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[lerry-hazel]

And some more PoI Rambling

Rewind to 4x11 (If-Then-Else)

Fusco: Perhaps we should consider splitting up.

Finch: Yeah, maybe the Machine hasn't thought through all the angles.

Things you only notice when you’re watching out of order, but Fusco doesn’t get to learn about the machine until late s5. Why does he so readily accept it as a reason to have his perfectly sensible suggestion shot down?

I mean, I would have believed the Machine had considered and discarded the ridiculous option of having Fusco do the hacking, no questions asked, but I would really like an explanation why we couldn’t have two teams consisting of one IT-wiz plus one protector with a gun.

They were probably weary of showing Reese and Finch work together, lest the public remembered who had been a dream team for two perfect seasons, and who is an annoying intruder blatantly plugging the hole left by Carter’s departure.

I still don’t get why the fandom ate it up so happily.

It’s not like the show lacks compelling female characters who could be credibly promoted to the main cast. Zoey Morgan, Dr. Tillman, Dr. Enright, Maxine Angelis, Jiao Lin, Maria Martinez. Dani Silva, Anna Mueller, Emma Blake and Elizabeth Bridges, who showed up later. Holly the flight attendant (well, she would have been difficult to write into the team, but she was cool).  

Even Iris would have been better: that is, if she had been written as a skilled psychologist who eventually figures Reese out and helps him make a difficult decision, or something, – and not by a twelve-year-old fic-writer self-inserting as a pretty lady who gets to kiss the main character.

Finally, I guess I’ve already said it more than once, but, if they absolutely had to pick the most revolting character to give more screen time to, couldn’t they have made Root the leading antagonist, instead of Grier? I’m sure I would have loved to hate her in accordance with the plotline.

[lerry-hazel]

And some more PoI ramblings

I guess they expected me to get all soft and sappy over Finch’s bonding roadtrip experience with the Machine. But the only thing it makes me feel is confusion over why he needs to go steal some mega-virus as a last ditch effort? Why hasn’t he been writing one himself, since the moment he realised the enormty of threat Samaritan represents???

Also, he definitely could have said a two-sillable password before being shot. Not that I would want to see Finch killed on the spot, but couldn’t they have knocked him unconcious, or at least covered his mouth?

Furthermore, once you notice it, you really start seeing it everywhere, don’t you:

- John would have died.

- I’m still undecided.

- Root would have gone working for Samaritan!

- Unacceptable! Ok, let’s do it!

This time I’m exaggerating a little, but still.

At least, three cheers to Fusco, the only one to fugure out that, in their line of work, buletproof vest should be worn at all times.

Couldn’t bring myself to rewatch 5x13, but the fic's not done yet, anyway.

[lerry-hazel]

More Random PoI Ramblings

Meanwhile, “keeping Fusco in the dark for his own protection” got old really fast:

not only because unsuspecting Fusco could have put himself and the entire operation in jeopardy by saying the wrong name on the phone,

but because we were so robbed of an exciting quest “Convince Fusco he is being watched by TWO omniscient AIs”.   

Since, when you come to think of it, Root’s “Lionel the lion cub” demonstration hardly proved anything, unless Fusco actually bothered to go check the zoo’s 60-year-old records – which had little reason to be digitalized, let alone in sufficient detail, to begin with (also, raise your – metaphorical – hand if you ever bothered to ask the name of the animal you had your photo taken with – and still remember it 20 years later).

And, of course it’s freakin’ Root’s death that finally pushes Finch over the edge. Again, I know they couldn’t bring Shaw back sooner for a reason, but still: “Sameen has been held captive for a year, tortured withing an inch of her life, for all we know – nevertheless, let’s proceed with caution. Root’s been killed (which is, presumably, sad, but can’t be made any worse) – sure, let’s burn the world to the ground”.

WTF.

[lerry-hazel]

Random PoI Ramblings

5x08 if probably one of the best episodes of s5, and generally one of the few that give a credible picture of what an AI left unchecked is capable of (as opposed to, you know, using US governmental feeds to hunt down people in Hungary).

I like Harold coming to join John in the hospital – precisely because it’s completely illogical.

And it’s nice to have Shaw back IRL, even thought I never liked how her abcence had been handled in the first place.

However, there is one thing that completely pisses me off.

Yeah, I know, from the start of s3 no episode goes without reiterating that Root understands the Machine better than Finch, but since when does he require the Machine’s instructions to interact with his own dog???

I mean, if they needed to extend the dialogue for some technical reason, couldn’t he have trouble finding that acid amongst dozens of similar jars?

