#show: elite: episode 3x02

[kinetic-elaboration]

January 14: The Expanse 3x02

Back after another break. This was a good ep overall, I think.

First off, I was happy to get some kind of answer, somewhere. I mean not a huge answer, not all the answers, but like something that didn’t feel like taking one step forward and an equal step back. Do I know what it means that the kids can be command and control for the hybrid monsters? No, but that’s decidedly more than I knew before about their purpose. I’m not sure if I can truly say that none of the kids are in the hybrids—I mean if not, what is the other half of the monster?—but we’ve established Mei isn’t, which I suspected obviously but it took long enough. And I’m intrigued to know more, you know. About the mechanism. I also did like the line about understanding the Protomolecule doesn’t work as previously thought although it’s also frustrating because, first, well how does it work???? and second, this s a great time for exposition on how you thought it worked before, as I forgot. But no. Alas.

The Roci crew stuff was pretty neutral… I can see where the polycule allegations are coming from as it’s certainly more fun to read them that way and I’ve decided I’ll just personally be reading Alex/Amos/Prax as a triad for my own personal enjoyment. This story line was the repository of the obligatory action/adventure scene, which I zoned out for, except I did like that in my little fantasy world, Amos saving Prax was pretty hot, and acknowledged as such by both.

Chrisjen and Bobbie continue to be a fun duo and I hope that they get more scenes together and aren’t split up forever now that they’ve found the Roci. In particular I liked the expression on Bobbie’s face at the idea that she might be hitting on Chrisjen—like is she making a joke that’s not landing or is this lady serious? Also while I don’t really care about the realism of my sci fi, I appreciate that they, like, deal with the gravity related unpleasantness of this type of space travel. And the ship is very cute in its design.

I feel like this show has moved quite far away from the world-building that was so striking in its early episodes, and I miss it. I miss the Belt in particular (very ironic that a show that started so clearly focused on the downtrodden underclass has pretty well abandoned their stories for a narrative focused on the elite members of the most powerful society….hmmmm). But I liked seeing a little bit more development of Earth here: the protests, the start of the war (though again, only what it looks from above), and hints of background into idk whatever his name is, Secretary-General Generic Man.

I also liked Anna, even if I can see the manipulation that got me there (oh she’s helping an injured protestor!)—clues about proper sympathies can be obvious and still effective. Looking forward to more on her and her backstory.

Then I looked up the actress because I couldn’t remember where I knew her, and I ended up on her character wiki page and now I’m annoyed at the inability of people to, like, do basic research and I’m going down a rabbit hole about it. Watching the ep itself didn’t bother me: Anna doesn’t have an accent so I assumed she was Russian-descended American, but seeing that her “affiliation” is St. Petersburg (idk if this means birthplace but I sort of assumed so) changes the game. Why is her name using the masculine form? Where is the patronymic? And most glaringly of all and this really infuriates me, in WHAT fucking universe is “Anna” a nickname for Annushka? The universe of ‘I don’t care to get things right about Slavs because it isn’t important to me’ I guess. Perhaps you might consider fucking yourself instead idk??

It just really reeks of ‘what if we added some Exoticism and Spice’ but in such a disrespectful way and honestly such an unnecessary way. Lots of Americans are descended from other cultures and those cultures have become bowdlerized with time (hello, I am like this!!! My last name is pronounced by English standards, not the standards of its country of origin and that’s fine!!). So—same with her. I did not question it. Why add in all this half-assed backstory that you’re not even going to use, like fucked up distorted trivia you couldn’t even properly think through? UGH.

But anyway, yeah, the episode itself—pretty good!!

[smuganya]

ÉLITE 3.02 | 6.02

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elite fashion appreciation: 14/∞ - 3.02 “Samuel and Guzmán”

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elite fashion appreciation: 8/∞ - 3.02 “Samuel and Guzmán”

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1x02 / 3x02

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