The Official Adam Pascal Love Thread, part two- Page 336

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:17pm

I'm an avid fanfic reader for EVERYTHING. And yes, I've heard of the Lupin/Sirius trend for years. YEARS.

Not sure if I buy it, though. XD

By the way, Sirius is definitely dead. He gave off that vibe straight from the beginning--that he'd be the poor, herioc schmuck that'd end up dying in a really fricking stupid way. I actually thought Voldemort would throw him over a cliff or something.

But I knew he'd be the one to die in the fifth one about one-quarter of the way through. Rowling had completely finished developing Sirius's character; there was no more to tell about him. That was because she was wrapping up his life.

As for 'phasing out the old characters' and developing the new cast...

I completely disagree. She has all these amazing characters that are only SLIGHTLY developed. She needs to develop the ones that are there more fully. Harry's angst and bitchfest in the fifth one was annoying, but acceptable, because teenagers CAN have bitchfests like that. I was terrible at his age. Hermione and Ron are getting decent development. So is Neville.

But Lupin? Wtf. She said he would return in the fifth one. Yeah, he did... to pop in and go "HEY I'M HERE LOOK AT ME" and fight a little and that was it. That pissed me off. I think he's more important than that. I mean, he actually KNEW Harry's father, what...?

Oh, and Snape's getting a lot of development, too. But that makes me happy. I like Snape.

Updated On: 7/10/05 at 04:17 PM

[insomniak]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:26pm

Lari, I would love more than anything to see the 'backround' characters (Hogwarts students) developed more because she's been using them for years and yet hardly using them at all, but if she does continue on her current route, which IS to add more people, then she needs to let some of the others go. Books with too many characters become chaotic messes because you're just trying to squeeze them all in and thus stretching them even thinner than before. I'd rather have twenty solid personalities than forty that are little more than names alone, even if it means waving good bye to some of my favorite backrounds. eta- and if you DON'T ever introduce new people over the course of seven books, things will become dreadfully dull.

I think she is holding off on Lupin's development- I see a big revelation coming our way concerning him. It'd twist things up nicely for people who thought we knew all about him.

Neville kind of bores me. Stock character. Clumsy, sweet boy with tragic past. Yawn. Make him join the dark side or become suddnely sexy or something. Why can't we talk about someone else, like Lavender or Dean or Seamus? They've got some potential. And how about Malfoy? The nemisis thing is old, let's see him grow some depth.

Snape's direction is pretty bleh too. 'But look! We can excuse all his nastiness because he was PICKED ON in school!' Character is picked on=character is victim and can't be blamed for anything. One plus one equals bland way out of exploring conflict. I hate that method. He's an adult and it's time to get over it. It's very bad to just blame a character's faults on one incident- so much more has happened to him in life and those things have influenced him too. I'd like to see some evidence of change due to other aspects before I can even consider buying that crap. The only good thing that came out of that plot point was that we found out about James' faults and Harry's reaction to them.

Funny how I can't write the essay I'm supposed to be working on, but this epic post comes to me with no trouble at all.

Updated On: 7/10/05 at 04:26 PM

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:37pm

Snape has the potential to be interesting, though. I'm kinda hoping there's more to him than the being teased as a kid thing.

However, that DOES have a profound affect on a character... So I don't see much of a problem with it.

I hope to hell she gives us a revelation for Lupin. I really like him.

And I think it'd be a huge shame if she started getting rid of the old ones. I really think that... now that it's the final two books... she needs to backtrack and develop the characters she has already created. It just REALLY makes me angry........

[insomniak]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:45pm

If there is nothing more to Snape than his bad childhood, he'll be one of the most sorely neglected characters in children's literature. As I said, more than one thing happens to every person and you can't pin the entire personality upon a single event, 'proufound affect' or not. It's a very narrow way of writing and it's taking the easy way out of looking into the character and deciding what else has kept him spiteful and what contrasting incidents might have imbued a sense of care- he isn't completely heartless, he did help Harry and co. in the Shrieking Shack and he's presumably assisted Dumbledore with other things. What prompted that?

