ithildin | As Usual, I'm Behind

Been meaning to comment on both Blood Ties and Dresden Files ~~and Stargate~~.

First off, I always thought her name was 'Agent Mai' not 'Ancient Mai'! But how awesome was it that she was a dragon?! Squeee! I really enjoyed this episode. And the episode prior with his rat bastard uncle. Dang, Harry's been through a lot! But Bob, I love Bob [sniff] I think this has to be one of my favourite new shows! I can't believe it's already all over for the season.

As for the books, I haven't read any yet, but I'm thinking of trying to get through a few while I'm on vacation. Which brings us to Blood Ties. I'm on the fourth book in the series, and I'm having a hard time sustaining interest. I know the series has a lot of fans on my f'list, but honestly, if I hadn't been loaned all of them, I'm not sure I would have gone on past the second one. I don't read a lot of vampire fiction, and when I do read books in that genre, I'm looking for a more... erotic sort of read, I guess. And the books just don't push any of those sorts of buttons for me. I don't care whether Vicki is with Henry or Mike. and I actually find Mike more attractive than Henry -- what's with that? [g]

At the end of the incubus episode, I really did enjoy the interchange between Henry and the Incubus. Very amusing! But I thought the fighting over Vicki thing between Henry and Mike a little over the top. Actually, it's a little much in most of the episodes I've seen so far.

If you stayed through to the end, congrats!!

Decided to save SG1 for a separate post for spoiler purposes

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Definitely read the Dresden books if you get the chance. They're an entirely different animal than the series, but highly enjoyable. And Bob...yeah, Bob's still as awesome as anything.

Nin bought the first three, I think, but then Jen loaned me the Blood Ties books, so I started on those first.

I know the series has a lot of fans on my f'list, but honestly, if I hadn't been loaned all of them, I'm not sure I would have gone on past the second one.

Ah, well. It's okay, Ith. Just because the books are my first love, I am enjoying the TV show. I totally like the Blood Ties show better than The Dresden Files one. And, I manage to watch The Dresden Files show every week with my parents. I blame it on Paul Blackthorne, mostly. TV show Morgan is growing on me, and I have no idea what to do about that. If you see me with a Morgan, "Class dismissed," icon you'll know he's really gotten to me. ;)

I'm not sure reading the books and watching the show concurrently was such a great idea actually [g] It's all rather confusing! So maybe I should put off reading the Dresden books.

It's all rather confusing!

*Nods.* I totally understand that. I made the mistake, once, and only once of reading an actual Ian Fleming James Bond book and then watching the Sean Connery flick of the same title. Talk about giving me a headache. *Winces.* Because I love both print, and film/TV there are lots of times I've watches things transition from one medium to another. Sometimes they work beautifully for me, and sometimes I wonder what they were smoking. Of course with David Lynch's Dune I don't even wonder what he was smoking. ;)

You might like the last few books, or rather the spin-off books. Henry moves to Vancouver and Tony goes with him. From that point on the books focus more on Tony, but Henry is definitely a major part of things.

I know some people don't like the "Smoke and.." books, but IMO that's because the they focus on Tony, a gay character, his past, physical relationship with Henry, which is still emotionally intense, and Tony's wishes for a future with another male character.

The supernatural aspects of the story are good, as is Tony's development as a character. He comes a long way from his days on the street.

I know some people don't like the "Smoke and.." books, but IMO that's because the they focus on Tony...

I bought the first book because I heard the series has Henry in it, but I haven't gotten around to reading it because of hearing how it's focused on Tony. I don't dislike Tony, or his being gay, it's just Henry has always been my favorite character, and I'm not sure 1) how much of him there really is in the books, and 2) if I'm really interested in books carried by Tony. :o

I'm not as keen on the Smoke books, but that's mostly for two reasons, and not the ones you gave. One: My favourite character from the books is Viki, and two: The haunted house (the second book) effectively creeped me out almost to the point of nightmares. NOT what I was expecting from a Tanya Huff novel.

I'll admitit, it took me a while to warm up to Bob, maybe because I'd read the books beforehand (and liked them)but in the last couple of episodes I've thawed out a bit - he still ain't the Bob from the books, though!

Blood Ties? I've downloaded a few episodes and found them entertaining eough, but I'm not sure if I would become a hardcore fan (Nothing seems to grab my attention like the old Highlander/BtVS days...the nearest I've got to it is Dr Who!)I have ordered the firt two books, however , so to see what they're like. (I love urban fantasy, it's a deep, dark, love... :-P)

Yeah, BT is entertaining, but if it goes away, I wouldn't miss -- at least not at this point. Both with the books and the show, I think that maybe it's because Henry just doesn't come off as very 'vampiry' for lack of a better term :)

I like urban fantasy too. I assume you've read Charles DeLint?

I discovered him fairly recently :-) My two favourite books, so far, are Mulengro and The Onion Girl.

Don't know if you read Moonheart yet:

Canadian de Lint put himself on the fantasy map with this 1984 novel that shifts between the Wales of yore and the Ottawa of today. A mythical fantasy for all large collections.

