(no subject)

am reading 'Bitten'
am about half way through
am wondering when the story is going to start

first person pov does not eliminate the need to show not tell
far from it
telling just makes it sound like someone whining on about their dumb life
instead of the reader being the I in the middle of the action

this is the problem with going back to read earlier books. some authors need a run up.




also, it is nearly 0800, and my shopping will arrive sometime between 1300 and 1500, and I haven't sleeped.

also also, there is snow on the ground and everywhere outside.

Was Kennedy a sympathetic character?

Someone somewhere on LJ said at some point in the last month or so (yes that's as specific as I can make it or I'd link) that the way to make a character sympathetic was to make them care about someone more than they care about themselves. Smallville Lex cares about Clark, Spike cares about Dru, and later Buffy and Dawn, and so these characters are sympathetic. It doesn't matter how flawed or tragic or pretty or universally loved a character is without that one key thing.

So, Buffy puts her life on the line for potential friends right from the start. Xander goes with her to save Willow and Jesse. Giles sticks his hand in the potion and tells the bad things to feed on him and not Buffy. It takes Giles a bit longer to count properly, because he could have just been doing his job and being bossy to start with. This is why Wesley isn't initially on the sympathetic list. The first thing we see him do is land other people in it to save himself.
( Read more... )

Oz started out slow. First we saw he wasn't just interested in sex, which is a pretty good start. Women had to do more than breathe to interest him. Willow first caught his eye when she was in that eskimo suit. So we know he isn't cliche gland guy. Later he turns up and helps out whenever he's needed. He's sort of quiet about it. But if Willow is in trouble, he'll risk the world to save her.

Tara initially went to Willow to try and help the town when everyone lost their voices. Got in danger, got hurt, helped anyway. And then stayed around, liking Willow, helping Willow. Tara has the stutter and the being shy and, unlike Olivia, she knows right from the start that the monsters are real, there, and after her and Willow, but she stays around, even though it would be safer for her to leave.

Kennedy... I've been thinking about it, and I can't figure out where her moment is. ( Read more... )

The obvious answer is "The Killer in Me". Kennedy is the one who sticks with Willow, follows her around, tries to help.
The 'follows her around' part is the first problem. Because apparently her reason involves pointing and laughing. "Come on. I mean, you turned into a guy. I mean if you take a step back, seriously, there's a certain element of humor here, right?" So she isn't taking things seriously.
But, okay, assume she actually does want to help. (For why? Willow isn't a girl any more, K fancies girls, so it isn't hard to see a selfish in there.)
Kennedy gets in Amy's face after Amy knocks her across the room. That proves she isn't a coward. But is it really proving she cares more for Willow than for herself? Its probably meant to, but I'm not sure I buy it. Kennedy is pushy and apparently thinks she can handle anything. So when magic is aimed at her she pushes back and is apparently unafraid. That last part is what makes it difficult to see this as her selfless moment. If it isn't a risk, she isn't risking herself.
Then Amy ports her after Warren!Willow. Which is important - Kennedy doesn't even decide to go after her, she just lands in front of her. And Warren!Willow points a gun at her. And K stays calm and tries to help.
And again, there's a big problem with reading this moment as selfless risk. She is calm - does she even believe W would shoot? And what are her options - outrun a bullet?
So she stays, and she finishes the 'fairy tale' with a kiss to break the spell.
But that still isn't caring about someone else more than she cares about herself. She saves her own life and gets back the person she wants to kiss. Can still be read as entirely selfish.

The other thing that the episode does is try to make Kennedy bashing sound like Warren words. I don't hate K. I have no problem with women who know what they want and go after it. I just don't care about her. I can't find the moment where she proves she cares about anyone, so why should I care?


Now it is of course entirely possible that I'm missing something. Season 7 isn't my favourite, I haven't rewatched it half as often as the others, and when I do watch I'm looking for Giles, Andrew and Spike.

But I was trying to figure out why Kennedy isn't so very much liked, isn't seen as sympathetic, and I think this lot is one why.