FKSPOILR
Logfile LOG9605 Part 15
May 9, 1996
File: "FKSPOILR LOG9605" Part 15
TOPICS:
SPOILERS: Francesca
SPOILERS: Francesca/YKYB...
SPOILER: Francesca, HF, &'Bye
SPOILER: Francesca, HF (6)
Francesca--Vampire Scholars?
Francesca
No SPOLIER just Hello there
SPOILER: Francesca
spoilers: francesca & french & canada
Francesca <SPOILER>
SPOILER: Francesca
Ashes to Ashes -- no spoiler
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 04:01:26 -0800
From: Dann Lunsford <dann@g.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILERS: Francesca
In <199605090450.VAA16425@n.......>, on 05/09/96 at 12:47 AM,
Ray Heuer <RayHeuer@a.......> said:
>>Vachon is a different case.
> One other difference. Nearly everyone thinks of Nick as "Nick" or
>"Nicholas". Vachon is one of the few who calls him "Knight". Although
>why someone who thinks in Spanish would translate something from French
>to English eludes me.
I think it's a sign of respect; after all, Nick *is* a tad older.
The name that M. de Brabant is using in this day is "Knight", and he was
introduced to Vachon that way, so that's the way Vachon thinks of him.
No translation necessary.
--
***********************************************************************
* Dann Lunsford * The only thing necessary for the triunph of evil *
* dann@g....... * is that men of good will do nothing. -- Cicero *
***********************************************************************
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 11:52:18 -0400
From: Nancy Fralic <fralic@m.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILERS: Francesca/YKYB...
I was watching a subtitled Spanish film by Almodovar titled _Matador_
yesterday:
1. Did a YKYB... when two characters were discussing Angel (Antonio
Banderas as a beautiful but psychologically screwed up youth) and
immediately thought of LaCroix -
-Why is that mushroom poisonous?
-Because it is its nature.
-Ours is the same. Evil thrives in us.
-And goodness.
-But goodness is a bore.
2. Did another YKYB... as I recognized that the motive for the
murders in the film and Francesca's motivation were the same (sans
vampirism and blood draining), lust and fear at the moment of death in
the victim.
(Warning - Please be aware if this film were rated it would _definitely_
be an X, mostly for the sexual content of the murders which are
contrasted to the relationship of matador and bull.)
3. Hmmm - as GWD is able to, Banderas in this film shows he is superior in
using his expression and eyes to impart shifting emotions and thoughts
without words. Now the two of them starring in a film...
Nancy Fralic
fralic@m.......
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 10:55:10 -0700
From: AKR <r@w.......>
Subject: SPOILER: Francesca, HF, &'Bye
(ObRealLife: The traffic here seems to have died down a bit, no doubt in
anticipation of AtA, so I'm going to take this opportunity to unsub. I'm
losing email access tomorrow, and I don't know how long or short my absence
will be, but I will come back when I can. I have loved the discussions we
have here, and you all have my admiration and affection. If I may say it
again, be like Dianne's sig slogan while I am gone: powerful, beautiful, and
without regret.)
On Tue, 7 May 1996, Cynthia Hoffman wrote:
> Thing one: Randi was smarter that this guy, really she was.
Point given. :) Of course, HL's Randi had an entire season over which to
develop (though they used her up as they used up the cop plot device) and I
meant to imply that this Gordon Fuller character could have served an
interesting function over time, if given time.
> that doesn't make it less available. Hell, possession isn't exactly
> accepted in western society any longer either, is it?
Point again. But what I meant to emphasize was the complete domination of
Frank by Francesca in the final scenes. "Frank does not decide. I decide."
If it was one soul, with more memories, wouldn't Frank still have been...
well, I don't know, really. In either case, *he* was the one with a right to
his psyche and his body, not Francesca. Frank is the person that soul is
now, not Francesca. Is that a fair distinction to draw?
