OMG, Paul is Dead...
Feb. 26th, 2004 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
castaliaOh, wow. Just watched the last ep of Miracles - "Paul is Dead" - and...oh my *god*. It was so freaking awesome, I don't even know where to begin.
For starters, I'll begin
Evie, even though this was semi-dramatic stuff for her, was kind of boring, except when she was flinging accusations at Paul - when I was thinking "Way to go. Throw more guilt at the biggest martyr of the century. Like he needs any more reasons to go out and do stupid things in the name of guilt."
Speaking of our favorite martyr, he was very predictable in this ep. I immediately saw what was going to happen when he picked up that box-cutter, but even the predictability didn't diminish my enjoyment of that scene. Alva is so cute when he fusses! And he got to fuss a lot in this one.
Oh, Alva. You are so playing John the Beloved to Paul's Jesus.
I want to know what makes Paul's brain work the way it does. I mean, it's a big leap from "How do I talk to Tommy?" to "Oh, I know! I have to be dead! I'll just kill myself temporarily!". I loved how Alva was totally against the idea from the start, and only reluctantly gave in b/c he sure as hell didn't want Paul doing it without him. Still, you'd think they could've tried another way. Wouldn't a seance or somesuch let them talk to the dead?
God, that entire section in the bathroom. Naked Paul, blue Paul, worried Alva, dead blue Paul, freaking out Alva, miles past panicking Alva...I was bouncing the entire time. *Loved* Alva's reaction when Paul spasmed, and then when they couldn't wake him up. He was shouting to wake the dead! (hee, small pun, sorry). And then lots of touching when Paul does wake up, rubbing his shoulders, etc. I've noticed that Alva, for all his social shortcomings, is quite a touchy-feely kind of guy. He can't seem to keep his hands off Paul (not that I'm complaining, of course). God, what a slash-fest this show is.
The ending killed me. Really, it did. I want to know why Paul's blood spelled out "God is nowhere" this time, and what it could mean. I want to know where the show would have gone, how the mytharc would've been explained, about Alva's past, who Paul's father really is, whether or not Paul and Alva will ever stop dancing around one another and finally snog...and I'm not gonna get to know. Not unless another network renews the series, or the writers decide to let us in on the secret. I feel so...unfullfilled. 13 episodes (and how symbolic is *that* number) just aren't enough, damn it!
It would be easier if there were a ton of fanfiction stories out there, stories that explored all the possibilities of the hemography and the miracles and Paul's destiny and the characters' backgrounds. Good slash stories that explore the friendship between Paul and Alva, deepen it, and finally lead to snogging and smut. But there aren't. There are only a handful of fics, and none that really get deep into those layers of meaning.
I think of the possibilities and how ABC just tossed them out like so much detritus. Such potential, and it's likely I'll never get to see it. Sad doesn't even begin to cover it.
Mingled with all the sadness and anger, though, is a profound love for Miracles and its characters. I haven't felt this spark for a new show in a long time (and a dead show, too...lovely), and Alva has established himself near the top of my list of best-loved characters. Awesome feat, considering we know so little about the man :)
Will have to rewatch these 13 episodes many times, as I'm sure there were layers and bits of symbolism I missed the first time round. Am definitely hungry for any discussion, so please feel free to offer opinions, theories, etc. Please! */desperate pleading*
In other, unrelated news, I've decided to give up coffee for Lent. Just to see if I can do it. Is it cheating if I'm still allowed to drink tea? *ponders*
For starters, I'll begin
Evie, even though this was semi-dramatic stuff for her, was kind of boring, except when she was flinging accusations at Paul - when I was thinking "Way to go. Throw more guilt at the biggest martyr of the century. Like he needs any more reasons to go out and do stupid things in the name of guilt."
Speaking of our favorite martyr, he was very predictable in this ep. I immediately saw what was going to happen when he picked up that box-cutter, but even the predictability didn't diminish my enjoyment of that scene. Alva is so cute when he fusses! And he got to fuss a lot in this one.
Oh, Alva. You are so playing John the Beloved to Paul's Jesus.
I want to know what makes Paul's brain work the way it does. I mean, it's a big leap from "How do I talk to Tommy?" to "Oh, I know! I have to be dead! I'll just kill myself temporarily!". I loved how Alva was totally against the idea from the start, and only reluctantly gave in b/c he sure as hell didn't want Paul doing it without him. Still, you'd think they could've tried another way. Wouldn't a seance or somesuch let them talk to the dead?
