DXV

[desperance]

...and snatching a quick walk this morning, thinking through what more I have to do, I ought I hope to finish this chapter tonight; and then there's only a couple more and we're done. And all of those will be plot-heavy and hectic (and so fairly swift to write), which will come as no news to any of my readers because this is the shape of all my books: that they start slow and quiet, and then build and build, and it's all tension and weight and moment building behind a wall, and then the wall gives way and everything happens at once.

It's how I used to play chess too, in the days when I still did. I always preferred openings to endgames, the slow relentless acquisition of position before the flood of force. You can see this in my reading too, the books or series I've never quite bothered to finish; and in my TV watching of course (I've said before, I've never seen the ends to either Buffy or Babylon 5, tho' I love them both).

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Ah, but have you seen the end of Season 3 of Bab5?

After you get past the middle of Season 4, you've peaked, and you might as well go out and see if they're selling Veronica Mars DVDs in the UK.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Yup. Middle of season 4 is exactly where I stalled.

And, y'know? I've never seen Veronica Mars. At all. Don't even know what it's about.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

It's hard to describe without making it sound lame, because it's a teenage girl private eye show. But it's really good. I don't know how much of it translates, though, and how much of it would be baffling to a non-USian. I don't even recall hearing my Canadian friends talk about it, and the translation points would be closer there. But the characterization is pretty stellar, and the season-long plot arcs are great fun.

[jeremy-m.livejournal.com]

> I've never seen the ends to ... Babylon 5

Babs 5 ends earlier than you might think, with at least the last series being redundant.

[samarcand.livejournal.com]

I have recently finished watching all five seasons of B5 and, while the beginning of season five is fairly dreadful, I thought the final half was very watchable. Not up there with the quality of, say, season two or three, but still pretty good telly.

And - for mrissa - is Veronica Mars really that good? Should I really look for it?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

It really is good. It's not the same sort of thing as Bab5, but it's a very good different sort of thing. Dialog and casting and plot and characterization and the tiny details all adding up.

[samarcand.livejournal.com]

Okay. That's another one to add to the list. I mean, I've watched Heroes now. I need another televisual obsession to tide me over until the next season comes out.

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

The weakness of season 5 in Bab 5 is due to technical reasons. It looked as if there wouldn't be a season 5, so jms moved the main plot points to season 4 so that viewers wouldn't feel frustrated. Which made season 4 feel hectic and the beginning of season 5 slow. That there was a season 5 meant jms had to start up everything from the ground up again. Still, the first half is quite fine and the last half is very fine, and I distrust those who can keep a dry eye throughout the three last episodes (or just the last one, for that matter). Plus you've got to admire how he launches a loose plotline in the last episode... one which in fact has been tied up around the end of season three. Excellent construction.