The Masquerade Part 2

" I looked at the video of his death.  Someone dressed in the rags of a beggar stands near the barrier."  Smith began.  It was a packed day with visits to local schools, and hospitals; the type the old King enjoyed because it gave him a chance to be among his people.

Smith picked up a series of photos and set them out on the table in an order.  "Here's him coming out of the hospital," Max was on duty that day.  He remembered Eric grasping hands, and arms.  He'd occasionally stop for photos or a quick word.  The people loved their king.

"And then we get to this one," Smith picked up a single photo of a man dressed in jeans, and a sweater; the hood hiding his face.  Max remembered seeing the man leaning against a barricade.  He remembered a gold ring catching the sunlight.  Eric clasped the man's hands, and whispered a word to him.

"No angles on the video?" Max asked.

Smith shook his head. "I found signs of a jump cut, and timecode jumping ahead by 10 minutes.   Max led him to his office and shut the door.  The idea of a mole amongst them was something he didn't want to consider.

"I want you looking into this.  Look at associations, networks, professional interests of the other heirs.  Look at his calendar that day, and everyone who came into contact."

"Yes sir," Smith took it as an order.  He saluted as he left the office.  

"I don't want to be Queen,"  The comment echoed. If she'd said that to others then someone might be willing to make that happen.  He dismissed it with a decision he would only take it to Evangeline if he found tangible evidence.

***

 "A masquerade theme makes sense," Catherine agreed.  The mystery and romance appealed to Evangeline; her childhood of escaping into others' clothes for a while, pretending she belonged.

They would make a guessing game of trying to figure out who everyone was.

No corsets," Eva said.  Planners would split the place in smaller chambers.  One area with sofas, and cozy chairs for couples, and non-dancers.  Another for acrobats and magicians.   A raised platform at the front where she, and her closest court would sit.

"Have you picked a dress?" Catherine asked. 

"Meeting with designers is next," Eva wanted her gown to be a complete surprise to everyone including Catherine.  She had several sketches on her desk, and was narrowing it down.  She wanted to ask Max his thoughts.

"It's an older frock for me.  A classic one-shoulder deep violet number with the skirt below the knee."  Eva remembered it from her cousin's wedding.  It would set off her pale complexion, and blonde hair.  

They stopped at a table with colour swatches.  "Keep it simple.  Black, and gold for the décor, silver for the seat coverings.  Add colours in for the furnishings," Eva wanted to have a say on the details.

"Is that all you need for now?" 

"Yes Your majesty.  We will be in touch for a final walk-through," Daniel said.  Eva nodded and made for the door with Catherine not far behind.  

She paused his station, and he acknowledged with a wink.  They worked hard at separating the private from public.  "Next meeting is with the ambassadors who have come to present accreditations," Catherine read from her mobile.  

"I'll see you later Commander."  He dropped a deep bow, his eyes locking with hers until he stood up.  He brushed his hand against her side.

*****

"10 more to go," she whispered under her breath. Eva's responses became automatic by the third ambassador.  A smile, then a nod and a clasp of hands followed by a quiet word.  Her tutors had taught her well, and she'd remembered which ones had children or whose spouse had died.

"Let me through, I'm Princess Olivia.".  She stood before him with her arms crossed.

"The Queen is receiving ambassadors right now."

"I don't care, I need to see her now,"

The commotion attracted Max, who nodded at the princess. "I've got it from here" he instructed his subordinate.  He was interested to see how this plays out.

He followed her into the reception room.  "Forgive the intrusion Your Majesty..." proper courtesy would be observed.

Olivia cut him off pointing at Eva.  "You killed him.  You killed him so you could take the throne yourself.  He chose you over his children, and you couldn't wait."

The outburst cracked Eva's calm façade.  She finished with the ambassador standing before her, and whispered to the courtier standing closest to the throne.  "The Queen needs her rest, and would like to receive the remaining Ambassadors two days from now at a breakfast.  She regrets the inconvenience.

Eva sat her arms resting on the carved armrests as the remaining three ambassadors left with quick bows. Olivia's outburst would soon be the gossip of the court.  She motioned for Max to shut the door.

"I didn't kill him," she said.  The Royal seat switched every five generations among the nobility.  It was an option to choose an heir that was not a direct issue of the reigning monarch.  Eric told Eva of his decision days before, and asked that it be kept secret until the final pieces were in place.  

"You as good as killed him.  You stood by while he choked in the middle of the crowd," Olivia shouted.  She was jealous of Eva; everything came easily to her.  Eric took her in after her parents died in an accident, and they'd hit it off.

"We both know that wasn't the case," The video of that tour lived on in archives of the world's news stations, and on the hundreds of mobile phones, and closed-circuit cameras.  Clips of Eric joking with children, reading them stories, playing with their toys.  He called it; lesson 1 in how to be a monarch, and he was good at it.

Eva stood and joined Olivia at the foot of the dais, Max shadowing from one side.  She grasped her cousin's hand between both of hers.  "You can't imagine how many times I've wished there was something I could've done.  If I'd been more observant and seen what happened or if we'd changed places.  I saw everything in my head the moment I closed my eyes that night."

Olivia regarded her cousin for a few moments trying to gauge sincerity.  She let the breath go and blinked away tears.  "I miss him so much," she said.  She still wasn't over her father's death.  She took her hand back, and walked out of the hall.