> Let's talk about this in relation to HF, sure. <snip> I mean, they
> know each other in a way more intimate than any of us can imagine, and
> they *accept* each other pretty much unconditionally too.
That acceptance is something that occurred to me in relation to Janette and
Robert. The "psychic feedback" during vampiric feeding revealed in Francesca
really ups the ante, doesn't it? We've all assumed that sharing blood is the
ultimate metaphor for intimacy, and many of us have assumed a psychic
dimension to that intimacy long before Francesca. But now that it is canon,
we can consider what it meant to Janette to have that kind of acceptance from
Robert, who still walked in the light, who did not kill, who had a son.
In addition, this solidifies the air-order claim for second season, with CL
as the finale. With what we learned from Francesca, it should be nearly
indisputable that sharing Nick's blood in CL was what finally drove Janette
out of Toronto (yeah, I know, I wouldn't need to make this claim if she
hadn't left, but she did...). I believe that she had previously accepted his
belief in and need for his quest, and throughout second season, I believe
they were moving closer together, and she, in her run-ins with Nick's
mortals, as it were, was becoming ever more aware of his convictions, and
what underlies them. The direct access to those convictions, and that
roiling guilt, in CL, which she had been coming to identify with on her own,
was finally just too much.
Besides which, if I am right in asserting that she was slowly coming to that
view on her own, one more encounter with Nick and he would have known it --
recognized it as her feeling, not his. She was accustomed, yet, to her
immortality, and couldn't risk the help Nick was certain to offer.
Finally, and off-topic because I may not be here for LK: despite everything,
I think I still want to see Nick and Nat walk off into the sunrise together.
They would be *happy.* :)
**** Amy, Lady of the Knight (AKR) r@w....... ****
*Knightie * Light Cousin * Fleur-Booster * (Im)Mortal Beloved*
"I can't do a whole flashback at once. I'm not that strong."
-- Conan O'Brian
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 15:06:36 -0500
From: Margie Hammet <treeleaf@i.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILER: Francesca, HF
At 10:55 AM 5/9/96 -0700, Amy wrote:
>With what we learned from Francesca, it should be nearly indisputable that
>sharing Nick's blood in CL was what finally drove Janette out of Toronto.
>.... she, in her run-ins with Nick's mortals, was becoming ever more aware
>of his convictions, and what underlies them. The direct access to those
convictions ... was finally just too much.
But the memories and the awareness of the other person lasts only two hours
at the most. So the direct access to Nick's convictions wouldn't have
anything to do with it. It's conceivable that there might be some slight
residue left over from the experience, but that hasn't been said. I think
Janette *was* influenced by Nick, but just in the normal, non-vampire
way that Amy also talked about.
Cynthia Hoffman wrote:
>> Let's talk about this in relation to HF, sure. <snip> I mean, ...
>> they *accept* each other pretty much unconditionally too.
Amy wrote:
>That acceptance is something that occurred to me in relation to Janette and
>Robert. ...
>we can consider what it meant to Janette to have that kind of acceptance from
>Robert, who still walked in the light, who did not kill, who had a son.
I do think there's acceptance in the experience also, but again, I think
it only lasts for the two hours. Someone asked why Nick was so surprised
when he tasted Faubert's blood; didn't he already know what she did from
drinking her blood? I think he knew while he drank her blood, and for
a couple of hours afterwards. During that time, he was obviously perfectly
happy with her. By the morning, that awareness about Francesca was gone.
I think perhaps the only thing that was left was the awareness of what a
wonderful experience it had been. As for the business with the wrist, I
couldn't tell if he was biting her wrist or just kissing it and sucking on
it without taking blood.
In HF, for Janette to have Robert's acceptance was probably very important
to her, but again, I think it was just normal, human acceptance.
There was something else that Janette said about the experience with Robert,
though. She said, "His blood warmed my heart." Perhaps his blood warmed
her heart because she could feel his love for her in the blood. Later,
she only remembered the warm feeling, but not what had caused it.
