The death of OctoRhyMo
Oct. 28th, 2010 01:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieWell, I suppose it's pretty obvious now that I've completely given up on OctoRhyMo. Oops. On the other hand, my ultimate goal was to get six to ten poems that I can polish up and start submitting to journals, so in that respect, I succeeded. Counting three that I had already, I actually have twelve that I can, with some revision work on my part, put together into two collections of six (the usual limit for these things) and start sending out. Now I just have to target some journals that like quirky, quasi-scientific, anthropomorphic poems. Hmmm.
*
Speaking of quasi-scientific, more Fringe thoughts:
- So is there some kind of law requiring that all alternate universes have zeppelins, and probably zeppelins docking at the Empire State Building? 'Cause that seems really common. It's the first thing that gets shown when you want to indicate "not our universe/history!"
- Although I'd figured out pretty much everything they revealed in "Peter," it was nice to get some "how" for the "what." I hadn't counted on the kidnapping not being entirely intentional before, although pretty much the moment we saw Peter's mother, I caught on to how it was going to go down. I'm glad they explained the "mistake" the Observer made, and connected it to the car crash. The retro credits and location tags were also hilarious.
- Curious how Nina said that Peter was important to her. I'm starting to wonder if she was, say, an egg donor or a surrogate for Walter and Elizabeth (since "in vitro fertilization" was listed in the retro credits), or is otherwise related to him.
- Walter shipping Peter and Olivia is the most adorable thing ever. "Do you think she'll call me 'Dad'?" And he was more excited about Peter's not-a-date with her than Peter was. And they even nearly kissed! (Heh, there was even a "damn bee!" moment, except without the bee.) Aaaand then it all goes to hell when she sees that Peter's from the other universe. Sadness. Then there's the stalling tactic of Peter thinking she's freaked out by the near-kiss, and...argh, so annoying. I hope the show isn't going to end with him having to go back to the other universe in order to reset the balance, leaving them forever separated. I would be so sad.
- Peter basically arranging a babysitter for Walter so he could go out on his not-a-date was also pretty funny. There was a scene in...one of the earlier episodes this season where he and Olivia are in the front seat of a car, and Walter's in the back, and they're commenting on how he's had a big day and gone to sleep, and the "parents" vibe there was such a combination of *facepalm* and "awww."
- In "Jacksonville," Walter putting on a pair of round-frame glasses and sort of thinning his upper lip so that he looked freakishly like Leonard Nimoy/William Bell in the mirror had to be significant, right?
- So who/what got sucked into the other universe to replace Peter when Walter took him? (Not to mention the soldiers, etc. coming over now?) And if there needed to be something of equal mass sent over there to replace the building that came over here, wouldn't getting everyone out of it have changed that mass? And for that matter, why did it have to be a building, and not just a bunch of cars or trees or something? Dammit, the problem with J.J. Abrams writing a show where the details are really important is that he sucks at keeping details consistent and adhering to his own rules of logic (c.f. also Peter saying he didn't remember being sick as a kid, when obviously he was in both universes). [/bitter former Alias fan] Although possibly some of the plot holes will be cleared up later.
*
Speaking of quasi-scientific, more Fringe thoughts:
- So is there some kind of law requiring that all alternate universes have zeppelins, and probably zeppelins docking at the Empire State Building? 'Cause that seems really common. It's the first thing that gets shown when you want to indicate "not our universe/history!"
- Although I'd figured out pretty much everything they revealed in "Peter," it was nice to get some "how" for the "what." I hadn't counted on the kidnapping not being entirely intentional before, although pretty much the moment we saw Peter's mother, I caught on to how it was going to go down. I'm glad they explained the "mistake" the Observer made, and connected it to the car crash. The retro credits and location tags were also hilarious.
- Curious how Nina said that Peter was important to her. I'm starting to wonder if she was, say, an egg donor or a surrogate for Walter and Elizabeth (since "in vitro fertilization" was listed in the retro credits), or is otherwise related to him.
- Walter shipping Peter and Olivia is the most adorable thing ever. "Do you think she'll call me 'Dad'?" And he was more excited about Peter's not-a-date with her than Peter was. And they even nearly kissed! (Heh, there was even a "damn bee!" moment, except without the bee.) Aaaand then it all goes to hell when she sees that Peter's from the other universe. Sadness. Then there's the stalling tactic of Peter thinking she's freaked out by the near-kiss, and...argh, so annoying. I hope the show isn't going to end with him having to go back to the other universe in order to reset the balance, leaving them forever separated. I would be so sad.