But, nope, that was conveniently located in his direct line of sight *eye roll*

[lerry-hazel]

Dogs make everything better ;-)

[lerry-hazel]

Castiel’s Hallucinations

Re: as much as I love happy endings, I can't see anything happening in this case, bittersweet maybe. If the angels that Cas has been hallucinating do come to life, especially after 5-6 years of Cas' hallucination starting, I see him not believing they are actually alive, confusing them with the images he has been seeing over years. And his perception of them distorted, because while he relished the hallucinations as they kept all those beings with him, they were a manifestation of his dark thoughts. At some point the lines blured to a point he doesn't know the difference

@confusedkittensposts, you know what, you are absolutely right. Not that I doubted it in the first place, as I’ve had to repeatedly gloss over this exact issue in my “it was all a dream” fix-its.

But, since I couldn’t sleep anyway, last night I started mapping out the fic for argument’s sake – and, nope, this road doesn’t lead anywhere good. Maybe to the resurrected angels taking Castiel to Heaven, hoping they might help him up there – but not before a lot of painful shit happens :-(

[lerry-hazel]

Random PoI Ramblings

Speaking of weird cryptic shit, and s3 final, since that’s what I’m currently going over in my ridiculous fix-it fic.

Again, “ACD-wise”, I understand that they wanted the loss of the Library to come as devastating surprise; and that, ever since the showrunner was bitten by a 14-year-old girl, no other character was allowed so much as sneeze without Root’s input.

But, “Watson-wise”, if  “the giraffe Machine is big and knows best”, why the hell were Harold and John’s cover identities kept in the Library – apparently, without their knowledge?

Like, what if they hadn’t got a chance to go back before their headquarters fell into the enemy hands???

[lerry-hazel]

Wow, that would be such a stunning story. Tragic, but beautiful. Ecpecially if we can tie in the fact that none of these characters are alive, and there are only - what was that? - eight or nine angels left in the universe.

Although, since I'm a succer for a happy ending, I would totally cave and bring up the existence of the Empty where all the dead angels could be saved from.

Possibly with extra asshole Dean wondering why they would want to do that, when less angels equals less problems, as far as he's concerned.

I wish they never brought Lucifer back in season 11, yes, Casifer is fun and everything but they did ruin the character a lot.

One way I think Lucifer could have been in the story though is Castiel hallucinating him the whole time.

Like imagine if Cas hallucitaed like Sam, but he is not just seeing Lucifer but others too and slowly it becomes more of a Cas problem and manifestation and even a way of coping with his isolation and loneliness rather than something happening because of scars from Sam

Anna whisers all his doubts to him, Uriel points out all the 'wrongs' in the world, all the nagative aspects of humans that bother him. and Balthazar is a manifestation of disappointment. And Lucifer, he is all of Castiel's bitterness and anger and other dark thoughts, Naomi is his fear, something like that

[lerry-hazel]

Random PoI Ramblings

Meanwhile, Harold coming to see Fusco in the precinct  (in the beginning of 4x13) is extremely subtle and consistent with Professor Whistler’s persona.

[lerry-hazel]

n+1 utterly ridiculous plans for PoI fix-its

If-Then-Else

You know, back when it came out, 4x11 was actually the first episode of s4 that gave me hope PoI was not completely done for. It’s got its catchy rhythm, and playful banter, and teamwork.

Of course, it also ends the way it ends, but, while I strongly object to what happens next, that part of Shaw’s supposed demise is, as far as I’m concerned, beautifully executed. Also, “Conan Doyle-wise”, I know they just needed to write her out, possibly urgently – hence unpredictable last-minute malfunction.

And yet I can’t fail to notice that, up until that point, things inevitably go awry due to Root’s insistence first to team up with Harold and then harass hit on Shaw at the least appropriate moment;

which, “Watson-wise”, makes me wonder: why is noone ever questioning whether the cryptic shit Root is constantly spewing actually comes from the Machine?

[lerry-hazel]

n+1 utterly ridiculous plans for PoI fix-its

Elizabeth Bridges

I do like Beth. In fact, before those pesky meta-textual implications got to me, I was convinced she and Harold had way more chemistry between them than Harold and Grace.

That could have been so exciting to have her as an unwitting spy in Samaritan camp, doing her beautiful science and making us wonder if the other AI is really so unequivocally evil.

Instead, the way her storyline ends kinda makes you wonder what was the point of starting it in the first place.

Especially if the most fascinating thing about it is what body part Harold used to concoct a plan that relies on

* finding a trustworthy accomplice half way across the world (when, unlike me, the writers consider 3x16 canon, don’t they?);

* Beth not starting to scream thus attracting a lot of attention and spooking the fake thief;

* Beth agreeing not to call the police – instead of giving Harold a wide breath while doing exactly that;

* noone taking notice of Harold randomly hitting a delivery guy in the middle of the street;

* and the thief not stealing any of Beth’s files in order to sell them back to her later, thus exposing the whole scheme.

