I Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher

[redbrunja]

 I watched the finale of True Blood, if anyone is interested in chatting about that.

I also finished The Lightning Thief today, which I greatly enjoyed. I reminded me a lot of early Harry Potter (in a good way) and I enjoyed it enough to put a hold on the next volume. (I hope it gets darker as Percy gets older, like HP did.) I loved all the mythology, Percy was a great pov character (and I liked how his dyslexia was described), Annabeth was awesome, Grover was annoying, they treated Percy's mother like a character in her own right, and not just as The Mom. My one major complaint was that I could really tell it was written for 12-year-olds. (Grover, in particular, was a character would only exist and would only behave as he did in a children's book. By that I mean I found it ridiculously that he would have been given the task he was.) Also, I totally want Annabeth to get Cybernus as a pet at some point. That would be awesome.

Comments

True Blood Finale Spoilers

[terenewen.livejournal.com]

You know what, I don't really want to discuss the finale, except to say this:




Bill and Eric, I hope leaving Russel alive comes back to bite you both in the ass, and you know what? I'M GLAD HE'S STILL ALIVE. Because Russel is AWESOME.
...though I'm actually really happy to see Godric again. And Alcide. It was kind of underwhelming otherwise, you know?

Re: True Blood Finale Spoilers

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

Godric appearence and Eric looking all crazy and talking to him FTW.

Re: True Blood Finale Spoilers

[terenewen.livejournal.com]

Yesssss, Crazy Old Eric Northman. XDD Also, we got to hear Godric speaking Swedish. Sexy, sexy Swedish.

Re: True Blood Finale Spoilers

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love it when vampires speak other languages. It's sexy and hell and realistic.

Re: True Blood Finale Spoilers

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I would be really surprised if leaving Russel alive DOESN'T come back to cause trouble. That said, I LOVED Eric's overdeveloped sense of revenge. Rock on, Viking, rock on.

It was kind of underwhelming otherwise, you know?

It was. I admit, I did find Jessica and Hoyt cute.

Re: True Blood Finale Spoilers

[terenewen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they clearly found a solution that would keep him out of the main characters' hair for awhile, but they must mean to bring him back at a later point. I know you aren't as fond of him as I am, but I'm pretty happy about that. It was a horrible plan as far as Bill and Eric are concerned, though. XDD

That said, I LOVED Eric's overdeveloped sense of revenge.
Hell. Yeah. XD Being buried alive in concrete? That's a compromise. XD Speaking of concrete, Eric still manages to look damn fine when covered in it.

But yeah, overall, felt like a mid-season cliffhangar ending, and the plot just... wasn't as tight, you know? The suspense didn't carry over from the end of the last episode.

...but yeah. Jessica and Hoyt. Are really cute. I don't think they're ready to get married, but I think I'm feeling empathy joy because Jessica gets to FURNISH A HOUSE. She should get design tips from Lisbeth.

Re: True Blood Finale Spoilers

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Hell. Yeah. XD Being buried alive in concrete? That's a compromise. XD Speaking of concrete, Eric still manages to look damn fine when covered in it.

Both of these things are true.

But yeah, overall, felt like a mid-season cliffhangar ending, and the plot just... wasn't as tight, you know? The suspense didn't carry over from the end of the last episode.

It really didn't. And there really isn't anything that makes me go 'oh my god, must tune in for next season' or that was a satisfying conclusion to the story arcs.

...but yeah. Jessica and Hoyt. Are really cute. I don't think they're ready to get married, but I think I'm feeling empathy joy because Jessica gets to FURNISH A HOUSE. She should get design tips from Lisbeth.

YES! That would be epic! Also, I want to note that I love the metaphor they're working with here - repairing/refurnishing a house is typically a metaphor for building a relationship, and the idea of Hoyt and Jessica picking out curtains and paint colors makes me want to die of cuteness. DIE OF CUTENESS.