- Peter basically arranging a babysitter for Walter so he could go out on his not-a-date was also pretty funny. There was a scene in...one of the earlier episodes this season where he and Olivia are in the front seat of a car, and Walter's in the back, and they're commenting on how he's had a big day and gone to sleep, and the "parents" vibe there was such a combination of *facepalm* and "awww."
- In "Jacksonville," Walter putting on a pair of round-frame glasses and sort of thinning his upper lip so that he looked freakishly like Leonard Nimoy/William Bell in the mirror had to be significant, right?
- So who/what got sucked into the other universe to replace Peter when Walter took him? (Not to mention the soldiers, etc. coming over now?) And if there needed to be something of equal mass sent over there to replace the building that came over here, wouldn't getting everyone out of it have changed that mass? And for that matter, why did it have to be a building, and not just a bunch of cars or trees or something? Dammit, the problem with J.J. Abrams writing a show where the details are really important is that he sucks at keeping details consistent and adhering to his own rules of logic (c.f. also Peter saying he didn't remember being sick as a kid, when obviously he was in both universes). [/bitter former Alias fan] Although possibly some of the plot holes will be cleared up later.
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-28 07:39 pm (UTC)I don't know, I think I'm a bad SF TV fan because unless they're huge, glaring errors, I just don't tend to care that much. It's tough trying to maintain continuity while building story and character on a show as arc-dependent as this one.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-28 09:38 pm (UTC)I do think this season has been better than the first one. It seems like things started to cohere better when Charlie kicked it, which makes me sad to say, but...it's kinda true. Being Olivia's partner gave Peter a purpose, and that seemed to help the show as a whole. Also, getting answers to some of the big arc questions is nice. (I'm still here mainly for the mythology. I like the characters pretty well, especially Olivia, but I don't flove any of them like I do with, say B5 or BSG.)
no subject
Date: 2011-06-03 05:02 am (UTC)And lots of leather! That's a sure sign!
I liked that they showed signs of having thought this mythology out in advance, and really connected (most of) the dots to make something big and complex (and sense-making). Although with the "car crash" turning out different, now I wonder if Peter's mother really committed suicide. At least, that can't be the whole story...
The retro credits and location tags were also hilarious.
It was Tron-tastic!!
"Do you think she'll call me 'Dad'?"
"Don't you look lovely! Doesn't she look lovely?" / "You look LOVELY!" and Olivia just gives them this look of, "Oh no, the crazy is genetic!"
And he was more excited about Peter's not-a-date with her than Peter was.
Heh, I think it was just that Peter kept his jumping-up-and-down-and-flapping-his-elbows on the inside.
Heh, there was even a "damn bee!" moment, except without the bee.
At least she didn't go into anaphylactic shock?
I love that the solution to Detecting Other Universe Stuff is the same as the solution to Curing Hiccups: have somebody scare the crap out of you! And that Olivia's Big Problem is that she is practically un-scare-able, except for one thing: The Fear Of Not Being Awesome Enough To Singlehandedly Save The Entire Multiverse. Atta girl! (Also, was her ability finally activated by The Power of Lurrrrrve? Because on the one hand, that's incredibly stupid. On the other hand...d'awwwwwwwwww!!)
And if there needed to be something of equal mass sent over there to replace the building that came over here, wouldn't getting everyone out of it have changed that mass?
Maybe that's why there was a giant suction vortex when the building disappeared? It was trying to suck in a couple hundred people's worth of mass to balance it out?
c.f. also Peter saying he didn't remember being sick as a kid, when obviously he was in both universes
Butbutbut! He also said he had horrible nightmares after crossing over, and that Walter "trained" him somehow to stop remembering his dreams. That's gotta be related to the kidnapping. Walter must've had to do a bit of brainwashing to fix his memories and make things align a bit better, and... lots of stuff got lost?
Aww, I love how Walter and Astrid are bonding! And I love that he installed a tracking device! (I only wonder why no one thought of that earlier. Or really, why no one has given poor Walter a cell phone. I mean, yes, he'd probably forget he had it, but you could at least ATTEMPT basic safeguards, hm?)
Walter cured ebola with horseradish. AWESOME.
And I like that Peter sold Walter's favorite (Nazi!!) books when he was institutionalized. It's nice that the show doesn't let us forget that Peter's kind of a jerk.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-03 11:10 pm (UTC)I like that too. There are some dropped threads here and there, but on the whole, it does look like there was actually a plan from the very beginning, and it's playing out, well, according to plan. (Even the S3 finale, which will LEAVE YOUR JAW ON THE FLOOR, makes sense in context.)
Although with the "car crash" turning out different, now I wonder if Peter's mother really committed suicide. At least, that can't be the whole story...
I dunno...that happened when he was a teenager and would actually remember things with something like accuracy, so it seems pretty sound to me.
