Better Living Through Sarcasm

Let’s unpack this and people’s complaints so I can “twist myself in knots” trying to make it seem nice.

“They’re not even smiling. Claire looks grumpy as ever. Surprised her arms aren’t crossed.”

Old timey photos are like that. It is also more useful if you are hinting at a bit of discord (remember the selling of dog face and having to trade your loved like a son nephew for him?) If your characters don’t look like “bygones”.

“It’s not even that they aren’t smiling. Look how far apart they put Sam from the rest if the family. They hate him”

He is holding the baby. He can’t hold the baby on his other hip, that is where his pistol is. And, if he turns to face forward the baby will have his back to the camera, and can’t rest comfortably on either hip (costuming and props, remember). If Sam turns to be angled toward the group then the baby’s back would again be to the camera, AND blocking most of Jamie’s torso and probably some of his face. Positioning people and babies together in a shoot is not easy, and if an infant is at all tired, uncomfortable, wet, wanting mom, scared, bored, angry, shy, hungry, or a baby then you get the pic that works the best, as fast as you can.

I’m about to get real honest because I don’t give a fuck anymore. Don’t forget to screen cap me xoxo

- Engagement is either fake as fuck and someone is desperate to hide Sam and Cait’s relationship and/or a child, or it’s real and Cait is regretting every single day of her life that led to this moment. Either way she’s miserable and I’m disgusted and completely turned off by all of them.

- Sam was cooking Cait pancakes in her kitchen on Valentine’s Day. Not Cait and Tony. Cait.

- Her hair doesn’t suit her.

- Her outfit choices have been atrocious. 

- She looks miserable and depressed.

- She looks 10 years older than she does when she’s with Sam.

- She was sweet and charming on the late late show but she ruined it with the “my fiance is so so so shy and insecure that I can’t utter a word about him”. If your fiance who is apparently a music maestro and a successful bar manager is shy then why are you suddenly putting him front and centre for the media and the fandom to scrutinize him? Why did you announce your engagement at the Golden Globes and give an exclusive to People mag? Why do you look so unhappy in his presence? Why do you look happier with your costar than you do with the man you’re going to spend the rest of your life with? Wouldn’t you want to reassure this poor, shy man that you love him and make him feel secure about your decision to be with him?

- She hasn’t even thought about a wedding venue or a wedding dress. What bride to be who is on cloud 9 doesn’t think about these things within seconds of getting engaged?

- Her pap photos with Tony in a city where about three people know her were staged and pathetic.

- Her kiss with him made my whole body cringe.

- Where is Sam?

- Why does she have so much time off work?

- Why is Cait the ninja who used to be silent for months being shoved down our throats all of a sudden with her fiance who was once shrouded in so much mystery that we barely knew if his name was Brian or Tony?

- Why is she pretending they’ve only been a couple since after the IFH and not before?

I’ve been doing way more reading about engagement-gate than I probably should have, but it’s confirmed some things I’ve been thinking about. And that is that there are some very interesting interpretations and perceptions of gender roles (conscious or unconscious) going on in the debate. One consistent feeling seems to be that a man who carries a woman’s bag isn’t marriage material - he’s clearly gay or an assistant. And a woman who would give her bag to that man to carry isn’t being respectful. And it makes me wonder if we’d be more comfortable with a choice who isn’t Sam if he was more of an alpha male or if he didn’t seemingly also work for her as some sort of assistant. Would it be better if he was her boss and not potentially a subordinate? Would it be better if he looked more like Henry Cavill?

We see Sam as an alpha male because of his physicality and because of who he plays on screen. And we think his dorkiness is adorable because of it. What if Caitriona’s costar was Tony and her fiancé was Sam - a guy who carries her bags and doesn’t tweet and is someone we never see her engaging in PDA with? A guy who lets her shine and clearly isn’t intimidated by that?

Notice I say WE. Because I include myself in that. I’m human and even as a librarian, I frequently judge books by their covers. And I’ve seen Sam and Caitriona in person four times now - it’s NOT an act. But you know when I decided I’d be okay if #bettertogether was actually #noreallywereallyarebestfriends? The W interview, when Caitriona’s “boyfriend” called her to tell her that her idol was in the lobby of their hotel. He knew that she was working. He knew she was surrounded by a team of people getting ready for the show. He knew it would make her happy. He KNEW who her idol was in the first place. He pays attention. Not that I’m saying Sam doesn’t. I think they have a beautiful relationship that I would love to see play out as a RL romance. But one thing that’s always irritated me about Sam is that when he shines a light on her, he makes sure a lot of the light also shines on himself.

