands are the same, or are similar, we are more likely to see the results we want. Giving them actions to prove they have listened will also tell the audience if it's worth it to tune into the next season.
You can shift this to be in your own words, with your own criticism. You can even choose different actions. This is just my example, to help you see exactly what I mean.
I do not expect to find myself returning to 'The Vampire Lestat,' unless I have proof that the criticisms I outlined here have been heard and understood.
First, because of the failure of the narrative framework to build a substantial critique of racism -- that included racially offensive dialogue and insults directed at Black characters -- I will not return to The Immortal Universe unless two or more Black writers are hired to share their voices in the creative space. I do not trust the creative team to further address the topic of anti-blackness without them. Second, I request a public and published acknowledgment of the creative missteps, and the insult they have given, so that I have evidence that the creative team is interested in audience feedback.
I know some people are probably not interested in returning and I get you, but I encourage you to lie anyway. Executives speak in numbers, much to my absolute disdain, so if they know they could do something to get you BACK, they will have more incentive to actually do it.
So lie: lie for the fans who want to return, for the actors who want to return, for AMC to treat us seriously, and because it's fun to give a little lie to people who won't be harmed for it. Does AMC really deserve our total truth?
You can screenshot this post, share it on other social media platforms, discord groups, group chats, whatever you need. You can do it without crediting me. Just get the word out there, so AMC's creative team is aware of the impact of their massive fumble of the season.
This isn't about personal taste, it's about solidarity and refusing to accept anti-black writing without calling it out.
You can reach out to the AMC Network through the following contact us form: https://www.amcnetworks.com/contact-us/ or by visiting the AMC N
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