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Yes, it's another Sanctuary post *g*
Okay, I actually am enjoying Sanctuary quite a lot, despite all the complaining *g*, and I have even enjoyed some episodes, like "Fragments", that a lot of my flist didn't seem to like. But the most recent one I watched (Next Tuesday) pushed me riiiiight over the edge into active annoyance, because there is only so much I'm willing to tolerate of the characters making stupid decisions because the plot requires them to.
There were a lot of little things about this episode that bugged me -- a whole lot of instances where the characters made small decisions that annoyed me because of their lack of foresight and planning (like, say, not securing vital equipment, or not making better use of things like the flares and spear gun that they later turned out to have). But the big thing that got to me in this episode was this:
The Sanctuary network is apparently quite large and well-funded, and has been going for at least a century or so. And, from what we've seen, a regular part of their job is going into remote, dangerous locations to retrieve dangerous animals (or at least, animals who by definition have unknown and extensive capabilities).
So why, why, WHY do they not have a regular system in place for check-ins and emergency retrievals? How is it POSSIBLE that they can seriously be so disorganized and bad at planning that they send a team to a remote location over the ocean to capture a large, dangerous wild animal, and their entire emergency plan is basically "maybe someone will notice we're missing if we don't show up after a couple of days"? I ... I just can't even ... I mean, that is such a basic level of survival!fail that I just don't have words. Lying about the flight plan seems like an odd set of priorities -- the secrecy of the mission is more important than anyone's life? -- but when combined with the fact that they actually have no other emergency backup plan AT ALL, I'm just left flailing in despair. GAHHH WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE.
That episode was not by any means devoid of fun (it was a neat premise with lots of exciting bits, and I like how they keep revisiting Ashley's and even Clara's deaths this season), but I was just too stuck on the sheer implausibility and stupidity of their lack of planning to really enjoy it. I mean, either someone seriously fell down on worldbuilding in the writer's room, or Helen is the most irresponsible and scatterbrained boss who ever lived, and she's not supposed to come across that way, you know?
This entry is also posted at http://friendshipper.dreamwidth.org/309662.html with
comments.
There were a lot of little things about this episode that bugged me -- a whole lot of instances where the characters made small decisions that annoyed me because of their lack of foresight and planning (like, say, not securing vital equipment, or not making better use of things like the flares and spear gun that they later turned out to have). But the big thing that got to me in this episode was this:
The Sanctuary network is apparently quite large and well-funded, and has been going for at least a century or so. And, from what we've seen, a regular part of their job is going into remote, dangerous locations to retrieve dangerous animals (or at least, animals who by definition have unknown and extensive capabilities).
So why, why, WHY do they not have a regular system in place for check-ins and emergency retrievals? How is it POSSIBLE that they can seriously be so disorganized and bad at planning that they send a team to a remote location over the ocean to capture a large, dangerous wild animal, and their entire emergency plan is basically "maybe someone will notice we're missing if we don't show up after a couple of days"? I ... I just can't even ... I mean, that is such a basic level of survival!fail that I just don't have words. Lying about the flight plan seems like an odd set of priorities -- the secrecy of the mission is more important than anyone's life? -- but when combined with the fact that they actually have no other emergency backup plan AT ALL, I'm just left flailing in despair. GAHHH WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE.
That episode was not by any means devoid of fun (it was a neat premise with lots of exciting bits, and I like how they keep revisiting Ashley's and even Clara's deaths this season), but I was just too stuck on the sheer implausibility and stupidity of their lack of planning to really enjoy it. I mean, either someone seriously fell down on worldbuilding in the writer's room, or Helen is the most irresponsible and scatterbrained boss who ever lived, and she's not supposed to come across that way, you know?
