Mostly hair tearing plus some good news

[alexandral]

+ I have the busiest time of my work life it seems! HESA (Higher Education Statistical Agency) return gobbles all my work time and even made it into my dreams. But there are good things too!

+ I was watching it until 2 am yesterday. Very bad for the next day. :) Mars is becoming really suspesful and dark. I like this very much. The Tong Dao storyline totally spooked me. It was disgusting in so many ways and I am not even sure what do I think about Ling after seeing him with Tong Dao. What I find especially spooky is the beautiful haunting music which is used every time Tong Dao is around.

+ But what totally made me go "O my poor heart! I am not sure I can cope with this" was Ling's attempt to rape Qi Luo. Why did he do it? If he wanted to check his suspicions that Qi Luo was abused in the past - it is a very cruel way to do it. If he just did it because he wanted to it makes me dislike him. ** Hair tearing **. I am sure it all will be sorted.

+ EEEEEEE! Dangermouse is returning to BBC on it's 25 birthday! I haven't seen it myself, but I am happy because I love old cartoons. :)

+ This is the picture my friend took on his Ryanair flight to Dublin: It shows you graphically how ladies must hold their dresses whilst sliding out of the burning plane: Ladies! Remain modest at all times! This is truly absolutely hilarious! I suppose if one is participating in the plain crash he/she will not think about the little things of modesty :). Caption is my friend's.

Comments

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ling is one messed up boy and if QL brings out the best in him, Tong Dao brings out the worst. I actually like Ling precisely because he is such a mixtureof things, not a knight on a white horse, but a really really screwed up boy who can go either way.

If he wanted to check his suspicions that Qi Luo was abused in the past - it is a very cruel way to do it

He didn't really attempt to rape her. He just wanted to see how she'd react to someone not stopping making out right away (as he did before all the time) to confirm whether he thought was correct. I mean, he never was going to rape her, or even take her clothes off or anything. He just wanted to confirm his suspicions. Not a good healthy way to do it, for sure, but OTOH he has no idea of how to go about things like this or how to deal with it (he is a headcase himself, just as much as she is, and he went about it the only way he could think how). He'd die before he'd hurt her for real though.

Actually, I think QL was so buttoned down about this that (rightly or wrongly) that really was the only way she would have told him about it.

Also, I have to mention that Mars is based on a manga, and the attitude towards that sort of thing is very different there. Mars handles rape/attempted rape/molestation about the best of the mangas I've seen. QL is a mess because of her stepfather etc etc etc. The Hana Yori Dango anime (also based on a manga) gave me a case of temporary hate for the hero because in a fit of jealous rage he attempted to make out with the heroine against her will. On the floor of the school! He stopped after unbuttoning two buttons or so and it took forever for her to get over it, but still, he had no 'need to find out truth excuse.' And that's about the best of it (I wrote a post on it here actually: http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/398431.html#cutid1 but the very last bit has Mars spoilers). As I got more into anime/manga/doramas, I've discovered very different attitudes towards stuff. In manga world, there is also often no legal consequences for rape or ar or similar.

Re: dangermouse cartoons! Yay!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I also like it about Ling that he is not perfect. All my favourite characters are far from perfect :). And though I like Ling I found his conversations with Tong Dao a little disturbing. It feels a little in the Dostoyevsky kind of way - I don't know if you like "Brothers Karamazov", but the conversations between Tong Dao and Ling reminded me of the conversations between Ivan and Smerdyakov. I will not be surprised if Tong Dao turns out to be Ling's brother or something.

He didn't really attempt to rape her. He just wanted to see how she'd react to someone not stopping making out

I thought so myself, but as you well put it - only a nut case could think this is the best way to make her open up. Also I thought that Ling's attempts to make out were not a little clumsy. I wonder if this is just because he is all tortured or is it a dorama thing?

It is interesting what you saying about rape in manga and I remember reading it in your LJ. I didn't comment because I didn't know about the subject back then. Hmm . I don't think I can handle this easy, but I will keep thinking about it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Mum on Tong Dao and brothers and thing like that (though we do discover more things about Sheng, Ling's twin, which sheds further light on why Ling is the way he is).

