Media, Hegemony, Values

It's interesting to think about the effect that media has on the way we look at life, and the somewhat unusual assumptions that we often make without realising it.

I've been thinking recently about some things that have been bothering me - not too seriously, but they are interesting to note. It began with Roswell and continued into Battlestar Galactica. See, in Roswell, there were no gay characters. Now, I'm not really a fan of using gay/"ethnic" or other types just for the sake of political correctness - but I do find it interesting that over the course of three seasons not a single identifiable gay character showed up.

Battlestar Galactica is supposed to be this gritty, realistic setting - and we have been treated to a lot of information about the "Reality" of the setting. Yet there are remarkably no gay characters. It seems that only heterosexuals are capable of being involved in resistance against invading machines, and flying military vehicles.

This is despite statistics showing this is not true.

Right now I'm seeing Juice TV playing over a flat screen television in the cyber cafe - it's interesting how most videos show heterosexual couples hooking up. One music video was about cyber-dating showing all manner of people typing on computers and then meeting in real life. Not a single lesbian or gay couple was in the video.

This is a classic case of self-fulfilling prophecy. By not showing homosexuality as a part of human nature and culture, we continue to vilify it simply by enforcing heterosexual images. Just because it isn't showing homosexuals being burned on crosses doesn't make it any less discriminating.

The reality is that homosexuality is a part of nature, regardless of being an anomaly or some deliberate process to keep population contained - it has been with humanity since the very beginning. Most other social species in nature have also shown to have homosexual members, and some biologists are arguing that there may actually be a purpose to a percentage of the population portraying such a trait.

Myself? I'm not sure if I totally buy into such theories - I do believe that it is an instinct of some sort that those who experience it must choose whether to follow or not. After all, Humans have the luxury of free will - the ability to choose to follow instinct or ignore it. (Although I may someday argue my theory that Free Will may potentially be viral.)

Regardless, it is not as if I'm arguing that everyone in the world becomes gay, or that we should be showing exclusively gay couples making out on every show and piece of media.

Rather, I'm interested in discussing how heterosexuals take it for granted how such imagery of just heterosexual couples is sending a negative message to those who are not. Just as much as shows that only show caucasian people can send negative messages to non-caucasians.

The difficulty is that it isn't just a case of adding two women or two guys into a video - it's about how nobody just did it.

This is how a hegemony works. The idea is so ingrained that nobody even questions or thinks about it. It just is, and that's the message we send.

When homosexual or lesbian couples do appear on media it is often as either comical queens, sex-crazed queers or exotic lesbians who are open to three-ways with straight men.

I remember a United Colors of Benetton ad I once saw that best represented what I'm looking for. It showed a number of people just smiling and wearing UCB clothing - but upon looking at the image you realised that the people were paired up. Two male/female couples, one female/female and one male/male. It wasn't in your face, it was quite subtle.

That particular campaign also had ads where the couples were kissing, hugging - and being natural about it.

Abercrombie and Fitch are another classic example - with their sexually ambiguous pictures of guys horsing around on beaches, with girlfriends and sometimes hinting at possibly boyfriends.

The point of this post today is that until such imagery is subtle but prevalent, we are simply enforcing a divide where there really should be none. We are all human, and we all share a number of good strong honest values - we would benefit from that.

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Burning Empires
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Has media in his sights today!

Review Time: Battlestar Galactica Mini-series and Season One

Saul Tigh is a dickhead!

Just wanted to get that out of the way. After sitting through both the mini-series and the first season, and now having watched the first two episodes of season two, I have decided that I really don't like Tigh.

Which, to me, is a testament to how well written, directed and acted the reimagined Battlestar Galactica is. This series does what several other shows struggle to do. There is the in depth character drama, the dealing with a post-apocalyptic storyline, the allegorical comparisons to the War on Terror and the overall gritty realism of the show.

I am in love.

Now I know that most of you are already fans of this critically acclaimed show, so I am pretty much preaching to the converted. But I have been enjoying re-watching this much of the series in anticipation of watching season 2.0, that I had to share my thoughts.

Considering the tone of the last season of Roswell, it has been interesting to note that BSG utilises a lot of the same style and tone that Roswell's third season used. Not surprising, Ron Moore worked on both series and was a very strong influence in the latter part of Roswell's run.

BSG is superior to Roswell due to what appears to be a synergy of creative talents who all "get" what the reimagining's feel should be, and have succeeded in making a very consistent tone.

The scripting is at times cheesy, but the performances manage to raise it to a solid level.

Most importantly, this show manages to make the audience sympathise with some of the oddest characters. For example, very few of the BSG's villains are outright unsympathetic. Six and Boomer are both essentially deadly cylon agents, and yet they are sympathetic and almost likeable. All the Six models have shown a desire to be loved and wanted, Boomer suffers because she is unaware of her true nature and then battles with it when it is revealed.

This is brilliant casting and directing.

All in all, I love this show. Can't wait to see what happens next! :D

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Like the River Flows
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Getting down with Galactica!

12-Week-Challenge: Status Quo and Breaking Through

It's 7:30am and I've just come from the gym. Today was meant to be my 20-minute cardio session, which I do on every alternating day from weights. Unfortunately I was only able to do about 9 minutes before I totally clapped out.

Now I tried pushing myself, but I probably could have pushed further. What I do know is that it was fatigue from another late night that compounded the situation. I had eaten enough this morning to have the energy to cycle, but I had felt drowsy this morning.

Yesterday Reno (my trainer) and I did a weigh in and found that I had basically had no noticeable change over the last month. The work I've been doing has just caused my body to hit status quo. So we've altered my programme to break through this easy stage and push my body further.

The side-effect is that yesterday's work-out left me feeling exhausted, and a late night followed by an early morning has left me even more drained. So it will be an early night for Conan tonight. :)

What the really big issue about this is that I have to discipline myself to break through the initial urge to give up when doing cardio, and complete the exercise. I know I can do it, I have before.

Then again, we do have bad days - it's just that I've had a couple of those.

The other option is that I lower the intensity of the cardio exercise, or change the exercise I'm doing. I'm keen to change the exercise, as the problem is mostly in my legs feeling fatigued too early on in the exercise. Of course today I think my heart was a little too strained too...

Either way, I shall not give in! :D

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Like the Flowing River
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Not giving in!

