no-one knows where i came from

[muladhara]

I believe the Constantine TV show has been cancelled? I can't say I'm altogether surprised. Don't get me wrong, I love Hellblazer. YOU KNOW I DO*. I just...I've been incredibly iffy about the TV show, and the fact that the lead couldn't keep his accent together probably didn't help (for starters).

(Hey, I totally reserve proper judgement for maybe the day I watch it and like it? But I don't think I will. I've had twenty years to make very specific judgements about what I think re: John Constantine and his world. I realise that makes me sound very picky, but I've expounded thoughts about this before, so I'm not going to go there again).

*If you didn't: HI MY NAME IS JAE I LOVE HELLBLAZER. IT IS THE BEST COMIC EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT**.

**Actually, no you shouldn't, not if you're not into comics, not if you don't like gore, and to be honest, I can think of several things off the top of my head in it that might be triggering. So. Uh. Sorry.

~

I actually did a bit more writing this week! I've knocked out maybe only 1000 words, but that's better than nothing. And part of it was a scene I've been avoiding, so yay? AND one of the characters has a totally lame sense of humour, but that's OK.

The only thing is that I feel like I'm doing my usual thing where I concentrate more on the characters and what they're saying than making sure the reader knows what location they're in, or what they're doing (although since I became more aware of it, I'm trying to make sure I say things that aren't just speech tags or whatever). Also everyone has to GOT to stop shrugging so fucking much. Though when I feel this has got to first draft stage, and I'm going through it with a fine tooth comb and changing as many of those shrugs as possible.

(I know they know nothing about certain things, but honestly I've got to find other ways for them to show it).

Comments

[dingsi]

I'm not surprised about the cancellation either. I'm... halfheartedly sad about it. Mainly because, in a few episodes that were dark and character-driven - for instance, focusing on John's friends and how they related to him and were used by him while often hoping to get something out of him in return, in that messy, conflicted, co-dependent way some friendships are -, I actually saw potential. There were genuinely fun moments too. I also thought that there were some very small signs that the producers and writers were listening to the fans - like, they tried really hard to get around the TV ban on smoking.
It just wasn't enough. And there was too much bad outweighing the good. Offensive and/or plain boring storylines. Silly humour. Lackluster treatment of female characters. The showrunners excitedly hinting at slash fodder, which turned out to be John drunkenly pecking his buddy on the cheek before sending him off with a charm. Last but not least, the unwillingness to make John the antihero he is: there was a lot of talk about it some way or other, but not much to back it up.

I think that the Hellblazer series would require one to take a lot of risk and really plunge into some unpleasant images or situations, and in 99% of all cases, that means biting off more than you can chew and/or actively struggling with a network environment that tries to PG-13 the shit out of your series. And it's sad, because in some respects, I felt this was the closest we had ever gotten to having Constantine on our screens.

[muladhara]

Yeah, what I saw in the trailer seemed way more accurate to the comics than the film that shall not be named. And I appreciate that.

(Shame there was such a lot of tripe in it, though).

Yeah, the comic is horrible in places, and I don't actually know why I'd recommend it to anyone to read (well, I do, I find John's story really bloody interesting, and I love him as a character).

Maybe there's hope for a future, better version? I mean think: this was better than Constantine. So perhaps in another few years there might be a better one? Probably overoptimistic, but I guess you never know?

[halley]

Yo, I'm totally gonna read Hellblazer now. I've been looking for something a little bit darker.

[muladhara]

OH BOY IS THIS DARK. YOU'RE GONNA NEED A TORCH.

I hope you know what you're letting yourself in for.

And I hope you enjoy it! Tiny fandom needs more fans! Also there's only 300 issues, which isn't that much in the long run (also I can help you out with that, if you need it).

[halley]

Yeah, 300 is not bad at all :">

Help me out how?

[muladhara]

Nope, not at all.

I might be able to provide you with copies, is what I mean.

[halley]

That'd be awesome. I will get back to you on this when I have more money to work with lol :"D

[muladhara]

Noooo, it's OK, you don't need to give me money! I will PM you :)