LIP SERVICE COMMENTARY (reposted from last April)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhZPX_3GcdQ

LIP SERVICE COMMENTARY (dated from April 2012)

(P.s. Found here in the Masterpost)

So I just listened to this wonderful piece of music and at the same time I’m just finding out about what happened to Cat in Lip Service (RIP)

…And well, truth be told, the two are perfectly synonymous with Sam’s role in the great Love Triangle of the series. I realize that FraCat fans are all up in arms and gushing about the coupling and how they’re meant to be but then you guys have to realize something here.

Cat’s actions in refusing to choose between Frankie and Sam was something she actively wanted to exercise because the thrill of an affair excited her and because she didn’t want to choose. That’s right, I said didn’t.

I watched the whole first series and that shall forever be my favorite series and the reason for that is because of Cat’s initial characterization and her strong resistance towards Frankie. The reason why Frankie’s presence still lingers is because they have a strong emotional history and a strong love and bond yes, but Frankie ruined her chances repeatedly. Cat’s refusal to Frankie’s advances and her strength to resist going back to her was what had initially appealed to her persona at first. (Along with her face and her adorable awkwardness and neuroticism)

Then when SamCat happened, I squealed. Not just because of the loveliness of Heather Peace and her hotness, but because of Sam’s appeal and her hotness. Her straightforwardness, her patience, her “good girl” appeal was what gravitated her towards Cat. Among other things. Their relationship was mutually beneficial, they complimented each other and Sam was the first girl that Cat had brought along to meet her parents. While at the dinner Sam was observant and appealed to the Mackenzie matriarch with finesse and calm and made both her mom and her girlfriend pleased. Sam is literally “The perfect girl you’d love to bring home to your parents.” And that’s what she did ;)

But unfortunately, despite all the love, positivity, passion and honesty that she beamed, Sam wasn’t enough to match Frankie. Frankie is an attractive, dangerously unpredictable soul. Frankie has charisma but also a sadness and a harsh background that’s made her complex and that’s what makes her attractive to Cat, among other things.

I had Tumblurked and found many truths to each of the shippers’ arguments; The history and the undeniable consistent gravitation of FraCat and the raw, budding and reliable alternative that was SamCat.

But in the end, what everyone forgets is that in the middle of this is what I personally believe to be a selfish, excited but conflicted and undecisive Cat. Cat, who’s well-aware of Frankie’s unpredictable and painful and manic behaviour and gets drawn into it…to sooth her own needs. Frankie goes along with it because she gets what she wants, but apparently by episode 2, our blonde badass wants her and her alone. She doesn’t want to share Cat anymore with Sam, she wants her best friend back, she wants her muse back, but she’s so into being with Cat that she forgets that what Cat is doing is actually hurting her as well. And probably as the series goes on, she will be forced to move on from Cat and stop making excuses for her actions. There will be a time when she will have to grow up and be a girlfriend who’s actually trusting and worth of your attention, who’s heart you’ll cherish…

Like Sam. Who’s gone through her own struggles (remember the monologue) and came into her own person and lives her life in the open. When everything will unravel, Cat’s betrayal will rip our poor hot cop to pieces. But as Heather Peace says in her B video of awesome…

“I will find someone better than you.”

((This was written about 5 months ago, back in April. But I think it's very much relevant to the show and if you find yourself reading this and see yourself in Cat's shoes or Sam's shoes or Frankie's shoes, then you do what's best for you. This piece is my response to what each character's situation and what happened. If my words resonate a cord, good.))

Scout vs. Wylde: A comparison of two smashing bardettes by Suzanne Helen James

((Here is the Masterpost for everything else), including this)

"Ashley Wylde's Canadian cousin"
 

It’s the best way to describe her, honestly.

Scout, also known as Anthea Ballam, is the reigning Canadian Youth Slam poet champion of 2012. She’s been in the Slam poetry circuit since 2011 and has been recently been traveling all over Canada performing in competitions. I met her while in College last term and through her was introduced into the slam poetry world.

When I looked up at Ashley’s Tumblr, she reminded me so much of her…

It must be the swag. Or the adorkable. I don’t know.

Then, as an experiment, I decided to listen to their poetry side by side. Now honestly, Scout’s poetry log isn’t quite as extensive as Ashley’s as she hasn’t been filmed often, but she has her share of strong, dark poetry that I’ve heard her perform personally.