This entry is also posted at http://friendshipper.dreamwidth.org/309662.html with
Part 4, a.k.a. OH GOD THERE'S MORE
30. On his way to save Elaine, Harry discovers Molly hiding in the backseat & loses his temper at her. More recapping/mulling while in the car. Then Harry tries to reach Elaine telepathically. 240-249
31. Harry gets through to Elaine at the last minute. Fight w/the Skavis; Thomas shows up at the last minute to save Harry from a killing blow; between them, Harry, Thomas, Mouse, Murphy & Elaine take out the Skavis. Harry lets Thomas know that he's figured out why Thomas wasn't able to talk, and Thomas quietly tips off Harry that there will be a White Court gathering day after tomorrow. 250-260
32. Elaine's in the ER. Harry & Murphy talk in the waiting area. She calls him on the way he scared Molly earlier. Character stuff. Plot hashing-out. Marcone calls Harry & says he "read the papers" that Harry sent over and he'll do what Harry asksd (we don't know what yet). Harry also tells Murphy that he has a plan. 261-270
33. Lash & Harry talk about Molly & free will. 271-277
34. Ramirez shows up at Harry's apartment. We discover part one of Harry's plan, which is to challenge the White Court to a duel. Molly shows up & has her moment of truth; we also find out what was up with the bracelet. 278-289
35. At the Raith estate. Molly waits w/Mouse. Harry & Ramirez go in & meet Lara. We find out Ramirez is a virgin and we see a bit of Raith sex magic at work. 290-300
36. They head out to the Deeps. Justine is introduced (though she was mentioned earlier). Harry & Ramirez observe the gathering of White Court and then Harry makes his entrance and challenges Vittorio Malvora & Madrigal Raith to a duel. 301-310
37. Various arguing & politicking; ends w/start of duel. 311-321
38. The duel. Madrigal is killed. Vittorio, losing, springs his trap at the end. 322-332
39. Harry unleashes *his* trap, opening a gate to the Nevernever so that his cavalry (Thomas, Murphy & Marcone's mercenaries) can enter the fray. They fight. They can escape, but Thomas refuses to leave without Justine, and Harry can't bring himself to leave the thralls to die, so he gets Marcone to help him save them, and they all charge into the heart of the fighting. 333-342
40. Fight w/the ghouls. Ends w/Vitto Malvora launching a despair attack that flattens everyone, with 1:34 left on the explosives timer. 343-359
41. Lash freezes Harry's perception of time so that she can have a final discussion with him. Harry learns that he may have power over Outsiders. Then she makes her sacrifice. Harry is free of the Malvora power, and he shoots Vitto, enabling everyone else to escape. Chapter ends w/Harry & Lara being trapped in the heart of the Deeps when the gate closes, with the explosives about to go off. 360-369
42. Harry gets Lara to kiss him for a final surge of power, enabling him to shield them. The explosion blasts Harry & Lara out of the Deeps. Harry & Lara have a final conversation & make a deal; then Harry heads back to the car where Molly & Mouse are waiting for him. 370-377
43. Final wrap-up of dangling plot threads. 378-404
You can see why I ran out of steam ...
I did a full breakdown like this one for Robert B. Parker's "Resolution", and I started doing it for "Blood Rites" (book 6 of Dresden Files) and "Sunshine" by Robin McKinley and, uh, I think there was one or two more. But I seriously ran out of steam on finishing the project, especially when it came to trying to pull together information from all of the books and find their commonalities and differences -- which was another thing I wanted to find out: how do detective novels break down differently from fantasy and is that different from sci-fi, etc.
So here's the first part, anyway. :) Sorry again about not getting back to you more quickly; I wanted to finish the whole thing before I posted it, but I don't think I'm ever going to.
Re: Part 4, a.k.a. OH GOD THERE'S MORE
I think I'm going to give The Blade Itself, by Joe Abercrombie, a shot -- though, as the first book in an epic fantasy trilogy, it might not be optimal -- might be better to do a stand-alone story. Other option is Best Served Cold, which is stand-alone and is nicely chopped into eleven'ish different sections:
1) Introduction to Main Character #1 (MC1)
2) Introduction to Main Character #2 (MC2)
3) MC1 recovers from nasty shit that happened to her in the first chapter and builds her Revenge Team (which includes MC2)
4-10) Seven Revenges
11) Denouement/epilogue
Problem is, I just reread it a month ago -- might be good, as I won't be distracted by the awesome prose/story, but won't be as interesting ... h'm.