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theanimalsarecalling · 3 years

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Rhiannon and Ronan. They are such mirrors of each other. Even the names sound similar, though the meanings are not. Both are shaped by grief. Both are, or were, a prisoner on a family farm.

When Bryde lists all their gifts:

"We are that young man. All of us together. This is about your mirrors and her art and his feelings and my weapons." (MI chpt 12)

Rhiannon's gift is her mirrors and her mirrors are a symbol for her kindness, which is her real gift. Hennessey's gift is her art, not her forgery, because what is a dreamer but an artist, a creator.

Ronan's gift is his feelings - remember, his best dream was Joy? But Bryde's gift is his weapons. And since Bryde is Ronan's dream, Bryde's gifts reflect Ronan's gifts. Ronan's feelings are also a weapon, which he directs against himself and others.

Ronan's feelings are ummixed. When Ronan feels loves, he does so with his whole heart. He is tender and loyal and protective. He's also immature, so he tends to make his love more about himself than his beloved at times, but the love is still there.

When he hates, it's also with his whole heart, and his fists, his words and his dreams become weapons of destruction. He is quite capable of setting the world on fire.

I think Rhiannon represents what Ronan could be at maturity. Rhiannon's mirrors reflect the world with kindness. They don't deny what's there, but they show what could be. They offer hope. Every interaction they had with Rhiannon showed her kindness. Even Bryde was affected by it. And when she was killed by Liliana, she understood and forgave.

Right now, Ronan is full of hate against the world, which doesn't understand him, and Declan, Hennessey and Adam, who betrayed him, even though they all care about him. He also hates himself as he failed to live up to any of his ideals.

But if, somehow, he could look at the world, and the people he hates, through Rhiannon's kindness, he could learn to see the good along with the bad. He could give up the hate and treat them with compassion instead of scorn. He could even extend that kindness to himself and give up the self-hate that is fueling the unquenchable fire. Or at least reserve that fire for the Colin Greenmantles who truly do wish him harm. Then Ronan could become the young man in Bryde's story and use all these gifts to save the world.

That's what I want for Ronan in the final book. To see him grow up and save the world.

#ronan lynch #mister impossible #call down the hawk #bryde #the dreamer trilogy #the lynch brothers

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belizedeservesbetter · 5 years

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The Ferryman is Absolutely Incredible!

I was literally so stunned after the show that I couldn’t move for a solid three minutes

There is a sign outside the marquee that says “Astonishing!” and that’s really the best way to sum up this show.

Oh Jez Butterworth, how I doubted you. Contrary to popular opinion I wasn’t a huge fan of Jerusalem. I had heard The Ferryman was amazing but I also heard Jerusalem was amazing and I didn’t really like Jerusalem at all.

But The Ferryman is some next level amazing.

This is such a rich treasure trove of a play. There are so many layers to it and so many complexities and allusions and bits and pieces that tie it all together that make it such a wonderful patchwork quilt of a story.

It’s a play about family, but it’s also a play about justice. It’s a play about history and retribution and the pain and grief that comes with it. It’s a play about unfinished business and how much that weighs on you. How if you don’t resolve all the shit that’s weighing on you then you’ll keep passing it on through generations. The fact that a lot of the characters are very very young is distinctly troubling but also hopeful in a way? It’s a completely devastating play but after getting to know the children so well I have a hope that they are able to move forward.

Personally, I also think this is a play about legacy. Throughout the play different characters echo those in their past, present and future. The children start to resemble their parents and those around them. Vice versa, the parents and grandparents start to resemble children. Much is talked of the past and the future, with my favorite line in the entire play being, “I love you more than the future.” Time seems to intermingle in this play, with characters having fixations on what has happened and what is still to come. There is so much about heritage and the way people grow and change over time and with at least half the characters being children themselves wondering who they’ll grow up to be. I see this in all of the Carney daughters but especially in JJ and Michael Carney and Shane Corcoran.

There are twenty-two characters in this play, not including the live rabbit and goose, but you feel like you know each and every one of them very well by the end of the play. Butterworth has somehow managed to make you care about every single character.

All of the characters were fascinating and I won’t talk about each and every character but I do want to talk about a few.