She also said, "Each time we made love, he let me feed, and each time I
needed less and less." At the time, I thought that had something to do
with the blood "warming her heart" and somehow making her less of a vampire.
Now I think it may have been that she was getting to know Robert more
and more intimately, anyway, in a perfectly normal, human way. The more
she knew him, the less need she had for the blood.
This, of course, still leaves open the question of why Janette finally
became mortal. I think that may have to do with what Nick said when he
said that taking the blood is the way vampires feel life. If Janette were
able to "feel life" on her own, whatever that means, perhaps that's why she
finally became mortal.
Getting back to the intimacy idea, I think people have mentioned that Nick
and Natalie have never really opened up to each other. Perhaps they only
know enough about each other to be tantalized by the idea of knowing so
much more.
I've been thinking a lot about this two-hour perfect intimacy thing. It's
very beautiful, very romantic, and very safe. For two hours, you get perfect
intimacy and perfect acceptance. Afterwards, the other person fogets
everything they learned about you. Whatta deal! With regular human
relationships, what stands in the way of intimacy is our fears of what the
other person will think about us. What the vampires and their mortal lovers
have isn't real, or if it's real, it's only temporary. Real intimacy happens
when two people can share their thoughts, feelings, and memories with each
other and when they can understand and accept each other. They do it
through normal conversation and through shared experiences. It may not be
as perfect
as vampire love, but it lasts a lot longer than two hours at a time, and for
that reason, I expect it's a whole lot more satisfying.
Margie (treeleaf@i.......)
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 16:29:10 EDT
From: Tanya Smith <bodybldr@v.......>
Subject: Francesca--Vampire Scholars?
Are there any vampire scholars out there? Could you tell me if this
idea of "putting on the knowledge" of the victim has occured before
in any other vamprire series?
Reason behind this question: I borrowed this concept from W.B. Yeats'
poem "Leda and the Swan"where at the ending he goes "did she put on
knowledge of his power before he let her drop" or something to that
nature. Anyways, I incorporated it into my fiction and I was wondering
if it had been done before.
Thanks
Tanya
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 16:03:23 -0500
From: Sandra Gray <TMP_HARKINS@d.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILER: Francesca, HF
Margie writes:
>For two hours, you get perfect intimacy and perfect acceptance.
>Afterwards, the other person fogets everything they learned about you.
Being that vampires are intelligent, I think it's possible that a
vampire would remember a few things gotten from the blood. We've seen
how they "flashback" to memories of things they've done long ago.
The total experience probably wouldn't be remembered (at least I would
hope it wouldn't--can you imagine having the lives of thousands of
people you've murdered lurking in your brain? Talk about schizophrenic!),
but surely some elements of it would be.
And in the case of two vampires like Nick and Janette in a relationship,
I think it's possible that you would remember more of the other person
with each subsequent blood sharing. After 97 years together, Nick and
Janette probably knew each other very well both by blood sharing and
by just talking and being together.
But I can't see a mortal who is being drained feeling a perfect
intimacy and perfect acceptance with his killer. Frank on the tape
said it was lust and fear. So the mortal knows he's dying and must
react against that. And I still don't see why a *mortal* would get
any sort of feedback from the vampire since the mortal attacked
wouldn't be drinking vampire blood.
But by the way Nick talked, the "knowing every secret" etc., it
sounds like the vampire gets a lot from the mortal instantaneously
(when you consider we've seen it only takes *seconds* to kill a
mortal). I still think GH has introduced something that wasn't
necessary to the show universe. Some blood-sharing intimacy between
two vampires I can understand, but not this complete understanding
in seconds when attacking a mortal.
--Sandra Gray, forever Knightie
--tmp_harkins@d.......
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 19:57:52 -0400
From: Gehirn Karies <SoulDebris@a.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILER: Francesca, HF
Sandra:
> I still think GH has introduced something that wasn't
>necessary to the show universe. Some blood-sharing intimacy between
>two vampires I can understand, but not this complete understanding
>in seconds when attacking a mortal.
