When I woke up a few days ago, I found myself thinking about the three video series I’d want with me if stranded on a desert island (ignore the obvious problems with this survival scenario).
And you didn’t ask, but the scene in the book I would have with me in a desert island that makes me cry every single time — and it is not even in the movie — is Sam singing a song from the Shire up at the top of the tall tower of Cirith Ungol. He sings because all hope is lost, and he is comforting himself. And Frodo hears him. !!! My heart.
I do have a bedrock political belief that love is the only thing that can win over hate, over fear. I agree with Martin Luther King Jr., that hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. In the end, the stories are about the triumph of love over hate.
Andor is tougher to remember but you are so right about the themes . . . True love in the face of cruelty and fear. Helping each other. When Cassian and Bix say their final goodbye; Bix’ letter — woof! Maarva’s speech from the grave; but it was the way her friends were honoring her — especially Brasso, carrying her brick — that really slew me. Such great topics to talk about.
Kathie — wonderful post! I LOVE your analysis of Ted Lasso and Andor, both shows I love, and now I will have to rewatch them and watch Full Metal Alchemist too. I can’t remember the exact scenes that made me cry — another reason I have to watch them again. But they definitely have to do with characters making hard decisions with love — scenes between Ted and his wife Michelle come to mind — her crying is so moving it made me cry! Scenes between Keeley and Rebecca — when they are learning to trust each other as friends . . . Scenes between Keeley and Roy, and Roy and Jamie . . . Damn I guess a lot of scenes — and now I am remembering that the scene when all the players had to burn something that really meant something to them made me cry like a baby. Wow. I think because of the heartbreaking beauty and transcendence of true love, in all its forms. When Coach Beard revealed the full backstory of his relationship with Ted, that made me cry too.
All wonderful scenes Beth! Now that you mention those, and I can think of a bunch more, I wonder if there's ever been a series for which I've cried so much?
Ted Lasso fan here! I love the friendships in this series the most. Yes, they've attended to a great plot arc through each season, but I especially love watching Ted and the crew face personal challenges and overcome them by caring for each other. I'll check out the other two! Any recommendation from you will be right up my alley. (Tell hubby the "notes" section is my favorite thing ever)
You've nailed it, Windy. Watching characters learn to help each other and often just as importantly learn to ACCEPT help, is what I'm interested in exploring in my writing, as well as consuming in my books and shows. If it's in a sci-fi, dystopian, magical realism or fantasy world, all the better!
I appreciate the way you've presented these shared common elements, and I'll be thinking about this today. You're on to something here. Whenever I read a book that becomes beloved by a large and varied audience, especially readers who don't seem to share much on the surface, I'm always intrigued. What is it that hooks so many different kinds of people? I just finished The Correspondent, which falls squarely into that category. I'd bet many of those widely-loved stories share something in common with the elements you've eloquently pointed out.
And you didn’t ask, but the scene in the book I would have with me in a desert island that makes me cry every single time — and it is not even in the movie — is Sam singing a song from the Shire up at the top of the tall tower of Cirith Ungol. He sings because all hope is lost, and he is comforting himself. And Frodo hears him. !!! My heart.
Just reading your comment makes me smile and tear up, Beth! Sam, he's an unsung hero.
I do have a bedrock political belief that love is the only thing that can win over hate, over fear. I agree with Martin Luther King Jr., that hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. In the end, the stories are about the triumph of love over hate.
Andor is tougher to remember but you are so right about the themes . . . True love in the face of cruelty and fear. Helping each other. When Cassian and Bix say their final goodbye; Bix’ letter — woof! Maarva’s speech from the grave; but it was the way her friends were honoring her — especially Brasso, carrying her brick — that really slew me. Such great topics to talk about.
Kathie — wonderful post! I LOVE your analysis of Ted Lasso and Andor, both shows I love, and now I will have to rewatch them and watch Full Metal Alchemist too. I can’t remember the exact scenes that made me cry — another reason I have to watch them again. But they definitely have to do with characters making hard decisions with love — scenes between Ted and his wife Michelle come to mind — her crying is so moving it made me cry! Scenes between Keeley and Rebecca — when they are learning to trust each other as friends . . . Scenes between Keeley and Roy, and Roy and Jamie . . . Damn I guess a lot of scenes — and now I am remembering that the scene when all the players had to burn something that really meant something to them made me cry like a baby. Wow. I think because of the heartbreaking beauty and transcendence of true love, in all its forms. When Coach Beard revealed the full backstory of his relationship with Ted, that made me cry too.
All wonderful scenes Beth! Now that you mention those, and I can think of a bunch more, I wonder if there's ever been a series for which I've cried so much?
Ted Lasso fan here! I love the friendships in this series the most. Yes, they've attended to a great plot arc through each season, but I especially love watching Ted and the crew face personal challenges and overcome them by caring for each other. I'll check out the other two! Any recommendation from you will be right up my alley. (Tell hubby the "notes" section is my favorite thing ever)
You've nailed it, Windy. Watching characters learn to help each other and often just as importantly learn to ACCEPT help, is what I'm interested in exploring in my writing, as well as consuming in my books and shows. If it's in a sci-fi, dystopian, magical realism or fantasy world, all the better!
I appreciate the way you've presented these shared common elements, and I'll be thinking about this today. You're on to something here. Whenever I read a book that becomes beloved by a large and varied audience, especially readers who don't seem to share much on the surface, I'm always intrigued. What is it that hooks so many different kinds of people? I just finished The Correspondent, which falls squarely into that category. I'd bet many of those widely-loved stories share something in common with the elements you've eloquently pointed out.
Thanks Rebecca. I'm always looking for books, of course, that similarly move me, so I'll put The Correspondent on my list!