RAFrenzy

In Search of the Story — SPOILERS

Spoilers for Spooks Series 2 and 3 as well as Series 9.

Spooks 9 has ended and left me dissatisfied with the completion of the series and certainly with the completion of Lucas North. A part of me wanted to blame RA. Even though I am fervently biased in Richard Armitage’s favor, I said I’m honest, and I am honest, so I had to honestly look at his performance to see if it passed muster. That is a hard admission, but I’ve been pretty much telling you how I feel, albeit mostly couched in jests, so here I am again being as candid as I am able but without much humor today. His performance was fine in the context of the show, but I have a hard time saying it was great or should garner him a BAFTA. The melodramatic tone of it was a little hard to bear. Then again, I’m not sure what the BAFTA committee judges a great performance.

What I do know is the character’s turning was awkward and supported by a plot so thin it could be used to strain tea. There just wasn’t enough of the story developed to make it plausible for this character, and it left an icky feeling which made me want to cast off Spooks. Almost needless to say I’ve been very disappointed in the writers and believe they are a great part of the reason that RA’s performance is not great. I say almost needless, because, well, I have a great need to say that.

These thoughts as well as a host of others, of which I won’t bore you with all of them, have made this overwhelmingly familiar. Yeah, I’ve been here before, and for the last two series I’ve been fighting off the feeling that I’ve been sort of reliving another story. In very late 2006 a friend of mine had the first few series of Spooks, and she encouraged me to watch them with the comment, “the guy who played Darcy is in this, and you’ll like it.” Well, I did like it until I got to the Series 2 finale, and then Tom Quinn was no more, and his send off was an awkward piece of writing that left me with so many questions and being disgusted at the plot so shakily contrived to bring him down. I was so disgusted I thought I wouldn’t watch anymore.

Last week I had a great rant ready with my disgust of these last couple of series and was about to post it, but I caught sight of a comment that this was the best send off since Tom Quinn. I’m not sure yet about “the best,” but it was definitely similar in its feel and quite a few particulars. In fact, here are the similarities to Tom’s demise from my memory:

A woman who’s a love interest is at the crux
A person from the past comes back to haunt him
A student from university is involved
Some co-workers not trusting him
Harry chastising the co-workers for not trusting him and then doing an about face and having them hunt him down
A threat occurs to his love interest
Love interest is somehow co-opted by authorities to try to catch him
He threatens Harry
He’s in such despair at what’s happened that he kills himself at the end — or does he?
Harry hangs in the balance

And I wonder how many similarities there may actually be. Since I haven’t watched those shows in a while, it might be interesting to watch again and find out. At the least, the ones I remember have me more convinced than ever that Lucas doesn’t die. For those of you familiar with early episodes of Spooks, you know why I’m saying this. If you’re a novice at this Spooks watching, and I would deem a novice someone who has only watched the last three series, then you need to know that the story is never over no matter how it looks. Of course there are differences in Tom’s and Lucas’ stories, but at this point it’s a little hard to believe the writers would lift that much from Tom’s story, whether consciously or subconsciously, and not have lifted the final resolution.

Mostly I simply forgot this is a tv show where a character’s story arc can never eclipse the show itself. The show is only about the experience of an episode, and enough of those strung together can make for a thrilling ride of a series, which hopefully, will become addictive and increase ratings. Isn’t the thrill of a roller coaster the ride itself and never the ending? It certainly seems to be about things rushing at you, pricking your senses, and when it’s over, you are anxious to go again or relieved it’s done.

For those who were interested in my rant, it was a good one. LOL! I just don’t have the heart to post it. This is about as negative as I’m willing to go. Maybe I’ll gut it up and post all that crap later. Hopefully, not.

In the meantime, how about something to lift your spirits:

Photo courtesy of mokulen on LJ.

November 17, 2010
Categories: Rumors, Spoilers, Spooks . Tags: candid shots, Harry Pearce, Lucas North, Richard Armitage, Series 9, Tom Quinn . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 31 Comments

Can’t Drink the Kool-Aid Yet — SPOILERS

I’m not kidding when I say spoilers. Please take me at my word.