Max waited until the door shut before approaching Eva.  "You handled that well,"

She stared at the closed door. "Did I?"  Olivia had given her reason to suspect otherwise.  He responded by kissing the back of her hand.

"Make sure she's not planning anything."

"Yes my Queen," Max replied, careful to hide the smile from his face..  It gave him official cover to look into the princess, and princes.

NaNoWrimo Entry: 2019- The Masquerade

This is meant mirror National Novel Writing Month.  Obviously it won't be that long because it is for the web.

I have an opening scene in mind, and a rough idea for some characters, and how I want it to play out.  If you have a better idea for a title, say so in the comments. I don't have much of a sense of how I want it to end. I just know I want to have fun with it.  I hope you have as much fun reading it.

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Part 1:

"I don't want to be Queen."  The admission had been building inside Evie since her father died.  At first she pushed back against it, attributing it to competing stresses of mourning, and planning for a coronation.  Once she said it though, a certain weight was lifted from her shoulders.  It felt true; it felt right.  

"So don't," a muscled arm snaked around her, pulling her close.  She wriggled free, and propped herself up on an elbow looking down at her bedmate.

"So easy to say..." She began before he reached a finger up across her lips. She laughed at the gesture.  "Everyone wants me to fail.  Everyone expects me to be the one running away," The satisfaction of doing the unexpected put a smile on her face.

Her parents died under mysterious circumstances while away on a state visit, with little investigation.  Eric took her into his household treating her as one of his own.  She had no idea he any idea of making her the heir over cousins Simon, Edward, Olivia, and Alice.

"Be the best Queen Wallison has ever seen."  She snuggled against his arm, smiling.  Max's optimism was one of things she enjoyed most about him.  He was one of the youngest commanders in the household guard's history.  They'd known each other since they were teenagers, enjoying an easy friendship.  One night it blossomed into more, and neither looked back.

She stroked his stubble-filled chin. "I'd lose you," 

"One of us has to lose.  If the realm loses, I win.  I lose, and the realm wins.  If their relationship were to go forward, he wanted nothing like that between them. Do you want the truth?" She moved back to her side of the bed facing him.  

Go ahead. "

He took both of her hands in his and looked up. "You shouldn't make decisions like this right now; you're still in mourning.  You're planning a coronation, learning how to govern a country."

"True."  It echoed her own thoughts.  It was a lot to take at 30; when her friends were having babies, she was learning statecraft.  She wanted someone at her side, and there was no reason she couldn't elevate him.  Once she wore the crown, the pressure would be on her to marry, and provide an heir for Wallison.

He took his smart watch from the bedside table.  Three missed calls from the duty officer.  He swung his legs over the side of the bed.  "My break's over love,"   She watched him don his black uniform with red stripes on the shoulder denoting rank.  He located his boots near the chair at the end of her bed, and pulled them on.

He strode towards the side of the bed snapping to attention: "I'll leave you now Your Majesty,"

"Dismissed Commander,"

*****

Max retrieved his earpiece from the front pocket as he strode down the hall.   As he opened the staircase, he turned it on.  "You have something for me, Smith?"

"In person, sir."

"I'll be there soon." Max tapped his earpiece off.     Eric's autopsy said he'd died of a sudden heart attack.  The man's fitness level was that of someone half his age.  He started his days with a jog around the castle's perimeter, followed by some weight training.  On rainy days he'd stick with swimming in the indoor pool.  There was no history of heart problems in the royal family. 

Musings has moved

Musings has moved to word press.  The new address: www.musingsonthefunsideoflife.com.  Google has stopped supporting Internet Explorer 11 for its Blogger platform, so instead of downloading Chrome or Fire Fox just for this one website I chose to move it.  Hope you'll follow me!

The Road Not Taken

A single note echoed through the hallways as she walked her nightly rounds making the house secure.  The piano player would play for the same two hours every night, ending with the same song. The song's final note would find her like a homing beacon, and she'd always wonder at the emotion behind it.




What happened to make him (for in her mind the pianist was a he) that sad? Everyday she made up stories as she fell asleep.  One night he was a heartbroken nobleman, his wife dead in childbirth.  The next he was a runaway orphan, the song the only one taught him by his mother. Tonight he was... she slapped the house key against her hand thinking a moment.  She couldn't think of tonight's story yet.  She closed the front door's inside lock with a click, and a decision: tonight she would ask the truth.  She let a smile spread across her features; the picture would come together.




She slipped the keys into her dress pocket as she climbed the stairs.  She could make out the flicker of light from the music room door; third on the right at the top of the stairs.  Her hand paused on the doorknob suddenly unsure.  Was she letting her curiosity get the better of her?






She turned the knob slowly opening the door a crack.  He was leaning against the mantle, back to her staring down at the flames; a lively fire jumping at him.  His face covered by the one arm.  His straight shoulder length black hair hanging straight.  By physique he was a soldier or a tradesman;
his muscular back tense.






"Forgive my intrusion.  I just wanted to see if you needed anything before I retired.  The back straightened the arms leaving the fireplace.  She took one step inside the room as he turned.  His looks were spoiled by a pinched scar running diagonal across his cheek. What held her rooted to the spot was his eyes.  Ice-blue; guarded but friendly, young but holding hard-won wisdom.