Shane Corcoran was fascinating to me because I didn’t really understand why the Corcoran brothers were in the play until act three. That Act Three opening scene with the Corcorans and the elder Carney brothers JJ and Michael was such a fascinating character study that doubled as an Irish history lesson. There was a palpable fire in that scene in all the characters, Shane and Michael especially. It felt dangerous. It felt like something was about to break any second. The entire play I thought that Michael was the firebrand, continuing on his father’s legacy, but in this scene my ideas of him were totally flipped around.

Oisin (pronounced Osh-ee-n) Carney was a very interesting character to me as well because I knew immediately that he wasn’t a part of the immediate family entirely based on how he held himself and where he chose to stand. There was this darkness about him that was so hard to pin down but he was so complex and layered and there was this fear about him that was fascinating.

The older characters in the play, Uncle Patrick Carney, Aunt Maggie Far Away and Aunt Pat all felt younger than the actual children in the play. They talked almost like they were part of some different fairytale world and talked mostly of when they themselves were very young. They felt ageless like they’d never really grown up because they’d never confronted their emotional baggage.

The true heart of this play truly is Quinn Carney and Caitlin Carney in how much they clash and how well they work together and how much grief each of them carry everyday. There was a distinct amount of pain that was clearly felt from each of them, but also so much joy when they’re around each other. Both of these characters were so complex and skirted the line of past, present and future. Where the kids were focused on the future and the older characters on the past, Quinn and Caitlin are able to toe the line of all three - especially the present. They are the only characters who are focused on the now and what it means to be present in all definitions of the word,

There is so much to unpack about this play, especially these great themes of harvest and abundance contrasted with violence and unrest. So much is talked of bounty, both in living and dead things. There is the sense of plentifulness in the play, and a feeling of everything always being full. There is a physically fullness on the stage, of course contrasted with the emptiness everyone feels. Likewise, when discussion of the Ferryman Charon of Greek myth is discussed, there is talk of a lot of souls just waiting to be taken to the underworld. There’s so many of them, but of course they’re just empty and hollow because of their unrest, their unfinished business.

I think tomorrow I’m going to go to the Drama Book Shop and pick up a copy of the play because I just want to read and annotate the whole thing and get more and more from it.

As for the production itself (and wow it’s taken me this long to get there), everything is amazing. The set, the lighting, the sound? All fantastic. The direction? Excellent. There is a lot to be juggled here and Sam Mendes does it exquisitely. His stage pictures, especially how he ended each act, was stunning. How he chose to place each character said far more than words ever could. He handled exposition simply in where and how people stood, which was remarkable.

I don’t know what the Tonys are gonna do because everyone in this cast could and should win. Laura Donnelly (Caitlin Carney) and Paddy Considine (Quinn Carney) are amazing. I can’t believe this is Considine’s first theatre role because he’s a natural up there. Laura Donnelly walked away with this whole show - she was utterly brilliant.

Rob Malone (Oisin Carney) and Tom Glynn-Carney (Shane Corcoran) are also fantastic and bring a lot of depth and fear to their roles.

Niall Wright (JJ Carney) and Fra Fee (Michael Carney) were truly impressive in Act Three.

The kids Matilda Lawler (Honor Carney), Willow McCArthy (Mercy Carney), Brooklyn Shuck (Nunu Carney) and Michael Quinton McArthur (Declan Corcoran) were all fantastic and have so much talent for kids so young.

Fionnula Flanagan (Aunt Maggie Far Away) and Dearbhla Molloy (Aunt Pat) were absolutely wonderful.

I could go on but I’ve literally named half the cast at this point.

Yes, this is a three hour play. I know the length may scare some people off but it truly doesn’t feel long at all. At the first intermission my first thought was, “But wait I just sat down!” Also! Rush tickets are so easy to get! I showed up at 9 and my friend and I were the only other people there really till like 9:30 and even then there were only like 6 people in line.

Believe the hype about this one. Even more, this play exceeds it. The whole thing is completely thrilling.

#the ferryman #broadway #jez butterworth #tom glynn carney #theatre #review #voice

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justanotherdumpingground · 5 years

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Chapter Reviews: April 30-May 4, 2019 + Thoughts on Upcoming Stories

Wishful Thinking Chapter 4:

I actually replayed the book again just to get the cat, and it was worth the purchase. Her lines amuse me.

Anyway, back to the chapter. The part where MC helped Louis and Sara reconcile was sweet, though I laughed at Sara saying that she received anti-wrinkle cream by accident. Nevertheless, it's a good start for MC to explore and develope her mind reading ability.