Gaming, Theory and Debate

It has proven to be quite a week for gaming, this week. I've been following an interesting debate on RPGnet regarding GNS theory being considered elitist, and some very interesting points have been made during the course of the discussion.

One of the key things to come out of the discussion was that GNS theory and its successor Big Model theory aren't intrinsically elitist, but that there have been proponents of the theories who have used them in a fairly elitist manner.

This was an interesting observation, given the general vitriol and flamebait that discussing Forge-based theory tends to generate. The debate has actually been pretty level headed, with the various people managing to keep things pretty civil.

For me the upshot of the discussion has been that most people in the industry and hobby tend to see GNS and Big Model as poorly constructed theories. The blunt reality is that the methodology used to construct the theories, and the ensuing essays discussing them have been poorly planned and constructed - a view that I have held for some time now.

I've had a mixed opinion on game theory - for a while I was rabidly anti-theory because I found that many of the essayists from Forge (who were the more prominent theorists of the time) produced sloppy theories based around obscure terminology and a tendancy to borrow terminology from other disciplines without using the proper definitions.

All in all, it came across to me as a group of people who were thinking about gaming, but not using proper critical thinking skills in the process. Rather they used poor argumentation and their approach to any criticism was a near evangelical denial of rebuttals.

This has changed somewhat over the last year and a bit. Part of it has been through watching Luke's changing views on gaming. (See Gametime in the blog links) While I don't share some of his insights - I think he is allowing himself to be drawn into some flawed approaches to gaming, I am seeing how parts of his exploration has led him to finding a better way of articulating what it is that he is looking for in a game.

So I find the goal of gaming theory to be an admirable one - to create a common framework to discuss our hobby and what it is capable of. The problem is that for this to be truly effective on a broader scale, it needs proper research and a solid methodology to back up the theory.

This is where the current discussion has made interesting revelations. Ryan Dancey's research into the hobby produced a much better model of how to look at the various people in the hobby and how to approach game design.

Consider the Wizards of the Coast research into roleplaying

Now compare how this methodology looks next to GNS. While the WoTC study no doubt gets some things incorrect - there is some debate about Dancey's assertion of a perfect 22% in each of the four quandrants - the methodology is sound, and the argument both valid and well constructed.

I recently wrote a bit of a rant against GNS, I still remain unconvinced regarding it's reliability, applicability and validity. As pointed out in the RPGnet discussion, much of GNS and Big Model theory misuses common social science terminology, twisting the meaning to suit the theory, and even sometimes missing the meaning altogether. (My personal bugbear being the abusive use of Social Contract without any material or definition of what the theory means by using that term, because the implied "contract" is nothing like an actual social contract as laid out in social philosophy, sociology, psychology or political theory.)

It has been suggested by such influential writers on the hobby and Robin Laws and John Wick that there is a schism due to hit the indie game market, brought about by the methodologies instigated by the Forge theorists. It is becoming more and more apparent that the GNS model has, as an influence on the greater hobby, been very little - contrary to what many indie gamers would like to believe.

This predicted schism within the indie market has already begun, with the formation of such groups as Gamecraft, started by one of my favourite modern gaming theorists, Levi in conjunction with TonyLB - the creator of Capes, of all things.

Gamecraft's approach is much closer to how I envisage game theory being used. It aims to be practical, open, clear and focused on actual results. The methodology is improved on and building towards gentler discoveries. The key thing is that it isn't buying into a single theory and trying to prove it, but rather looks at the actual craft of gaming and game design.

If I had the time and patience I would possibly go into research myself on the topic. But there are some good minds out there aiming to bring positive developments to the hobby. Some of these people cut their teeth in the Forge when it was developing theory, but they are now moving into more productive areas.

The last couple of years saw a boom in the indie market as far as products produced, but that bubble is about to burst. The greater industry has not stood up and listened - it has developed at its own pace, and with more non-GNS focused indie businesses entering the market, the Forge and GNS are likely to become footnotes in the industry.

The problem that the indie industry faces is one of longevity. Most indie games are short lived wonders - popular for a while, but ultimately not as widely played or used as the more traditional games. Look at products like Wushu and PTA - people play them from time to time, but they are not the preferred games for a majority of hobbyists.

This is not to denigrate such games - some indie games have done some very cool and interesting things that give me reason to pause and consider how I can improve my more traditional games. They are fun to play occassionally, and they have some cool structures.

But they have been built on a theory that argues one should focus a game on a single axis. WoTC's theory argues that a well-designed and successful game uses more than one axis in its design. Consider Promethean - it is built on a mix of indie and traditional design ethics, and as such is a lot more successful than, say, Capes or Primetime Adventures.

It isn't merely because it is produced by White Wolf - remember, White Wolf was once an indie game design company - rather, it is because White Wolf's staff know how to produce quality products.

The same goes for WoTC. While I'm not a big d20 fan, I have come to realise that I *do* like it. I bought d20 Modern, and Dark*Matter and I love them. Sure it is a clunky set of rules, but there is something about them that I also like. The same goes for D&D.

I don't think I'm particularly unique in this respect. I'm beginning to better understand why these games are successful and why people end up going back to them. Why Shadowrun 4e is so good. And why an indie game like Wild Talents can be so popular. Because all these traditional games have much more to offer in the long run...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Eberron
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Taking on gaming theory!

Review Time: Roswell Season Three

This is it, I've finished watching the entirety of Roswell. Wow. What a series.

I think the first thing that comes to mind is that Roswell really manages to stand out above a lot of its contempories. This is a show that manages to mix a lot of humour, self-parody and realism to create a show that has a very distinctive feel of its own.

I would definitely classify the third season as the best in the series. Where the second season tried too hard to become more like Buffy and Angel, season three sets up its own tone and feel, and does a stand out job of it too.

Something that truly impresses me is how much the series successfully refers back to previous seasons - things that you noticed very early on in the previous seasons eventually come back in the third season, sometimes in very unexpected ways.

The tone of the series takes on a much more realistic and gritty tone. This isn't the angsty sixth season of Buffy nor the campy noir of Angel - Roswell manages to mix the tone to feel more realistic. Happy couples fight, families don't just work things out at the end of an episode, some issues have taken an entire three seasons to be resolved.

