#jottings

I believe that sometimes it is really best to let go of something - being it a project, a job, a relationship, a friendship, you name it...- while it is still decently good, instead of dragging things along, while at the same time you clearly see yourself somewhere else. Or you already spotted those tiny, ominous signs telling you it's time to pack and move forward, no matter the crocodile tears, the fake regrets, the laziness, the numb inertia.

Since *** wasn't ready to cut loose of OL, we're now stuck with BoMB and the absolutely unfortunate idea to turn something that isn't even properly finished in print into its own 'universe'. Just because, as I already wrote, it is trendy. Just because it might help ***'s dwindling financials. Just because 'Erself learnt only too well the value of easy money and keeps on bragging about it, all filters off.

As always, I decided not only to perfectly assume my own bias - if that is not your cup of tea, simply go somewhere else, a million flowers are blooming in this fandom, to quote Mao Zedong -, but also not to give any spoilers. They are, you'll understand very quickly if you decide to watch, useless. Yes, it is potentially that bad. Yes, it is potentially that lazy. And yes, it is - at least to me - impossible to understand why they decided to give the opportunity of writing the first episode to a man who believes the proper word for integral (as in something being integral to something else) is the non-existent, but oh so telling, intrical. Just quoting from his SDCC BoMB panel, which was such an embarrassment, I mercifully decided not to post in detail about.

Many, too many scenes will ring a bell. Or several bells - and not really in a good way. There is at least one blatant copycat scene from GoT's pilot episode, where the opening was a beautiful and cruel pastiche of Bruegel the Elder's Hunters in the Snow:

[nope, changing the season does not help, it is just lazy stealing ]

Not to mention Romeo and Juliet being an almost farcical inspiration for Brian and Ellen's schematic courtship. Particularly this uber-known scene:

ROMEO, [taking Juliet’s hand] If I profane with my unworthiest hand / This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: / My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand / To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. JULIET Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, / Which mannerly devotion shows in this; / For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, / And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss. ROMEO Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? JULIET Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

(Act 1, scene 5 - except Matt Roberts decided they won't kiss at that particular moment, because this is Temu vs. Fortnum & Mason)

There is zero chemistry between The Fab Four, no matter how indulgent you would like to be. The lasting aftertaste of this tragic situation is that you'll probably feel the same unease as after dining at an overrated, new restaurant in town. The food critic sold you an empty illusion and the fare was mediocre at best, turning a shared joy into meh hogwash, which is insulting.

There is also a complete misunderstanding about gender roles during the XVIIIth century, in Scotland. Ellen's character, roughly portrayed as a strong personality, with feminist undertones encouraged by an unusually progressive upbringing, simply lacks credibility. Especially in a time and place where any gender eccentricity would have immediately labeled you as a witch and sent you straight to the nearest pyre.

There is unnecessary violence and gratuitously bad porn, albeit almost like an afterthought, as if the writer suddenly remembered the episode was lacking those. Conversely, there is not nearly enough political scheming, nor psychological complexity, which could have redeemed a limping plot.

The worst? Scotland itself, relegated to the conventional background of a generic boy meets girl story. A glossy postcard of sorts, if you wish, which I found absolutely unfair.

The best? One supporting character, superbly served and elevated by the very young and talented Séamus McLean Ross, who takes method acting up to perfectly rendering Gary Lewis' voice as Colum MacKenzie. I see great things - hopefully this guy will not lose his head over cheap thrills, for he can do anything and go anywhere he wants. Oh, and the music - but that is a given, with Bear McCreary in charge.

Which begs the overall question: who is this prequel intended for? What is left of the fandom? Newbies who heard about it and want to give it a try, after all? The 'premium female audience' famously touted by ***'s honchos?

If you are a newbie and plan to start the entire saga with BoMB, I am begging you not to do so, despite your better judgment. You'll probably give up on the storyline before having the chance to meet Jamie and Claire (and Sam and Caitriona), which is not only a pity, but also a shame. And even if you don't let go of the Frasers and the MacKenzies' rigmaroles, chances are your perception of the magical OL Season 1 would be distorted by... well, by this mumbo jumbo we're being served as the cat's meow.

If you are a part of the (in)famous 'premium female audience'... nah, you couldn't possibly be. What is left of us are still here primarily for the ongoing SC #shitshow. And I am very, very sorry to admit it.

Enough said, with the least spoilers I could manage, as always.

Enter the Beauchamps. It will be fun, they said. I am not buying it for a single split second.

The answer is forever. Every month is a new death of a loved one, and yet another difficult hurdle to overcome.

You don’t forget the pain that this brings you. You become numb. After being numb for a while you spiral. When the spiraling is all set you take in the emotions again and then it becomes a vicious cycle.

The utter need

To create

Remains.

Like the body

In a sarcophagus

I must

Express

Poignantly

Punctiliously

Perfectly

This personage

Endowed by divine.

Regardless of

Eating

Drinking

Or working

I always find myself

Standing before the blank slate

With a word well

Conscripted to my cause

To just make a powerful

Voice

Into an

Vacuous

My marching orders

This is my little desk. 

It’s where the magic and a little bit of legal work is done. Sadly, I won’t be spending much time here going forward; I’ve had my marching orders; namely, get yourself back to the office.

One day soon, if I’m lucky or if I pull the pin on my legal career (what a joke) I’ll be able, as Hemingway said, to sit down and bleed out my art (it was him, wasn’t it?). Until then I’ll do my best to keep showing up on Tumblr with a few poems, a few jottings and lots of hearts for those whose blogs I follow.

Onwards dear readers.