Also I thought that Ling's attempts to make out were not a little clumsy

Which scene? That 'rape' one? Because I don't think he was necessarily trying to be smooth there :) He IS a young guy so I don't think he's got the art of seduction down pat generally but there is one scene later on (not sure how far you are in) that is my absolute favorite dorama thing ever (trying to be unspoilery here) that involves making out so he can be good :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It is probably my first time when I am staying completely unspoiled on things. :). There is a first time for everything. I am actually enjoying it.

Which scene?

There were couple of times before when Ling was trying to pin Qi Luo to the wall in his flat. I am so much looking forward to the scene you are mentioning - I am just on the episode with the "rape". Ling does have fabulously gentle smile, though. With a touch of mischief in it which adds to the beauty. :)

My torrents are downloading very slowly so I would not get any "Mars" today by the look of things. I will watch "Prison Break" instead. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know I keep pushing it, but all of Mars is on megaupload on jdramas and those are very fast. I'll shut up about it now :)

The scene with his pinning her to the wall and attempting to make out always makes me both giggle and awwww, because he is such a collee boy there: he's young, and he has a pretty girl he is in love with in his room, and he hasn't been getting any for a while, so why not try your luck. :) I kinda like it that he lacks the smooth polish and finesse and there isn't a perfect glowy golden lit making out scene but something I can actually identify with. OK, maybe I am getting a bit college nostalgic there :P So been there done that and anyway, TMI probably :)

Also, he is kinda a rough and tumble guy anyway so I doubt he'd ever be smooth but I think part of the reason it comes across as extra clumsy though is because QL is so non-responsive as soon as light kissing gets 'heavy.'

Re: pinning to the wall. Talk about untenable. She is like a foot shorter than he is. I think he'd have to rethink that strategy if they ever hooked up for real :P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Grrrrr. 'collee' is supposed to be 'college'

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Hee! You are making me so happy! I loved the way Ling said "I want to eat YOU" in that scene - it was so innocent and boyish and outright cute. My heart jumped a little for him. Aww! I am going to re-watch the whole scene. She is so scared and says "O, let's eat something" and he says "I want to eat YOU". As you say - it does bring up some memories :)

Re: pinning to the wall. Talk about untenable. She is like a foot shorter than he is. I think he'd have to rethink that strategy if they ever hooked up for real :P

Hee! Going at the tangent - I absolutely adore this combination - a tiny girl and a tall guy. Like in VM - when Veronica was hugging Logan after he realized "for sure" that his mother is dead he is just kneeling. And his head reaches Veronica's shoulders. Awwww!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

She is so scared and says "O, let's eat something" and he says "I want to eat YOU".

Heeeeee. That always cracks me up so much. I gotta feel sorry for the guy as he must take a LOT of cold showers, with QL the way she is :)

I absolutely adore this combination - a tiny girl and a tall guy

Oh, me too. It's such a thing of mine (and you are right, VM is really good about it!)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I gotta feel sorry for the guy as he must take a LOT of cold showers, with QL the way she is :)

This is one of my favourite situation as well, a bit of tension and angst is my viewing pleasure. :). It is always soooo interesting to watch how they will overcome it :)

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Bwa-ha-haaa! I'll be sure to wear a nice short skirt when I fly from now on, because it's just no fun being modest in blue jeans. *g*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I often think about all the pictures you get on the trains and plains , for example - how to open emergency exits and such. There must be some department making these pictures, thinking deeply about the content and the presentation. It makes me laugh. :)

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Tong Dao was so very creepy that he always freaked me out when he came on screen. TD goes after the weak spots in both Ling and QL and it's quite horrible to watch.

I don't think Ling is that smart emotionally, which explains the 'I will force QL to admit her abuse' by pinning her down. Doesn't excuse it, but does explain it. I think the more you see of the two of them the more damaged you see they are and it does explain some of the more puzzling things they do.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I think this is what I particular lik about "Mars" - all the tortures of damaged soul. I love Dostoyevsky :). Ok - MArs is not Dostoevsky , but in some things it is actually very much in his stream. :)

I also have this physical thing about TD - he is so weirdly looking . It is rare for me to feel this, but I can't stand his looks. Really creepy :)

[kiaforrest.livejournal.com]

I suspect the arm crossing, hands on thigh thing is less about modesty and more about not wobbling off the air filled ramp. Center of gravity will shift in that position, less likely to poke out the eye of the person behind you AND you can "hop to your feet" without loosing your balance. IF you should fall back, you will be in a better position to right yourself, or roll to your stomach and "draw up" without, again, flailing and flopping onto concrete below.