Now, I’ve listened to “Oh, I’m sorry” (by Ashley) and “I’m sorry” (by Scout) and both are unique mirrors of social justice told from two different points of view. Listen to Ashley’s first and Scout’s afterwards.

While Ashley’s piece was stronger in terms of subject matter and was delivered with an unapologetic ironic punch, Scout’s specialty is her mischievous and sarcastic delivery. I see it as a perfect response and counterpart to the former post.

Then I listened to another set of similar opposites; Wylde’s “The perfect amount of insane” and Scout’s “Sometimes.” (featured as the link of the video).

The first video is beautiful, slow, heartbreaking, straightforward and quotable as hell. Its gripping, powerful and the poem finds strength in trying to find mutuality within the addressee and the speaker who’re opening themselves.

In contrast, the latter’s poetry is brash, fast, jumbled and it makes you feel trapped and bombarded. Scout’s unpredictable pace alters between fast and slow stanzas as the speaker makes us see things from the inside out and how their own thoughts are the only thing that can’t betray them, that wouldn’t leave. By the time the poem ends, you’re left breathless but feeling a little better because you’re finally able to peek out and see what’s outside, just like the speaker.

Both poems share the same theme of openness and gripping onto that one person who will stand by you through anything you or the world will deal with. They’re two sides of the same coin.

But even with all of these similarities, a few more things have to be considered.

One: I have a personal bias to favor Scout because I’ve seen her live and her online repertoire isn’t as complete as it should be. My opinion isn’t the definitive one on her and while I’m sure there will be zealous fangirls, let’s be respectful of each poet and appreciate them, not belittle them.

Two: I’ve just discovered Ashley and I’m sure as I’ll get to know that side of her, I’ll get to appreciate her even further (though to be honest, she’s cute and adorable and just utterly well-built and well-rounded and cute and adorable and mildly reminds me of Brooke Brodack and she should flex and be more shirtless often)

And three, their styles are completely different, at least from what I’ve seen and that often determines their performances. (I will also admit that I had a brief but containable crush on Scout, so while my judgement towards her is unaffected by that, that doesn’t mean I won’t fangirl every now and then though she’ll never know this)

But all technicalities and form aside, I say go check them both out, especially Scout because she needs more love and Ashley could get to know her extended family.

And hey, you never know. Wouldn’t it be awesome if they performed together? (Also, I see them as a good brotp. Imagine the poetry they’d write together and the adorable times they’d spend together…)

Unfortunately though, Scout doesn’t have a Tumblr, no matter how much I kept pestering her about it, so the best way is to see her few videos on Youtube under the Scout Vancouver poetry slam tag. (Also, she plays original music, which you can look about here, here and here too. These are oldies though, and she’s yet to actively update her stuff in the last while, I think these are good starting pieces no. And her facebook is really private, so no, I won’t be giving those away.)

And even though you can find our beloved Ashley’s Tumblr and Youtube if you look at her track tag, I’ll give it here anyway.

Oh yes.

One more thing.

Did I mention these two were born ten days apart?

Scout’s birthday is on April 11th and Ashley’s on the 22nd.

A mild fun tidbit I wanted to share.

Thanks for reading and spread the love!

 ((This is dated by a few months earlier this year, so by the time I had written this, I believe she was already touring the country. She's back now and if you're ever in the Vancouver area, come see what other poets of her caliber can do on Monday nights at Cafe Deux Soleils, on 2550 Commercial Drive.))

"What a beautiful beast!" A review of the "Beauty and the Beast" pilot by Suzanne Helen James

((P.S. Updated with The Masterpost))

Summary: A modern-day retelling of the 80s cult hit (and NOT the Disney movie), Beauty and the Beast stars Smallville's Kristen Kreuk and Terra Nova's Jay Ryan as two star-crossed lovers who are bound together on a murder case. When Detective Chandler's recent investigation leads her to the deceased doctor Vincent Keller, she's drawn into a deeper conflict that not only involves him, but also goes back to her own mother's murder.

It may sound like it has an interesting plot, but when I'm done breaking it through the good, bad and ugly side of it, it won't look so fun.

And I'll be glad to put emphasis on the latter two.

The good: I can't find it. As in, I can't find the good in this show that's not something to nitpick. I didn't get grabbed or have insight into what the characters are thinking. I didn't feel anything. I was told who they were and had a great load of exposition, but frankly...well, I thought it was a bit done. To be honest, the only reason I'm still watching is because I'm hoping it'll get funnier or it might improve as the time goes by. So it has me on their DVR list for many more episodes to come. And I'm thinking that's a GOOD thing.