Cold, impersonal: "I'm fine Madame."






"You play very well sir.  May I ask the piece?






"It's Ned.  I wrote the music,"




A name deserved a name: "I'm Myra."




"Pretty name," he complimented.  Without realizing it she'd entered taking a seat by the fire.  His eyes watched her closely.  He wanted to tell her to get out, but felt he couldn't; it was her house.  He sighed:

"I was a soldier in the north, come here to find work as a labourer." 






"The song?" She asked.  He followed taking a spot on the couch opposite the chair.  He folded his hands on his lap, studying them as if they held the answer. 




Myra stood cringing; cheeks colouring with embarrassing. "Too personal.  It's a habit; I meet people, and talk too much.  Ask the wrong questions."




He interrupted her babbling: "Mourning for a road not taken.  I was a nobleman where I come from, betrothed to another man's daughter. She made it obvious she loved another, and a soldier's life was an easy choice. 


"They're no longer together"  She held his gaze a moment guessing what happened next: "Love is fickle."


"It is indeed.  What's your story?"


"Mine? Not much to tell. A nervous half-smile:


"An only child, my parents left me this place." She elaborated: "I was a disappointment; a girl when they would've preferred a boy.  Mom got over it, dad didn't.  Eventually she saw I was educated, and persuaded my father to make me his heir.  "He died shortly after." 






Myra played with the beads on her bracelet, counting them in her head.  She bit her lip forcing herself not to speak.  She'd told her story often enough to know the pity written on his face without looking.  The tsk tsking at society's shame, but the lack of willpower to do anything about it.






"Aren't we a pair," the dry, teasing tone drew her in.  She looked up at him noting the mischief glinting in his eyes.  She started laughing.  At first he watched in wonder; her face completely changed when she laughed; the cares melting away from her.






She stopped when the tears started falling placing a hand on her chest to check her breath.  Formality was restored: "I forget myself sometimes; it's another bad habit.  It's time I went off to bed.  Your breakfast as usual?"


"That would be lovely" A smile, eyes twinkling.  She shut the door behind her sighing.  A riddle solved, a friendship made.

Book Review: Empress Of The Night

Catherine The Great is arguably one of history's greatest women.  She reigned as Tsar of all the Russias from 1762 until her death in 1796.   Canadian Author Eva Stachniak looks back at Catherine's life, and loves in her latest novel: Empress of the Night.

The novel opens in the hours before her death at age 67.  It goes inside Catherine's head as she struggles to realize what's happening to her body; she's conscious and unable to speak.  The story is told from her point-of-view looking back on her life from the moment she first arrived at court as a little girl, to her assumption of the throne following a coup against her husband. These flashes are interspersed with sections of time in the present as servants, and family move around her.

The novel keeps a good pace, which, is unexpected because of how easily moving between time periods can become confusing.  The incredible details speak to Stachniak's research into Russian history.  Long descriptions of the palaces, and traditions give readers a feeling of the grandeur of a Russian Empire at its peak.

As a history buff I loved it.  Being able to see inside Catherine's head is a unique perspective to find out what she thought of her life.  The way the author used an active voice throughout moved the story along well.  There was even a dose of romance as she looked back on her lovers, specifically Gregory Potemkin who made the most impact on her life.

A good read for people who are curious about Russia in its prime, and a key figure who made it that way.

Novelists at Work: Update 2.

Lately I haven't been keeping to my 2 hours, or 1,000 words today.  There have been times when I've felt I've written myself into some corners and had to either go back and delete or change what I've done. Other times when I've found myself blocked with how to get one character to where they need to be.

Progress to date:
Pages: 60 up 10 from the last time
Words: 27570 (up 4,498 from my first entry)
Problems/issues: The whole deleting/changing things frustrates me because it keeps me from that goal of one thousand/ day.  But I figure: Why can't this be such, and such a way? And it's the author's prerogative to change stuff they don't like.

Editing and insecurity will always be with me.  Reading through the latest 15 page chunk I made few changes but am feeling pretty good about what I wrote.  But will an Editor agree? Will it make sense with the final story?  How have you dealt with this?

 

Bitten Finale Review

Bitten ended its first season Saturday night.  The series is based on the "Women of the Other World books written by Kelley Armstrong.  It focuses on Elena Michaels (Laura Vandervoort), the world's only female werewolf and her quest to be normal.  She's living her life as a photographer in Toronto when she's pulled back in by her pack.

The first season stuck close to the book with the possible exception of the finale.  The good guys won the final battle at Stonehaven (of course), but there was a twist.  The bad guy trying to take over the house was none other than Jeremy (Greg Bryk)'s  father; William (James McGowan). The other twist was that final scene where Elena screams after finding   Phillip (Paul Greene's) (?)'s head in her bed.

I didn't watch this show regularly.  I watched a few episodes in the beginning, and then really got into it the last 3, or 4 episodes.  As a season, it seemed there were episodes where nothing much happened to advance the plot.  And I didn't care enough to go back and watch them online when I missed an episode.  If there's a season 2, the consistency in writing needs to be addressed.  I think the episodes should be treated as chapters and the writers should ask how they can move the story forward. 