"Don't you look lovely! Doesn't she look lovely?" / "You look LOVELY!" and Olivia just gives them this look of, "Oh no, the crazy is genetic!"
"Wait, so will we have crazy children? Maybe my genes will take over."
Heh, I think it was just that Peter kept his jumping-up-and-down-and-flapping-his-elbows on the inside.
Perhaps, perhaps. I was so pleased to see Olivia all happy and bouncy about it, at least until she saw the shimmer.
I love that the solution to Detecting Other Universe Stuff is the same as the solution to Curing Hiccups: have somebody scare the crap out of you!
Never let it be said that Fringe overlooks simple and cost-effective solutions!
And that Olivia's Big Problem is that she is practically un-scare-able, except for one thing: The Fear Of Not Being Awesome Enough To Singlehandedly Save The Entire Multiverse. Atta girl!
Yes! That is the most awesome thing ever!
(Also, was her ability finally activated by The Power of Lurrrrrve? Because on the one hand, that's incredibly stupid. On the other hand...d'awwwwwwwwww!!)
...You are going to REALLY, REALLY HATE and REALLY, REALLY LOVE something about S3.
Olivia's abilities are activated by her feeling a combination of love and fear at the same time. So OBVIOUSLY she needs to take Peter with her into various horrible situations all the time. ;)
Maybe that's why there was a giant suction vortex when the building disappeared? It was trying to suck in a couple hundred people's worth of mass to balance it out?
Maybe? See "annoying dropped plot things."
Butbutbut! He also said he had horrible nightmares after crossing over, and that Walter "trained" him somehow to stop remembering his dreams. That's gotta be related to the kidnapping. Walter must've had to do a bit of brainwashing to fix his memories and make things align a bit better, and... lots of stuff got lost?
Er. Let's just say that there's an episode dealing with this in S3, but it does not go in any sensible direction and I have declared it uncanon. I think there was some brainwashing, though.
I love how Walter and Astrid are bonding!
They are so cuuuute! In a completely platonic sort of way!
I only wonder why no one thought of that earlier. Or really, why no one has given poor Walter a cell phone. I mean, yes, he'd probably forget he had it, but you could at least ATTEMPT basic safeguards, hm?
I think they like to pretend that he's a functioning adult sometimes? I don't know. Things sometimes happen according to how badly the plot needs him to get lost...
It's nice that the show doesn't let us forget that Peter's kind of a jerk.
*COUGH*
Yeah, sometimes they do try to make him jerkish, but I never really bought that he was all that much of a jerk even in S1. They dropped the whole conman thing about four episodes into the season, and it only surfaces very occasionally. Beyond that, he seems very devoted and kind and generally pleasant to be around, even if he does get cranky with Walter on occasion.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-06 12:15 am (UTC)PREEMPTIVE ARGH.
I dunno...that happened when he was a teenager and would actually remember things with something like accuracy, so it seems pretty sound to me.
Didn't he say that his mother died after he left for Europe, and Walter called him from St. Clare's? Lots could've happened... Maybe this show is making me paranoid.
"Wait, so will we have crazy children? Maybe my genes will take over."
"Maybe we should have Walter do some gene-clean-- OH WAIT NO THAT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA HE THOUGHT MOLE/SCORPION/HUMAN HYBRIDS WERE AWESOME."
I was so pleased to see Olivia all happy and bouncy about it, at least until she saw the shimmer.
I know! She was all primping her hair! And glancing significantly at her very neatly-made bed! And then... smoooosh. Aww.
Never let it be said that Fringe overlooks simple and cost-effective solutions!
Walter's second-best idea for universe-crossing: sneak up behind Olivia with an inflated paper bag and pop it right next to her ear!
Olivia's abilities are activated by her feeling a combination of love and fear at the same time.
Omg, she needs an emotional cocktail to get the brain chemistry right? She has to feel "flerve"?? That is... so convenient for the writers. CURSE YOU, WRITERS. (Love/hate = also an emotional cocktail!)
Let's just say that there's an episode dealing with this in S3, but it does not go in any sensible direction and I have declared it uncanon.
Noooo! I do not want episodes that need un-canoning!
They are so cuuuute! In a completely platonic sort of way!
THE FACT THAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY THAT STATEMENT MAKES ME NEVER EVER EVER WANT TO LOOK INTO FRINGE FANFIC.
But yeah, I think he's trying to make up for that one lab assistant he got killed, aww. (Even though poor Astrid's drawing the short straw of "babysitter" and wasting away her Quantico training makes me sad. Then again... I suppose there are many worse assignments for a newbie? Or at least more boring ones?)
Things sometimes happen according to how badly the plot needs him to get lost...
