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First impression: 5x14 was good, better than the episodes at the end of last season that preceded it IMHO. 5x15 had some plot holes but at least they are giving time to Nathan again. In general he had a decent involvement in events in the premiere, too, though, despite not being mentioned in the previews. I think the developments are interesting and logical: the Guard getting involved, Dwight's loyalties finally being torn from that Chief of Police role, the factor that this season may lead to Nathan getting that back. I think Dwight is making a mistake trying to rule by fear, but I suppose after 2 weeks it's one that could seem the only solution.
I do not mind the 2 week time gap. Leaves space for fic. :)
I like that Charlotte was revealed as self-serving and cruel in her way and wanted to leave Haven, but was forced to stay by circumstances anyway, and that her and Audrey and her and Dwight and Nathan are still going to be forced to patch things up or at least communicate. I like Charlotte now better than I ever have, I think. I like Audrey better than I have in some time for her initial instant rejection of her.
I do not mind that Duke walked out. It's going to take him some time to deal with this but there's not really any question he'll be coming back. It's a really interesting dynamic that they swapped Audrey's role for Duke, now, in that he'll be the immune one. But if this girl is supposed to be a new love interest I will not be happy. I'd always liked about this show that the female love interests for the three male leads generally weren't girls but mature women. Also. Julia. Evi. Audrey. Jennifer. Mara. Enough with Duke having a romance subplot every single season with someone different.
So the "solution" that Nathan was willing to offer himself up as sacrifice for would merely have killed everyone. Well. How ironic on everyone. I am somewhat surprised that Nathan would have worked. I'd thought it might be William who was always meant to be that one, fixed "person she loves the most" referred to.
There are a lot of time gaps, little as well as the big one, in which people evidently find out information trinkets like this. I am really eager to see the fic addressing those missing scenes now. I am not overly disappointed that the show didn't give those scenes. A lot is happening, a lot has changed, and there's a lot on screen to address.
Overall 5x15 was rather messy. It started off like it was going to be a "mission" episode but there were too many subplots so the get-the-power-back-online plot lost focus. The internal time jump where it's morning and Nathan's returning alone was clunky as hell.
And my biggest gripe of all -- I do not like that ending. There are legitimate reasons for a population who've learned the truth of the Troubles to want Nathan on trial. Why create a new one that's so obviously forced and false? We know he wouldn't have harmed the woman, but he definitely killed the Barn. I am hoping that once accusations start to fly people put the pieces together and all of the stuff that's happened comes out for the next ep, and it's not going to be that contrived.
It would have been better justified if Nathan was shown pushing and obsessive about the search for aether but he was calm and logical about solving the longer term problem and the woman volunteered. He did not obviously get her killed. Still, I suppose we have to wait til next week to fill the time gap internal to the episode but right now it is looking contrived.
...Oh, and one more thing my brain immediately jumped on from Charlotte's new information. Nathan has a ring. Nathan can travel through thinnies to Audrey's homeworld, and perhaps other places. Nathan has the fucking freedom of the void, man. I will fic that if the show doesn't use it or irretrievably Joss my extrapolation.
I do not mind the 2 week time gap. Leaves space for fic. :)
I like that Charlotte was revealed as self-serving and cruel in her way and wanted to leave Haven, but was forced to stay by circumstances anyway, and that her and Audrey and her and Dwight and Nathan are still going to be forced to patch things up or at least communicate. I like Charlotte now better than I ever have, I think. I like Audrey better than I have in some time for her initial instant rejection of her.
I do not mind that Duke walked out. It's going to take him some time to deal with this but there's not really any question he'll be coming back. It's a really interesting dynamic that they swapped Audrey's role for Duke, now, in that he'll be the immune one. But if this girl is supposed to be a new love interest I will not be happy. I'd always liked about this show that the female love interests for the three male leads generally weren't girls but mature women. Also. Julia. Evi. Audrey. Jennifer. Mara. Enough with Duke having a romance subplot every single season with someone different.
So the "solution" that Nathan was willing to offer himself up as sacrifice for would merely have killed everyone. Well. How ironic on everyone. I am somewhat surprised that Nathan would have worked. I'd thought it might be William who was always meant to be that one, fixed "person she loves the most" referred to.
There are a lot of time gaps, little as well as the big one, in which people evidently find out information trinkets like this. I am really eager to see the fic addressing those missing scenes now. I am not overly disappointed that the show didn't give those scenes. A lot is happening, a lot has changed, and there's a lot on screen to address.
