Friday by the Numbers

[nightdog_barks]

(1) Finished reading Black Diamonds and really enjoyed it. An aristocratic family, hints of a changeling baby as an imposter heir, a broad social history of the coal industry in England, forbidden love ... it's an absolutely fascinating tale and very well-told by the author Catherine Bailey.

(2) Everything is turning green! The tomatoes and bok choy are growing, and the cayenne peppers have little white flowers opening up.

(3) The little coconut orchid I have in a kitchen window is blooming for the first time, and the flowers do indeed smell like coconut.

(4) Still watching Person of Interest and mostly enjoying it. Still watching Elementary but not enjoying it nearly as much as I used to. Watching season 2 of Broadchurch and ... finding it much more difficult to follow than season 1. :-P

(5)
Layla on our deck, two days ago. :-)

Comments

[felis]

Hello, Layla! (Two collars?)

Re: Person of Interest and Elementary - both of the things you said were true for both shows for me at some point, in different ways. But overall, I'd still turn it around. It's easier to simply ignore the missteps on Elementary because they don't weigh as heavily on the episodes. (Although I guess if you didn't like Kitty, that'd be different.) It still works like comfort food, while PoI mostly lost me somewhere along the way.

[nightdog_barks]

I didn't like Kitty at first, then I didn't mind her, and finally I grew to rather like her. I think my problem with Elementary is that I can't shake the feeling that Sherlock has been doing quite a bit of ... mansplaining to Joan lately.

Two collars for safety! Prompted by Mister Nightdog's managing to temporarily LOSE both her rabies tag and microchip tag while taking her for a walk. Oy.

[felis]

Ah, okay. I'm still not entirely caught up on Elementary, so I can't say much about the latest episodes. But ever since last season Joan's character development has been something I side-eyed on occasion. I was hoping that the tell instead of show disease that she got from Mycroft would disappear with him, but it hasn't entirely happened. Sounds like that might be related.

[nightdog_barks]

... Joan's character development has been something I side-eyed on occasion.

This, 100%. I don't want to spoil you, so I'll just say that I don't think Joan has made any real advances in terms of her character this season. I'm not entirely convinced the writers know what to do with her. I was so delighted and proud of her in that scene (in season 1, I believe) where she changed her blog profile to "Private Investigator" or "Police Consultant" or whatever, but that seems like a lifetime ago. :-(

[felis]

Oh, I don't have a problem with being spoiled these days, especially not when it comes to Elementary or PoI. And I agree that the writers don't really seem to know what to do with Joan, using her for plot convenience instead. Case in point: the out-of-nowhere decision to go work for Del. It didn't reach the levels of Joan/Mycroft, but it still didn't give us any insight into Joan, because there was no set-up, again. I really love(d) her journey of figuring out who she is and what she wants, and they are still kind of doing that, but it doesn't feel as organic or consistent anymore.
I guess that's something about the show that has changed for me - during the first season, as much as I was intrigued by this version of Sherlock and his connections and differences to others, it was really Joan's story that stood out for me and that I was there for. It was her show in a way, with a very consistent and equal POV. And now it isn't.

/That said, I guess I adjusted my expectations? Especially after last season. Just taking the episodes as they are, mostly as a series of moments.

[pwcorgigirl]

She is SO CUTE! I just love her adorable little round puppy feet and those bright, intelligent eyes. <3<3<3

[nightdog_barks]

I would call it more EVIL CUNNING in her eyes, but yes.

:D

[pwcorgigirl]

Hehee! The world is simply one big chew toy to her. Eventually she'll grow out of those Horrible Teen-age Puppy Months and be a Good Dog. :)

[taiga13]

She's a beauty. And getting so big!