[oceansex.livejournal.com]

I didn't really care the for ending of the finale (even though they're book canon, ENOUGH WITH THE FAIRIES) or the Jason/Crystal events, but Bill getting tossed out on his ass was amazing. about damn time it happened. felt bad for Eric getting unwelcomed, too, but that's probably because his relationship with Sookie isn't based 100% on lies and constant fight-and-then-make-up-five-minutes-later sex.

the Lafayette/Jesus and Jessica/Hoyt bits were adorable, as usual, but WHAT WAS THAT DOLL IN THEIR HOUSE? is someone getting into voodoo?

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oh, I fucking HATE the fairies. I cannot be bothered to care when they are on the screen.

felt bad for Eric getting unwelcomed, too, but that's probably because his relationship with Sookie isn't based 100% on lies and constant fight-and-then-make-up-five-minutes-later sex.

I don't. He makes to attempt to keep Sookie in the loop about his plans and just expects her to a.) do what he says and b.) keep trusting him.

the Lafayette/Jesus and Jessica/Hoyt bits were adorable, as usual, but WHAT WAS THAT DOLL IN THEIR HOUSE? is someone getting into voodoo?

Maybe? I thought it was just an ominous image to make sure we didn't get comfy about the idea of Jessica and Hoyt being happy together.

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed the the finale of True Blood. I think the thing I was most interested in by the end of the ep was Lafayette though. :p Sometimes I wish there could be a pre-Bill/vamps version of the show that focuses on the gang at Merlottes.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I wish there could be a pre-Bill/vamps version of the show that focuses on the gang at Merlottes.

That would be awesome. And would give me more of Sookie and Tara being best friends, which is sadly lacking in thos show. I was grateful for the little we did get in this episode.

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was pretty much what I was thinking. I really love Sookie and Tara bestie moments and we get so few of them (especially in season 2-3).

I have a question... Why do you hate the faeries? I just ask in honest curiousity. I still haven't decided how I feel about them since I was spoiled for it and then when I saw it on the show I figured, "Eh, I'll go with it for now."

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I do not feel the fairies, especially the way that Harris wrote the fairies, fit into the world she built. Vampires and werewolves and shifters are one thing, and they really work well with the metaphors she's working with. However, the fairies, especially when Sookie goes off to fight in a fairy work, really, really don't fit in for me. Additionally, they seem WAY to tame. Harris shoved classic fantasy elves* into her horror urban fantasy, and the crossing of genres made me want to gag (and was also really, really boring).

Then we get to True Blood, which decides to follow Harris' lead for once in the show's run and shove sweetness and light fantasy fairies into their violent, bloody, vampire soap opera using the MOST MIDDLE-SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF 'A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM COSTUMING AND IMAGERY THEY POSSIBLY COULD.

It's fucking ridiculous and boring.

*This is not to say that fairies COULDN'T fit into a horror book/show. They would just need to be Melissa Marr or Emma Bull type fairies (those are two authors who did the fair folk right, imho).

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

Oooh, this makes so much more sense to me now. I wasn't aware that they never turned into more the Melissa Marr type fairies so I can see how this is going to get stupid. I didn't think the "Midsummer Night's Dream" costuming was well done at all but I figured eventually it'd be kind of an ironic thing. Although I guess I should have figured this was how things would be considering vampires managed to pretty much wipe them out.

Now I am feeling the hate too. Urgh. What editor let her get away with tossing tra-la-laing fairies rather than rawr-creepy-kind-of-evil fairies into her horror story?

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Now I am feeling the hate too. Urgh. What editor let her get away with tossing tra-la-laing fairies rather than rawr-creepy-kind-of-evil fairies into her horror story?

Apparently they get more badass later in the books? However, I'd stopped reading by that point, so.

[lady-tigerfish.livejournal.com]

This is not to say that fairies COULDN'T fit into a horror book/show. They would just need to be Melissa Marr or Emma Bull type fairies (those are two authors who did the fair folk right, imho.

WORD.

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

But...the show fairies didn't follow the book fairies at all? Like, Claudine, who is the most fluffy happy shiny book fairy, also slaughters her way through the ranks and laughed as she crushed goblins foes beneath her heels? And gave the person who killed her sister a five hour start so she could hunt her down like an animal.