I REALLY hope they put the tracker back in after it got cut out! And Walter could conveniently forget he owned / forget to turn on / whatever his phone, but just the act of them giving him one would make my brain hurt less.
*COUGH*
ARGH STOP YOUR SUSPICIOUS COUGHING.
Beyond that, he seems very devoted and kind and generally pleasant to be around, even if he does get cranky with Walter on occasion.
I think he turned himself into a jerk as a defense mechanism, and now he's trying very hard not to be a jerk anymore. That's commendable.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-06 04:59 am (UTC)Yeah, it has been a WHILE since I wanted the conclusion to a cliffhanger so badly. Think that episode around S4 or S5 of X-Files when it looked like Mulder had shot himself. It's like that.
Maybe this show is making me paranoid.
Bwahaha. I spend every episode going, "Wait, is this a clue to the whole arc? Oh my god! What does it meeeeeaaaannn?"
"Maybe we should have Walter do some gene-clean-- OH WAIT NO THAT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA HE THOUGHT MOLE/SCORPION/HUMAN HYBRIDS WERE AWESOME."
Yeah, Walter just needs to be LEFT OUT of the whole baby-making process.
Walter's second-best idea for universe-crossing: sneak up behind Olivia with an inflated paper bag and pop it right next to her ear!
But only if Peter is giving her a hug at the time!
Omg, she needs an emotional cocktail to get the brain chemistry right? She has to feel "flerve"??
Yes! It is all about feelings!
Noooo! I do not want episodes that need un-canoning!
There was a whole PLOT ARC I wanted to un-canon, but then they tied it into the main arc in a reasonably useful way, and I felt less stabby about it. (You'll know it when you get there.) But yes, there is one episode that only makes sense as AU fanfic somehow making it to the screen. I do not accept it as canon.
THE FACT THAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY THAT STATEMENT MAKES ME NEVER EVER EVER WANT TO LOOK INTO FRINGE FANFIC.
Yeeeeeeeeeah, there are only a few that you don't want to see, but you REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM. (The rest are not bad! Well, some of them aren't. There isn't much to begin with, and the quality varies.)
Even though poor Astrid's drawing the short straw of "babysitter" and wasting away her Quantico training makes me sad.
It makes me sad too. Poor, poor Astrid.
Then again... I suppose there are many worse assignments for a newbie? Or at least more boring ones?
Perhaps? Although I think at this point she should be getting some actual FBI Agent work experience in the bargain...
no subject
Date: 2011-06-07 01:43 am (UTC)Omg, I'm gonna angst like it's 1997!?
Yeah, Walter just needs to be LEFT OUT of the whole baby-making process.
Haha, maybe they could ship him off to Europe for nine months...
But only if Peter is giving her a hug at the time!
Aww, multigenerational teamwork!
Yes! It is all about feelings!
I never thought I'd have to say this, but show, maybe you should tone down the shipping a bit, 'cause it's getting out of hand.
you REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
GAH.
Although I think at this point she should be getting some actual FBI Agent work experience in the bargain...
She's getting... science? Sigh.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-07 05:27 am (UTC)There is an element of angst, yes, although really it's more of a, "AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO WRITE YOURSELVES OUT OF THIS GAME-CHANGING EVENT, OMG?!?!" kind of thing.
Haha, maybe they could ship him off to Europe for nine months...
Walters Excellent European Vacation?
I never thought I'd have to say this, but show, maybe you should tone down the shipping a bit, 'cause it's getting out of hand.
*waits for you to watch "6B"*
It did get a bit soapy in this season. I liked it up until the point where it started taking over the plot, then I too got a little tired. Although a small, evil part of me would like to see Altstrid/Brandon just for the lols. (In my headcanon, Astrid has a completely normal, long-term relationship with a woman who has a completely normal job. P.S., have you seen Jasika Nicole's adorable comic (artwork-->high yella magic-->morning) which depicts a superhero version of her relationship with her girlfriend?
She's getting... science? Sigh.
Poor Astrid.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-07 05:56 am (UTC)Arrrrgh!
Walters Excellent European Vacation?
That Involves Absolutely No Babies?
*waits for you to watch "6B"*
FLAILDANCEFLAILDANCEFLAILDANCE
I liked it up until the point where it started taking over the plot, then I too got a little tired.
Yeah, it got a bit eye-rolly when things went south in Bechdel Test Land. But it's not Olivia and Nina and Astrid's fault they were only talking about Olivia/Peter! Everybody was only talking about Olivia/Peter.
In my headcanon, Astrid has a completely normal, long-term relationship with a woman who has a completely normal job
Awww, a very understanding woman who doesn't mind Astrid's midnight Red Vines missions...
which depicts a superhero version of her relationship with her girlfriend?
I haven't seen it, but now I must!