death to capslock

Resolving the wrong story problem

2023-03-20T00:00:37Z

Posted by: sunnyskywalker

Film Crit Hulk’s essay “Black Widow and the Latent Last Act Blues” has some interesting thoughts about story beginnings and endings and how they work together to provide catharsis. (I haven’t yet seen Black Widow, but the essay makes sense anyway, so don’t worry if you haven’t either unless you care about spoilers.) He thinks the beginning of the movie is pretty great in isolation, but doesn’t properly set up the end, which makes the emotional resolutions at the end feel tacked-on and lackluster.

“that’s supposed to be the big lesson that’s at the heart of everything, right? And we genuinely do get the sentiment / fallout of it, but we’re still missing the most important thing that makes us care for it. Because there isn’t that first act thing where we experience the heartbreak of that along with them. […] ‘What is the thing they can do at the end of the movie that they couldn’t do at the beginning?’”

And this helped me crystalize one of my main problems with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, there are a lot of problems with that book. The one I’m going to focus on here is Harry’s resigned march to his death. There are a lot of problems with this scene too — and I think one of them is that it wasn’t set up properly.

This is where one of the main themes of the whole series reaches its climax: that you have to accept death, not try to fight it forever. But…did Harry need to learn that lesson? ( Read more... )

comments

Allies the Order never made

2022-01-22T10:39:00Z

Posted by: sunnyskywalker

We hear of several Order members’ missions—mostly unsuccessful—to convince various groups not to join Voldemort, and perhaps fight him instead. Remus tries “reasoned argument” with the werewolves, Hagrid and Maxime give gifts to the Gurg of the giants, and Charlie maybe talks to his dragon-handler friends. Dumbledore himself has apparently been talking to the centaurs for several years, judging by the way Firenze has surprisingly detailed information about the philosopher’s stone trap and the identity of the unicorn-killer.

There’s an interesting omission here. Did anyone try to negotiate with the goblins?
( Read more... )

comments

Why DH left me disappointed with one of my favorite characters

2019-01-08T12:07:00Z

Posted by: torchedsong.livejournal.com

(I've been lurking in this community for a couple of days now, reading posts from way back and enjoying the discussion [and snark]. I know this topic has been done before numerous times, but I hope it's okay for me to offer my thoughts as well.)

It is over a decade later and I am still disenchanted with how Severus Snape was flattened as a character in DH by having everything connect to Lily. I rarely encounter fans of Snape on Tumblr who feel the same way, so I decided to post this here to find other people who can empathize.

From books 1-6, I found Snape to be a fascinating character. He was a mean teacher and a bitter man, but also (seemingly) on the side of the good guys with his own mysterious agenda. Despite his cruel nature, he was presented as capable of protecting and helping those whom he loathed or did not care for. He had a sense of right and wrong when it counted, even while remaining bitter. This unpleasant man left a group of prejudiced and dangerous criminals because even unpleasant people are capable of stepping away from evil. All of this made him an intriguing character full of potential, and I hoped that JKR wouldn’t waste that potential by making everything he’s done be for the Love of a Good Woman that Got Away.
( Read more )

comments

Random thoughts on DH

2017-01-04T12:50:00Z

Posted by: star-dragon5.livejournal.com

Hello, all! Nice to meet you. This is my first post, so please be nice to me.

( Read more... )

comments

Is Dumbledore Death?

2016-07-18T17:30:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

There's a video on YouTube that postulates that Dumbledore might actually be the personification of Death itself. Here it is:

[Invalid lj-embed id 28]

So what do you think? Does this theory make sense, or not? Anyone have anything to add that might help it make complete sense?

Also, you'll be pleased to know that I have another project in the works! I'm not entirely sure when it will be ready, but I think you'll like it.

comments

Voldemort's Strange Logic

2015-12-06T16:25:00Z

Posted by: condwiramurs.livejournal.com

I promise I'm still chipping away at Indestructible - I'm just in the middle of a frantic effort to complete my dissertation draft before the end of the semester. I should have another Indestructible piece up over the holidays though. Thanks for being patient!

Until then, I have a little question to toss out for consideration. It's been occupying my mind for a bit.

Question: Why did Voldemort believe that it was necessary to kill to gain the Wand's mastery?

Because he, of all people, should have known that it wasn't. If it were true, Albus Dumbledore would never have had it.