Pretty much every other fairy is a) a cold blooded killer and b) pretty strongly, um, elitist regarding humans except for whatever ones they might have deigned to take a personal liking to.

C-come on, you have to admit that Niall going 'OMG BABY'S FIRST KILL :D :D :D' and Sookie going 'WTF WTF' was funny.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Like, Claudine, who is the most fluffy happy shiny book fairy, also slaughters her way through the ranks and laughed as she crushed goblins foes beneath her heels? And gave the person who killed her sister a five hour start so she could hunt her down like an animal.

See, I got bored and stopped reading the book where that happens before what you mentioned happened, so I all I got was their elitist attitude towards humans which a.) bored me and b.) have seen that dynamic for fairies over and over again. So moving to ridiculous and boring fairies on the show doesn't actually feel like a switch in dynamics in a way that changes my opinions about the fairies.

C-come on, you have to admit that Niall going 'OMG BABY'S FIRST KILL :D :D :D' and Sookie going 'WTF WTF' was funny.

I will admit that.

[luna301.livejournal.com]

The ending of the finale was all kinds of suckage IMO. Was that their idea of a "cliffhanger"? Ugh.

Bill FINALLY getting his lying, manipulative ass thrown off the porch was so worth it, though. He was so creepy and psycho with the "Sookeh, Ah weel keel every vampahrr who has tasted you" scene and Sookie is such a dumbass for just sitting there through that creepiness as if it's completely normal to be a serial killer as long as it's in the name of "love". The real reason he wanted Eric dead (that he didn't want Sookie to find out the truth and possibly because he felt Eric was a threat to his relationship with her) only made him ten times creepier.

I totally LOLed at Bill vs Queen Sophie Ann. The way they were just hovering there and the super cheesy close ups of their fang outs. Ahahahaha.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

The ending of the finale was all kinds of suckage IMO. Was that their idea of a "cliffhanger"? Ugh.

Agreed. I was like 'really? That was it? Really?'

"Sookeh, Ah weel keel every vampahrr who has tasted you" scene and Sookie is such a dumbass for just sitting there through that creepiness as if it's completely normal to be a serial killer as long as it's in the name of "love".

I know! I while he was talking all I could do was run through the ways that statement (I'll kill anyone who knows) could go terribly, terribly wrong.

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

Sookie is such a dumbass for just sitting there through that creepiness as if it's completely normal to be a serial killer as long as it's in the name of "love".

Well frankly, I felt pretty sympathetic to her in that scene. Considering how much violence and trauma she's suffered before anyone but her sucky boyfriend knew she was the tastiest Big Mac ever and with pretty much no defenses she can reliably use, she'd have to spend the very short rest of her life in terror. Or move far away and get a new identity, which she doesn't have the resources for.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

True. Although I, personally, wouldn't want to institute a 'check with me before killing anyone for my sake' policy.

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

I suspect the show expects us to regard whatever Bill does as sacrosanct and instantly forgiveable in the name of 'for your own good.' The audience isn't supposed to disagree, Sookie isn't allowed to disagree.

[aj.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the Percy Jackson novels. Although I have Thoughts on the last one. Still this is a very, very fun series. And once you bring gender politic in it, it very much feels like the way Harry Potter would have been written, had it been done by a guy. The pacing and the POV are just SO MALE (not in a bad way! Just in a O.o way) and yet really interesting. I also LOVE that the rest of the series keeps it in Percy's perspective. Let me know when you've got more of the series in the bag and we can chat.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The POV is very Male, but at the same time, one thing it does that you rarely see in tales of Young Men With Destinies (much less ones written by men and for boys) is to offer up increasingly strong criticism of how traditional heroes treat women, and criticize the depiction of traditional heroism as being a Male Only place. I also think Annabeth is treated much better in the text than we usually get.