My thoughts as of Wednesday, 11/03:

With respect to Lucas North’s story, the plot of Series 9 has been completely predictable. Almost nothing has been surprising, and unless I’m stupid, that’s the crux of this story — the unexpected unraveling of the web of who he is. Each week I work myself up for a thrilling show, but sadly, I’ve been underwhelmed by the revelations about Lucas. Not one cell in my body was shocked by Lucas/John being a sort of bad guy, and I’m surprised at anyone who was not expecting this. I keep waiting for something really interesting, and yet if it comes, it’s not going to be a big surprise because I’m expecting it! And why is that? Because of the blasted spoilers. We already knew he wasn’t going to be who we thought he was. If that knowledge hadn’t been telegraphed, and then repetitively tapped out for us like a drumbeat by the BBC, I might be jumping at every new revelation and barely able to wait for the finale. As it is, I’m just waiting to see if the ending stops short of being lame. Wow. Is that what Spooks has come to?

Perhaps significant spoilers have always been a big part of Spooks. I don’t know because I watched the first seven series without reading or seeing any promotional coverage. Oh, some things were predictable, but then I cared enough about the characters that it didn’t bother me. But this series has been a lumbering elephant to get to the point already made — Lucas isn’t who he says he is. Yeah, yeah, now what?

Then added to all of that is minutiae that seem designed to do nothing more than make this story look complex, and yet much as I try to make it so, the information looks like simple plot devices to create tension that the surprise of Lucas not being Lucas would have done without all this mess. I can almost hear the writers in a room saying, “Perhaps we can construct this to confuse them?” And yet they confused themselves I think since the character development is all over the place with the plot going in several different directions and yet it really means nothing? Which would be great if the revealed truth were more interesting than what the scattered pieces possibly portend. For instance the whole thing about Blake. Where did that go? What does that mean? Was that supposed to go somewhere? Or was it just something they came up with on the fly and didn’t know how to really pursue? My gut says it was the latter. Yet the possibilities about Blake were so fascinating that I actually broke down and read the biography by Peter Ackroyd. If I had nothing else to do, then that might be fine, but I had to work that into the other 430 things I do on a given day. No, I had no gun to my head to do that, but in hindsight I could have been doing something else, and maybe next time I will be. It just seems the pistol hung on the wall by the writers, or in this case the painting, is going to mean very little or nothing and the big reveal doesn’t mean much either. But I hope I’m wrong and there really is something which the writers take down and use to blow me away.

And my gut feelings about the love interest were right. It was unnecessary — at least so far. It looks like more of the minutiae, and it’s pretty much boring and sometimes downright irritating. Maya has zero personality. She’s almost atonal when she speaks and certainly not inspiring of Lucas (yeah, he’s going to remain Lucas in my mind) doing a 180. Frankly, if she had been blown to hell last episode, then we might see some justification for Lucas going off the deep end. As it is, the more I see of her, the less inspiring she’s becoming. Apart from Lucas looking at his laptop and that first kiss, this relationship is becoming more nothing as it progresses, and damn! we didn’t even get the kitchen table scene. That was a spoiler I could have lived with!

So far, my secret desire has become Lucas really being a bad guy. I mean yank the mask off of him to expose something really ugly at the end. If he’s bad, then chuck the half-hearted attempts at the conflicted officer for someone who really is evil through and through and just boggles our mind. Say something smacking of Keyser Söze? That might actually be interesting and might be easier to pull off for the writers than a conflicted character, and unless the writers are under a rock somewhere, the use of Bateman as the last name was not random. Manchurian Candidate did flit through my mind and apparently crossed the minds of some others in cyberworld, but maybe we should be thinking American Psycho instead. Oh, it’s not believable with the development of Lucas’ character in the other two series and even with some of the episodes in this series? When did that start mattering again?