There were times when I didn't buy Laura Vandervoort as Elena; she played her too black and white sometimes, and  I didn't get the sense of the character's duality.  The other characters with the exception of Jeremy, and Paul weren't that interesting to me.  And that was nothing to do with the actors, mostly the writing.

A second season only works if it's less about Elena.  I'd love to see more of the Jeremy/William storyline, and Logan/Rachel
 .
Bitten Musings:

-I don't know if I'd watch second season.  Based on the second part of season 1, yes... first part no.

-Is there a chance Jeremy had Phillip killed, and the killer double-crossed him by working with William?

-Is there a chance  Phillip's still alive? (remember there's only the flash of the head in her bed).  There's a lot more drama to mine there between him and Elena.

-Is Rachel about to become a werewolf as part of William's sick plot.. maybe see what happens when a pregnant woman is bitten?

No Make-Up Selfies

The social media trend going around started by a British cosmetics company Escentuals last October to promote breast cancer awareness.  Women would sign up and gather sponsors to go without make-up for a certain period of time, take a picture of themselves and post them on social media.

The trend has hit North America; I've seen a lot of my friends' photos without make up.  You're all gorgeous by the way I have nothing against those pictures.  It makes a little more sense to me now. But I still have trouble seeing what the point is, and that's why I haven't done mine yet. 

On one hand, it is a small gesture with a bigger message: The old look good, feel good mentality.  Maybe the thinking is if we look our worst, and feel our worst we might have a small idea of what women with breast cancer go through.  Another message here: Beauty is only skin deep.  There are women who might see these pictures of their friends and family and realize you're beautiful make-up or not.  Your looks don't define who you are.

Even though it's a small gesture with potentially positive messages, I wonder if it trivialises what women with cancer go through.  The fear, and uncertainty after finding out, the brutal treatment protocols, which for some  means losing a breast. Like it or not for women breasts are a big symbol of what it means to be a woman.   The idea that all we have to do is post a picture of ourselves without makeup and somehow that demonstrates empathy with the cause is a little superficial.

There is definitely a selflessness in wanting to bring attention to a cause, and fundraise for a cure.  But, I wonder if we haven't gone from the selfless to the selfish with this one.  I haven't seen one picture of my friends that hasn't been greeted with positive comments, which, is a good thing.

I understand you have to bring attention to a cause no matter what methods.  I just wonder if we haven't gone too far with this one.

Writer's Confession: My first novel

Since January I've been working seriously on a manuscript for a novel.  Creative writing has always been kind of a hobby on the side of my real job as a Reporter.  It's been a way of working out the creative part of my brain that sometimes gets a little ignored while I'm more worried about getting someone's quote right.

I haven't told many people until now, because I've often thought myself it was silly... and if I think that way I figure others might too; so it's been my little secret for a while.  I've also been asking myself if this is being used as an escape from the ever-present frustration of job-hunting; something I can control in the middle of an endless list of factors I can't.  The answer to that is yes, but so what?

There is something fulfilling about creating my own world.  It's been cathartic: I create characters who do, and say things I can't or won't.  I escape for a couple of hours there and return able to deal with pressures, and frustrations associated with job hunting.  And you know what else? It's fun too.  I have the attitude that I have fun writing, and editing this novel maybe there are people out there who will have fun reading it too.

So that's why I'm writing it.  I'm posting about it as a way to share the experience with other writers; what I'm doing wrong... what I feel I'm doing right.  Most importantly though I'm blogging about it for myself. I want to track my progress on a weekly basis as a way of reminding myself that even though it may not seem like it I am making progress.

Title: Lost& Found (tentative)
Genre: Horror/fantasy with a dash of romance
Summary: His girlfriend's disappearance plunges Detective Andrew Foxton into the supernatural world.
Pages: 50 as of March 24, 2014
Words: 23072
Problems encountered: Editing- I've been editing in 15 or 30 page chunks, is there a better way to do this?
Knowing when enough is enough with editing.  I've been going on instinct... when I can read a section and only change a word or two then I'm finished.
Character names: Is it okay to have more one person of the same name?

One thing I'm doing right: Pacing.  Each chapter advances the plot in some way.

I hope you follow me on this crazy ride.  Constructive feedback is welcome, and appreciated.

  

Downton Abbey Season Finale Review

In a switch from previous seasons, the Christmas Special actually took place during the summer.  It's the "Society Season," and time for Rose to be unveiled to London's upper classes.  The entire family are at the Crawley's London house, and are joined by Cora's mother, and brother (played by Paul Gimatti and Shirley MacLaine) from America.

The question of Bates' involvement with Green's death is finally answered.  Mary chooses not find out, and burns the ticket to London found in his jacket.  Mary meanwhile has two (or possibly three if you count Evelyn Napier) suitors jostling for her hand in marriage.  She finds out Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) actually has money to his name which changes her perception of him.  Following her introduction to the King, he appears at Rose's party to take the first dance. The Dowager Duchess Violet had a great 'cat fight' scene with Martha. Edith decides to take her future into her hands, and brings the baby back to give her to the farmer we met in the first episode.

The servants take advantage of the break, and a day by the seaside is arranged. Daisy is invited to become Harold Levinson's cook (which position Ivy ends up taking).  Baxter broke free of whatever hold Thomas had on her, and looks to be on the road to happiness with Moseley. Thomas is trying his best to spoil it though. The final shot of the episode was one of the most  memorable of the series: Carson, and Mrs. Hughes playing in the waves.