God, that entire section in the bathroom. Naked Paul, blue Paul, worried Alva, dead blue Paul, freaking out Alva, miles past panicking Alva...I was bouncing the entire time. *Loved* Alva's reaction when Paul spasmed, and then when they couldn't wake him up. He was shouting to wake the dead! (hee, small pun, sorry). And then lots of touching when Paul does wake up, rubbing his shoulders, etc. I've noticed that Alva, for all his social shortcomings, is quite a touchy-feely kind of guy. He can't seem to keep his hands off Paul (not that I'm complaining, of course). God, what a slash-fest this show is.
The ending killed me. Really, it did. I want to know why Paul's blood spelled out "God is nowhere" this time, and what it could mean. I want to know where the show would have gone, how the mytharc would've been explained, about Alva's past, who Paul's father really is, whether or not Paul and Alva will ever stop dancing around one another and finally snog...and I'm not gonna get to know. Not unless another network renews the series, or the writers decide to let us in on the secret. I feel so...unfullfilled. 13 episodes (and how symbolic is *that* number) just aren't enough, damn it!
It would be easier if there were a ton of fanfiction stories out there, stories that explored all the possibilities of the hemography and the miracles and Paul's destiny and the characters' backgrounds. Good slash stories that explore the friendship between Paul and Alva, deepen it, and finally lead to snogging and smut. But there aren't. There are only a handful of fics, and none that really get deep into those layers of meaning.
I think of the possibilities and how ABC just tossed them out like so much detritus. Such potential, and it's likely I'll never get to see it. Sad doesn't even begin to cover it.
Mingled with all the sadness and anger, though, is a profound love for Miracles and its characters. I haven't felt this spark for a new show in a long time (and a dead show, too...lovely), and Alva has established himself near the top of my list of best-loved characters. Awesome feat, considering we know so little about the man :)
Will have to rewatch these 13 episodes many times, as I'm sure there were layers and bits of symbolism I missed the first time round. Am definitely hungry for any discussion, so please feel free to offer opinions, theories, etc. Please! */desperate pleading*
In other, unrelated news, I've decided to give up coffee for Lent. Just to see if I can do it. Is it cheating if I'm still allowed to drink tea? *ponders*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-26 07:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-26 09:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-26 09:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-26 09:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-27 07:59 am (UTC)Oh, and my two cents: tea is fine. :) You didnt give up caffeine.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-28 09:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-29 06:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-01 10:02 pm (UTC)Give up coffee? That would take a miracle!
Date: 2004-02-27 08:26 am (UTC)I have got to get copies of those Miracles eps!! Thanks for writing up your review of the "Dead" ep. Next time I watch the show, I'll keep an eye out for the slash undertones. Hee!
Re: Give up coffee? That would take a miracle!
Date: 2004-02-27 09:19 pm (UTC)Nice iconage, there, Mania!
Re: Give up coffee? That would take a miracle!
Date: 2004-02-28 09:35 pm (UTC)Re: Give up coffee? That would take a miracle!
Date: 2004-02-28 09:34 pm (UTC)Hee. No worries, you can't miss 'em :) I just wish there was actual slash fic out there for these two. So few stories...*sigh*
(no subject)
Date: 2004-02-28 09:51 pm (UTC)Evie, even though this was semi-dramatic stuff for her, was kind of boring, except when she was flinging accusations at Paul - when I was thinking "Way to go. Throw more guilt at the biggest martyr of the century. Like he needs any more reasons to go out and do stupid things in the name of guilt."
Hee! She wasn't bad, I guess, because she had a reason to be there for once, but she still wasn't interesting. I keep wishing she'd get out of the way. But really, she knows him well enough by then to know that the guilt-flinging practically guaranteed he'd go off hunting for lions to feed himself to. And in the scene after the whole death thing (heh, now there's a graceful phrase), when Paul and Alva redirect the cops' search, Evie says she knows what Paul did and she's grateful, all calm about it. That's it? He killed himself! At least look a little concerned or ask if he needs an aspirin! Sheesh. (And meanwhile, Alva twitches in the corner, traumatized. Poor Alva.)
Oh, Alva. You are so playing John the Beloved to Paul's Jesus.
Ah, I love that. Yes. Where would beautiful martyr Paul be without his loyal Alva? Aside from all frozen in a bathtub. But ow, what a cheerful thought that is for a shipper, and the analogy gets fun if Paul's father really is John Glover. Aiee!
