Dorothy Dunnett pt.3 (this is not spoilery) + Doctor Who + LATIN PONY PEDANTRY

[petronia]

(1/3 way through Queen's Play)

I have been at the Googles, without much success, because I'm convinced someone else must have at some point created an RP character sheet (any system) for Lymond. As in, someone who is experienced at such things, who is not me. I've gone through D&D character creation twice, and by the second time I'd forgotten everything I'd learnt from the first. Also, I don't mean like seriously, because no one would let you roll a character like that. I mean for the lulz. IDK DUDES MAYBE HE IS ~ACTUALLY~ A BARD

In other news--

Doctor Who S6: wait, so we've all decided we don't like S5 now? XD; Though I enjoyed this a lot more than the early S5 eps, in some immediate yet unpinnable way. I think (despite Moffat's best efforts to make it all about Plot) the characters have developed ongoing relational complexity/glue with each other, and that gives the actors ground to build on. I'm more relaxed when I feel like I'm watching people.

I'm much more intimidated by Eleven going off than Ten going off. With Ten you're afraid he'll crack, with attendant consequences for the universe. With Eleven I am convinced he will break me if I piss him off enough, straight up no lie. I'm also incapable of seeing him as "young".

You know who you are and to what this refers: the word you want is probably "mannula". Mannula maga. The original is farked, which is absolutely not surprising, even traditional. It ought to be "puella maga" in the singular, "puellae magae" in the plural.

Comments

[arboretum]

You know who you are and to what this refers: the word you want is probably "mannula". Mannula maga. The original is farked, which is absolutely not surprising, even traditional. It ought to be "puella maga" in the singular, "puellae magae" in the plural.

ajslkdgj ♥

[petronia]

Kristin finally got it though! You must have seen her tweets. XDDDD

[arboretum]

yes we were debating it ALL AFTERNOON sldkfjgsdfg

a highlight of my fan-nerdy life i will cherish forever

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

I'm much more intimidated by Eleven going off than Ten going off. With Ten you're afraid he'll crack, with attendant consequences for the universe. With Eleven I am convinced he will break me if I piss him off enough, straight up no lie. I'm also incapable of seeing him as "young".

^^^ totes, everything, etc.

Obv will/do miss Ten. During Dream ep last season I saw that Tennant was the van driver and was like, Natalia slap yourself, you are seeing him everywhere!!!! But he was actually secreat-cameoing as the van driver so

Have yet to watch season 6 opener, but only due to nomadic situation, not for lack of trying. Who doesn't like S5, and why? Not a defensive question, legitimate question. I am very far from the fandom;; For me, the appeal of S5 was almost entirely due to the way the show started looking and talking, i.e. same reason "hipster culture" detractors didn't dig. Suddenly was snappier, less like a British TV Show. Like, the Xmas special was sort of lacking overall, but I had a great time watching it because it burnt off enough ideas to keep me engaged for xtra long running time.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Ten cameoed in the Dream ep??? THIS CALLS FOR FANFIC FLAMINGO

IDK, the UK media punditry I guess? XD; Viewing figures have fallen steadily since S5E1, and it would be sad if they continue to do so, because I suspect this is where it finally starts getting consistently good. Like, IMO in S5 Moffat et al asked legit question "Why doesn't DW do more with the actual time travel?" and the legit answer turned out to be "Because it torpedos consistent and relatable characterization."

But then, that's my bias too: I liked S4 best because by that point, NuWho had lots of its own history to draw on, where "history" = "reasons I should care about these ppl". It's like the maxim that says the worst thing you can do as a software developer is to rewrite your program from scratch. I'm actually naturally suspicious of banter, which, I know, why the hell am I reading Dorothy Dunnett. XD;; I perceive it as a smokescreen if it's overused, which makes me annoyed with either the writer or the character(s), depending on context. I like RTD's kitchen-sink dialogue better, bawling, even if the sparkle and snap entertains me more in the moment. But I like the kitchen-sink dialogue in the wacky SF series.