The bad: Where do I begin? Here's the list of major notables:

 1) The late night bar with the funny name ("Salty dawg"..really? There's just something sleazy about that name for some reason. It makes me uncomfortable)

2) KKreuk's childish pigtails, along with the boss lady's conversation ("I'll hand it -the restaurant- to you when I get arrested...or divorced")

3) The mother's rescue (to be honest, I would've thought about calling a cab and leaving the car there overnight...and then calling my mom. But this isn't MY story, so...)

4) The douchebag one-scene love interest (whose 5-second appearance is solely for the ironic purpose of making the tough-girl damsel KKreuk look good, but actually makes her look bad because he's used as a tool of what kind of man you would avoid if you weren't a tough-hearted, no-nonsense girl looking for love in all the wrong places.)

5) The convenient inclusion of the new potential love interest (that's not the Beast) who's the "Handsome and BRITISH coroner with a lack of attachment but who'll be willing to change that for the protagonist because he'll grow feelings for her" (seriously, if you missed their interactions and missed the foreshadowing then my goodness, you weren't paying attention.)

6) And the general feeling that you have a show that's trying too hard to pander to its ridiculously obvious skewed young adult/teenage demographic while utterly failing to bring a cohesive background to the Beast's storyline that's not already done. To break it down in layman's terms: Butt-kicking Tough cookie but-still-a-damsel-in-distress plus Edward Cullen the brooding were-hulk with the in the Big Apple equals this show.

But I'm not even sure that it's the baddest or ugliest thing about this show because...

The Ugly comes in form of the "Beast" himself to whom I've given many nicknames already. And just to remind you, there isn't a beast in question. Well, not in the traditional sense. The creature in question is super fast, with golden eyes, super strength and an uncontrollable urge to smash things and people in the name of love. Or his forgotten humanity.

Yes. It's the Hulk.

But it's not the Hulk.

This beast was created as a result of the super soldier program "Operation Muirfield", where the army gave steroids that made the users go ballistic when in battle. Naturally, this has them becoming a liability and therefore they have to get eliminated...except for our beloved "Beast", which gets to survive thanks to "luck".

Personally, I think it would've been cooler if he was a zombie.

Also, while on the topic of ugly, the fight scene in the subway made me grimace a little. I mean, don't get me wrong on the fight scene on the train platform; KKreuk's fighting was well-done (she's proficient in martial arts and if you watch Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, I'm sure she'll show off even more), but the way it was brought up was awkward as hell and too darned predictable.

It gets worse when her legitimate fighting skills are dampened to enable the Beast to save her... and we get a free puppet show as the camera refuses to show us how the assailants are killed. Beauty then decides to follow him down the train tracks...even though there was still an operating train not that long ago.

Then that scene when she just screams in agony and anger and "GWAH GWAG GAGHHH!!! I'm ANGRY AND I'MMA FIND YOUR ASS IF YOU DON'T COME OUT!!!"

But the Beast doesn't hear her.

The train does her instead.

Cue the last-minute save...

And he wins her heart! The Beast wins the Beauty`s heart with a save and a touchdownnn!!

(Insert gif here)

But to be honest...

All of this drama could've been avoided if Cat would've had a sassy gay friend.

But she doesn't.

Then again, if she had been given common sense as opposed to 'feelings', there'd be no plot, no show, and no chance for chemistry with the handsome monster.

And worst of all, I'd have nothing to talk about.

So in the end, I`m gonna watch it. You know, for the camp? And the mystery and that whole hullabaloo.

.
AND NOW, SOME EXTRA FACTS! (of various relevance)

. The series is shot in Toronto, Ontario (Oh hey, Canadiana!)

. This series was based on the 80s tv show of the same name, with Linda Hamilton (yes, that one) and Ron Pearlman in the main roles. It lasted for 3 seasons, with the 3rd season having Hamilton leaving due to being pregnant for a certain someone's baby. (That certain someone shares his name with the current PM of England, but they're not related.)

. The husband of the victim of the week was plated by Yannick Bisson, who's best known for playing Victorian Detective William Murdoch in the Canadian show "Murdoch Mysteries".

. The first season is set for 13 episodes. Let's hope it manages to go further!