I want to know what makes Paul's brain work the way it does. I mean, it's a big leap from "How do I talk to Tommy?" to "Oh, I know! I have to be dead! I'll just kill myself temporarily!".
Heee! I love your phrasing. Paul is not so much with the subtlety, no. ITA on why Alva gave in, and I love that he never stopped pacing and fidgeting when they were getting ready. He really, really didn't want to be a part of that.
God, that entire section in the bathroom.
I had to restrain myself from quoting that whole bit and responding with just a "me too!" I love all of that, from Paul's pitiful seminarian boxers to Alva howling for poor Doctor Guy to do something. Man, that scene. "Sentinel Too, Part Two" all over again, only much better.
The ending killed me.
Yes! Argh! That was so incredibly frustrating. It's such an unstable ending, thanks to the shift to "God is nowhere". What does it meeeean?! And does it completely undercut and reshape the path of the mytharc we'd been moving along? Plus there's all that back story we never got, and all those hints that were never followed up... we were seriously cheated by those ABC halfwits.
Ayup, I really like this post. Your brain is a wonderful thing. *g*
(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-01 10:13 pm (UTC)Aw. *turns red* Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoyed it and agree with me.
Hee! She wasn't bad, I guess, because she had a reason to be there for once, but she still wasn't interesting. I keep wishing she'd get out of the way.
I suppose I can suffer her more than many female characters in shows like this, b/c she's not much of a threat to the slash pairing. She's there for support, and to take care of those little things that Paul and Alva suck at, and I guess I can live with that :)
And in the scene after the whole death thing (heh, now there's a graceful phrase), when Paul and Alva redirect the cops' search, Evie says she knows what Paul did and she's grateful, all calm about it. That's it? He killed himself! At least look a little concerned or ask if he needs an aspirin! Sheesh.
Yes! I was wondering about that. Does she *really* know what he did? The way she delivered the line, I wasn't sure they'd told her the truth about how he got the info. She certainly didn't act like they'd told her Alva helped Paul kill himself. Oy.
(And meanwhile, Alva twitches in the corner, traumatized. Poor Alva.)
Hee. For some reason I love that image. Alva twitching in the corner, hee.
Ah, I love that. Yes. Where would beautiful martyr Paul be without his loyal Alva? Aside from all frozen in a bathtub. But ow, what a cheerful thought that is for a shipper, and the analogy gets fun if Paul's father really is John Glover. Aiee!
You're right, it *is* rather a tragic thought, and not so much with the happy endings. Especially with Paul and his capacity to do "great good or great evil", and his possible lineage. Evie was right about one thing, Paul really isn't safe, not really. He's such a target, and they don't know what his purpose is, and now that we know his blood wrote out "God is nowhere" and they don't, there's a whole new kettle of fish. Eep!
ITA on why Alva gave in, and I love that he never stopped pacing and fidgeting when they were getting ready. He really, really didn't want to be a part of that.
Angus did a great job in that scene, with all his background acting. The tension just oozed off the screen, and one couldn't miss that Alva was really, really uncomfortable and antsy about what they were doing. He does panic very well.
I had to restrain myself from quoting that whole bit and responding with just a "me too!" I love all of that, from Paul's pitiful seminarian boxers to Alva howling for poor Doctor Guy to do something. Man, that scene. "Sentinel Too, Part Two" all over again, only much better.
Hee. A "me too!" is good :) Oh, and the boxers! I'd forgotten those, the poor pathetic things. I'm all for boxers, but geez, those things must've seen better days. I didn't think they sold boxers that awful color. And ditto on the Sentinel reference but better thing. Howling is the *perfect* word to describe Alva in that scene.
Yes! Argh! That was so incredibly frustrating. It's such an unstable ending, thanks to the shift to "God is nowhere". What does it meeeean?! And does it completely undercut and reshape the path of the mytharc we'd been moving along? Plus there's all that back story we never got, and all those hints that were never followed up... we were seriously cheated by those ABC halfwits.
I have no idea what to think about all that. I need to go back and watch the entire season straight all over again with that in mind, just to see how it could affect everything they'd done so far. Are they just teasing us about the whole "Is Paul good or bad?" thing, or is it really indicative of where they'd have gone the next season? So many questions...
Ayup, I really like this post. Your brain is a wonderful thing. *g*
Hee, thanks. You should know, you own half of it :P