Phew! I got home late tonight and decided to pop into the thread. 40-something pages and 2am in the morning later, but I’m all caught up (kind of thankful for LOVE day, otherwise there would have been so many more)! So many things I wish I could have responded to over the weekend, but at this point I think my brain is in thread overload. Tried to read the AV Club review of this week’s episode, but it made no sense. So I watched the episode, and things only made slightly more sense. Seriously, what was that? I’ve decided that A&E should only co-write with Jane from now on. That way we get both significant plot AND character development in each episode, which seems to be two things that rarely happen simultaneously on this stupid show. I’ll probably rant about the episode specifically tomorrow when I’ve had a chance to process it more. Right now I’m still feeling pretty “Whaaaaa?” about it.
At the convention I was at this weekend I made a point of apologizing to a friend who I’d talked back into watching the show this season. She had been so fed up with season 2 that she had given up over the summer hiatus, but I had so much hope for 3B that I talked her into trying to catch up on 3A. She hasn’t finished yet, but I pretty much told her there was no point anymore (I kind of made a vague, but ominous Facebook post after 315 and she guessed what had happened, so she was already spoiled, though still my fault).
Anyway, while this was happening a 2nd friend who I didn’t know watched Once (but appears to be GA) joined the conversation, but she also wasn’t caught up, though unlike 1st friend she didn’t care about spoilers. When I told her about Neal her immediate reaction was “He’s not dead. No one on Once is dead. He’ll be back.” I tried to explain about the SoD and all the behind the scenes stuff going, but she just kept repeating herself with this conviction that I found both baffling and frustrating. On on hand I was impressed she could have more than hope. She just seemed to feel that there was no other obvious option but for him to come back, and I really wish I could feel the same way. On the other hand I was frustrated because I feel like I have that same conviction that he’s NOT coming back. Neal is gone, and in a sick way I wanted to take away her hope and have someone else feel my pain, which is stupid and petty, but I can’t help it.
As for talk of tents and whatnot, I’ve mostly kept myself out of the tent talk because I’m pretty agnostic about everything in life. I almost always need proof to be truly convinced of anything, and with all the BS that’s happened since the SoD I just haven’t known what to think one way or another, at least not with any real conviction. It’s been easier to hang out in the Conspiracy Train Express because THAT is something I feel in my gut. Something there seems wrong, so the train is where I’ve stayed.
This week’s episode has made me sway a little less away from the “MRJ wanted out” theory, simply because Neal returning, even briefly, helps sell the argument of A&E having made this decision because of story. Do I agree that this was a good move, or that they are telling a good story? No. Not for a moment, but bringing back an actor instead of removing them completely from the show feels like it fits into their poorly written plan rather than axing them completely for petty reasons or whatever. And honestly, it does feel almost like a retroactive bookend for Neal’s (poorly told and developed) story.
This feels more like the end that 315 did, but I still don’t know how I feel one way or another yet. I’m not naturally a hopeful person, so while hanging out under the table with DSB and co seems like a nice idea, I think I would be lying to myself there. At the same time I’m not 100% despondent, which makes me not convinced enough to join RG and co under Le Tent (though I fit in better there). So right now I feel like I’m hanging out right outside Le Tent, maybe talking to people through the nylon walls, but not ready yet to come inside (maybe I’m sulking? not really sure). For the time being I’m just going to hang out here, maybe sometimes poke my head into the tent, but I’m mostly just waiting for the Conspiracy Train to do last call and pull out of the station. I think that’s where my anger is collecting right now unfortunately.
Oh! Thank you so much to everyone who read my story! I really appreciate it and I’m go glad you like it! I’ve never had a story idea come to me so fully and I wasn’t sure I could make it really becoming a full story, I’m really happy it doesn’t suck and that you like it!
Co-Mayor of Sad Town | Twin of Co-Mayor of Sad Town | #HopeforRogueBison