Further thoughts as of Monday morning, 11/08:

Oh shit! I’ve seen the rooftop spoiler. Stumbled onto it, and yes, I watched it. I was mad at myself when I realized what I was watching. But what difference does it make now? It’s exactly what I thought was going to happen. I cringed. The caged animal routine? Is that all the writers had? This is so obvious it’s pitiful. Well, that and maybe Lucas will fall backwards off the roof or shoot himself, and we won’t know if he’s really dead until next season ’cause Harry’s not going anywhere, my friends. I hope this clip is misleading! But as I watched, I thought that these people at the BBC really don’t want any surprises do they? Haven’t had any so far. I so hope I’m wrong. If I’m not, then what the heck are these spoilers about? I really don’t get why they would sabotage their own show.

Question for the writers: if the character development has to be somewhat obliterated each series, can we at least have a thrilling plot? Maybe you need to shoot the people in the PR department.

Post script: I was not going to post this out of fear of offending some fans, but the spoiler pushed me over the edge. I’ve been so good about staying away from spoilers, but I watched that one, and I’m mad as hell at myself. It severely eroded my hopes of a great twist. I was so hoping to get on this ride or at least get doped up somehow to enjoy it.

I’m still a rabid Richard Armitage fan, but this shows sucks, my friends. Of course that’s my not so humble opinion. :D But give me a chance to redeem myself with a piece on why I don’t think this show worked for RA. LOL!

And I’m serious when I say I want to be wrong. I would be happy to fall over in a faint at a killer ending.

Note: need a new tag, “rant.”

Screencap is mine.

November 8, 2010
Categories: Spoilers, Spooks . Tags: damn spoilers, Harry Pearce, John Batement, Lucas North, Richard Armitage, screencaps, Series 9 . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 46 Comments

This is the Way to Sell Newspapers!

This is a public service announcement for some of you chocolate lovers out there. :D

I received a little treat in my inbox today, but alas I can’t claim it. In case any of you John Thornton fans and chocolate lovers in the UK missed this, I thought I would bring it to your attention. Here’s the deal:

“Free chocolates for every reader!” according to the Daily Mail:

We have teamed up with Thornton’s to offer all our readers a delicious chocolate treat from the nation’s favourite British chocolate company.
chocs

Buy the Daily Mail on Saturday November 6 to claim yours free!

Simply buy the Daily Mail on Saturday November 6 where you will find a Voucher printed. Then take the Voucher along to your nearest Thorntons store to redeem your free bag of Viennese Truffles.

Read the rest here.

Now if Thorntons Chocolate would just figure out they have a goldmine in Richard Armitage.

If I had time, I would make a mock up bag for them. Perhaps someone resourceful out there can do it!

November 5, 2010
Categories: Fandom, North and South . Tags: John Thornton, public service, Richard Armitage . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 1 Comment

I Haven’t Been On For the Ride

It’s occurred to me that my thrill factor has been pretty low with regard to Spooks Series 9. Lately my attention has been diverted by other things in my life. Maybe that’s an excuse for why I’m just not as into Series 9 as I was all the other series of Spooks. I’m not sure. But in fairness to Richard Armitage and to the other wonderful cast members of Spooks, I’m going to watch Episodes 1-7 again before next Monday’s finale. Then perhaps I will be infected with what many of you are infected with — enthralling anticipation of Episode 8. And I so want to be infected with that. I really do want to be on the ride.

In the meantime, I hope some of you can bear with me and my less than gushy response to Lucas North. I will say this, I’m not alone in what I’m thinking amongst the fandom. Several fans have told me privately they’re not that into Lucas and would rather see him in stills than animated. Wow. I’m not quite that down on him, but it made me feel less of a “traitor” to hear that. LOL!

But I have to agree with them that he looks mighty fine in stills, and I noticed that Servetus and I made some of the same screencaps. At the risk of merely objectifying Richard Armitage, I could not pass up the chance to capture that jawline. Phew!

I mean c’mon that should elicit a response from most women. Notice I didn’t say “all.” I realize there are a few women who would not find him attractive. They have to be in the minority, and they might be dead. LOL!

I wonder how many women would not be moved by this coming at them:

Screencaps are mine.