This attitude curdles my blood. First off, it's about time somebody got into
it about what the Fk vampires experience when they feed, or share blood. It
is not only very interesting in my opinion, but the scene where Nick explains
it to Nat offers a little more insight into Nicks eternal struggles. And
have we forgotten this is vampire fiction? More power to 'em.
I also don't think this (Meaning the instant transfer of life force) is
something new to FK. In Bad Blood LaCroix says of Jack the Ripper, "Since I
tasted his putrid flesh ... felt his pulse. Since his life force flooded my
brain." I took that to mean that LaCroix got a pretty good understanding of
what made Jack tick. Likes, dislikes, best artery to go for in a hurry,
whatever. It's just a bit more explicit. Plus, JP or somebody could have
added that bit, or suggested it to Gillian Horvath. At the chat on Monday
she said the reincarnation idea was suggested to her by JP or somebody. It
may not fit ep by ep with perfect continuity, but it mixes things up a bit,
and that's cool. Anyway, it gives us a little something more to play with in
our (collective) twisted fan fiction producing minds.
They way I figure it, under normal feeding circumstances, it's a combination
of what they get from the blood and telepathic connection. If you tune it
out, or if LaCroix whammied your victim before you did the deed, (Resistance
Fighter) then you might not get the same kick. .
This may be nit picking, and I don't normally pick nits, but the @#$% bloody
show has been cancelled and has two eps left so I'm a little on edge.... I
think "attacking a mortal" is a bit off base. Most of the discussion around
the instant transfer of knowledge, skill or character (life force) was
centered around "every drop of blood." Nick did not allude to killing, just
taking, and taking. And Faubert was history before Nick sipped on his
Ribena. The rush of intamacy comes with the blood, not the attack. The
donor does not have to be unwilling or killed.
Brutal Cousin Gehirn Karies
"Reality is a cozy lie. Practice random acts of distortion and cruelty." ~me
++ Real Life has been *cancelled*! For more info on how to save it,++
++ check out http://members.aol.com/FuzNatLamb/SaveRealLife.htm++
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 20:12:01 -0400
From: Carrie Krumtum <CKrumtum@g.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILER: Francesca, HF
> In Bad Blood LaCroix says of Jack the Ripper, "Since I
>tasted his putrid flesh ... felt his pulse. Since his life force flooded
> my brain." I took that to mean that LaCroix got a pretty good
>understanding of what made Jack tick.
Another example is the interaction between Erica and Nick in Last Act, they
both got impressions of each other and discussed the implications. I wondered
if there is a point of awareness beyond which thoughts can be veiled. Can a
vampire exert control over what memories or feelings will be shared with
another vampire during blood transfers? Multiple efforts have been made in
fanfic in regards to Human/Vampire blood transfers. Most notable is a story
about how Nick got his memory back after NiQ by drinking Nat's blood (Sorry,
I can't remember the title or author).
I believe there is a lot of room in FK cannon to explore this kind of issue.
The next two eps should hold more evidence and there is always fanfic.
:)=
Carrie, Slovenly Knightie
CKrumtum@g.......
It's hard to judge someone when you're blinded by your love for them.
--Mother Teresa
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 19:36:25 -0500
From: Sandra Gray <TMP_HARKINS@d.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILER: Francesca, HF
Brutal Cousin Gehirn Karies writes:
>Since his life force flooded my brain." I took it to mean that LaCroix
>got a pretty good understanding of what made Jack tick.
My impression was that he got some sense of Jack's madness or evil.
But there's a far cry from a "sense" of something and Nick's speech
about getting memories, lives, "knowing every secret". Also, I think
Jack's madness and evil acted on LC like Hitler did, only after LC bit
him. Both men probably had a special "something" that would maybe have
been discernible to a vampire whether he bit them or not.
>I think "attacking a mortal" is a bit off base...Nick did not allude
>to killing, just taking, and taking. The rush of intimacy comes with
>the blood, not the attack. The donor does not have to be unwilling
>or killed.
