*hugs back* I'll go ahead and gift it, then! Outside of exchanges, I tend to be a bit circumspect about that to avoid putting anyone on the spot, but I happily gift when I have reason to think gifting would be appreciated. (ETA: Comments of the "AAAAHHHH!" variety are also loved. <3)
Oh, by the way, inspired by this comment thread, I went ahead and rewatched the last 2 episodes of S1 myself a couple of nights ago - I had meant to come back and reply to this anyway. In addition to the things you pointed out above, about the show (as well as the characters) essentially choosing a direction here, I also really appreciate how much thematic weight this show gives to characters explicitly defeating and overcoming the characters who belittle and abuse them. It's most obvious with Ward shooting Harold at the end, but I had forgotten how much of a thematic motif that also was with Colleen and Bakuto, and (to a lesser degree) Danny and Davos. And okay, sure, it's a power fantasy of sorts, but it's one that really resonates with me.
I particularly appreciate that it's developed in a way that makes it explicitly not a revenge fantasy; it's about overcoming your past and your abuse, not about hurting others. Ward's first attempt to kill Harold is a purely reactive act born of fury and resentment and pain, but in the end, when it finally "takes", he's not trying to hurt Harold or even to protect himself, but to save Danny. And Colleen is only trying to end her fight with Bakuto, not to end him; she specifically makes the choice not to be like him (even if that choice is taken out of her hands in a bit of narrative convenience).
I just really like this show's moral and thematic underpinnings, even if some of the narrative choices along the way are kind of odd.
no subject
Oh, by the way, inspired by this comment thread, I went ahead and rewatched the last 2 episodes of S1 myself a couple of nights ago - I had meant to come back and reply to this anyway. In addition to the things you pointed out above, about the show (as well as the characters) essentially choosing a direction here, I also really appreciate how much thematic weight this show gives to characters explicitly defeating and overcoming the characters who belittle and abuse them. It's most obvious with Ward shooting Harold at the end, but I had forgotten how much of a thematic motif that also was with Colleen and Bakuto, and (to a lesser degree) Danny and Davos. And okay, sure, it's a power fantasy of sorts, but it's one that really resonates with me.
I particularly appreciate that it's developed in a way that makes it explicitly not a revenge fantasy; it's about overcoming your past and your abuse, not about hurting others. Ward's first attempt to kill Harold is a purely reactive act born of fury and resentment and pain, but in the end, when it finally "takes", he's not trying to hurt Harold or even to protect himself, but to save Danny. And Colleen is only trying to end her fight with Bakuto, not to end him; she specifically makes the choice not to be like him (even if that choice is taken out of her hands in a bit of narrative convenience).
I just really like this show's moral and thematic underpinnings, even if some of the narrative choices along the way are kind of odd.