[aj.livejournal.com]

Oh, no question. There's definitely some stuff about Annabeth and the way she's presented that I want to discuss, but most of that is spoiler-filled because I'm not creative enough for hyperbole.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Not to cut you guys off, but please have that spoilery conversation... in another post where I can look at it when I'm caught up.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

I'm thrilled to get an update on Felix -- I was kinda worried after hearing that Sam has a 'No pets' policy on the place. *hugs Terry*

Hoyt . . . he's still a bit of a kid, but he's grown up enough to let me accept him making things serious with Jessica and be happy/worried for them.

Also, Sookie tossing the remains down the garbage disposal? Awesome.

That, and breaking up with Bill. Took her long enough.

As for Eric getting uninvited . . . meh. He and Pam have a half-decent chance of establishing themselves as 'Not totally evil' to Sookie, but right now I think what she needs is just some vampire-free time. It's been a very intense three months, and she needs to catch up on her sleep.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Me too! I was so happy Felix was okay.

Also, Sookie tossing the remains down the garbage disposal? Awesome.


So awesome! I especially liked her evil little giggle while she did it.

It's been a very intense three months, and she needs to catch up on her sleep.

So true.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

I think Felix has developed enough fans that they'll need to actually bring him in at some point next season. Just have Terry hold him and pat him in one scene or something.

They told Sookie not to stake him. They said nothing against torture.

On that note, I'm surprised Russel didn't show up before the end of the episode. Eric and Pam show that concrete is more of an annoyance when it gets all in your hair than something that will actually stop a determined vampire. What would have been better, if they didn't want to kill him off? Hand the dude over to Nan Flannigan. Let her put the specific vamp responsible for the horrible PR go through a proper, media-filled trial to show that vampires have a sense of justice.

When you mainline things like this, shows or comics or what have you that move at a deceptively slow pace, you realize just how intensely packed their days are. Even Agatha took a break from retaking the Castle to have a nap.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

What would have been better, if they didn't want to kill him off? Hand the dude over to Nan Flannigan. Let her put the specific vamp responsible for the horrible PR go through a proper, media-filled trial to show that vampires have a sense of justice.

That was what I expected them to do for a while. Eric earns points with the AVL, Russel is put away, it would've been a smart move.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

The thing is, vampires are ultimately just people who live a very long time. Some of them are nicer and will stick to feeding from the consenting with a bottle of True Blood now and then to tide them over; others are psychopaths as much as humans are. That's what Flannigan needs to make clear to the public -- along with the fact that the nicer vamps won't let the psychopaths speak for all of them.

But in the long run, the psychopaths have a higher survival rate. The sneaky ones, at least. The more ruthless you are, the better odds you have of eating each night. The careless psychopaths will tick off enough people that at least one of 'em will be smart enough to take them out.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Some of them are nicer and will stick to feeding from the consenting with a bottle of True Blood now and then to tide them over; others are psychopaths as much as humans are. That's what Flannigan needs to make clear to the public -- along with the fact that the nicer vamps won't let the psychopaths speak for all of them.

Agreed. And in the snippet we saw, I think Flannigan is doing a really good job of pushing that angle - especially choosing to frame it as terrorism, which places it in a debate with a lot of precedent in american current affairs.

But in the long run, the psychopaths have a higher survival rate. The sneaky ones, at least. The more ruthless you are, the better odds you have of eating each night.

Very true.

[zuki-san.livejournal.com]

I can confirm that the writing darkens and serious-ens as the series goes on. There's a very notable style shift at the beginning of book three, to my recall.

Very much agree with your thoughts on Percy's mom.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Sweet!

[fonsetorigo.livejournal.com]

I watched the movie of Percy Jackson, but as I am currently studying Greek Mythology I am hesitant to read any modern things to do with it, as Greek Myths fuck around with their own ideas better then half the Harry Potter writers could ever and I need to get the "facts" of the myths in a straight line.

... That and who ever wrote the book, "Perseus" is actually a son of Zeus, not Poseidon. But that is a small gripe. :FFF

[fonsetorigo.livejournal.com]

....But I am very interested in looking into them after I am done with this course, because I love the retelling of Myth in a simple story way. We change the stories to fit our audience, to make it relevant. It is *why* even within Ancient Greek culture there are just so many variations. I love looking at how they do adapt, from the myths of 1000 years ago, to the myths of today. If that makes any sense.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's directly addressed in the book (but not the movie, which I reject for everything but Annabeth icons) that Perseus is Zeus's son. Percy's mother named him Perseus because the mythical Perseus seemed to have a happier life and keep his act together better than other Heroes.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

*nods*

Plus there was that happy marriage with Andromeda.... *is still bitter about The Clash of the Titans*

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen the new CotT yet.

