Spontaneous Musings

1. The Kate Daniels series by Illona Andrews - is the only urban or fantasy series that I've read to date that delves into Hindu and Indian mythology. I'm impressed.
It's also the only urban fantasy series with various supporting and lead non-white or person of color characters who are not stereotypically written. Kim Harrison had one character of color, but not a significant player. Butcher has none.

Currently reading Magic Strikes and the villains in this story are rakashasas - they are warriors created by Brahma to protect the sacred waters. Meanwhile, we have a supporting character who is the grandson of an Aseir and Loki - Norse mythology. The frustrated mythologist in me is in heaven. Some people are frustrated historians. I'm a frustrated mythologist.
Give me mythology over history any day - it's more interesting, there's dragons for one thing.

It also has witty dialogue. A tough and smart heroine. Who is trying not to fall in love with a shapeshifter who turns into a lion.

2. Once Upon a Time - found this episode difficult to focus on, mainly due to the fact that I'm embroiled in the Kate Daniels series - to the point that I can't put it done and am ripping through a book every two or three days. It would be every day - if I had more time to read than I do.

Personally, I found the last three-four episodes more interesting. I admit, the OZ story thread isn't enthralling me as much as it should. It's too...been there done that. The Neverland thread was more creative.

That said...there were some good tidbits worth mentioning.



* Turns out Walsh was actually the Wizard of OZ, who was turned into a monkey by Zelena. He didn't start out that way. Hmm...Emma does have a type, doesn't she?

- Neal Cassidy - thief and con-artist
- Captain Hook - pirate
- Walsh - con-man
-Sheriff Grahaem - the Queen's huntsman and boy-toy (Okay maybe he doesn't quite work)

I couldn't feel that sorry for the Wizard, since he did sort of steer Zelena in that general direction. As did Rumplestilskin for that matter. Although, both did attempt to warn her. Still - karma is a bitch, or in this case a witch.

* I still think Rumplestilskin is her Dad. Although it may have been the Scarecrow.
Makes more sense if it was Rumple.

Did like Rumple's line: "You love me. Apparently I have that effect on women."

* Apparently...the spell is a sort of reboot, not a curse. Or a means of re-writing history. In which case, assuming the writers decide to not let her be stopped, it's more than possible Neal/Baelfire could return from the dead. Regina may never exist (can't see that happening, the fans would revolt - she's a major fan favorite.). And Snow White would never have met Prince Charming - or maybe they do meet, but stay in the Enchanted Forest with Emma being raised there and meeting Baelfire in another way. Possibilities abound.

At any rate - this habit of rebooting the tv show every 6 months is going to get old soon. You can only pull that rabbit out of the hat so many times before your audience starts to yawn and flip channels.

They've done it four times now. Enuf already. Find another way to make the story interesting. This show needs to focus more on character and less on plot pyrotechnics.

* Everyone was wrong. It wasn't Snow's or Emma's heart, it was Regina. That surprised me.

So whose the brains? Or does she already have them?

* Zelena's back story is basically, Mom abandoned her to a tornado, which whisked her off to OZ. Ma and Pa Kent found her in the woods and she stopped a tree from falling on them. This scared Pa, didn't phase Ma at all - who insisted against
Pa's better judgement that they raise Zelena in the Emerald City. Zelena was a powerful kid - she could wield magic as a baby. Remember Rumple had to teach both Cora and Regina how to do it. So, I'm think her father was magical.

Anyhow - she was abused by her father. So she hunts for a purpose and someone to love her. Finds the Wizard, who opportunistically shows her who her mother was and that her mother abandoned her, because she couldn't make her royalty. And devoted herself to Regina instead. Green with Envy (literally), Zelena blinks off to the Enchanted Forest. The Wizard gives her silver slippers which make it possible for her to travel between realms with no effort. In return for bringing him something from Rumplestilskin. She finds Rumple, who teaches her, but prefers Regina - because he realizes Regina is the better candidate for casting the curse. (ie. Regina will sacrifice her father, while Zelena would sacrifice Rumple - which would sort of be counterproductive.) Turns out - Zelena could have brought him to Baelfire without casting the curse - with the silver slippers. Once again, Rumple outmaneuvers himself.

Turns out I was right - all roads do lead to Rumple. He's the reason for Zelena's desire for a reboot.

Zelena goes back to OZ, turns the Wizard into a monkey and begins her fiendish plan to cast a spell that will change the past, thus breaking the rules of magic.

Whether it happens or not, has a lot to do with whether the writers feel the need for another reboot. If it does happen, my guess is it won't happen the way Zelena wants it to.

* Henry finds out more about Baelfire from Bae's step-father Hook. Nice bonding moment between Hook and Henry. Hook attempts to make inroads with Emma...but isn't quite there yet. He's trying to convince her not to take Henry back to Manhattan and leave them all after everything is wrapped up.

Henry is the skeptic here - having issues with the magic. And difficulty believing any of it is real.



Watching GoT tomorrow. I need to go to bed.