Of course, I could be wrong. But, I wear a dress all the time, if you want to go down the slide in a dress and remain modest, you "tuck it in" either under or between your knees. Not that I uh, do that, go down slides like a little kid or anything, you know, being all old and motherly ... ::grin::

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Aha! Here is the lady speaking form experience! The things you are saying are making a lot of sense - thank you so much! I was a little puzzled as well as amused but I think this is indeed pretty scientific way to explain arm-crossing. I don't know if you watched fabulous "Good Luck" , but these slides can be pretty dangerous !

[teh-haley.livejournal.com]

OMG the pic is so funny! actually in case of an airplane crash I'll SURELY think about my dresses to stay where they have to stay! *ryanair is fun*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Isn't it fun! I am "O my poor heart!!!!!!!!!!" and panicking kind of person and probably will forget about decency. But there is a truth in my mother's "You must always wear trousers when traveling" approach. :)

[teh-haley.livejournal.com]

wise mother! she's right! my one always says that "you have to be tidy and your hair must be decent when you travel", so I'd be self-confident wihile sinking or what else! *crazy mother*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

My mother is tough and very sensible - I am completely different :)

[arathesane.livejournal.com]

that picture is hilarious.

and yay! Dangermouse, I love that cartoon, I can't believe it has been 25 years! of course I am 30 and it was on the 80's...that makes logical sense, it just still kind of surprises me that it has been that long since it premiered.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I never watched it myself - it never made it into Russia in 80s and 90s. I am so much looking forward to it now! I am a cartoon person anyway. I love children's films too :)

[arathesane.livejournal.com]

it was shown on the Nickelodeon network in the 80's in the States, it was my favorite cartoon when I was a kid. I hope you enjoy it!

I love cartoons as well, though admittedly I gravitate to one geared for adults like Futurama and Home Movies, but I still like some for kid's as well. I love children's films that are well done.

I love that icon btw, I know I have it snagged in my wire folder. I recently uploaded several of your Wire icons in anticipation of the season four premiere, I am getting ridiculously excited over it. did you ever get to see the third season?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Futurama is absolutely fabulous! I like "Wallace and Gromit", "Finding Nemo", "Monsters Inc.". They are so well-made and lovely! Yep and I love "Beauty and the Beast" :). Sasha is a fan of Simpson's and Futurama and I love them too :)

I haven't managed to watch season 3 of "The Wire" yet - I got sidetracked into watching Japanese and Asian dramas which are deliciously addictive. I probably will start watching season 4 anyway and see if I can watch dome season 3 in between.

[arathesane.livejournal.com]

I adore Wallace and Gromit, love the Simpsons. I like Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc. but I miss hand-drawn animation...

Japanese and Asian dramas are quite addictive, when I have a fast connection again I will probably be downloading some.


are you spoiled for season 3 of The Wire? do you know anything about what happened?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything what happened in season 3, but I am never adverse to spoilers - I just could not find them :) I hope nothing happened to Stringer. :)

[arathesane.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you want to be spoiled or not or how much but the hbo website has extensive recaps of every wire episode, this should take you the first episode of S3 :http://www.hbo.com/thewire/episode/season3/episode26.shtml

they do tell you virtually everything that happened in each episode though, I don't know how much you what to be spoiled. and of course, I can talk at length on season 3;)

I know every season of The Wire can be watched on its own, but so many things happened in season 3 that are set up 4(from what I know about 4) that it might be jarring to watch season 4 without knowing a little about 3.

sorry about the rambling, this happens when I don't get much sleep...

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the link and info! I think I will try to watch season 3 first - I am half way through download :). You inspired me :)

[arathesane.livejournal.com]

fabulous! I hope you enjoy it. well "enjoy" may not exactly be the right word when talking about the wire, I mean it is entertaining but is also quite wrenching to watch, sometimes.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

"The Wire" never hides the truth. I enjoy it immensely, but with the different type of enjoyment from "Prison Break" - I feel that my time is spent well when I watch "The Wire" :)