There's also the fact that it wasn't uncommon to name your child after a god/something significant to a god that might bear your child a grudge, so there's a practical purpose to it, too.

[fonsetorigo.livejournal.com]

Well that is a relief :D I liked the movie because it made me lulz, I wasn't taking it very seriously. That and I felt so much joy in watching Persephone screw over Hades for what he did to her. Bastard had it come. :DDD

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The PJ books are the first things in years to remind me that I don't hate stories centered around Special Boys With Destinies, just how most of them are written and handled. Percy is the first Boy With A Destiny I've liked in years, and the parts I have problems with are generally overshadowed by the things I like, particularly the increasingly critical approach to the Greek gods as parents, and the Greek heroes.

Usually, I shun Magical Disabilities, but I give Riordan a pass because he actually depicts ADHD and dyslexia, instead of just saying they have it and and creating a hyper kid who doesn't study well, and he also shows how it can make social and personal lives difficult, not to mention the internal frustrations and difficulties. He also shows it affecting different personaslity types and intelligence levels, as opposed to the typical "one size fits all." It isn't often that he says "this behavior is caused by ADHD," save for when Percy is explaining an overall trend for the demigods, orthe requisite "hey, this may be your first book, let me explain" that most series have, but if you know what to look for, you can see how all the demigods' personalities and difficulties are influenced at least somewhat by ADHD. One very strong trend (and something that almost always gets overlooked in depictions of ADHD) is that part of "having a different way of thinking" means that it can be difficult to actually communicate with people who don't have the same "way" of thinking, which results in most of them having trouble communicating with "regular" people and having many friends outside of the camp.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Percy is the first Boy With A Destiny I've liked in years, and the parts I have problems with are generally overshadowed by the things I like, particularly the increasingly critical approach to the Greek gods as parents, and the Greek heroes.

Agreed. I love how the idea of having gods for parents is really explored, and how while the READER knows that Percy is going to be the boy of prophecy, there are narrative questions about it. (Also, I think Thalia rocks but I'm placing bets that she ends up dead.)

[afigureofspeech.livejournal.com]

Oh Percy Jackson. It is a much beloved series by me. As I recall (it's been a little while), it does get darker as Percy gets older, though I don't think quite to the extent of the HP books. There's definitely a good amount of maturing by the fifth book though. I think it's a series that you will enjoy. :)

Pssssst - this has spoilers and stuff throughout but I lovelovelove this fic (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5705080/1/) about Poseidon and Percy's mom. :D

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

*makes note to read it later*

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

I liked that Sookie got to be so proactive in the first part of the episode. Grabbing the silver chains, dumping Talbot, disinviting everybody -- most excellent. And I have to admit, as much as I went 'LOLWHUT' at the ending -- my first thought was 'didn't you ask Tara to give you some company this evening, wtf Sookie?' -- I would gladly take painfully cheesy Fairytown if it meant Sookie got a powerup or at least some damn agency. I mean, at this point I'll take all the cheese I can get, I'm just desperate.

I think Sookie should just fly solo, but since TV is allergic to having a woman romantically uninvolved unless its an excruciatingly drawn out will-they-won't-they sequence, I'm guessing I won't get it.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I liked that Sookie got to be so proactive in the first part of the episode.

Agreed. It was quite fun (and unfortunately unusual) to get to see her with her dander up (and being EFFECTIVE) about it.

I would gladly take painfully cheesy Fairytown if it meant Sookie got a powerup or at least some damn agency. I mean, at this point I'll take all the cheese I can get, I'm just desperate.

True. Actually, I think both Tara and Sookie taking a vacation from Bon Temps (where they had so few, lately) is a good idea.