Downton Musings:

Season #5? Looks that way; there's a listing for it on IMDB. Part of me hopes it's the last.  These dramas are usually better quality over quantity.

-I wish the stunt casting would stop; Downton Abbey doesn't need Shirley MacLaine, and Paul Gimatti to be a success.

-Baxter and Molesley are cute.

-Mary bugs me: In this episode, it's as if the writers hit the reset button with Mary, and her love affair with Matthew never happened.  Now she has three possible suitors, and it's as if it's a game to her to play one off against the other.  Character development would be nice.

-Character Development 2: Thomas:  Season 3 was a big arc for him; we found out he was gay, he was beaten up, and generally reviled by the other characters for it.  Would've loved seeing some more of the consequences, and a peek into what it must have been like for a gay person in the '20's.  Instead we get plotting, scheming Thomas who spent a couple of episodes in America.  What a waste!

-Give him a kiss: I would've kissed Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) before he left the house in the morning. 

-Is Gregson dead? or a spy?

Happy tenth Facebook

Facebook is turning 10.  Did anyone see that coming?? I didn't- there wasn't even a reminder alert on my timeline, or my Outlook Calendar.  None was sent to my phone either.

Birthdays are a good time to take stock.  Where would we be without Facebook? How many friendships wouldn't exist without it? How many posts wouldn't have gone viral? It's amazing how much one website has changed the world.

I've loved Facebook, and I've hated it.  Loved it because it's put me in touch with old friends, and kept me in touch with family. I've loved it too because it's become priceless as a marketing tool; I can't count how many times I've linked to my own writing on my timeline. As a page manager myself I can appreciate it as an incredible communication and marketing tool.  At times it's brought different issues to my attention through friends' posts, and made me think about life a little differently.

I've had times where I 've been irritated by Facebook too. It has tended to make outrage a little too easy. All someone has to do is post a story, state their opinion.  Then everyone else gets angry too, and when someone enters with a different opinion you can get easily slammed. It becomes too easy to turn on the mute button when you see something you don't like.

I'm irritated by the over-sharing part of Facebook.  I don't need to know how your bare pregnancy belly looks, or even what you ate for lunch.  These are details that aren't exactly vital to how the world works.  I'm irritated by the random friend requests I still get from people, even though I've clamped down on my privacy settings. 

Love or hate,  it's been quite a decade.  I look forward to see what it comes up with next.

Happy Birthday Facebook!

Dracula Season (or series?) finale Review



Lady Jayne, and Grayson 

Dracula came full circle in a couple of ways last night on its season or series finale.  The first was the series opened as Alexander Grayson/Dracula (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) tested his "wireless electricity" machine, and the first season ended with the same test but decidedly different results.  This time the demonstration ended in disaster as the machine blew up leaving death and destruction in its wake. 

The second was with Lady Jayne Weatherby (Victoria Smurfit), the huntress.  The season's ongoing storyline put them in an love-hate relationship; always breaking up, and getting together.  They were a good match with their secrets. Jane hiding that she was a huntress, and Grayson that he was Dracula.  But as the season ended the jig was up, Jayne and her band of hunters had figured out Dracula was back, and more than likely he was none other than Alexander Grayson. 

She arrived at his warehouse to find the disaster in progress; the fire burning out of control, bodies everywhere.  Their final confrontation came in an incredible fight scene ending with Jane begging that he kill her instead of turn her.  In an act of compassion, he obliged.

You know who wasn't so full of compassion? Abraham Van Helsing (Thomas Krestchmann).  The last few episodes he's gone straight off the rails.  He's kidnapped Browning's (Ben Miles)  children, and using Dracula's blood turned them into vampires.  In the finale, he lured Browning to his hideout, and let the kids feed on him, and in so doing kill their own father.  As if that wasn't enough bloodshed for a doctor, he killed Renfield (Nonso Anozie)  by wounding him in the stomach.  The last time we see him he's on the floor bleeding to death.  He also destroyed his lab, including Grayson's daytime serum.

Jonathan (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) ended the season by losing everything.  He lost Mina when he slept with Lucy, maybe lost his job when he betrayed Grayson by working with his enemies.  To complete his humiliation he suffered guilt over the fact he's killed Lord Davenport (Robert Bathurst).  But Grayson knows about that, and would use it for blackmail material.  The episode's final scene hints of a partnership between him, and Van Helsing.

Lucy (Katie McGrath) meanwhile is a loose thread.  She doesn't know what she is, or that she needs blood to live.  She ended up killing her own mother by feeding on her.  This was one of the episode's weak points; no confrontation between her and Grayson or scene where he explains what she is.  I haven't read the book in ages but I think she doesn't survive long as a vampire.

The Mina/Ilona  (Jessica DeGouw) story is another one.  Mina of course ended up in Grayson's arms, his explanation that it was mere coincidence she looked exactly like "someone he loved" didn't wash, especially when they were hinting it something more.   It was one of the weaknesses of the entire season. 

It deserves a second season, with a couple new writers to tighten up the writing.