No, a donor would not have to be unwilling or killed. But the *facts*
are that we did not have any indication that vampires could "sip"
until second season's "Can't Run, Can't Hide" and even then I think
another interpretation of how blood could be taken from children without
biting or killing them is possible. It wasn't until "Crazy Love", the
*last* episode of second season that we knew for sure that a vampire
could "sip" from a victim and leave them alive. And considering what
happened to Amalia, I don't think it's something that Nick engaged in
very often. For most of the series, vampires *have* engaged primarily
in "attacking a mortal" and said mortals *have* died as a result.
The ones that haven't (with the exception of Amalia) were brought over.
Alyssa didn't apparently know what Nick was until he tried to bring
her across. If you can think of *any* people who were left alive
after an attack (and don't say O'Neill, because he only survived due
to intervention by mortals and a priest), then tell me.
I wasn't happy with the sipping business originally because I thought
it weakened the show's premise (still does). The writer did a good
job with the idea though, presenting it as leading to such an
overwhelming desire to *possess* that it still seemed to me that it
would require a big effort on the part of the vampire to resist
coming back again and again until the person was dead.
GH's idea can lead one to assume that the vampire gets so caught up
in the memories, emotions, and "soul" of his victim that he doesn't
stop until the person is dead. But, as I said before, victims are
killed in seconds and I find it hard to believe that a vampire would
get much sense of a person in so short a period of time. And I
*do* still not see how the *mortal* attacked should get *anything*
from the vampire in the process.
GH's idea of a scent in the blood in Fever was interesting. And maybe
if Nick's speech had been worded so that it didn't seem like the
vampire got an all encompassing view of the person attacked, then
maybe I could accept the idea better. But it just seems to me to be
dragging in a Ricean type of mind reading that, imo, hasn't been
indicated before between vampires and mortals (vampires and vampires
have been shown doing something like this however, but even then, it
never seemed to me to be complete understanding, but snatches of
stuff). It's dropping a bombshell like what was done with sipping
and with Nick killing people as a vampire after he was supposed to
have given it up. It was done because someone thought it would be a
neat thing to do, not because it had that much to do with the
characters or the universe.
I suppose I'll eventually figure out some way to reconcile this idea
in my mind, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
--Sandra Gray, forever Knightie
--tmp_harkins@d.......
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 20:43:43 -0400
From: Pat Witham <catspaw@m.......>
Subject: Francesca
I don't really have any new insights to add to the discussion of Francesca, but
I HAVE to tell somebody. I think I've been waiting since the beginning of the
series to hear Nick say what he did to Natalie about what it's like to take
someone's blood, especially in that tone of voice. Pat W.
Knightie and D.O.B.
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 19:35:13 -0700
From: Antonia Spadafina <asginger@i.......>
Subject: No SPOLIER just Hello there
Hey there everyone!!
I'm a newbie to the lists, but have been with FK since the Rick
Springfield movie on CBS. I've been lurking for a while - and after a
best two out of three with my modem and service provider, have decided
to let you all know I'm here.
I'm a New Yorker (born and bred), but please don't hold that against me
;>
BTW, I have all the FK episodes except 4. Can anyone, out of the
goodness of their heart (and postage, of course) help me out? Or, I'd
be willing to trade. I just can't wait 'til 1997 for Sci-Fi to start
showing season's 1 & 2 (tho' I guess that survey I filled out on the
Dominion really worked. If you haven't filled one out, _PLEASE_ do so)
to see the ones I missed.
If you can help, pls email me privately and maybe we can exchange or
something.
Be seeing you around,
Antonia
asginger@i.......
P.S. Those quoted lines from LaCroix namely:
"One short sleep past, we wake eternally,And death shall be no more;
death, thou shalt die." were written by John Donne. I thought they
were most fitting.