Because, had Harold used his brain, he would have just hired that guy to pour coffee/soy sauce on Beth’s laptop, then graciously offered to fix it and blushingly admitted to wanting to impress her if she ever found out that was not an accident.

Also, I’m no expert, but I strongly suspect that hiding a piece of code in an email is a far more credible way to activate a computer programme than applying an external device to a switched-off laptop.  

Finally, nothing (except for the authors’ annoying persistence in shoving Root in the middle of any significant plot development) explains why the hell the Machine is not contacting John when Harold is 11 minutes away from certain death :-E

[lerry-hazel]

NB

Hmm, apparently, there are two different tags to expose yourself to the attention of fellow BBC-Ghosts-Lovers.

I’ve added the other one to a few of my most recent posts. We’ll see what happens

[lerry-hazel]

BBC Ghosts Ask Game

From here: https://ailendolin.tumblr.com/post/747841561523552257/bbc-ghosts-ask-game

I’m totally gonna cheat and answer the ones I know from the top of my head right away.

The ones I have to think about I’ll save in case someone actually asks :-P

So,

1. Who are your 3 favourite main ghosts?

Fanny, Julian and Kitty.

2. Who are your 3 favourite minor ghosts (including the Plaguers)?

Never think much about them; apart from the Dead Doctor, maybe.

3. Who is your favourite living character (apart from the Coopers)?

Adam, strange as it is. I guess I got fond of him while considering that Modern_Day!AU I’m not writing.  

4. What is your favourite thing about Mike and Alison’s relationship?

5. What are your 3 favourite dynamics in the show?

Fanny & the Captain (nonexistent as it is), Kitty & the Captain, Robin & Julian.

6. What is your favourite moment from each series?

7. What is your favourite Christmas Special?

8. What lines never fail to make you laugh?

9. What are the 3 most touching scenes for you?

Unsurprisingly, Pat’s grandson, Havers’ salute and “Shine like a star”.

10. What would have been your perfect ending?

Alison & Mike leaving. With a Christmas special set a few years in the future, fully exploring all the shenanigans the ghosts get to in the hotel.

11. What is your favourite thing about the show in general?

12. Is there a flashback scene you wish we’d gotten?

13. What storyline(s) would you have liked to see (more) explored?

In theory, I'd like to see more of the ghosts making themselves useful to Alison. I do realise that would be next to impossible to accomplish, though.

14. What is your favourite part of Button House / West Horsley Place?

The fountain. IDK Why.

15. What is your favourite chapter of the Button House Archives?

Haven’t got to it yet.  

[lerry-hazel]

Ghosts ask - 13 and/or 2

(2) Three favourite minor ghosts: never think much about them; apart from the Dead Doctor, maybe.

(13) In theory, I'd like to see more of the ghosts making themselves useful to Alison. I do realise that would be impossible to accomplish, though.

[lerry-hazel]

I don't have an opinion on a lot of those, but when have I ever refused a chance to ramble? ;-)

BBC Ghosts Ask Game

Since Ghosts started five years ago today, I thought I'd create a little ask game to celebrate five years of happy haunting! 👻

Who are your 3 favourite main ghosts?

Who are your 3 favourite minor ghosts (including the Plaguers)?

Who is your favourite living character (apart from the Coopers)?

What is your favourite thing about Mike and Alison's relationship?

What are your 3 favourite dynamics in the show?

What is your favourite moment from each series?

What is your favourite Christmas Special?

What lines never fail to make you laugh?

What are the 3 most touching scenes for you?

What would have been your perfect ending?

What is your favourite thing about the show in general?

Is there a flashback scene you wish we'd gotten?

What storyline(s) would you have liked to see (more) explored?

What is your favourite part of Button House / West Horsley Place?

What is your favourite chapter of the Button House Archives?

[lerry-hazel]

n+1 utterly ridiculous plans for PoI fix-its

Outsourcing ;-)

So, which parts of PoI canon - be it plotholes or devastating turns of events - do you think would be ridiculously easy to fix?

For now, I've got Carter, subway, Shaw's capture, the simulation, the wault, plus the two utterly outlandish ones :-)

[lerry-hazel]

Random PoI Ramblings

S3.E23 ∙ Deus Ex Machina

In fact, now that I think about it, s3 final is simply too much: there is not only Grace, but Control, and Samaritan, and Decima, and Vigilance, and also Root with her servers –

Would have made much more sense if s3 was mostly random numbers, some of them Vigilance-related, and finish with Colier organizing some outlandish disaster to lure out the “creator of governmental surveillance system”, and Harold is about to reveal himself when Arthur Claypool metaphorically stands up and says “I did it!”    

Then s4 could be about trying to prevent the rise of the Samaritan, ending with its coming online, and shortened s5 with the last stand.

Would have made for a much smoother pace, don’t you think?