Musings on a second season of Dracula:

-They'll take Jonathan's character in the bitter, angry direction hinted at in Dracula: The Un-dead

-There will be some kind of past-life or familial  connection between Ilona and Mina.

- Renfield will live; it's impossible to imagine any version of the story of Dracula without him. He'll also develop a story of his own.

-Van Helsing will turn into the second season's "big bad."

-Mina will eventually figure out the key to the "day serum."

-Needing a doctor on his side, Grayson will eventually tell Mina what/ who he really is.

Thanks WNED for nothing- a Sherlock rant

I feel like I'm among the only people on the planet who hasn't seen season 3 yet, and I likely am.  Why?  The local affiliate W.N.E.D Buffalo has decided not to show this season at the same time as their PBS counterparts following Downton Abbey.

Their explanation on the surface makes sense.  It's a matter of demographics; theirs are showing people don't watch much programming under their station after 11pm.  So it's a little hard to show three two-hour episodes from 10pm-12am. To accommodate their demographics, they've chosen to push Sherlock to February 13 (Thursday) in order to air it a 9pm- the hour earlier.  They want to air it together following the first two seasons.

 Apparently when the BBC Canada aired it first the last time, W.N.E.D really suffered in the ratings.  They'll suffer again with this decision as well.  They're airing it two days after it comes out on DVD, and well after any streaming service will have gotten a hold of it.   It's already available on streaming sites; X-Box (access the video app on your Windows 8 computer), iTunes, and I'm sure Netflix will have it by then too.  And not to mention the spoilers available online, which I'm sure people read- it's impossible to avoid on twitter.  It's ridiculous to delay showing it.

And then there's the false advertising.  PBS has advertised it up, down and sideways; and I along with many others bought into the hype.  The ads led me to believe it would be airing on WNED no matter what.  I thought; Sherlock airing at 10pm following Downton Abbey; the makings of a great night of television, and a ratings winner.  No such luck...

I hate it when stations do that.  Would it have killed the folks at W.N.E.D. to add the line: "Check local listings" onto their commercial for Sherlock? Or perhaps to move Downton to an 8pm time slot, and then showed  Sherlock?  All they air is then is the previous week's episode of Downton it wouldn't be that big of a loss. Or keep it on the Thursday, and only re-air the second season.  That's the one that counts because it directly leads into series three.  Show the new episodes the Thursday before each Sunday episode.

50% of W.N.E.D's audience is found in Southern Ontario, and  I'd estimate that in the area of 3-5 million people.  That's some pretty big ratings PBS is missing thanks to this decision.  And I'm sure a few people are as irritated as I am, which could translate into lost membership opportunities.

Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 3

Mary and Anthony Gillingham

Episode 3 found the end of the house party, and Mary (Michelle Dockery), Tom (Allan Leech), Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Rose (Lily James) going to London.   Mary and Tom were going to see the tax people, while Rose just wanted some fun, and Edith to see her boyfriend Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards).  They stayed at Rosamund's (Samantha Bond) house, who managed to hold a dinner party featuring Anthony Gillingham (Tom Cullen), and then an evening of dancing at a local dancing club.

The club was where a lot of drama happened.  Rose's beau left her alone on the dance floor, to be rescued by the black American band leader (a big deal in those days).  The group was scandalized, and left right after.   Gillingham travelled to Downton on the same train as the rest, and proposed marriage to Mary.  She turned him down, but admitted that decision might come back to bite her.

Edith meanwhile spent the night with Michael Gregson at his house. He had her sign something to make it semi-official while he was in Germany.  She was caught sneaking back into Rosamund's house by a maid.  Rosamund lectured her on putting her reputation at risk, and agreed not to tell Cora.

A fairly quiet episode from Lady Violet.  Isobel (Penelope Wilton) was asked by the doctor to help out at the urgent care clinic, and she did.  She even agreed to look in on one patient and her son.  I like how they're using work to pull her out of her sadness over Matthew's death.

Below stairs meanwhile everyone came to Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) with their problems.  She was urging Anna (Joanne Frogatt) to go to the police about the rape, and to tell Bates about it.  Mrs. Hughes helped Tom get rid of Braithwaite helping him to prove she was trying to blackmail him into marriage.  Mrs. Hughes served as confidant  to Carson as they talked about Alice, with Mrs. Hughes getting him to put her picture on his desk in an attempt to make him seem more human.


Downton Abbey Musings

"The business of life is the acquisition of memories.  In the end that's all that matters."  Quote of the week from Carson, the Butler.

"I'm sure Matthew was a good chap..." There's a romantic way to start a marriage proposal.  It's no wonder Mary turned down Anthony Gillingham.  Use some tact next time (if there is one)

-Love the way Mrs. Hughes tries to bring the 21st century sensibilities to the rape story line urging Anna to go to the police

-Edith pregnant? One night is all it takes as Braithwaite kept telling Branson.

-The Edith/Gregson story is going to continue into next season.  I think he'll be forced to become a Nazi in W.W. II

-I love Thomas' new seen and not heard attitude.  It gives him more opportunity to be a trouble maker.

Book Review: Anne Rice's Wolf Gift

Anne Rice is writing horror/supernatural again.  The author best-known for Interview with A Vampire took a break from the genre to focus on Christian literature before moving away from organized religion in 2010.