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 19:40:45 -0700
From: Antonia Spadafina <asginger@i.......>
Subject: SPOILER: Francesca
Hi there--
Just a short note to illustrate what Natalie may have been feeling
toward Nick during his oh-so-sensuous discourse about the joys of
feeding (have we exhausted this topic? hope not - sorry if...)
"Upon this hint I spake: She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I
have used." William Shakespeare.
This quote can also explain Tracy's apparent comfort with Vachon. (And
has anyone else noticed Tracy's slide into idiocy - just like the late,
lamented Schanke?)
Bye for now,
Antonia (Ginger to my friends)
"In my beginning is my end"
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 23:53:23 -0300
From: "l.d. steele" <aa300@f.......>
Subject: spoilers: francesca & french & canada
I went away last week and came back to a <lot> of digests! (whew!)
Having waded my way through the Jane Doe Hitler/Nick/evil/LC discussions
and all of the Francesca talk, I find that...
It's almost all been said. :(
:)
I liked the episode. The story was interesting, and NB's direction was
good. The only point I found myself going OOPS! was in the final fight
scene were it reminded me a bit of an old bionic show. You know, it all
happens in fast/slow motion?
Usually the special effects are a bit better, but I guess that was one of
the things cut (congrats to NB for getting it under budget though!).
Yes. Nick looked tired. That was probably due to GWD working overtime to
get everything done.
Tracy looked and acted nice(ly). (I'm a good cop! <g>) Seriously. I like the
tomboy look. It's suits her character better than the clothing disasters
they had on her earlier this season.
LC/Nat/Vachon looked good. What else can I say? It's been said, and
debated to death.
And yes, I did melt a little bit in the morgue scene. :)
Hmmm... What can I actually contribute? The french/Chevalier debate!
> From: Roxanne Piccen <CHIRMP@a.......>
> Alright, alright. So you caught me thinking like the
> culturally deficient, English as first and only language,
> American that I am. Didn't consider that most Canadians can
> speak French when I wrote that.
Actually... No. It's highly area dependent. Growing up in Southern
Ontario Tracy wouldn't have been exposed to French a lot unless she lived
in Ottawa which has a large percentage of bilingual government workers.
In Quebec the majority of people are French speakers, and may or may not
speak fluent English. Most speak at least some English.
In Manitoba, and New Brunswick there's a significant number of French
speakers. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
Most provinces have small pocket communities (as in the US) where Immigrants
gathered and different languages are still spoken (e.g. Ukrainian).
English is dominant in 9/10 provinces and 2/2 territories, however. :)
> From: Paula Hurley <dkknight@a.......>
> Umm, well, being Canadian myself, it is not necessary for everyday citizens
> to know French. Although from grades 1 - 9 it is required that you take a
> french course in school, and we now have french immersion where all your
> courses are in French.
Growing up in Canada, one can take French Immersion and get at least some
contact with a second language. Unfortunately this might be for just a
few years, and trust me it <disappears>.
I took French Immersion for quite a while. Want to know what I thought
"Chevalier" meant?
Hmmm....
cheval = horse
chevalier = horseman?
I <might> or <might not> have realized the Chevalier meant Knight. You
don't normally go around translating people's names. :)
Whew! I guess that was my Tracy defense for the season! <g>
Dawn
h36a@u....... or aa300@f.......
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 23:14:18 -0400
From: Tammy Stephanie Davis <tsd@u.......>
Subject: Francesca <SPOILER>
My two cents worth on "Francesca".
Very good episode and a very thought-provoking exploration into
reincarnation, sex, and sexual identity.
Considering the mild disappointment last week of the cop-focused
story Jane Doe, it was very reassuring to have vampires in the
forefront once again. And there isn't a better writer for this
than Gillian Horvath.
Good Things
The direction: Excellent job by Mr. Nigel Bennett. This was an
adult story with adult themes that in a less skilled, less
sensitive director may have come off as silly or campy. But from
the opening teaser (certainly one of the most intriguing I've
seen on Forever Knight) to the not-so-surprising tag, the
direction was clear and insightful without being intrusive. A
very good directorial debut.