Overall 5x15 was rather messy. It started off like it was going to be a "mission" episode but there were too many subplots so the get-the-power-back-online plot lost focus. The internal time jump where it's morning and Nathan's returning alone was clunky as hell.
And my biggest gripe of all -- I do not like that ending. There are legitimate reasons for a population who've learned the truth of the Troubles to want Nathan on trial. Why create a new one that's so obviously forced and false? We know he wouldn't have harmed the woman, but he definitely killed the Barn. I am hoping that once accusations start to fly people put the pieces together and all of the stuff that's happened comes out for the next ep, and it's not going to be that contrived.
It would have been better justified if Nathan was shown pushing and obsessive about the search for aether but he was calm and logical about solving the longer term problem and the woman volunteered. He did not obviously get her killed. Still, I suppose we have to wait til next week to fill the time gap internal to the episode but right now it is looking contrived.
...Oh, and one more thing my brain immediately jumped on from Charlotte's new information. Nathan has a ring. Nathan can travel through thinnies to Audrey's homeworld, and perhaps other places. Nathan has the fucking freedom of the void, man. I will fic that if the show doesn't use it or irretrievably Joss my extrapolation.
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I agree with you on pretty much everything. The characters are all making interesting choices, and I'm really liking Charlotte so much.
I do not mind that Duke walked out. It's going to take him some time to deal with this but there's not really any question he'll be coming back.
I was thinking, after seeing the eps, about how Nathan was raised to be a police officer and a force of good, and Audrey was implanted with memories of people who were forces of good, but Duke just plain wasn't raised at all, and when his father's ghosts did show up, it was to tell him to kill people. I mean, obviously the shitload of Troubles he just unleashed has fucked with his mind, and losing Jennifer too (I'm glad they haven't forgotten about her), but I think Duke as a baseline has a harder time thinking of himself as someone who can make a positive difference. Even when Nathan was ready to die, it was a question of "I can help more people this way." With Duke leaving, it's "I can hurt less people this way."
As meta goes, my thoughts are still in the rough stages, though, so I may be wrong. :-)
But if this girl is supposed to be a new love interest I will not be happy. I'd always liked about this show that the female love interests for the three male leads generally weren't girls but mature women. Also. Julia. Evi. Audrey. Jennifer. Mara. Enough with Duke having a romance subplot every single season with someone different.
With you on all of this. "You grew up" is kind of a skeevy start for a relationship anyway for someone of Duke's age. I know she's an adult and all, but still... And he doesn't need another girlfriend. I can just about rationalize all the ones he's had so far, but if he falls in love/lust AGAIN it's just ridiculous.
And my biggest gripe of all -- I do not like that ending. There are legitimate reasons for a population who've learned the truth of the Troubles to want Nathan on trial. Why create a new one that's so obviously forced and false?
It just felt weird, to me. I assume he's lying, but what is he trying to accomplish? If she's still down there or whatever, why not just say so? I suppose he could be telling the truth, but if so, why wouldn't they show her death, and why would he deliver the news in such a strange manner?
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As meta goes, my thoughts are still in the rough stages, though, so I may be wrong. :-)
No, this sounds good. Like, Nathan -- and it was even stronger in the last ep -- has this strength of optimism that he can be a better person and rise above the things he's done. But Duke is left believing his only option is damage limitation because he's become so poisonous to others. Which is interesting, because they're like positive and negative forces, reflecting each other. And Nathan HAS done so much damage, but his take now is "we can move forward, we can still create something from this, that's the ONLY way to go now -- to do something positive with it". It's so different from where they both were in season 4.
I would rather Duke end the show alone than they give him some consolation prize because Audrey is with Nathan and Jennifer died. Preferably, though, they end with him ambiguously fixed to Audrey and Nathan in something that can be read as "potential three way". Plus. Freakin' respect that he loved Jennifer and wouldn't move on that quickly, dammit. (Audrey and Nathan were there first, so it's okay if he goes back to them. :) )
Oh, and further to that email conversation before, you might like Fortress, even if you didn't like Squared! There are a few different strands in it that may appeal particularly to you, I think.
It just felt weird, to me. I assume he's lying, but what is he trying to accomplish? If she's still down there or whatever, why not just say so? I suppose he could be telling the truth, but if so, why wouldn't they show her death, and why would he deliver the news in such a strange manner?
Heh. Called it.