Lari, too many characters=nonsensical. It just does. Read Catch-22 and see what I mean... it's got about a million 'lead' roles. The only way it escapes chaos is by chunking things up and telling the story out of order so we only have to remember a few people at a time. If it were chronological a la Harry, things would be too hard to follow and characters too hard to develope due to being spread out.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:50pm

Oh, I know too many characters = nonsensical. That's why I want her to STOP INTRODUCING MORE. Because I'm really HATING almost every new character she introduces--it means more neglect for the others.

Well, what prompted Snape to switch sides will supposedly become apparent in the upcoming book. We find out 'why Dumbledore trusts Snape.' And it'd better be good. I agree, there is definitely more to him than just one incident as a kid... don't get me wrong. But that would certainly help his bitterness along.

[insomniak]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:54pm

Help is the key word.

I like new characters; it would be too easily to fall prey to formula without shaking it up a bit. I can understand why she does some things, like cutting out Quidditch in book four- much as I love it, too much of the same becomes boring. It'd be like reading a form book. Insert Quidditch here.

Still want to learn more about Lavender. I really like her for no particular reason. And I wish Harry would go visit someone else's house, like Hermione's.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 6:29pm

But she DOES fall prey to a formula. There's at least one new character in every book (usually two, three, or more). There's always a new DADA teacher.

It's a bunch of crap that she can't/won't develop the characters she already has. I really don't think adding new characters makes the story any better or more interesting... it just junks it up more. That Luna chick in the fifth book bugged the hell out of me.

But that's my opinion.

And the fifth book was way too predictable. The "big revelation" in the end was something we all could have guessed. disappointing.

Updated On: 7/10/05 at 06:29 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 8:53pm

hee. Harry Potter. I really should re-read the other books, though. It's been so long.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 9:33pm

I used to reread, but now I'm too lazy to.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 9:35pm

I've only read each of them once.

[insomniak]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:00pm

I used to read them like nothing else, then I tapered off. I've probably been through HPs 1-4 about a hundred times each, though I haven't looked at any of them within the past year.

Lari- New characters are GOOD. Do you really think that she should keep the same bunch for SEVEN YEARS of a story? I agree about developing, though.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:22pm

I need to get money so I can actually BUY the new one.

[insomniak]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:25pm

Emcee, you always say that, but you always manage to go see Chitty again.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:27pm

I know, I know! I shouldn't be spending it, butbutbut... oh, you know.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:39pm

Okay, SOME new characters are good. I didn't say create characters in year one and stick with those same characters.

I mean, she should just FREAKING STOP NOW. XD JUST STOP. PLEASE. ROWLING. YOU HAVE TOO MANY CHARACTERS.

That is all. Heehee...

[bwayballerina]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:47pm

"Harry Potter, Oy" is correct. But I am looking forward to the new book, mainly because it'll give me something to do once my show is over...

And with that, I leave to go to bed. Hopefully the multitude of Minellis won't follow me.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:39pm

Early afternoon bump.

I love your animated icon, Emcee. It makes me happy (and proves you spend too much money on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang XD).

[Ellie3]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:25pm

I can't wait for the new Harry Potter book! But I can't seem to recall exactly what happened in The Order of the Phoenix. I loved it, and read it from start to finish at lightning pace, but alas...what happened again? I don't know why I can't remember the details - maybe it says more about my dimwittedness than JK Rowling's writing.

I want to read it again before the new one comes out on Saturday, but like Emcee, I am too lazy. Who wants to read when they can loll about on sun-loungers with their tongues hanging out like dogs? Not me!

[Allie]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:38pm

ELLIE?! Are you still here?? I miss you, VT!!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:40pm

Wait - Lari, you can SEE the animation on this avatar? I assumed it wouldn't appear, but figured I'd use it anyway.

[Allie]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:49pm

It's animated? That rocks. I can't see it, if that helps, Emcee. *shrugs*

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:51pm

I thought not. I'll IM you the animated version later. I think I'm going to change it back tonight, though. I miss the smirky grin.

[Allie]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:56pm

Woo, thanks, Em! Yeah, I've grown quite attached the smirky look, too.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:57pm

I can see the animation if you click to enlarge the avatar. It's very lovely dancing.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:57pm

He's back, Allie - pour vous!

And I did't know that, Lari. Cool, indeed.