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

LET ME SHOW YOU MY EVIDENCE:


Aw, I liked RTD's approach too. I am just not capable of absorbing that much FEERINGU in one sitting. He earned that season finale though; Ten being the kind of character to actually benefit from that much fan-gratifying tearfulness. I mean what else is he even good for lolol

Since 11 took over the show became a thinking show, not a feeling show, and I am appreciating the relief post-gotterdammerung, oh my gosh.

Actually banter is a thing I hate passionately! I like to hear people talk like people. The doctor doesn't, obv, and Time Traveler's Wife* annoys me for bucking the exception, but the rest of the team is aiite. Their banter is Britisher, so it feels naturaler in context, ie:
"She kissed you?! Did you kiss her back?"
"No. Her mouth."

*I forget her name so I mentally call her "Audrey Niffenegger"

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

dk what I mean by "bucking the exception"... bucking the convention probably. Anyway RIVER SONG!!!! is her name. What are your feelings about her, did you make a post already that I missed? :3

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I forget her name so I mentally call her "Audrey Niffenegger"

Ahahahahaha.

My feeling about River is that she is meant to be kind of annoying. XD (There's a recurring character in the extended DW-verse who's rather like her, though not to the point that anyone's screaming copyright I guess.) The only thing I want out of the whole scenario is for it not to go down the obvious/boring route i.e. Time Traveller's Wife, and yet it kind of looks like it's going down that route, sigh. The fact that the actors do have actual chemistry only makes up for it somewhat.

[canis-m.livejournal.com]

You know who you are

Loooooool thank you, I did find "mannulus" last night in an online L-dic but then I thought "equula" (= "filly," right? not "pony" XD;;) would be more immediately recognizable/resonant to English speakers who know "equus" from "equine" and the title of that play starring Dan Radcliffe ahaha if nothing else. And was reproducing the borked-ness of the original on purpose (tho I only knew it was borked because you mentioned it on another occasion, I think).

Suppose I should get around to Who soonish, urgh.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Yes, "equa" is mare and "equulus" is colt or maybe pony (m), and "equuleus" is the Little Horse constellation, so frankly yr guess as good as mine. XD; Depends on what period you want, too.

I'd actually assumed it was a genitive, "of the mage", but that makes no sense when you think about it.

[incandescens]

Eleven does a wonderful job of portraying someone who is actually an elderly man who just happens to be in a young body. Three was a gallant older uncle. Four was an eccentric uncle. Eleven is a polite friendly grandfather.

But he does not waste time offering self-gratifying "second chances" and then over-reacting when they are turned down or (from his point of view) abused. He simply does not play along.

(Sorry, I'm prone to overanalyse. But I truly loved the bit in the season opener when he explained that much as he cared about River and liked "bad girls", he wasn't simply going to take her word for whatever was going on. The mind behind those eyes is precise and it works very fast.)

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was my favorite scene too! And it wasn't just Smith, Alex Kingston and Karen Gillen held up really well in it too, I thought.

[incandescens]

Yes, they all did a great job of uncertainty and splendid reactions. You're right, the current TARDIS group has excellent accumulated emotional complexity (to borrow your phrase).

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Don't know if you've seen Highlander or not, but a friend of mine compared Matt Smith's Doctor to Peter Wingfield's Methos, fairly young actors portraying agelessly old ancients. And yeah, Eleven seems more under control than Ten, but that doesn't make him less dangerous; more, really, because he can direct his ruthlessness.

I liked this one better than the first half of last season as well, and for the same reasons (also think Moffat is better when writing established characters, because it's not his strength; RTD could make you care about random minor chars quite quickly, but Moffat doesn't give you as many sympathetic handles and thus can leave one flailing a bit.)

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I haven't, though my gentle decade-plus marination in Fandom, etc. XD; (I lie, I saw one episode back when it was airing. I found it confusing and scary and thus have remembered it all this time.)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Something that impressed me was Matt Smith's ability to make the distinction between a lively but ancient 900 year old and an ancient but ancient 1100 year old ;)

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I plan on watching it again - there's quite a lot I didn't catch at the beginning!