The Murderbot, queried, may say
It’s watching TV all the way.
A blown Airlock Three
Would merely be
Its dozenth cliffhanger today.
Author: oneparticularletter
Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters: #8, Silco and Jinx
Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters: #8, Silco and Jinx, Arcane
I count these two together because they are meaningless without their relationship. And I don’t mean that as a bad thing. Their two arcs are hopelessly intertwined and the show never makes the individuals feel less or shallower because of it. Political zealot and crime lord Silco adopts the desolate child who would become the terrorist Jinx, and he loves her, not in spite of her unstable and violent behavior, but because of it. Because she won’t hold back, won’t blink in the moment. Because she is the action sans morality that his passionate political thought requires. His daughter is the nation of Zaun, defiant and imperishable, risen to fame and uncompromising influence. Jinx will take care of it. And she holds on to him when she has lost everything else in the world. And, terribly, awfully, they love each other.
Silco is the consummate villain, backstabbing (literally), controlling, articulate and brutal. His history with Vander, his cultivation of Jinx, his condescending sway over Marcus, his hold over a steady supply of henchmen: his relationships are incredible. He could be standing alone with a cigar and dreams of blood-steeped domination and he’d be utterly compelling.
Jinx is a bundle of trauma and coruscating brilliance. No, really, it explodes. Her need to be useful, battered into her by the problems of growing up on the street, just drive her to greater and greater feats of engineering. And, thanks to her father, she always has a direction to fire in.
Arcane is a storytelling powerhouse and I just happen to like Silco&Jinx best.
Don’t cry. Their plot is perfect.
Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters: #9, Greg Serrano
Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters: #9, Greg Serrano, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
A misanthropic nice guy who thinks he’s so much smarter than everyone else? I’m not saying I’m exactly that, but I have a feeling, based on this feeling of kinship, that I’m exactly that. He’s witty, sarcastic, knowledgeable in the ways of word games, an alcoholic, and capable of turning his world around through force of will and the support of his (super nice to him in most ways) dad. What’ll It Be is, in context, one of the most emotional songs on the show. That song was not about learning from his mistakes, because in this matter he made no mistakes and he’s still losing. Just being in West Covina is losing. I hate that he went away, but his character’s journey had to take him out of town so he could try the school of his dreams and figure life out without a girl. I love that he came back (in one of the more controversial re-casts I’ve seen), because he was always just a little ahead of Rebecca on the long journey toward functional adulthood, and that support is good for her.
Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters: #10, Edér Teylecg
Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters: #10 Edér Teylecg, Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire
What do I not love about this character’s design? (Apart from his bumpkin act in Deadfire.) Looks good, sounds great, and his wry observations about human nature and the madness of crowds are both sad and highly relatable. He’s funny and brave; also he’s kind to animals and never loses his temper. I just want to hug him. Then put him between me and the bad guy.
The Awakening
In daily or Sunday-best gown
Our heroine roves about town.
Her self-affirmation
Defies emulation
(Live for yourself, girl. Don’t drown.)
The Great Gatsby
Gatsby, old sport, though he schemed,
Was lacking in blueblood esteem.
He dazzled a dame,
But never could claim
The greenlit American dream.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Attributed to the 12th-century Persian astronomer-poet Omar Khayyam and translated in five editions across thirty years by scholar Edward Fitzgerald, the rambling Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a great read to this day…
There once was a poet who said
That God’s work goes over his head.
So why not relax
With a drink and some snacks?
For fate makes no sense, then you’re dead.
Welcome
Hello, everyone! I am One Particular Letter, and I have opinions.
That’s it. That’s the blog.
Expect to see: media criticism, stories, parodies, and things I’ve learned about my first love, the English language.
A little bit about me: I’m a consumer from New England, an engineer by training, a lifelong reader. I like books, plants, robots, dinosaurs, and space. A book about growing plants to snare robot dinosaurs from space would probably make me die of happiness.
I’ll be in touch.