Since yesterday, people have been pleading with Caitriona to “stand in her power” and speak up - formally introduce this man to the world. But did we ever stop to think that being quiet and holding this close to her IS standing in her power? Because that’s how I see it.

I’m one of the few around here that finds Tony attractive, and doesn’t see him emasculated because he holds her bag, or sunglasses. What has always bothered me about their relationship (assuming it is a romantic one) is the way she is around Sam. It’s really disrespectful to your boyfriend to flirt and cuddle with your male friend, in public, and sometimes IN FRONT of you, like at the T2 premiere. Does Tony have to explain that he’s okay with it over and over to his loved ones, defending Cait’s love and fidelity? Thinking about that breaks my heart. I want better for him. I want better for everyone.

…..because she saw Jamie asking about Willie, with such an admiration and love, when he has never asked her about Bree with the same enthusiasm? 

“I asked the Dalai Lama what it was like to wake up with joy, and he shared his experience each morning. ‘I think if you are an intensely religious believer, as soon as you wake up, you thank God for another day. And you try to do God’s will. For a nontheist like myself, but who is a Buddhist, as soon as I wake up, I remember Buddha’s teaching: the importance of kindness and compassion, wishing something good for others, or at least to reduce their suffering. Then I remember that everything is interrelated, the teaching of interdependence. So then I set my intention for the day: that this day should be meaningful. Meaningful means, if possible, serve and help others. If not possible, then at least not to harm others. That’s a meaningful day.” ― Dalai Lama XIV, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

So I would agree with you had the movie already been released. But right now, his project in the limelight is OUTLANDER, not this movie. In July 2018 it’ll be a different story, but right now ostensibly OL should be his focus. 

Ring ring, this Sam is calling

But this Sam be like “New phone who dis”

Shatner and Camuso apparently have all that stuff up about Sam and no outrage or subtweeting, but I’m a horrible hater because I think Sam’s over Outlander???

No worries, Anon.  Cynics are welcome here.  I have no idea if she will land an LG project or not. However, I would like to give credit where credit is due.  Cait Balfe worked her ass off during premier week. In fact, it looks like she has taken charge of a ship (no pun intended) adrift at sea and brought it safely to port. Quite honestly, I think she has had a reality check and realized just how good a leading role she has.  Hollywood is not kind to women her age who want to be in movies.. She’s in her late thirties–mom role time.  Reese Witherspoon ( who won an Oscar) is playing a mom role in her new movie. Her other gig right now is a tv show.  TV however seems to be kinder to women over the age of 35.  Let’s look at Patricia Heaton (this is about her acting career not her politics).  She landed the role of Debra Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond at the age of 38.  She would go on to star in that role for 9 seasons. She would also win two emmys for Best Actress in a comedy series.   After Raymond, she would land the role of Frankie Heck in The Middle at the age of 51. The Middle will leave next year after NINE seasons.  That’s 18 solid years of television success.  She’s just one  example.  There’s also Jane Seymour who landed the Dr. Quinn Medicine woman role at the age of 42.

I don’ t know what brought about the change in her promotion of the show.  I do think about how absolutely put out she seemed on the red carpet at SDCC.  As anyone would have if his or her coworker was being a complete wanker (but that’s a different question). I think she realizes though that it’s an ensemble production and that no one person is greater than the show.  So kudos to her which says a lot because I’m not the biggest Cait fan out there. 

There are few possibilities.

1. Much like checking your co-stars baw balls around the holidays, he’s just doing his platonic buddy a tit-caressing solid by screening her for cancer.

2. His right hand agrees with his previous assessment that her boobs are, in fact, awesome.

3. Sam goes around casually palming the breasticles of all women (*whips one out and waits just in case*)

Ok……

Here it goes…..

Get a pencil to jot it down…..

Ready?

Have you ever wondered what it is about Sam and Cait’s love that has caught the attention of tens of thousands of people? It’s as though the air around them glimmers with the light of their love, and those who see it want to share in it. 

My trust in their love is unshakable. I trust what Sam and Cait have shown me. I trust what my eyes have seen. I trust what my ears have heard. I trust what my gut has felt. I trust what my intuition has told me. 

When it comes to my heart, though, trust doesn’t do it justice. Simply put, my heart knows. My heart knows when it sees two souls speaking with their eyes. My heart knows when their joy in being together is so great it cannot be contained. My heart knows when their pride is greatest in the other’s accomplishments. My heart knows when I observe them supporting each other through the challenges brought on by the Noise and Nonsense.