Francesca: Playing a vampire convincingly - especially a female
one, I believe - is not as easy as it may seem. It's one of
those "either you've 'got it' or you don't" scenarios. Maria
Syrgiannis who plays Francesca "got it". Her vampire is one
spooky individual who actually reeks with deadly seductiveness.
Even Lacroix may be hard pressed to match this woman's level of
passion. Perhaps that's why he apparently choose not to include
her in his "family". As Lacroix once said "there is such a thing
as too much of a good thing."
Frank: Another one who "got it" in the possession scenario.
Maurice Dean Wint did an excellent job of portraying
Frank's confusion and gradual transformation into Francesca.
This was important not only for the sake of the plot, but also in
adding more depth to the character of Francesca since Frank was,
in effect, becoming Francesca. (Makes me wonder if Mr. Wint
watched Ms. Syrgiannis performance as part of his preparation for
the part.)
The Psychiatrist: Finally a female doctor that isn't crazy,
stupid, or dead. Nor did she look (or dress) like the runner-up
in a beauty pageant. And I enjoyed the no-nonsense way she threw
the reporter out of her office. In other words, she looked and
acted like the rarest of the rare in television: a real-life
woman.
Nick and Nat: What's this? Communication? I can hardly believe
it! Nick is actually telling Nat what it like to drink blood -
and with that wonderful seductive voice of his <Sigh). But what
was most interesting was Nat's reaction: enthralled, fascinated,
aroused, intrigue plus a host of other unknown/unknowable
emotions all played out in her eyes and face.
It is both reassuring and sad that this is apparently the first
time Nick has told Nat about vampires getting and feeling "life"
from a mortal's blood; reassuring because its definitely
something that Nat needs to know from both a professional and
personal standpoint; and sad because took so long for Nick to
tell her this. It does raise a serious question of just how
realistic both of them have been in researching a cure these
passed few years.
Bad Things
The tag: I'm a bit hesitant about this. It's not that I found
it "bad", just a bit contrived. Maybe Tracy's past life as a
victim of a vampire is a setup for her finally figuring out that
Nick is a vampire. We'll see.
A Slaughterhouse?: I'm still not quite sure where Nick found
Frank/Francesca and the psychiatrist or how he knew they were
there. Was it a slaughterhouse or Frank's basement? Inquiring
minds want to know.
Miscellaneous
Interesting that Francesca's rather unique dining habits weren't
reveled to Nick during sex. Maybe it was that because of the
abundance of information that was exchanged that that little fact
slipped by him.
It's oddly refreshing to see a vampire like Francesca relish the
bloodlust so. The instant attraction she and Nick felt for each
other definitely leads a great deal of validity to the saying
"opposites attract."
This was an excellent "seductive male voice" episode as Ger,
Nigel, and Maurice all showed off their wonderful voices to great
effect.
But that's just my two cents worth.
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 22:21:13 -0500
From: Margie Hammet <treeleaf@i.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILER: Francesca, HF
At 04:03 PM 5/9/96 -0500, Sandra Gray wrote:
>Margie writes:
>>Afterwards, the other person forgets everything they learned about you.
>Being that vampires are intelligent, I think it's possible that a
>vampire would remember a few things gotten from the blood. ...
>remember more of the other person with each subsequent blood sharing.
I'm basing my opinion on what Gillian said in the chat, although I guess
a writer saying something doesn't necessarily make it canon, if it wasn't
stated explicitly in the show. And this being Forever Knight, there is
very little that *is* stated explicitly. Still, there are a couple of
reasons why I think it's true. First, when Francesca said Nick would be
able to play like Faubert, Nick said the ability would last maybe two
hours, no more. I don't see any reason to think the memories would remain
if the abilities disappear. Second, in A Fate Worse Than Death, when
Janette let Nick know that she'd been sold into a brothel, Nick reacted
as if he were finding out about that for the first time. At least, that's
the way it looked to me.