She released Wolf Gift in February, 2012; the first in the series.  The story followed the adventures of Reuben Golding, a San Francisco Reporter.  Reuben is assigned a story on the sale of an old house in Northern California, and goes to interview the owner.  They're attacked, and Reuben is bitten by a "man-wolf" and as the story goes eventually turns into one.

That's where the usual tale takes an interesting turn.  Rice's take casts werewolves as superheroes.  They only take on the bad guys, and they retain the consciousness of a man, and remember everything they do as a wolf.  Reuben sees the transformation as a gift, instead of a curse; he can help people in need.  This finds him conflicted between his newfound gift, and the values he was taught through his Catholic upbringing. 

I stopped reading Anne Rice for a long time, and I'm thrilled she's writing horror again. This is a great kickoff to a series. It manages to set up the story without getting bogged down in minute details.  Rice's vivid descriptions portray the joy Reuben feels as the "wolf."  The characters introduced at the end are a great way to add the necessary explanation, and set it up for the next novels.

If you're looking for a different take on the werewolf myth, check out Wolf Gift, available at most book stores.

Nashville Review

ABC's Nashville made its return to primetime last night.  The "fall finale" focused on the music festival featuring performances from Deacon, Scarlett, and Juliette, ended on cliff hanger; the classic "Who died" scenario?

 As the episode ended, singer Will (Chris Carmack) stood along railroad tracks looking into the headlights of an oncoming train, and Peggy (Kimberly Williams Paisley) laid out after being shot.  It was Peggy who died, and the episode that aired last night  covered what happened after.

This is going to play itself out over the rest of the season.  You have Teddy's (Eric Close) grief, what happens with the daughters, and Rayna's (Connie Britton) reaction.  Teddy finds out the man who shot her blames him for his ongoing unemployment dating back five years. Rayna meanwhile has to make some tough choices about her new album, regarding the single that should launch it.

Will's alive.  He ended up disappearing for a few days into the wild for some time away; Gunnar (Sam Palladio) brought him back to Nashville.  He's struggling with his sexuality after a one night stand with another guy, putting an end to a dubious relationship with Layla (Aubrey Peeples).

Juliette (Hayden Panettere) is still in trouble with her fans for breaking up the "world's most beloved couple, with fans stalking her chanting "Juliette has no respect" everywhere she goes.  She is misunderstood as to something she said and made Layla go on television to correct it.


Nashville Musings:

- The guy who shot Peggy is going to be tied in somehow to the scheme they were trying to hide in the first season.

-Will's struggle with his sexuality is topical.  How accepting would country music be of a gay singer? 

-When is Juliette going realize Layla's bad news?

-Layla will turn out to be partially responsible for what happened after

-When will Liam stop going back to Rayna? She's treated him like crap

-Deacon will end up joining Rayna's label

Fox's 24 Returns

Season 1 teaser for 24

I was a late-comer to 24.  I discovered it when A&E used to show 4 hour blocks of it, daily for a while.  It was enough to get me addicted to the show.  The newer seasons became appointment viewing.  Every Monday at 9pm I tuned into find out how Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) would get himself out of this one.  The show followed super agent Jack Bauer through an actual 24 hour day, with each episode representing an hour.

Fox is bringing it back for a limited 12 episode run in 24: Live Another Day.  This series finds Bauer (Sutherland) on the run in Europe, and a radicalized techie Chloe O-Brian (Mary-Lynn Rajskub).  Also returning are William Devane (James Heller- season 4), and Kim Raver (Audrey Heller).  The series has dropped the 24 hour real-time format, and allowed for some time jumps for the writers.  "If this ends up re-booting the show, or causing a movie, then so be it," Sutherland said in this TV Guide article.

One of my favourite shows is coming back to television, I should be excited.  I'm not; I'm actually kind of nervous.  This was such an incredible show in its time, with great characters, and great storytelling that I wonder how you can replicate even a measure of its success.

The show left on a high note.  Those final scenes were the best way to end a series; Jack waving to the camera as if to say good bye to the viewers, and then walking off.    It was the only way to end it, and I'm okay without having the answer to "where is he now?"

There were times when that show was pure magic.  I don't see the problem with leaving it like that.  And so it makes me wonder if they shouldn't just quit while they're ahead.  I'll definitely watch this, because as I previously said I'm a huge fan.  But I wonder is there anything wrong with going out on top?

Downton Abbey: Episode 2

I knew about this episode before it aired here, but thought it happened later in the season, as a kind of cliff hanger.  It drew a lot of fire from British viewers for a scene in which Anna (Joanne Frogatt) was raped.  The audience hears it happen, doesn't see it; but that's what triggers the imagination, and that's what could trigger memories in the viewers.

A jump of a month between episodes to a house party at Downton. Legendary opera singer Dame Nellie Melba (Kiri Te Kanawa) performed for the entire staff, and party-goers. Edith brought Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards) determined to make friends between him and her father, and succeeded only after Gregson won back what Robert lost playing cards.  Mary meanwhile rekindled a friendship with Anthony Gillingham, who continued encouraging her to take control of her life again.



Dame Maggie Smith, and Kiri Te Kanawa

Tom became a fish out of water this episode, and began questioning his place in the family.  It was Brathwwaite to the rescue, as confidant, and provider of whiskey.  He also became the Dowager's foil as she corrected him on his behavior.  He commented that it was illogical, and she answered: "If I were looking for logic, I wouldn't  look for it in the British upper class."  This was the best line of the episode. 

