klarabella wrote...
I can't laugh but I'm not sure I can pity anyone. I want to punch ALL OF THEM.
Alistair for obvious reasons (but I still love him, he's an extremely versatile character). Somehow I think a quick death in battle would be "good" for him because I don't see how this much damage could be healed. Also Brand and Fiona seem determined to add more damage instead of helping him, so why bother dragging him along at all?
Alistair is along because, as far as Brand knows, he's in as much danger as she is. She could have left him at the Vigil, but either he would have had to have been locked up (not happening) or he would have escaped and probably wandered into death.
So far, between being brought up tp her apartment and leaving the Vigil, Alistair has been far more dependable than not. Besides what what he said when Fiona was questioning him, his instability has been mostly internal. Brand has noticed the moodiness (withdrawal) and, of course, his tendency towards self-loathing (something that was present even before the Landsmeet) but she's focusing, especially subconciously, on the good she sees in him because that's what she wants to see; it's familiar and it lessens her guilt. So when she leaves a conversation with him, if there was any positive element at all, she takes that with her. If their interaction falls apart, she blames herself (such as when she takes him to see Botolf and after the discussion on the pier).
Fiona for being a coward. While she was busy confiding in Brand and reassuring her (no, I don't hate you, I did worse things than you and my son is not really likeable anyway), her son was outside, stealing whiskey, drinking and considering suicide.
Fiona would be the first to admit she's being a coward in this situation. She feels responsible for him leaving in the first place. If he hadn't had such a baseless existence, he would have had a fallback that was't "leave the country and get wasted". As for Fiona absolving Brand, when Brand apoligizes for turning him into a bitter man, Fiona doesn't dispute that at all.
And Fiona doesn't think that Alistair is unlikeable (nor does Brand), she just doesn't know him and her first impression of him was horrible. It has softened considerably since, as they had a friendly conversation in Amaranthine, but it's still hard for her to come to terms with.
And how could she have possibly known he'd be out drunk and suicidal? The last few times she spoke with/saw him, he was perfectly engaged. At the inn, he and Brand were having a civil conversation that resulted in him carrying Bryce up to bed. They were all more relaxed than they had been in ages (and sense of false comfort, really, which was intentional).
Brand for her incredibly bad timing and intuition. Seriously girl, how did you manage to lead anyone like this?
Her timing and intuition with Alistair is off, because she wants things to be back to normal so badly. It's absolutely intentional- she's better off than him because she's had people around her this whole time keeping her from falling apart, but she f*cked up her life because he left and she's admitted it but she's still blaming herself. Basically Alistair is like radar-jamming equipment for her. She thinks she is seeing everything, but she's only seeing what she wants to see and what she knows she can manage.
Anders for acting like this in front of Bryce, way to teach him how to use magic. Good plan not to tell Brand! *rolleyes*
This very thing will be addressed.
Ok, I was wrong. I do pity Sigrun and Nathaniel somehow, for being stuck with a bunch of idiots. Also Bryce for having to live a life like this, being stuck with a weird mother and her immature boyfriend.
Who I really like is Nathaniel. I wonder what happened to Velanna to make him hate the Commander, but it's refreshing to see someone picking up on the flaws that brand is supposed to have.
Nate's issues are because he and Teagan were best friends and he blames Brand for Teagan's death (and suspects that she and Anders were having an affair the entire time).
Hmpf. Undertow is really draining. I wish, I could find anything to squee like all the Anders fangirls but somehow I've grown to dislike Anders, so the romance part doesn't do anything for me. Anders is in the same place Zevran is in most of the other stories. His main job is to hero-worship the main character and antagonize Alistair by being more likeable and awesome.*sigh*
Seeing how Anders has just flat-out told her that he thinks she's not being responsible, I don't see how that's hero-worship. He's questioned her on several things and from the very first chapter. And I don't think anything he's done to Alistair has been painted as being particularly awesome. He was first angry at him for hurting Brand, and then he was angry at him for being an ass. Since Alistair helped him at the Vigil, he's treated him pretty much the same way he treats anyone he doesn't know that well (unless Alistair starts something, and that is usually handled with a look or exchange).
I acknowledge all of your criticisms and agree with you on some of them, but I think there are deeper explanations for several things, some of which have been merely hinted at and won't be completely explored until later. And, of course, there will be lots of people who aren't satisfied with what I come up with. I honestly hope that the would let me know, as you have, becuse responding to this has made me think very critically about my story, which is always a good thing.
Modifié par SurelyForth, 30 juillet 2010 - 04:21 .
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