>But I can't see a mortal who is being drained feeling a perfect
>intimacy and perfect acceptance with his killer. Frank on the tape
>said it was lust and fear. So the mortal knows he's dying and must
>react against that.
Frank was talking about what it was for Francesca. Francesca killed her
victims with a knife, not by biting. The victim isn't getting the same
kind of contact as when a vampire is biting. In the case of Francesca's
victims, I doubt that they did get the feelings of intimacy, or any feedback
from the vampire at all.
In the case of biting, again I am basing my opinion on what Gillian
said at the chat. I asked if the humans who are being bitten by the vampire
also experience the memory thing. Gillian said yes. (See disclaimer above
about what writer's say.) Again though, there are a couple of reasons why
I think it's true. In Dead of Night, Alyssa is smiling while Nick drinks
her blood. Granted, he wasn't trying to kill her, but the smile indicates
she was getting something she liked very much from the experience. In Crazy
Love, Nick's victim says that she is willing to die in his arms.
The context of the scene in Francesca where Nick is talking to Nat about what
it's like for vampires to drink blood is another reason why I think Nick is
talking about mortals, not just vampires. The scene begins with Natalie
saying, "You knew who he was just from one sip of his blood?" So when Nick
begins talking about drinking the blood, he is talking about mortals, not just
vampires with vampires.
I also think it may be significant that Nick said, "To let them know yours."
It may be that the vampire has the choice to either allow the victim to
know his memories and dreams, or not to. When the vampire is killing for
revenge, I doubt that he or she is interested in giving the victim a
pleasant experience. Also, in Fallen Idol, since the women were being
kept in a dungeon, I assume that they weren't willing victims.
BTW, I don't think the possibility that the victim may like the experience
makes doing it any less evil. Whether the victim likes the experience or
not, the victim still winds up dead. In the case of the woman in Crazy
Love, she had already been bitten when she says she'd be willing to die
in Nick's arms. She is as addicted to being bitten as Nick is to biting
her.
>And I still don't see why a *mortal* would get any sort of feedback from
>the vampire since the mortal attacked wouldn't be drinking vampire blood.
We can come up with any physical explanation here that we want to. Perhaps
it's the hollow fang theory. Maybe the vampire injects his blood into the
victim through his fangs. Or maybe taking some of the vampire's blood isn't
necessary. Maybe some other mechanism is used. I don't worry much about
physical explanations in FK. After all, I can't see how anything designed
like a human being can fly. But if someone wants to come up with a
physical explanation, I'm sure it can be done.
>I still think GH has introduced something that wasn't
>necessary to the show universe.
It may not be necessary, but I do like the idea, because I like the questions
it raises about intimacy. (Um, well, I also like it 'cause I liked that
scene between Nick and Nat.)
Margie (treeleaf@i.......)
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 23:37:06 -0400
From: Apache <lf@c.......>
Subject: Re: SPOILER: Francesca
On Thu, 9 May 1996, Antonia Spadafina wrote:
> "Upon this hint I spake: She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
> And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I
> have used." William Shakespeare.
Othello speaking.
>
> This quote can also explain Tracy's apparent comfort with Vachon.
Interesting, since Othello is Ben Bass' dream Shakespeare role.
Ap.
>
> "In my beginning is my end"
T.S. Eliot, right?
=========================================================================
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 23:24:04 -0500
From: Sarah Welsh <welshkin@d.......>
Subject: Ashes to Ashes -- no spoiler
I just saw the ad for AtA. It looks so good! I can't wait until
Saturday night. It really is somewhat annoying that all these great
episodes are coming out now, after the claptrap of Amateur Night and the
entire first six episodes of this season. What a waste of our limited
episodes! This is looking to be FK like we always knew it could be and
saw only too rarely....
Sarah
welshkin@d.......
=========================================================================
Knight graphics and parchment background created by Melissa Snell and may be found at http://historymedren.about.com/