I have a soft spot for most animals, and the puppy is no exception. Even his dialogue is so adorable, especially when coupled with Jinx. I hope to see more of those two.

The library investigation was kinda fun, especially with the premium choice to go after the guy with the documents. Seriously, that got me intrigued. And hello again, Anna. It's nice to finally see her again despite being away for her boss, who happens to have a recycled model.

Bah, I can't stand Alec. First, he's initially dismissive towards the MC's ideas unless proven otherwise. Then, he forces Ellen to overwork only to shut her down (she may be no saint, but she's still entitled to fair working conditions as well as therapy). Seriously, I'd like to have him ejected and replaced with a better boss. I don't care that he takes back his word on the library after the MC's investigation. What really matters is that he should stop playing favorites. Nothing against my MC, just wishing that Alec would just behave or beware.

Gee, playing Wishful Thinking makes me miss Hero. It's not super good, but I still had fun playing it. Oh, how I wish Book 2 will be released soon. At least Wishful Thinking is fun to play so far.

High School Story: Class Act Chapter 12:

For the candidate I picked to stay, I chose Rory. Arts are underappreciated in Berry High and one one with the least focus compared to sports, which already has played significance on the plot (Book 1 of the first trilogy, for instance). I get that the twin's family, but they're still a freshman and probably not the strongest candidate, as well as particiapting in the election just because instead of having a more concrete motivation like Rory. I didn't go see Emerald with Rory and the twin, however.

I'm glad Ajay has found a support system in the form of talking with kids with divorced parents. He needs help as soon as possible, and I'm glad Emma has provided it. I wonder why the first trilogy MC is absent. After all, they mentioned in a premium scene that their parents are divorced as well.

Didn't attend Rory's cousin's wedding because Rory's not my love interest, so no interest in discussing it. Anyway, I just want this election drama to end and Lorenzo to realize that his platform is futile.

Across the Void Chapter 20:

Dang, that was another intense chapter. Sucks that I have to pay diamonds to save Aquari's life, but I did it anyway. Not to mention that the operation was a success with only one injury. Glad everyone's okay.

I'm gonna skip through the romance bits and jump straight to the upcoming landing on Cyber. I'm glad the MC is smart enough to ask Lyra about the meeting between the Vanguard and Jura on Cyber. After she said it was Barlow's idea, I'm now worried how the Atlas can disarm the trap the Void laid on them. I'm excited to see what's next.

America's Most Eligible Chapter 16:

I'm not surprised that Adam wears a tux and proposes to the MC, especially when Omar grabbed something from him in an earlier chapter. It was kind of romantic to propose after he was voted the most eligible because I chose not to pick the premium option to talk to the jury. Oh, well. Glad to see that my MC and Adam will spend the rest of their days in bliss, though I don't think an extra book just to get them married is necessary.

Ugh, can Piper be any more intrusive? If boasting about the Game of Love with Jen was bad enough, she had to barge into the mansion and bring up the smack talk. Glad Jen rejected the offer to join Piper's show, and Wrenn stood up against Piper. I didn't pick the option to give Piper a piece of my mind, but at least it was satisfying enough to watch Jen become showrunner.

Overall, I find Book 2 much weaker than Book 1. The double eliminations pretty much ensure that multiple people get eliminated, especially most of the new contestants. It's a shame, especially since Bianca could've been a proper love interest but was shoved aside in the end. While I appreciate Ivy, Vince, and Slater espousing a gray morality in their view of things, it remains untapped potential. Like, how can it be used to develop them further, especially Ivy because she's a contestant since Book 1. It gets worse when Ivy and Slater are practically interchangeable, effectively watering them down to the same person. And why do we need another marriage-based book? Do we already have enough?

Nightbound Chapter 3:

Luc seems nice and helpful, though I'm not still not sure whether my MC will pursue him. And the same goes for Cal, who seems to be a nice guy despite being a werewolf. I'm not pleased to run errands, but he does sound like he cares for his brother. And what's with Kristof having Nikolai Petrov's model? Made me wince, thought at least the octopus tattoo is gone.

Great. Another collection set. This time, it's similar to the portrait fragments in Bloodbound. I wonder what secrets do they unlock. I wouldn't be surprised if it allows us to learn more about the person who's after the MC by sending that bloodwraith.

Anyway, I'm still excited for this despite my lack of concrete thoughts on it because it's still too early.