I loved that book! Not least for it introducing me to what became my favourite Scottish band, Silly Wizard [g]

Don't know if you read Moonheart yet

No, I haven't, I must put it on my 'to read' list!

I think that maybe it's because Henry just doesn't come off as very 'vampiry' for lack of a better term :)

*Snorts.* :P Species-ist! Henry is one of my all time favorite vampires. You're problem isn't that he isn't "vampiry" enough, it's that he isn't Byronic enough. Trust me, as a vampire aficionado I know the kind of vampires in the "more... erotic sort of read" of vampire you like are the Byronic ones. People who call them Rice-ian just don't have a grasp of the history of vampires in fiction. While there are some Byronics I like, LKH's Jean-Claude chief among them, I also love characters like Henry and Jack Fleming that aren't "erotic". <3

That's all well and good, but whatever you want to call it, I like what I like. And I don't like Anne Rice. We're all allowed to like different things. I don't have to like the same books you do, and you don't have to like the ones I like. That's fair, isn't it? All I want is to read a book with characters I can make some sort of connection with. How it fits into the history of vampire fiction isn't on my mind at all.

I don't have to like the same books you do, and you don't have to like the ones I like. That's fair, isn't it?

That's certainly fair. I wasn't objecting to your not sharing my appreciation of Henry Fitzroy. I was objecting to your describing him as not coming off as "very 'vampiry'". Henry is a vampire therefore he is "vampiry." What he isn't is enough of whatever the particular style of vampire is you prefer. I do apologize for trying to guess as to what exactly it is you feel Henry is lacking. I'm curious as I think he is an excellent vampire.

And I don't like Anne Rice.

I'm not a big Anne Rice fan myself. I liked the first three books in her Vampire Chronicles okay, hated the fourth book, and haven't been back. I was merely talking of them as being part of a particular style, and the Byronic style is one that both Rice's vampires and the bulk of the vampires on Forever Knight fall into. The main thing Henry has in common with the vampires of that style in the books is his having been an aristocrat in life.

He isn't to me. I'm talking about how I feel about the books/character. You can object to how I feel, but it isn't going to change anything. To me, Henry comes across as no different than anyone else, except he drinks blood and has to stay out of the sun. There's nothing that I find very compelling aobut his character. He seems a decent enough fellow, but that's about it.

What he isn't is enough of whatever the particular style of vampire is you prefer.

Again, that's your opinion. I don't agree.

I think it might be a good idea to drop this now. It's not getting either of us anywhere excpet extremely aggravated. And my day doesn't need anymore of that. Thanks.

You can object to how I feel...

I don't object to how you feel. I question how you express it.

...except he drinks blood and has to stay out of the sun.

By dictionary definition a vampire is, "the reanimated body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of persons asleep." Drinking blood is what makes Henry a vampire, and vampiry.

I think it might be a good idea to drop this now.

It certainly seems like it.

It's not getting either of us anywhere except extremely aggravated. And my day doesn't need anymore of that. Thanks.

Sorry.

Becca, I've written and deleted a dozen replies to your comment, and all I'm left with is this: I hope you didn't intend for your words to be as hurtful as they were. It would be a sad end to our friendship if that were the case.

I hope you didn't intend for your words to be as hurtful as they were.

I didn't mean for them to be hurtful, (((((Ith))))). It's... we don't seem to have been communicating here. You've been talking about feelings and opinions, and I've been talking about literary styles and the definitions of words. I mean from here it's been sounding to me like you've been talking about one particular definition of what a vampire can be as if it is the basic definition of what a vampire is while I've been trying to talk about vampires from how they're defined by style and at the basic level. I didn't mean to be hurtful. I was just trying to talk about the styles and definitions. I like you Ith, and we've known each other a long time. I just haven't been getting what you've been saying, and I haven't been being clear myself. I'm very sorry that I've hurt you, ((((((((((Ith)))))))))).

Yeah, we have known each other a long time, so that's why I really hoped you didn't mean it the way it sounded. I'm glad you didn't.

Thanks for explaining. I appreciate it.

Yeah, we have known each other a long time, so that's why I really hoped you didn't mean it the way it sounded. I'm glad you didn't.

If it would make you feel any better I'd delete every post from my first snarky one at you're talking about Henry's not being "vampiry" enough on down. I really really really feel bad that I hurt you, ((((((((((Ith)))))))))). I just totally put my feet in my mouth. If I had some inpsiration I'd offer an apology drabble, but my clear lack of ability to communicate well today is an inspiration killer. x_x

Thanks for explaining. I appreciate it.

*Nods.* Having realized how badly I was communicating I tried very hard to make sure the explanation was clear. O:)

Seriously, you explained and I feel better, so it's over and done with as far as I'm concerened, okay? [gives Becca her very own Henry doll to gaze at]

*Nods sheepishly.* Okay. *Takes her very own Henry doll, and goes off to stay quietly out of trouble with him.*

Staying out of trouble with him is kinda boring [weg]

*Blushes deeply.* Oh, I could get into very big trouble with him. Henry and Methos have been owing me some fic since they started teasing me over a prompt at medie (http://medie.livejournal.com/)'s "Kissin' a Fool" Drabble A-Thon.