Furthermore, old mistakes have continuing consequences that are slowly resolved - we see all the characters change and grow over the course of this series. By the final episode, not one character is unchanged. But not only that, the changes are fully believeable and solid - sold by the performances of a truly talented ensemble cast.

There are many stand-out episodes in Season Three, my favourite is possibly "I married an Alien" where the episode flips between a sitcom alternate reality version of Roswell in the theme of Bewitched, and the harsher real world. Much like Buffy's musical episode, this is an experimental story. Unlike Buffy, it does a much better job at showing the stark differences between real life and that of a sitcom.

I initially wasn't sure how to feel about the last episode. While some storylines are tied up, some things are left unfinished, and other new issues arise. Yet the ending feels very satisfying. What later struck me was just how much this show has tried to be hyper-real. Before many of the hyper-realistic shows of today, Roswell remains true to real life when dealing with the characters' emotions and decisions. (For the most part, there are some questionable episodes...) The series ends just like real life - the story isn't over, it's just reached the point where we can part company with the characters.

Having said that, there is plenty left open for a spin-off or a return to Roswell - which I like. It keeps the illusion of realism for that fact.

Over the course of the series I have grown to really like the characters. To the point that I would be hard pressed to name a favourite. I love them all for each of their little quirks and personality traits.

If you haven't yet started looking for this show - DO IT! Roswell is one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. It may not have the polish and cool of Dead Like Me (Which I still rate higher as a show) but it has a real heart that has made me keen to watch it again at some point. Just so that I can revisit those very cool characters and their lives...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Hordes Primal
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Sleepy, but good.

Review Time: Roswell Season Two

So I'm continuing my viewing of the complete series of Roswell. To recap, for those who don't know the basic set up, Roswell is set (unsurprisingly) in the town of Roswell, New Mexico where aliens are rumoured to have landed in the 1940s.

Using the rumoured alien spaceship crash as inspiration, Roswell tells the story of three orphans who are revealed to be Alien/Human hybrids, brought to Earth for some unfathomable reason.

The first season really focused on the relationships of the various characters. A sort of Dawson's Creek meets X-files via Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Most episodes dealt with slowly revealing the mystery surrounding Max, Isobel and Michael - why they were brought to Earth and why they were hidden away in a pod chamber until they "hatched."

Season two changed gears (apparently due to pressure from the executives at WB) and focused more on the sci-fi elements.

Oddly, this is where Roswell stumbles as a series. The characters, and actors playing them, are cool and interesting. When the series focuses on character episodes, Roswell's strength as a series shines. These are not your typical two-dimensional people - like in Smallville - or cheesy stereotypes, like in Buffy.

No, Roswell's characters have a lot of interesting depth and background. Most of all, the series keeps the characters consistent from episode to episode. (Although there are the occasional continuity flaws from the props department and camera crew - one episode is glaringly obvious for this...)

I think that's what I really like about Roswell. The characters have been built up and developed - even the more minor roles. When one of the main crew dies unexpectedly, it carries a lot of weight for the show. Furthermore, there are some stand-out performances from ALL the main cast over the course of this season. I really believed in the characters emotions, and the cast manage to really sell you on the whole premise - even in the shockingly lame story arc involving an alien infestation.

In some ways Season Two feels a bit like Babylon 5 Season 4. A lot happens, and is all crammed into one Season when it could have been stretched out over two or three.

One big issue of this is that certain episodes work better than others and one was placed out of sequence because the executives thought that the clue in the episode would be lost unless it was placed directly before the finale where the hint reaches fruition.

It's a shame really - because the episode happens chronologically out of order during a very very tense arc in the Season.

However it all comes together in a very cool finale that left the series open for a third season, while still wrapping up most of the loose ends from Season One.

Oddly the best episodes were the least science fiction based. Firstly there is the Christmas episode, where we get to learn a lot more about the various characters - and although it has a schmaltzy "miracle" sequence, I actually liked it for that. The pain and emotions were very well done by the cast who clearly set out to have fun with the episode. The other great episode was the Las Vegas one, where the gang go off to gamble away money.

Another great character episode that tells us more about everyone's motivations. Unfortunately one of the characters ends up being changed later in the season - although it is worth noting that if you go back to the first time the character shows up, everything still remains consistent from a bigger picture point of view. Which is actually cool - because you get sucked in by that character's lies as much as everyone else.

With one more season to go, I'm hoping that everything comes to a satisfactory conclusion. I'm not sure I'd be happy if they just drop the storyline about the revolution on the alien's homeworld - there needs to be a satisfactory resolution to that other than "we stay on Earth and let them sort it out..."

Only time will tell...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Burning Empires
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Feeling good!

Review Time: Dead Like Me Season One

While I have been watching a lot of Roswell recently, I have been intermittently been watching this likeable little series alongside it.

Dead Like Me is the story of George Lass, a young eighteen year-old virgin whose outlook on life is about as disaffected and cynical as it can possibly get. Her mother is a negative control freak, her father is having an affair, and her little sister, Reggie, is a little strange.

Then, as if to show that the universe has a sense of humour, George is killed rather spectacularly by a toilet seat that falls from the Russian Mir Spacestation. That's when things get really weird.

George discovers that she has been chosen to become a Reaper, a collector of souls - to help the dead pass on to the next plane of existence. Once she has reaped an unstated number of souls, she will then be able to pass on herself.

But she isn't a ghost, that wouldn't be interesting television after all - no, she has a living body (of sorts) and is undead. She has an illusionary alter-ego that people see instead of her true face.

Dead Like Me is pure gold. It is a slick production, simply presented and beautifully acted. It has a morbidly funny sense of humour and is really a show about life as seen from the place of someone who is dead. It never preaches, but makes some profound observations about life and the universe. All the while delivered in a beautifully dead-pan humour. From the collapse of George's family to the eventual growth of George as a Reaper - this show is just brilliant.

Very rarely does a show manage to make me laugh out loud when watching it on my own - but Dead Like Me manages to do so every episode!

So do yourself a favour - check it out! Best yet, the series is self-contained. There is a second season, and I"m keen to see it, but the first season manages to close while leaving things open for potentially more stories.

Also- keep an eye out for Jewel "Kaylee" Saite as a death groupie goth girl! :D

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Burning Empires
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: See post below! :)

12-Week-Challenge: Transformation and Exercise

Well this is a double-whammy of posts - spot my Dead Like Me review above...