Below stairs was dominated by the "Anna" story.  The physical contact between her and "Green" a servant for Lord Gillingham made it obvious something was going to happen.  Balancing it was the humour brought by Jimmy as he tried to open a jar, ending up wounding his hand.  It was the butler/deliveryman Molesley to the rescue, serving as a replacement footman for the evening.  Mrs. Pattmore (Lesley Nicol) had a panic attack forcing a re-alignment of the kitchen with Alfred doing some of the cooking.

I've read the Anna rape story will be one of the dominating story lines for the rest of the season.  It'll be interesting to see how they handle it; if rape was done it was forgotten about even amongst the servants.  Eventually the truth will come out, I think Mrs. Hughes is wily enough to keep the dress Anna took off.

Please seek help if you were affected in any way by this week's episode.  SAVIS of Halton (Sexual Assault Violence and Intervention Services) has a 24 hour help line: 905-875-1555.

Downton Musings:

-Is it just me or does Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards) look alarmingly like Sir Anthony Strallan (Robert Bathurst)?

-Braithwaite is up to something, and I think it'll snare more than just Branson

-Robert constantly wanting to control the estate is starting to get to me.  Doesn't he remember the feeling of nearly losing everything?

-The rape storyline will cancel out any relationship Mary could have with Lord Gillingham.  Anna is Mary's lady's maid.

See you next week!

Review: CTV's Intelligence

Intelligence follows the adventures of Gabriel Vaughn (Josh Holloway) an Intelligence Agent with a computer chip inside his brain and a cyber security division supporting him led by Lillian Strand (Marg Helgenburger).  The first episode introduced the characters, and followed them as they struggled to keep the technology behind the chip from getting into the hands of the Chinese.

The chip makes him the most valuable asset to American security, even in need of his own body guard.  Enter Megan Ory as Riley, the capable Secret Service agent whose job it is to guard him.  Ory and Helgenburger signal a new age of strong female roles.  Helgenburger's Lillian isn't without a heart encouraging Gabriel to go after his wife, a missing and presumed dead deep cover agent.

That's one of the long-term story lines, the "is she/isn't she alive" is meant to keep people guessing.  The other is Gabriel's back story, how did the intelligence chip program start? And what's going to happen to the Chinese agent? What's Lillian's back story?
  Through the chip Gabriel sees the whole picture, and walks himself through the situation so that the audience sees it too.

Overall I love it.  It's very topical: How close are we to putting these chips inside human beings?  What lengths would people go to in order to possess that technology? After developing a phone as small as a watch the chip inside someone's head isn't that far behind.  I love the perspective too; Gabriel is able to see a three-dimensional model of an event, and walk himself through it.

 A new episode of Intelligence airs Monday at 10pm on CTV, and CBS.  CBS is re-airing the pilot tonight at 8pm.  Can't catch it tonight?  Watch a 3 minute preview below.

Hilary Mantel's Bring Up The Bodies Review

Bring Up The Bodies is Hilary Mantel's second novel in her trilogy about Thomas Cromwell.  In the follow up to Wolf Hall we join Cromwell as he successfully brings down Henry VIII's second Queen: Anne Boelyn. 

In Wolf Hall I felt as if I was transported to the 1500's, following Cromwell as he rose through the ranks at Henry VIII's court.  There was a great blend of historical detail, and fiction that made it worthy of the Man Booker Prize.  At the end I felt I came away feeling as if I knew the man a little bit better.

Bring Up The Bodies is a clunky read.  It has the same attention to detail as its prequel, and similar characters of course because of the time period.  But that's where the similarities end.   A big difference is the narrator. In technical terms I think what Mantel was going for here was either a "3rd person first"  or maybe a second person narration?  She tried to make the narrator a separate character, and yet was also trying to see inside Thomas Cromwell's head. 

On page 182 Mantel writes: "He, Cromwell, stands back while Thomas Cranmer, pale and smooth takes charge of the king's bereavement."  She uses the expression of "He Cromwell," a lot to get into his head.  The lack of commitment to a point-of-view makes it a tough read.  If the character Thomas Cromwell is a mysterious figure, then why not use first person? The failure to commit to a narrator makes it confusing.

Mantel writes sections of the book without dialogue.  I appreciate there is a lot of detail to cram into a book about Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn. But, as a writer, and reader too, I find dialogue key to advancing the plot, and showing a character's background.  She's not successful at it here.  Basically the only thing I'm left with after reading it is that Cromwell is  good to his friends/family.  This I can see through his conversations with his neighbour Ambassador Chapuys, and the occasional exchange with other characters.

And then there's Henry VIII himself.  He's relegated to a secondary character for most of the book.  That makes sense since the primary focus is Thomas Cromwell who struggles in the background. Towards the end Henry VIII becomes a little more prominent as he reacts to Anne's betrayal, and is played up to be melodramatic.  In everything I've seen on television or read in history books, this King was anything but melodramatic.  I found myself thinking; she betrayed you, and you do get a chance to mope around... but honestly it's time to get over it now.

Overall verdict on this one: Great for historical detail, but not if you're looking for a good story.