And he did believe, quite firmly, that Albus did.

( Read more... )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Epilogue!

2015-09-02T22:00:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

( Read the epilogue of the LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES!!! )
[THE END]

Much thanks to those who have stuck with this series for all these years (and to everyone else who tuned in as well). It truly has been a pleasure.

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 36

2015-08-30T22:23:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

LAST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

( The end is nigh! )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 35

2015-08-29T22:41:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Might as well continue this sequence.

( Read Chapter 35 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 34

2015-08-29T22:34:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Harry: S-so…this is it? I’m j-just supposed to go and die? No…it can’t be true. I must be dreaming. Somebody, please, tell me I’m dreaming!

( Read Chapter 34 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 33

2015-08-28T00:01:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

The moment we've all been waiting for--the story of SNAPE!

( Snape, Snape, Severus Snape... )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 32

2015-08-25T10:57:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

( Snape! *Sob* )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 31

2015-08-23T13:10:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[Everyone meets up for a briefing in the Great Hall]

McGonagall: So, anyway, we’re going to help you evacuate this castle so you’re not harmed in the upcoming battle for the fate of the Wizarding World.

( Read Chapter 31 )

comments

Musings on the Silver Doe scene

2015-08-22T23:34:00Z

Posted by: condwiramurs.livejournal.com

I'm re-reading "The Silver Doe" again, and I'm more convinced than ever that Snape deliberately arranged for Ron to be there at the time.

Half the point of that whole scene was to heal Harry and Ron's friendship - Harry's friendship with his first-ever and best wizarding friend.

Remind me, what did Severus say Harry's real strengths against the Dark Lord were?

"a simple combination of sheer luck and more talented friends."

Albus focuses on Harry's supposed purity. Severus notes his friendships.

And the "need and valor" condition on the Sword, if it was real or at least if Severus believed it was real...

Harry's need, and Ron's valor. Answering Harry's call for help.

( Read more... )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 30

2015-08-22T20:03:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Snape: Good day, ladies and gentlemen! I know, I know—it’s been a long book without my awesomeness gracing the pages, but rest assured—from now on things will be better! This chapter will be from my perspective! Ahaha--! [Pause] What’s that? You said…I’m only in one scene of this entire chapter?! [Pause] And it’s really stupid?! [Pause] But my name’s in the chapter title! [Pause] Oh, that is not fair! [Cries] What’d I ever do to you?*

( Read Chapter 30 )

*A/N: In all seriousness, it is good to have Snape back.

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 29

2015-08-21T17:25:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Harry: Navel! It’s you! It’s really you!

Neville: FOR THE LAST TIME MY NAME IS NOT NAVEL! Seriously! Everyone at Hogwarts calls me by my proper name now!

( Read Chapter 29 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 28

2015-08-20T10:51:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Since Chapter 27 is so short, I decided to also post Chapter 28.

( Time for Dumbledore's backstory! Bum bum buuuuuuum! )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 27

2015-08-20T10:45:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[The dragon flies high in the sky and far away]

( Read Chapter 27 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 26

2015-08-16T10:46:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[For the attempted break-in of Gringotts, they decide Hermione will be Polyjuiced to look like Bellatrix]

Hermione: I really hate that I have to go as the woman who tortured me.

Harry: Well, look on the bright side—it’s only for one chapter.

Hermione: I can already tell it’s going to be a long chapter.

( Read Chapter 26 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 25

2015-08-15T20:06:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[Harry and co. spend the next few days at Shell Cottage with Bill and Fleur]

( Read Chapter 25 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 24

2015-08-04T12:34:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Hey, it's my birthday! Have another one of these!

( Read Chapter 24 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 23

2015-08-02T16:09:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Hermione: Alright, we’ll be fine, just do exactly as I say.

( Read Chapter 23 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 22

2015-08-01T18:20:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[They crash-land in a field somewhere]

Ron: I can’t believe that man! To sell Harry to the Death Eaters! Disgusting coward! I can’t believe someone as noble as Luna is related to him!

( Read Chapter 22 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 21

2015-07-30T22:02:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Lovegood: So, as I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, the Deathly Hallows are an old legend that not everyone believes is true—but I’m one of those people who does believe it.

( Read Chapter 21 )

comments

Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 20

2015-07-29T14:36:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

( Read Chapter 20 )

comments