Noughts and Crosses – ep 3
Mar. 21st, 2020 09:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessMy main aim in watching this episode (apart from distraction) was getting it through my head who Noughts are (white people) and therefore Crosses (black people).
Overall, this episode was good on the emotional beats, but the scaffolding to get us there was not what it should have been. For instance, Ted’s decision after talking to Meggie to join Dawn’s lot didn’t have enough build-up (maybe he should have got his own montage), and I feel that I could have come up with a more searing critique than Sephie’s opening salvo to her teacher when I’d just become a teenager. Further to that, Callum’s family are extremely articulate and able to analyse a situation much more acutely, and I know that some of that is not being blinded by privilege, but…they seem to have had the better schooling somehow.
I’m not sure if I levelled, ‘You piece of work’ with disdain and sneaking admiration mixed more at Kemal or Dawn. Kemal thought he’d primed and directed his weapon (Freudian meaning included), and then Dawn just went and delegated, but instead of Guy Fawkes, well, there were other influences. I think Kemal edges it with how he treated his family, the PM and Meggie.
Meggie is an interesting one. It felt so harsh that she got punished for her boss’s misery and self-destructiveness, when all she did was cross over the blurred lines of mistress/servant and dare to pity the pitiful Jas. (Best moment: her accusing the Noughts of abusing alcohol at Midsummer to Sephie.) I’d have taken the money for the family (seeing as Meggie had one layabout son, an unemployed husband and a soon-to-be unemployed other son – how the family’s fortunes descended materially and emotionally with the splits between Ted and Jude and Callum nearly shooting Jude.) The Yarrow mystery continues – it seems like he’s Kemal’s love child???
Lakan came off as closeted gay more this ep. It’s always disconcerting to me when slash goggles land on my nose. At best, I’m usually ‘I see why could see it that way,’ but here I’m like ‘That might be meant to come off as macho aggression but what I’m seeing is Lakan liking to touch Callum.’ Also sparing Elaine was waaaaay subtle.
Well, Lacan, as Jude bitterly observed, the show loves Callum the most. But Callum wasn’t idiot enough to get used to plant a bomb at a hospital. With sick people and babies – SICK BABIES – in it, JUDE.
I'm hoping to post some recs later today.
Overall, this episode was good on the emotional beats, but the scaffolding to get us there was not what it should have been. For instance, Ted’s decision after talking to Meggie to join Dawn’s lot didn’t have enough build-up (maybe he should have got his own montage), and I feel that I could have come up with a more searing critique than Sephie’s opening salvo to her teacher when I’d just become a teenager. Further to that, Callum’s family are extremely articulate and able to analyse a situation much more acutely, and I know that some of that is not being blinded by privilege, but…they seem to have had the better schooling somehow.
I’m not sure if I levelled, ‘You piece of work’ with disdain and sneaking admiration mixed more at Kemal or Dawn. Kemal thought he’d primed and directed his weapon (Freudian meaning included), and then Dawn just went and delegated, but instead of Guy Fawkes, well, there were other influences. I think Kemal edges it with how he treated his family, the PM and Meggie.
Meggie is an interesting one. It felt so harsh that she got punished for her boss’s misery and self-destructiveness, when all she did was cross over the blurred lines of mistress/servant and dare to pity the pitiful Jas. (Best moment: her accusing the Noughts of abusing alcohol at Midsummer to Sephie.) I’d have taken the money for the family (seeing as Meggie had one layabout son, an unemployed husband and a soon-to-be unemployed other son – how the family’s fortunes descended materially and emotionally with the splits between Ted and Jude and Callum nearly shooting Jude.) The Yarrow mystery continues – it seems like he’s Kemal’s love child???
Lakan came off as closeted gay more this ep. It’s always disconcerting to me when slash goggles land on my nose. At best, I’m usually ‘I see why could see it that way,’ but here I’m like ‘That might be meant to come off as macho aggression but what I’m seeing is Lakan liking to touch Callum.’ Also sparing Elaine was waaaaay subtle.
Well, Lacan, as Jude bitterly observed, the show loves Callum the most. But Callum wasn’t idiot enough to get used to plant a bomb at a hospital. With sick people and babies – SICK BABIES – in it, JUDE.
I'm hoping to post some recs later today.
