(no subject)

[snowystingray]

Continuing my Robin Hood catch-up, I just watched 3.12 "Something Worth Fighting For."

So, you know what, show? FUCK YOU, TOO. More than ever do I find myself cherishing pre-finale season two. UggggghhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh. I didn't even break out my usual "cry at everything" response because it was seriously just that lame and pointless; and in a way I almost don't even feel bad about it from a character perspective, because Allan gets nothing to do and clearly his "friends" place zero value on him and, dammit, there wasn't a single decent Guy/Allan exchange. Better to bail than put up with more fail. I hope Marian and Allan are off having a nice time of it in the afterlife. Blarf. Either that or Allan should have elbowed in on a trio living arrangement with Will and Djaq, who were smart enough to quit at a good time. And, okay, now that I'm writing about this I am actually starting to feel more upset about it. It's just so heartbreaking that without those two, he really has had nobody left for the past season who cared about him. There have been some nicer buddy moments with Much, but of course his deference to Robin trumps everything; and you know, I really enjoyed the Allan/Little John subplot in 3.11 but clearly that counted for nothing auuuughhhh. I think it goes without saying that he deserved much, much better.

Moving on to other points...

-I actually found myself liking Kate in this episode. Huh. I think it's because they brought in more of her interaction with village life, which is why I initially liked her character when she was first introduced. The girlfight showdown still made me cringe, but I liked that for once her anger with Isabella came across as something more than just "YOU ARE ANOTHER GIRL WITH GIRL-PARTS AND YOU THREATEN MY SEXUAL CONQUESTS BECAUSE CLEARLY THAT IS THE ONLY THING GIRLS BOTHER ABOUT."

-I continue to like Archer. I know I said that I probably wouldn't keep up with the show past this season once everybody leaves, but... dammit. I think we all know where this is going. :/ Rakish charm: he has it.

-STOP KILLING GUARDS. JESUS. How is it that local men are innocent victims when they're being rounded up to serve at Isabella's command, but the second they're strapped into a uniform they become moving targets?

-But then again, having a gate-front sit-down to oppose the castle forces seemed a bit dumb and forced. These are the people who locked dozens in a church and set it on fire; does it really seem like there's going to be much hesitation to slash at a few villagers?

-Oh, Isabella, honey. I don't even know what to say. You were too awesome for this show from the very start. I'm still holding out hope of some sort of Gisborne reconciliation next week, though. Guy. Apology. NOW. Please please pleeeeeease? Honestly, show, I ask so little of you. It did seem like Guy was being somewhat protective of her there at the end, though, right? When he was pulling her to safety inside the gates?

-VAYSEY. WELCOME BACK TO MY WORLD YOU FIERCE BASTARD, HOW I HAVE MISSED YOU. I know I said that I didn't want him to come back and screw up his perfect death scene and how it all played into Gisborne's redemptive development, but, man. Forget that. Once again this week I was kind of bored with Guy-as-a-Hoodie so maybe this will throw some new fuel on the fast-dying flames of Guy's evil angst. Plus, come on, he's the GODDAMN SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM and oh oh ohhhh his sparkle tooth and his dumb puns and his unabashed evil troll soullessness and eeee it is the one thing about the show that I just unequivocally LOVE LOVE LOVE FOREVER AND EVER AMEN.

Comments

[stellypippin.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this show is just not the same - I'm not sure if I'm liking this season finale or not, lol - but why Allan?!?! WHY?! Just senseless.

Your icon is cracking me up beyond belief.

[snowystingray.livejournal.com]

There have actually been quite a lot of things I enjoyed about this season (GUY ANGST. ISABELLA. PRINCE JOHN. BASICALLY THE ENTIRETY OF 3.09, THE EPISODE I WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR), but as the series draws to a close I think I am just overwhelmed by how much I DO NOT WANT the resolution they're setting up for what were interesting character developments. And which are now arbitrary good-and-evil delineations that are really cheapening everybody. Bahhh. The things we sit through for Armitage, right?

Ha, thanks. I made it just in time for my INSANE WITH RAGE reactions to some of the developments of the past few weeks.

[stellypippin.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, the things we sit through, just for Guy, lol - the resolution just looks so predictable, and I'm not liking it at all!

[endcredits.livejournal.com]

I'm totally spamming you, aren't I? And I forgot to mention YOUR VASEY ICON OF AWESOMENESS OMG. Adoration! It's hypnotising.

I'm actually finding myself staring at my nails during parts of these latter few episodes. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not digging Guy as a goodie-goodie (although I did rather enjoy the Guy/Robin comedy hour of 3x11), or if it's because I've just given up all hope of a decent resolution to the fates of these characters. Allan being a case in point: normally I'd be wailing my head off, but my reaction was pretty much, "Oh honey, you're better off out of it! Now go find Maz and have a natter about Guy over a cup of tea." All that delicious betrayal angst, and the writers just threw it in the bin.