November 3, 2010
Categories: PHWOAR!, Spooks . Tags: jawline, Lucas North, Richard Armitage, screencaps, Series 9 . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 20 Comments

Have You Been Drafted?

[note: Also read “Where’s the Bunny” and “Are You A Fangirl?” to ensure you are adequately indoctrinated into this fine madness]

November 1, 2010

It’s interesting to talk to people around the RA universe about the Armitage Army. Over the last couple of years I’ve found that many I talk to do not consider themselves part of this phenomenon even if they did at the beginning of it, and newcomers really don’t consider themselves part of it. This determination is mostly made on lack of participation with a particular website. I can see where some might think that’s the criterion for membership since it was at the beginning. But it’s become apparent after three years of observing this fandom, that the term Armitage Army long ago transcended association with a particular website.

All of that begs the question: who exactly is the Armitage Army? To answer that, it’s important to understand how it came into existence. It’s my understanding that the characterization began with a Yahoo group who was dubbed that by a participant’s husband, and the press picked up on it. The press has more or less become the arbiter of its meaning since then. I did suggest as “the real me” (as if I’m not real here LOL!) that perhaps some of the principals in the fandom could do something to take control of this image, but that was met with resistance. Fair enough. The media’s take on the Army is where the definition remains, and as I said in my last post, I suspect publicists have something to do with it as well.

So how does someone join the Army? From reading countless blogs and articles on Richard Armitage or watching countless interviews with him over several years, it would seem the press characterizes any female fan who manifests herself in some way to Richard Armitage through letters, standing on the red carpet or sending gifts (appropriate or otherwise) as a member of the Army. But membership was initially and is most importantly a female fan who makes her comments known in cyberworld. If you’re a male fan, then you get a pass on being drafted.

Let me make this plain. If you have made comments somewhere in cyberworld (yes, this includes comment sections of individual blogs) or God forbid you run a site or blog that focuses on Richard Armitage even a little bit in a complimentary way, you are probably a de facto member of the Armitage Army. Therein lies the rub for some of you who want to run like hell away from this. My advice: get over the rub and let’s have some fun with this. Two (or more LOL!, oh heck, all of us) can play this game, and I think Richard Armitage has a great sense of humor and is probably laughing himself silly at some of the stuff that’s happened. He DID NOT have to mention the pants from the fan in Australia. C’mon, he’s not stupid. He did it because it’s funny, and it makes good copy! I for one intend to enjoy the joke even if some consider me part of the butt.

I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said:

Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Well, I don’t feel inferior and neither should any of you. This is supposed to be fun, and I for one am having a blast. By the way, if you don’t have a blog, you cannot imagine how freeing it is to sit here and type this post. If anyone is tempted to jump in with their own, do it! As long as you don’t come with the attitude of hell hath no fury like a blogger scorned, you should do fine.

Man, I knew all those years of dealing with bs would come in handy. I’m seriously thinking of adding the tag “bs.”

I started to call this piece “Have You Been Shanghaied?” but my pc gene reared its ugly head. It just wasn’t strong enough to keep me from posting the picture below. This is what I think of when I think of the negative comments about the Armitage Army — Bob Geldof in ‘The Wall.’

Oh, there’s another Eleanor Roosevelt quote that comes to mind, but I’m not going to say it. If you want it, send me an e-mail.

November 1, 2010
Categories: Fandom . Tags: Armitage Army, crazy people, Richard Armitage . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 24 Comments

What’s So Fearsome?

So Richard Armitage has a fearsome army. But we’re a bunch of pussycats, aren’t we?

Whatever has happened, somewhere along the way this Army has begun to be characterized as something powerful. What else am I to make of such descriptions as “slightly terrifying” or “advancing angrily?” Wow. The Army sounds like a threat. Fear not my fellow troops, we are not a threat. We just make damn good copy. :D

The only trick is for us not to succumb to this kind of talk and go into a full-scale defense. Frankly, if my piddly words about Richard Armitage and the words on a few other blogs and forums or some comments here or there have that much power, then damn! we need to start putting up ads and making some MONEY! Yeah, I like the sound of that. ;-)

Bark off the tree: my jaded self has a hard time believing Richard is really that bothered by all of us, and I sense the work of a publicist. Yep, there’s some manipulation going on, and that screams publicist. If anything, we have been a great means of helping Richard get some press. After a while it’s a little hard to believe he’s trying to marginalize the Army when so many articles have “us” mentioned and sometimes featured.