I don't object to how you feel. I question how you express it.

(the icon expresses it well.)

*Blushes.* Yeah, I can see how, "Hello pot, this is kettle, your black," my not getting how Ith was talking is now. I just... I still don't understand what she was trying to say about why she doesn't connect with Henry. I'm fine with her not connecting with Henry, but I'm still blank on why he doesn't work for her. x_x

I'll admit it, it took me a while to warm up to Bob, maybe because I'd read the books beforehand (and liked them)...

Heh, I've seriously actively disliked show Bob, and it's partly that I love the books and he so totally isn't book Bob partly that I haven't had much luck liking the actor playing show Bob.

...but in the last couple of episodes I've thawed out a bit - he still ain't the Bob from the books, though!

Given that the season finale is Sunday, I think it's safe to say the one episode I actually liked show Bob in all season was "What About Bob." I did trust that he was working Justin in the morgue.

Blood Ties? I've downloaded a few episodes and found them entertaining enough, but I'm not sure if I would become a hardcore fan...

Awww, oh well. I'm loving the series, and Kyle Schmid to bits. It could be right up there with Heroes as one of my absolute favorite new shows this season.

I have ordered the first two books, however, so to see what they're like.

As much as I love the show I love the books more. Henry Fitzroy is one of my all time favorite vampires without looking like Kyle. ;)

Awww, oh well. I'm loving the series, and Kyle Schmid to bits.

*Grins* Yes, Kyle Schmid is of the pretty!

And trust me, I'm know what you mean about Bob. I'm still a bit annoyed with the way he's portrayed - just not as much as when I saw the first episode and went 'WTF!'

And let's not forget Morgan - I actually lke the 'Morgan' character on the screen but he isn't the character in the books.

Personally, I think they should have given him a new name and not even pretend they were one and the same!

*Grins* Yes, Kyle Schmid is of the pretty!

Heh, I was telling my parents just last night I feel a bit schizophrenic now since I love book Henry without any lust, but I can't think of show Henry without drooling. x_x

And trust me, I'm know what you mean about Bob.

Thanks.

And let's not forget Morgan - I actually like the 'Morgan' character on the screen but he isn't the character in the books.

I told someone I think show Morgan is something of an amalgam of book Morgan and Ebenezer McCoy since having changed Harry's history he didn't spend any time being trained by McCoy. I'm resisting an urge to make myself a show Morgan icon that says, "Class dismissed."

Personally, I think they should have given him a new name and not even pretend they were one and the same!

*Giggles.* If I'm right maybe they should call him Morgan McCoy?

The books differ in several places from the series, but I like the books and love the series. Bob in the series is just remarkable, but I've loved Terrance Mann for years, and he pulls off Bob with remarkable grace and style. And I like the plots as well.

Blood Ties is something I'm not quite into yet. I'm trying, but it's difficult. And I like the actress very much. I like the other actors as well. It may be the constant bickering between Henry and Mike -- it's not funny, it's just annoying.

Okay reading these comments has me all messed up. Never having read the books on either show, nor ever heard of a Dresden files show, I am confused as to which show people are talking about. Who is Bob? Morgan?

I have watched the Blood Ties show (thank you Comcast on Demand but can you put episodes 1 and 2 up?) and actually like it a lot. The three leads are great. I agree with Ith something about Mike is very appealing. must be the age. Henry is cute, but just cute. I guess I am old because charming boys do not do it for me (and never did). Although you can see that Kyle is having fun with the role. He will be an actor to watch in the future.

Roberta

Bob and Morgan are Dresden Files.

I felt the other way around about the Dresden Files.

PS--I also like Bob but then, I've been a Terrance Mann fan for awhile. He'd do a great Dracula musical:)

I've put Dresden on my to read pile, but considering how big that pile is.... [g]

I've read all the Blood Ties books and all of the Dresden books (so far) and of the two shows, I find that I'm really enjoying Dresden, and I'm not sure about Blood Ties yet.

I *want* to like Blood Ties - it's Canadian, it doesn't try to *hide* it - but I've watched 2 episodes so far, and it's not really doing it for me.

I think part of it is that while the actor who plays Henry is good looking and everything, he definitely doesn't match my mental image of Henry. The actor is more true to the correct description - Henry is supposed to look really young - but I've never really visualized Henry as being that young.

Plus, the constant bickering between Mick and Henry is just annoying - I don't recall it being quite that annoying in the books.

I'll keep watching, because, again, I want to support the show and the author - but hopefully it will get better.

I LOVE Dresden! I love Bob! I love Dresden Files! I agree that the second to the last episode was the most awesome of the season. The one where they were trapped on the other side. I have read the first two books. I am on the third. They are pretty good. Not great, but interesting enough to turn pages. The guy is not the best writer ever, but it is cool to picture our TV Harry in the role. The other characters are quite a bit different. Especially Bob. I think the writer does have some interesting ideas about the supernatural. It is interesting to see how different the episodes are from the books. From what I have picked up in the book comms, the book canon gets very interesting.