I have no faith at all now, and I'm wrapping myself in protective nonchalance for fear of being TRAUMATISED FOR LIFE by the finale.

I think I'm going to end up spending Saturday evening mainlining all the Guy/Marian S2 bits.

[snowystingray.livejournal.com]

Oh, spam away -- it's fair payback for my Robin Hood posting frenzy now that I've actually had a chance to get caught up on it (although I'm not gonna lie, I totally managed to find some Robin Hood on Venezuelan television. IT WAS GLORIOUS. I don't know whether I was more relieved or disappointed that the episode was subbed instead of dubbed, though). I hope you don't mind if I lump my replies to all of your comments here in one place, though, to keep from repeating and/or splintering all of the stuff I want to babble about.

First of all, man, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has been rather bored with Guy lately. I feel like such a heartless person for thinking that, but... I just can't help it. And you know, maybe this is me rationalizing my apparent cruelty, but I really do feel that Guy's redemption arc hasn't been all it was cracked up to be. I love love LOVED 3.09 because FINALLY Guy admitted that he did something wrong; that he was at fault for what happened to Marian and in fact for his own downfall; and yet that, even despite how irredeemably screwed up he feels, sometimes it's okay and even rewarding to like and help and believe in other people, because just maybe, miraculously, they could turn around and do the same for him. Everything about Guy in that episode was vulnerable and heartbreaking and perfect. Aaaand then it's followed up by him swearing eternal revenge on Isabella, who only wants him to say "I'm sorry!" and nothing else; by wandering around the forest aimlessly until he finds somebody else who will tell him what to do (in an earlier post (http://snowystingray.livejournal.com/309647.html#cutid1) I'd noted that Guy has been a perpetual follower and completely sucks as a leader -- except for that brief glimpse in 2.10 which thrilled the heck out of me -- so I was really curious to see what he'd do with himself once he ran out of options with Vaysey, Prince John, and finally Isabella. AND OF COURSE HE DOES NOTHING. Sigh); by still blaming everybody else for his problems (more points to Archer for the exchange at the end of 3.11:
Guy: *staring at the nooses* Well I'm certainly glad I came to rescue my brother, aren't you?
Archer: This isn't my fault.
Guy: No? Then who's fault is it, then?
Archer: I didn't ask you to come.
Guy: *a look that says DAMMIT I NEED A SCAPEGOAT ASAP*). But, wait, now he's with the outlaws, so he's a good guy! Honestly, I think he felt like more of a good guy back when he was the Sheriff's evil lackey and yet a complete dopey puppy dog following Marian around. That was a dichotomy that worked for me. But self-righteous whiner who gets to wear a hero nametag simply because he can steal money from the rich and then use it as he sees fit? Hey, wait, I think Sherwood has already got one of those. And again, it's the bonding over their mutual hatred of Isabella that really gets me. HEY, GUYS, HEADS UP: SHE HATES YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE BOTH TOTAL DICKS TO HER. THIS DOES NOT PUT YOU IN THE RIGHT. Even though by this point Isabella has probably crossed the line from well-meaning to revenge-motivated, I still don't feel like it leaves Robin & co. (and ESPECIALLY Giz) in a comfortable position to oppose her as out-and-out evil. As I was commenting to sistergrimm36 over here (http://snowystingray.livejournal.com/311406.html?thread=650862#t650862), I was so much more invested in Guy's redemption arc last season because it really stemmed from trying to harness and redirect the best parts of what already existed in his supremely twisted and supremely repressed but, ultimately, supremely human psyche. And yet now with Robin it's like back to robo-lackey-Guy who's too cool for school and doesn't like anybody and doesn't care if nobody likes him and ARRRGH SERIOUSLY DID 3.09 JUST NOT HAPPEN OR WHAT? Sigh. Maybe Guy should have died then instead of Meg, so at least I could feel like his story ended at a satisfying point.

[snowystingray.livejournal.com]

So, yeah, long and short of it, I find myself in much the same position as you in that I really just have zero investment in what happens in the finale. I was actually going to write that in the post itself but then didn't because, well, it isn't exactly true -- obviously I still hold out hope that some stories will manage to have a satisfying conclusion (Gisborne reconciliation. I NEED IT. I think someone mentioned over at bookishy's that it would be fitting if Guy died protecting Isabella. I THINK I MIGHT ACTUALLY LOVE THAT POSSIBILITY. If Guy dies protecting Robin, though, I might have to shoot myself with three arrows at once). Mostly I'll just watch to bask in the glittery wonder of Vaysey's tooth, and as for all the rest I'll continue to live in happy denial land. Hey, I've been there since season two, so what's the big? Either that or I'll only become further invested in my secret love for Guy's twenty-years-of-evil-and-suckitude post-3.10 flashback (another possible reason why I've suddenly turned cold to his redemption arc, because it came at the same time that we got all of this delicious new dark potential).