I will reiterate that this has bored me to tears in the past. When I first started reading articles about RA, I wanted to read about him and not a bunch of women like me. I could think of nothing more BORING. No offense to any of you. But as things go on, I think this is funny as hell, and I’m running with it. Just as Richard has. Smart boy.

And if my gut is wrong about all of this, well, that husband who hung the moniker on us is getting a wonderful revenge! I would so love to know about that guy and if he really exists. Truly, I am curious about him and have been since I heard he was the unsuspecting genius who coined the term.

Note to unsuspecting genius:

Dude,

Too bad you couldn’t make any money on this, or maybe you did. LOL!

Signed,
One of Richard’s crazy fans

November 1, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Spooks . Tags: Armitage Army, crazy people, Lucas North, results of smoking crack, Richard Armitage . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 12 Comments

Lucas Doesn’t Die!

Okay, that’s my gut talking. Sometimes it gets away from me and blurts things out. I just couldn’t resist messing with all of you even at the risk of being labeled the uh, girl who cried wolf. :D

But I really do think Lucas North won’t die even if he might still be toast, i.e., Richard Armitage will probably no longer be a regular on Spooks (MI-5). My gut says he will go off to prison or defect to another country or something that will allow him to come back as a guest star OR possibly be in the movie version of Spooks that RA’s talked about a few times. Yep, mention of that one too many times has tipped the scale in favor of Lucas surviving this series if not being a regular.

What say you?

October 31, 2010
Categories: Rumors, Spooks . Tags: character deaths, gut instincts, Lucas North, Richard Armitage, Series 9 . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 19 Comments

Tangent: All About Viggo

Okay, okay, I get it! I’ve just gotten a slew of e-mails from people wanting Viggo links. So here is a link with his art, writing and music, and another with links to links to his CDs. Enjoy!

And of course I must have a picture:

I’m sure this isn’t enough, but it will get you started. LOL!

By the way, ‘Eastern Promises’ was good, but it’s not for the fainthearted.

I hope some of you listened to that interview in the last post. It’s great, and sadly, RA can probably commiserate with him about some of the fans.

October 31, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Tangents, The Hobbit . Tags: Aragorn, Peter Jackson, Richard Armitage, The Hobbit, Thorin Oakenshield, Viggo Mortensen . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 2 Comments

The Next Day

In my last post I mentioned my gut is rarely wrong, and iz4blue wanted to know what I was talking about. Below is a post I was planning to make the day after RA’s birthday but didn’t because I really am trying to stay out of the guy’s head, and I just never got around to finishing it to my satisfaction. Then I was reading Peter Jackson’s “defense” of RA being cast, and it came to me that Peter Jackson and I may have the same “gut.” :D

My previous, unpublished post:

RA’s Diary

Entry — August 23, 2010:

40 is less than a year away, and I got a late start. That’s what everyone keeps saying, and I’m tired of hearing it, but I understand. Thankfully 40 is practically the new 20. But in this profession 30 is sometimes the new 40. I get it but it’s a distraction.

End of Entry

It seems we’re continually told that actors in their 30s just coming to our attention are late bloomers. If it is not always said expressly, the media’s attention on actors in their 20s seems to send a strong message. I was thinking about this and glanced up at my blog’s header picture, which has always reminded me of another actor whom I really like, and he was not a spring chicken when he first made it big. He was 43.

The whole issue of the late bloomer is fascinating. No one sets out to be a late bloomer but rather circumstances conspire against them. However circumstances may frustrate their desires, oftentimes they are so intent on something else, that circumstances be damned and sometimes conventions flouted if need be. It is this sometimes maniacal focus on something else which usually makes them so beautiful. For Viggo Mortensen it’s about artistic expression. He reminds me so much of RA, or I guess out of respect for Viggo’s age and success, I should say RA reminds me of Viggo.