Passport to Romance Chapter 8:

Great, sibling drama between Elliot and William. Not only is their arguing forgettable, but Elliot sounds so entitled. He left his responsibilities on his company to his brother, who also misses their parents. Seriously, what's with this guy? I was initially relieved that he's out of my group to recover, only for him to reappear in the last scene. Oh well. He better behave, though.

So far, this story's just meh. Not too excited for Marisa's birthday, though I'm expecting drama along the way.

Open Heart Chapter 12:

This chapter is emotional, and I love it. First, it stings that the nurses except Danny are no longer nice to the MC. I have my top suspects, but I still think everyone is innocent until proven guilty. That includes Aurora and Landry. There's no reason why I should hate them both.

Did I adopt all three animals? Yup. I'm a sucker for these lovely creatures, and they're already a joy to have with me. The turtle's the one I like the most so far.

If there's one character in this chapter continually gives an emotional punch, that would be Mrs. Martinez. It was fun and satisfying to steal the needed medication from Declan Nash. I was overjoyed to see Mrs. Martinez getting better and traveling around the world after the hospital held a farewell party for her. Most of all, hearing that she died in her sleep was so painful to hear that it left me shocked and speechless. Even though she went out in a blaze of glory by living out her dream of traveling the world, I still couldn't contain my grief. Even more aggravating was when Harper said that Mrs. Martinez's family is suing Edenbrook, particularly the MC, for malpractice. And let's not forget that Dr. Banerji has a month left to live, yet another point of anxiety.

Ride or Die Chapter 16:

That was a fun showdown to watch. It was fun to see Mona's impressed reaction to the MC outwitting the Brotherhood, them pointing their guns at one another amidst their confusion, Mona taking the bullet for the MC, and Jason getting arrested by the FBI and MC's dad. If there's one thing that I'm annoyed at is that I have to pay diamonds to take Mona to the hospital while the free option is to leave her behind. I'm not upset that Mona gets arrested. I'm upset that the free option doesn't save the cops more time to ensure Mona's recovery, even if she disregards herself.

The graduation may be short, but I'm glad to see Ingrid being friendly towards the MC, and that they'll be attending Langston together. The ending just feels oddly surreal on the MC's uncertainty of her future, though.

Honestly, I'm disappointed but not surprised that RoD will get a second book. The story's overrated and full of clichés and wasted potential. Not to mention that it has one of the most irrational fanbases in the Choices fandom that partly ruined the story for me. A lot of the vocal fans, especially on Instagram, worship it like it's groundbreaking or revolutionary. At least there are some rational fans out there who acknowledge its faults while still enjoying it.

If there are any ways the second book could improve on the first one, I'd say introduce a morally gray setting and execute it better. There are traces of it, though they aren't well done because the narrative depicts the Brotherhood as just evil when their members should be just as varied as the Mercy Park Crew. Same goes for the MPC, since defining them as black or white doesn't work on them.

The Elementalists Chapter 8:

I thought Atlas was gonna die from the MC's attack, but I'm glad he survived and is put under care. I just wish he'll trust his twin and their friends again.

Honestly, I need to keep an eye on Alma. She's still really fishy and may have an ulterior motive for descending on the earth, especially when the MC receives another letter from Kane. Is the MC a plaything or what?

Since I roleplay my MC as a typically curious Air-Att, I picked the premium option to go to the gardens with Beckett so he could have a leg up for a future class with Professor Kontos. A bit miffed that the gardens of Aurelia are recycled, but here's hoping there will be a leg up.

Helping Griffin with his scholarship is kind of fun, and I'm glad I picked the choices that give me scholarship points. Even more so when I chose to help him rather than sabotage Amy. The second option sounds counterproductive, to be honest.

After touching the treasure chest and a vision of Kane's followers, I have a feeling that I'll encounter this hidden group of pranksters at some point in the story, and there might be an option to join them, especially with the letter from Kane. It may also be part of the morality system like many choices before, which leaves me excited.

Thoughts on upcoming stories:

Honestly, the only stories I'm looking forward to are Bloodbound and the new fantasy story. Platinum could surprise me, but I have low expectations of it. The Royal Heir looks like an attempt to milk as much money from die-hard fans as possible, though a part of me misses playing as the MC. BSC's just meh. RCD's an utter mess since the beginning, and any potential it once had is dead and buried since the end of Book 2. Sunkissed and Bachelorette Party just scream forgettable, so not excited for them. This is gonna be one bleak summer.

#choices stories you play #chapter reviews

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