So I am currently in the cybercafe having just finished an 11 mile intensive hill ride (simulated) and realising how dramatically my body is changing.

Yesterday was the second day of my new upper-body training, using supersets as well as the standard sets. For those who don't know what that means, a "set" is a series of repetitions (reps) of a particular motion. In weight training it involves using weights to raise the intensity of the motion on the muscles - which causes them to tear, the main intention of the "set."

The idea is to tear the muscle, then combined with a nutritional diet, cause it to grow back stronger and more efficient.

Now, normally you take a break between each set - this is because if you put too much strain on the muscle it will cause serious damage. However, the continued exercise causes the muscles to reach a kind of "high point" where the exercise will produce optimum results - it is at this point that you want to perform a superset - which is a different exercise that uses the same muscle group, however in a different way to also use the connecting muscles that are activated at the high point.

In layman's terms it means one thing - a lot of pain! :D

But it is a good kind of pain, that achey feeling as the muscles recover, grow stronger and leave you feeling more vital and oddly full of energy.

I'm talking about the euphoric adrenalin rush that comes straight after, but rather the healthy ache that you get the next day when the muscles actually start their work healing.

I've been playfully mocked by a couple of people about doing this programme, but considering that I've lost some weight around my face, my chest has raised and expanded, my shoulders are now more defined and my stomach is continuing to shrink - I'm feeling the transformation right now.

And it feels goooood. :)

Not that I'm telling everyone to go out and do heavy training now - rather, if you felt like I was feeling before I started this programme, then you should do yourself a service and get yourself into a training programme. I was feeling like my body wasn't mine anymore, that it was looking less and less like "me" and was getting me down.

That's not how I feel now. I'm enjoying watching the transformation of my body into something I like.

Training doesn't need to be as intensive as what I'm doing. But I am definitely a proponent of looking at more in the way of exercise...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Burning Empires
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun ; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Feeling pumped and sexy! :D

Writer's Block, Toxins and Life...

Another week another... well... it's hard to say.

Megaroleplaying Weekend was, as last time, a blast. I had a lot of fun playing a large variety of games including Capes, Best Friends, Spirit of the Century and more! It was great!

On the converse side something have not been so grand...

Firstly, I arrived to work today to find that toxic fumes from the adhesive laying going on in the shop construction next door had been seeping into the shop. Our manager showed his acute skills by making us work still for close to six hours before letting us go home - because he wanted to make sure that someone was there to collect suits from customers rather than arrange for them to return tomorrow. Admittedly that would have put us behind a day, but considering that I got serious head spins and lost all sense of taste for a large part of the day - I would have preferred the extra work on Tuesday.

Needless to say, I was not impressed - even though we had most of the fumes out of the shop by 2pm. I'm feeling better now, but my head still feels light and not quite right...

Secondly, I tried to get to work on my novel to find that I have a SERIOUS case of writer's block. I've worked on ideas for this book for a very long time that I think I may have prevented my mind from continuing with the project right now. I'm not really sure what to do to get the words flowing again. I'm probably going to drop from the Fading Suns project - my head just hurts too much, and I need to be making more time for my own projects.

On that note - I really want to get into directing film as well. However there just isn't enough time for me to run a business, study film-making, write a novel, do this exercise program, run Exalted... you're getting the idea.

So I need to pick a thing and focus. For me, that's my novel. Writing a screen play and making a movie requires a lot of other people - and most of the film people I know are busy with other projects anyway. :) That brings me back to the problem at hand - writer's block.

What should I do?

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Burning Empires
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Just feeling a little dizzy and tired...

Review Time: Roswell Season One

Finally back to more Reviews! I have a lot of shows to discuss, and this is just the beginning.

So having finished working through all the anime in my collection at the moment, I was casting about for a new show to watch. As many long time readers of this blog know, I have a soft spot for those late 90s early 00s teen-adult shows like Smallville.

Roswell had been teasing me from the shelves of several video stores for months, but the shocking $99 per season price kept me from committing to the series. Finally the price has dropped to a very reasonable $NZ 169 for all three seasons.

So after a little budgetting, I picked up the full series and have just finished watching Season One.

Strangely Familiar and yet so New...

The first thing that struck me about Roswell was how much it reminded me of Smallville. The Pilot episode kind of covers similar ground - even though Roswell precedes Smallville by several years. Mysterious kid with strange powers, pines after the cutest girl in school, is a bit of an outsider... all that stuff.

What Roswell does differently is that it tries to deal with teen angst in a more realistic way. Smallville has an annoying habit of keeping things at status quo. Roswell has a definite "get over it" quality to the show. Problems arise, and characters try to move on to solutions. There is still the teen angst "you just don't understand me!" However, this is resolved and dealt with.

The characters learn from the events they are in and communicate with each other. Max reveals his powers to Liz and tries to deal with the consequences. Liz doesn't wait around for Max to get his shit together when she realises he loves her - they talk about their feelings and admit them to each other. None of Clark's wimping out on Lana.

Roswell isn't about will-they-wont-they, it's about how will they manage to keep together when the world is trying to keep them apart. Best of all, Max and Liz have allies who want to see them together, and do things to help them get over their teenage foolishness.

I love this show for it's ballsy nature. Death, sex, child abuse - like Smallville it covers a lot of teen issues, but actually makes them relevant. Best of all it often turns cliches on their head. For example, we are initially treated to an X-Files type government conspiracy - but as the series progresses the show reveals that just because a faction within the government is the enemy, that doesn't mean all the American government is evil.

I like this recognisation that individual people make bad decisions and can be cruel - but this should not be equated to all the people involved with the organisation. An interesting approach for a conspiracy based show.

The balance of normal soap style drama combined with science-fiction elements makes for a very compelling show that manages to be a bit more engaging than Smallville.

I rate this show. Check it out sometime! :)

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Wild Talents
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Bright and Perky!

12 Week Challenge: Weeks 2 & 3

The twelve week challenge continues. In Week Two everything went well, and I slowly got on top of my nutritional diet - I find it kind of funny how people automatically think any food with fat in it is unhealthy. Dieting isn't about avoiding fat, it's about being smart about what you do choose to eat.

Furthermore, different diets achieve different results. I'm aiming to tone, lose weight and build muscle. To do that it is more important to be thinking about what I need to put into my body - like Protein and Carbs. I need to eat a considerable amount of carbs in the morning to give me energy, and more protein in the evening to help my muscles recover and grow stronger.

Over the course of the last three weeks I have lost 4kgs, gained a 1kg of muscle and generally improve my health.

Having said all that, now at the end of Week Three I had a bit of a hiccup. Sunday left me feeling unwilling to go to the gym, so I made it my day off and went in today. However my body was feeling lethargic and unwilling to do the exercise - which is likely due to my not eating as well yesterday compared to normal. With Mega Roleplay Weekend coming up this weekend too I am likely to miss another day along the lines.

So I will be spending some of this week replanning my programme to account for that. It's just a small delay, I'm hoping that I can overcome it.

I am getting results though - and that is ALL good. :)

I think I've just taken on too much recently. Last week was a very stressful and busy week. Missing couriers, trying to keep my financial flow moving - the business is slowing down at the moment (which is to be expected at this time of year.)

Currently I am helping with the editing of a manuscript for a gaming company, trying to keep the business afloat, work my fulltime job, run Exalted, prepare of MRPW, play in Orpheus, doing this programme, watch what I eat, overcome some of my silly thoughts and get enough sleep.

It's kind of exhausting. I wish I could just take more time off to just stop and do absolutely nothing for an entire week.

I think this is the problem with the world today - it's not natural for humans to work in this way. We're supposed to stop when our bodies tell us to so that we can recover and relax. I think the human world is poorly structured to handle relaxation. We have this flawed idea that it is something that we earn in our older years and then allow ourselves to slip into senility.

Sure, I'm kind of thinking all over the place today - but I think that we, as a society, need to think more about life outside of work. Siesta's would be a good idea - sleeping a bit during the day is not bad at all...

I think that's the key thing for me at the moment - the desire to just sleep for a whole day... Wish I could take a stress day off - but I've been taking enough time off recently...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: White and Black Treatises
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Sleepy, but feeling good.

Rant: Traditional Gamers, Independent Gaming Supporters and Games

So poor Hix was subjected to my recent bugbear - pro-story, anti-gaming, pro-indie game supporters. (Try saying that one three times fast.)

Recently I have become more and more aware of a division forming in this little hobby of mine. One that has a kind of blurry emotional line which is splitting mostly traditional gamers from certain indie gamers.

Now this isn't something Indie games themselves, nor the people who mostly play them. In my experience most gamers are like myself, in the middle happy to try most games. On the other hand there is an emotional battleground developing and is often hinted at by the call-cry of "One True Wayism."

There is no good or bad side. Everyone is making the same arguments. But I am getting a little pissed off at how there are those who have taken sides and refuse to admit to others or themselves that they have done so. (Not particular people I know, but rather certain individuals who hang out on various forums.)

It seems to me that many independent RPG supporters are getting treated much like born again christians. They seem to be seen as a bit kooky, and a little too forceful about their favoured genre of game.

Most frequent visitors to independent game forums would deny that they are such. But I do feel that they are being a bit dishonest with themselves. More on that in a moment...

On the other side, there are the very conservative traditional gamers who have a near irrational hatred for all things indie - as if indie game designers have personally gone and run over their dog!

They are also pissing me off, because it becomes harder for people like myself to make any critical statements about an independent game without being seen as a hard-liner.

Much of this I lay at the feet of Ron Edwards. Yes, it is a harsh statement, but I really don't like the guy. His aggressive and antagonistic approach to traditional gaming - combined with his often populist, poorly researched theory has proved a core element in building up this hostility towards indie games.

I remember the time before Ron Edwards. Back in the day when an independent game was just accepted by those who liked it and the level of rancour that now exists was unheard of. (Not to say it was all roses and happiness, but it certainly wasn't as divisive and nasty as things are now.)

His "Brain damaged" comments have done nothing to help independent game designers make any mark in the industry. He has managed to make a simple hobby something of a minefield when talking about what we enjoy. Contrary to his claims of wanting to create a shared language to help roleplayers and designers talk about their hobby, he has done more to create arguments where there used to be none.

The three-fold way and great model have done more to give roleplayers a negative language to use when playing a game rather than just getting on with enjoying it.

GAH!

Such games as HEX, QAGS, Spirit of the Century and PTA end up having to battle up hill against negative stereotypes to get accepted.

Most of all, I get angry at people who turn around and say "I wont play Indie games" or "I wont play traditional RPGS" all because of some trumped up generalisation about the game.

I'm going to come out and be honest...

I don't like how some people who are pro-indie game harp on about story and character in a manner that leaves me feeling like I'm inadequate for enjoying something like Exalted. I dislike such crap as "this game made me really think about myself as a person" as if a traditional game couldn't do that.

Yes, I enjoy games like Don't Rest Your Head which challenge your perceptions of roleplaying. But I'm not about to go all evangelistic about it.

I guess I'm feeling just aggressive because I keep seeing this stuff being talked about without any consideration for how it is being communicated.

I understand a lot of the appeal - I just wish the language used were better. I know I can get pretty irrational about it myself. I'm trying to keep calm most of the time - but it irks me a lot.

/rant

I know my own communication of my ideas is flawed - I'm still formulating some of them. Maybe I will sit down and plan a more positive discussion about roleplaying issues. But if I hear one more "Ron Edwards is amazing" I think I might just barf. I really feel that he has done more to harm the hobby than any other single figure in the industry. He may have helped boost the indie movement - but he has done more damage than good in my opinion.

Conan

Currently Reading: Wild Talents
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Gray
Mood: Fighting mood!

12-week-challenge: Week One

Today I began Week Two of my 12-week-challenge at the gym. So let's look back at how my first week went.

Starting off, my trainer gave me a laugh unintentionally when we did another fitness test. The last time I did a fitness test was the last time I went to the gym almost a month ago. In the interim - where I was not doing a heck of a lot of exercise or particularly watching my diet - I somehow managed to lose a kilo of fat and gain about a kilo of muscle instead.

My trainer said "and that was doing my program" which caused me to chuckle under my breath. I didn't have the heart to mention I hadn't been doing any exercise at all in that time. Go figure. :) Still, to be fair, I have been walking more again. And I did some heavy lifting prepping for Battle Cry.

Anyway - on with the program. I have been surprised at how quickly I have changed my diet. It has been subtle - I don't drink soft drinks anymore, I don't eat any chocolate unless it is a protein cookie or bar, I haven't had any deep-fried foods, and I have tried to stick to salads and protein heavy foods.

My body has been in a lot of pain recently due to my workouts - it's that good deep tissue ache though. I, being a true scorpio, kind of like it. :)

The new regime if pretty good, although my bench press exercise has been a bit on the heavy side. I had to throw the barbell off me at one point! So we'll see what happens when I talk to my trainer on Thursday.

All in all, I've been feeling pretty upbeat and good about it all.

Of course there are some other things to talk about - like my trip to Auckland... but I'll leave that for another day. :)

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Godlike
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun; Orpheus: Shades of Grey
Mood: Feeling psyched and ready to take on the world!

Preparations, Family and Auckland

Well I am currently writing this from Auckland. With the approach of the Battle Cry Convention - where I will be setting up a stall for ESG - I've come up a day early to stay at my Dad's place.

Preparing for Battle Cry has been a pretty gruelling exercise - it's hard to judge what the best approach would be, as I couldn't take nearly as much stock as I brought along to Kapcon. On the converse side, I didn't sell huge quantities at Kapcon, and given that Battle Cry has only one actual break in its programme - I'm not expecting to sell huge quantities at BC either.

So I've tried to pack a reasonable amount of product, and I'm having to seriously think about the prices I'm going to charge to make sure I don't have to carry or courier too much back to Wellington. So here's hoping that I manage to have a successful convention. :)

Dad's place is an interesting home. I'm not really sure how else to put it. It feels big and spacious, I'm staying in a granny flat downstairs which has got me thinking that I might like to look at living on my own for a while sometime this year. I'm not sold on the idea yet - living on your own is HIDEOUSLY expensive - but I'm liking the idea.

Maybe if ESG takes off and next time I get a raise at FCs I might look into moving into a single bedroom place. :)

I'm going to be arranging to catch up with Steve at some point this weekend... kind of nervous about that too.

All in all, it looks to be a good weekend.

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Body for Life
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun
Mood: Feeling good

Getting ready for the challenge...

A lot has been happening recently. Firstly, Kapcon was a success - although most of the money made ended up being spent on various things to help set the business up for the next stage of its "evolution." But the promise is clearly there and I'm super excited about the future.

I just wish I had been able to play in some of the games this year rather than run a stall and play boardgames all weekend. :) Still, that is something to organise for next year. I'm heading up to Auckland in a week's time to attend the Battle Cry convention - and it is looking good so far. Emile is working away at designing some goodies for me as well - so it is a lot of cool stuff to look forward to.

Now for the big news...

Breaking up is hard to do

I've signed up for the Club Physical twelve week challenge. It was competitively priced this year and is a seriously good opportunity for me to force myself into new habits. I had to tell my trainer that I was going with another trainer for the program (by Club Physical's conditions) he looked like he was going to cry. I hadn't talked it over with him or anything - it seriously felt like I was breaking up with a boyfriend for a cuter guy (which is ironic, because the trainer I was set up with was younger and cuter... :D)

It was kind of awkward and (secretly) funny. But my trainer was determined and managed to convince the club to let him be my 12-week trainer - which is kind of a mixed bag. Sometimes he makes me feel a little down (our last session left me feeling so negative I didn't go to the gym for two weeks - which isn't normal for me.) On the other hand, he is a nice guy and a good trainer. It was more about my stubborness. :)

Which is why I signed up for this program. It's strict, difficult and can be life-changing. Plus, if my trainer and I work well together we could stand to win $25K for the most dramatic transformation. A lot of the staff and members are signing up to it - so I will be working out with a group of people and we will be able to keep an eye on each other. So I am VERY keen to see how it works out. Fingers crossed!

So I have two weeks of freedom where I can keep to my normal habits and routines. But after I get back from Battle Cry there will be a lot of things happening. I'm scared and excited. I can't wait! :)

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Body for Life
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun
Mood: Watch out body! It's time to get fit! :)

Moving on up and up and up and...

Time for an update,

Well I have a number of movie and television reviews to discuss in the near future - but I thought that I should have something else to talk about too.

After the rather turgid drama of the last week or so I've been a little raw around the edges when dealing with people. Even the most optimistic of us probably have their down periods too, and I found myself definitely in need of rejuvenation.

Following a bit of a behind-the-scenes dispute, I found more drama's unfolding with some people at work. Unfortunately cool, calm and educated Conan was a bit cranky - so there were a couple of flashpoints last week. Luckily I recognised why I was being so snappy and was able to talk over the various issues with those involved.

The key to communication is to remember that nobody thinks the same way. Words have different associations to different people, and for fluid communication to exist both parties need to be willing to push aside their own negativity to accept what others are saying - and to be able to ensure that your own message is being clearly receieved. Something the last few weeks has reminded me of.

So, when faced with people who were able to put their own prejudices aside in the spirit of open communication, a lot of good was done. :) (And yes, that also includes yours truly...)

Which led to my going to my first training session for the year with both a clear conscience and good will. Which was both marred by the discovery I had put on 2kgs - lol, too many chocolates and bikkies for Conan - but my fitness level had exceeded what my trainer had expected. I'm now on a much more rigourous cardio and weight program. It's daunting, but my body is beginning to get back into shape. I also am burning considerably more Kjs than before, and my muscle tissue has grown.

The business is picking up as well - despite a couple of hiccups, one of which arose from my not changing all the information on the site. Easily fixed, but I berated myself for overlooking it initially. I'm investigating going into Ltd Liability next month - but I want to get Kapcon out of the way first.

So things are constantly improving. On my list of things to do still, regarding resolutions, are falling in love (not something I can really do myself, but Emile and I are going to be going out some time in the near future with the aim of my socialising and meeting people, with the E-man there as support...) and working on my novel.

Here's to some more good news in the near future!

In regards to reviews - I watched "Transamerica" and "Ultraviolet" (the Milla Jovovich one, not the British series) this weekend. Talk about polar opposites in films.

More on those later... :D

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Storm Front
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun
Mood: Perky, Upbeat and feeling fighting fit!

Review Time: High School Musical

Now there are a lot of people out there who read this blog who will undoubtedly be shocked, nay, disgusted by the addition of High School Musical to my list of reviewed shows. My brother, Henley, is definitely one of them; but I am sure there will be others.

I will not apologise for what I am about to say. I absolutely love Disney's High School Musical.

Sure, sure, you can be cynical about the idea of cashing in on the themes of individuality, standing up for oneself and accepting everyone in the world for who they are and what they want to be - but there is something so beautifully innocent about this show. It's not really made to be the runaway hit it became. The show has that "something to fill in the holiday television schedule" feel to its production and music - and yet it becomes something else... an artifact of some dream ideal of America, maybe?

We're all in this together...

One of the key things that strikes me most about the world of High School Musical is that there are no bad guys. Sure, there are antagonists who try to stop the two protagonist characters from being themselves - but everyone is willing to accept mistakes and make peace with each other. Primarily through song, smiles and being nice to each other.

If only it was that simple in the real world, right?

And I think that is kind of the secret to its appeal. In this time of growing conflict, a simpler world where problems can be solved by people being willing to work things out is a dream we all want to see fulfilled. The catchy tunes and music is popular not so much for its own sake, but rather for its ability to act as a trigger back to the euphoria the viewers feel from watching this idyllic vision of the world.

I know that I wish I could just break into song when I really want to express my feelings - have a little dance number and everyone is friends afterwards. :)

It is hard to fault a show for its lively upbeat nature. I just love to watch this show when I want to relax and feel good. The simple story, the upbeat music and the sheer fun of a musical really makes this show work for me. More so than even Rent - which I almost cried at the end of (I will be reviewing Rent in the near future)

If you haven't yet taken part in High School Musical - I highly recommend it. Put your cynicism and world-weariness aside for a short while and just let yourself be a kid again, enjoying the simple pleasure of a fun world where nobody is left out of the happy ending. :)

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Storm Front
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun
Mood: Feeling positive and upbeat from High School Musicals... :)

Musing away at loss

Firstly, I want to say to Giffy and Eric, I hope you have a great day today! They are getting married today, so here's to a wonderful future.

Now to muse on a few recent developments. Stephanie and I had a bit of a falling out over the recent posts as it has been taken by some as a personal attack.

I had felt that I had been lied to, and even though my posts did not name anyone and were addressed to focus on how I was feeling about the whole saga, it ended up that I had jumped to a conclusion.

So apologise to Stephanie for that.

I hadn't really felt that it was important enough for me to chase her down to discuss - I had been willing to wait until the next time I had a chance to talk to her.

Now it has been escalated to a big deal when it hasn't been for a long time.

What gets me is that while I have been dealing with my feelings, I have been moving on. There is a lot that I don't tell you folks because I prefer to wait for the outcome.

I do not write about people here as an attack on them. I write to show my perspective of events and to give people a better idea of where I currently am in the hopes that they can understand where I'm coming from.

Stephanie, Astra and those others who seem to think that I'm some obsessed stalker-type have chosen to perceive me in such a way that all they see is vindictive vitiriol in the things I say.

Yes, I am angry at you people for the way you have treated me. And yes, I do think you have been immature.

But I do not use this forum to make attacks. I use it to discuss my thoughts. It's a stream of consciousness - taking points out of my posts rather than reading the whole thing is not the way to approach it. It literally is the case of downloading thoughts and getting them out of my system so that I can come to rational conclusions.

For example, the post over New Years helped me deal with my pain over finding out that Alex had chosen to just stop having any contact with me and to take a step back and wait until I could talk to Stephanie about my concerns.

I was considering stopping this blog and just disappearing. But I've decided not to. I'm not going to be bullied.

I want to just let loose a few things that have pissed me off. But I realise I will only be escalating things. So let's just leave it there.

I know the truth - because I was present at certain events that none of you were. I know what was said and what was done. I am also more honest about those events than any of you give me credit for.

If Alex has an issue, he can call me himself - if he has the guts. Or he can post on this blog and be ready to defend himself. Otherwise, this is OVER.

Conan

Currently Reading: Looking for Jake
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun
Mood: Angry at being misrepresented, unapologetic for being honest

Positive Truth

Well today's post has been a bit of an odd one to think about. It started with some negative frustration, but with the aid of some very special people, I think I can now turn it to a more positive frame of mind.

It has come to my attention that some people have been visiting this blog and ridiculing me for discussing my feelings on such an open forum. They have found amusement in my commenting about the troubles I've been facing, the concerns and emotional problems that I've dealt with over the last year.

Naturally, this upset me. But after some thought, I've come to realise that I really have nothing to be upset about. See, the thing about being open is that you take power away from people to benefit from holding things against you. So I'm going to be open and honest right now. To those of you who found my problems amusing - I feel sorry for you.

The thing about my being so honest on this blog is because I use it for a variety of reasons.

• Firstly, I use it to help put my thoughts into focus. The average human being processes thousands of thoughts and often these can get all confused and muddled - which leads to miscommunication. The whole point of Stream of Consciousness is just as the name implies - it is a stream of thoughts with the aim of getting somewhere.
• Secondly, I know that I'm not the only person who has these kinds of problems and thoughts. By being open and honest about them, I am letting other people out there know that it isn't something only they are going through. Communication is built on open dialogue. By being willing to talk about the things bugging me, I am able to show that problems ARE universal.
• Also, by being open about things, they can no longer be held against me as emotional bribery. Yes. I said something negative. Now that it's out there I can do something about it and move on. If other people can't, maybe they need to ask themselves why.

So the upshot of all this is that it is always best to just tell the truth. If something upsets you - get it out there and then you are able to deal with it.

It is somewhat sad when people think that this is funny - because that suggests that they have something to hide. It is so easy to mock others who have the guts to expose themselves to ridicule. But I have nothing to be ashamed of, and contrary to what some people have said, it doesn't show me in a negative light. It shows that I am human and flawed. That I am willing to show those flaws in the hope of sharing my problems with others in the spirit of moving forward with my life.

And if you think that it isn't working - consider the following:

• I am surrounded by supportive friends who are honest and able to tell me when I'm being a fool.
• My business has recently doubled it's value from the initial outlay, and is showing signs of continued growth.
• I am back into writing and have many ideas for future novels too
• I have started working on ideas for a screenplay, and have the contacts now to get a small film underway in the near future (although with the amount of work I have set myself this year, any film making is likely to be in 2008. :) )

These are hardly the signs of someone who is to be ridiculed. Truth is always better than lying to others, and especially better than lying to oneself. I have made a lot of mistakes in the past, and I have overcome many of them. I am in a very positive situation now. Things are improving because I stuck to being honest, because I have used this blog to help me overcome a lot of my internal issues and because I am not afraid to be truthful. Because ultimately I have done no wrong.

Some people need to learn to face the truth and deal with it. That's what I have spent the last year doing - and it has helped me immensely. I don't see how that is worthy of mockery.

So to all my friends - thank-you for all being who you are and helping me gain so much insight into the universe. I have learnt what true friendship is, and I value every one of the friends I have - and I know that the number of people I count as true friends also seriously outnumbers those who have chosen to mock this blog.

That is an objective and provable truth as well.

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: China Mieville's Looking for Jake
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun
Mood: Feeling good

Review Time: American Gothic - The Television Series

Back in the early days of X-files, when supernatural and quirky television shows were attempting to make a break into mainstream television, there was a series that literally was the Firefly of its day.

The similarities between Firefly and American Gothic are impressive - if somewhat divergent later down the track. Much like Firefly, American Gothic was a series plagued by idiotic executive decisions. Firstly, it was played erratically, rarely in the same spot twice. Secondly, all the epsiodes were played out of sequence - causing many first time viewers to be confused and confounded by some odd plot developments. Finally, it was pulled for low ratings and simply being a series that was well ahead of its time subject wise.

Also like Firefly, it is a series that benefits from an excellent choice of cast and some truly inspired storylines. Rarely an episode is wasted in this series.

On the positive, American Gothic did get to run its course and end on a fairly satisfying conclusion that also left the door open for another season if anyone ever chose to pick it up.

But what is American Gothic really about?

The Devil in South Carolina

At the core of American Gothic is the story of the age old battle of Good versus Evil. In the town of Trinity, SC, a young boy named Caleb Temple is orphaned when his father is arrested for murdering Caleb's sister, Merlyn (short for Merly-Ann). After his father "commits suicide" in the town jail, Caleb finds himself in the middle of a custody battle between the Sheriff of Trinity, Lucas Buck, and Caleb's out-of-town cousin, Gail Emory.

Sounds normal so far? Well how about the fact that Merlyn was actually killed by Lucas, as was Gage Temple - Caleb's father.

Or the fact that Lucas seems to have everybody in town owing him favours.

Or how about that Merlyn's ghost is talking to Caleb and reveals that Lucas Buck is actually Caleb's true father?

American Gothic's core mystery is the identity of Lucas Buck and what he really is. Is he the Devil? A sorceror? A Demon? A Psychic? Whatever he is, he has a supernatural grip on the town of Trinity and many episodes in the series are really about exploring the depths of Lucas' evil and corruption. We see how he seduces the townsfolk into sinful acts without ever being outright told what he is aiming to get.

Meanwhile, Caleb is surrounded by loving people who are not yet willing to accept what is happening in the town. Unaware that their actions are helping decide whether Caleb will follow in his father's footsteps or heed the warnings his sister's ghost is giving.

This is a fantastic series. It deals with a variety of mature themes in a chilling way that lacks the unnecessary voyeurism of current shows. There are themes of rape, murder, lust and virtually every sin you have heard of - yet it is all handled with a subtlety and humour that keeps the show from being depressing or disgusting.

Furthermore, while the theme is the battle of Good versus Evil the series doesn't really pick a side. It presents the idea that not everything is necessarily as clear-cut as we would like. Buck is evil incarnate, but sometimes he is actually capable of the occasional compassionate act. Merlyn is meant to be working for the forces of purity and light, yet she often lets her own feelings of revenge cloud her judgement.

Of course the winner in all this is Gary Cole, who plays Lucas Buck. As has been mentioned in many places, he must be the best villain to ever grace film or television. Cole manages to make a truly loathsome being who is seductive and charming - someone who you whoop with joy when he is outsmarted, and yet also cheer on when he has the upperhand. Right to the very last few minutes of the series, Gary Cole keeps us reminded that for all the evil he commits in the series (and there are some truly horrible things he makes people do) we can't help but like Buck. He gets under your skin with his confidence and good-humour.

Lucas Black, who plays Caleb, is also an impressive young actor - and it is a shame that he hasn't been given a lot of opportunities to prove his talent more since this series. However some people may recognise the grown up Lucas from Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. I hope to see more of this actor - he really is talented.

How to almost screw up a DVD collection

Unfortunately, Universal doesn't deserve much praise. The DVD set is a classic example of how to virtually kill a potential money maker. American Gothic could have been a BIG DVD seller if Universal had taken a leaf out of the Family Guy/Carnivale/Firefly DVD release books.

In those releases, fans were treated to a large number of extras that filled up a lot of their appetite for their series, but also presented these shows in such a way that non-fans could pick them up out of interest and also get hooked into the shows.

The story goes that Universal weren't going to release American Gothic on DVD. In a refusal to admit that the failure of the series lay in the laps of the executives who killed it, they didn't believe it would make any money as a DVD release.

A massive fan petition turned the tide and it was eventually released on DVD. However, Universal has chosen - for some unfathomable reason - to set out the DVDs in order of screening, NOT in order of sequence. How could they do something so stupid. Unless someone has had the foresight to look on the net and learn what the actual viewing sequence is meant to be, this DVD set will fast become a frustrating and confused presentation. Sure- the series is still all there, and it is American Gothic - a DAMN good series. But the order will mean that newcomers may be put off the series by the exact same flaws that lead to the failure of the series in the ratings game.

I genuinely hope someone loses their job over this - as unlikely as that may be - because this could have been a golden opportunity to turn a failed series into a gold mine. It is, after all, the original. Shows like Dead Zone, Tru Calling, Lost and Medium are successors to the throne - and with the popularity of many of these types of shows in this current time, American Gothic could have been a great way to cash in without having to actually spend a lot of money filming a show.

None-the-less, it remains one of my all time favourite series. It is pure viewing pleasure and I guarantee it to anyone who is into shows about the strange and unusual...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: China Mieville's Looking for Jake
Currently Playing: Exalted: Nexus of the Sun
Mood:Not doing too badly...