Viggo makes an excellent point about artistic expression. “It’s a way of living,” and it should be honest like a child. For me it’s the continual succumbing to the need for honest expression that’s so splendid to watch, and yes, everyone has the potential to be an artist. Getting at the truth is the key, and that requires a fearlessness that always gets my respect. This demand for honesty is certainly what makes RA’s performances so compelling and sometimes startling. The ring of truth is always sublime.

I love that he is also so startlingly honest when interviewed:

‘I don’t put it about. Never have. I’m a late developer in everything. I have a fast mind and fast metabolism, and I’m an intense worker, but in terms of life development I’m way behind.’

You know, I wonder if being a late starter isn’t the key to Armitage’s vast appeal. By the time we first clapped eyes on him as John Thornton, he was already a proper grown man, in sharp contrast to all those snub-nosed pretty boys who pass for movie stars these days.

Read the rest here.

Yep, Allison, I’ll take the man who has found his voice over the boys who have yet to say anything interesting, and I thought this when I was 20.

If anyone reading this is an RA fan and has not read Allison’s article, get over there quickly and do so. It’s a real treat and is definitely one of my favorite articles on him. I also just happen to love many other articles of Allison’s even if she’s not politically correct for some of you. LOL!

Until someone comes along who has the ability to bring Richard Armitage to the attention of the rest of the world, I’m content for RA to focus on what he will.

Enter Peter Jackson, who apparently recognizes the kindred spirit of an artist. So it’s not just about eye candy. Although I give Peter Jackson credit for understanding how to get a movie made. It requires energy and money. You don’t make such big budget pictures unless you understand how to generate both. In an Entertainment Weekly interview he “defends” his selection of Richard Armitage. Oh brother. I say that affectionately! Anyone who thinks that’s actually a defense needs to think again. RA is almost a virtual unknown outside the UK. Peter has to do something to get his name out and in a way that creates buzz. How better to do it than to respond to doubts from LOTR fans about him being cast. Pardon me if my jaded self isn’t buying the “controversy.” But hey, whatever it takes, Peter. Whatever it takes! I’m behind you.

And I assume RA is taking notes for his future big budget project. :D

note: I only have two problems with my gut: 1) I don’t heed it enough; 2) when it’s wrong, it’s very wrong. LOL!

edit: In case it’s not clear, the RA Diary entry is a fake. Yes, my friend, it’s about as fake as it gets. That’s why I have a tag called “Fake Diary.” But I put this edit here for the action fans who may need it spelled out. ;-)

October 31, 2010
Categories: Interviews, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: action fans, Aragorn, candid video, Fake Diary, gut instincts, Me A Sex God?, Peter Jackson, Richard Armitage, The Hobbit, Thorin Oakenshield, Viggo Mortensen . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 23 Comments

They Won’t Know What Hit ‘em

The recent news that Richard Armitage is cast in ‘The Hobbit’ has some speculating about his abilities, and for some he comes up wanting. As a former skeptic of Mr. Armitage, I don’t care what they think. Once they actually watch him in action, all that negative talk will be a thing of the past. Oh, I’m sure there will be a few naysayers. Aren’t there always? But those aside, most will be pleased with his performance. The guy can pull off just about anything. I have yet to see him in drag, but somehow I feel sure he could pull that off too. LOL!

Now where was I?

Oh, yeah, RA was cast in a big budget movie!!! Someone slap me ’cause I think I’m dreaming. But really it makes sense. He’s just that good. Am I biased? Damned right, but it’s my gut that dictates it, and rarely is it wrong. Sounds arrogant I know, but it’s true. You can ask SO, but then I’m keeping SO to myself, and he doesn’t get to read this blog and interact with any of you here. I just get to talk about him. Along with talking about Richard Armitage.

For anyone new who has landed here out of curiosity about Richard’s work, you can see several different clips on my “Who’s Richard Armitage?” page or at RichardArmitageNet.Com, aka the mother lode, or if you’re in a hurry, you can watch a showreel of his work: