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Post by Tom East on Dec 2, 2012 0:14:41 GMT
Ooh, thanks for that!
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Tony O'Black
Evolution Participants
Writer. Reader. Lover. Chicken, mostly.
Posts: 60
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Post by Tony O'Black on Feb 13, 2013 20:25:08 GMT
Okay, I'm going to simply post individual thoughts on here for each episode, then once the sequence is done they'll all be combined into a big BHP post or two with a final score.
So, 1x01:
A decent introduction to the world of Dead City Blues from creator Alden Caele, who strives neatly to really develop a sense of atmosphere to the eponymous city. The webisode format doesn't allow him much freedom to develop anything really in depth, and I would question just how effective I might have found this without reading the summary of what the show is in advance, but Caele does manage to communicate the location, scenario and presumably his two leads perfectly well.
As to those leads... well they're gay and horny! Not typically a combination I’d choose to read, in all honesty, but Caele gets across a clear relationship between Shane and Kellan; it pretty clear from 'princess' who the giver and taker in that one is - though it wouldn't be unlike Caele to try and subvert that down the line. Amidst introducing them, he gets a sense of plot in there too with the food drops and rival hunters - with Shane displaying a remarkable callousness.
So yeah... a decent start. I'm not entirely sure this will end up my personal taste, but that aside Caele clearly knows his world, even if he might benefit from breaking up his blocky descriptions from time to time.
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Post by Andrew on Feb 14, 2013 20:35:11 GMT
I started Dead City Blues and I must say it's a good start. I enjoyed the the intros of the main characters and I sort of felt an I am Legend type feel to you and that's probably not the direction you were taking. That is a good point that it's more than zombies, that it has a mixture of monsters lurking in the city. On to the next 7/10
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Post by Andrew on Feb 15, 2013 17:01:24 GMT
Now on episode 102 - I can honestly say that this show is quite interesting in that I don't know where it's going. It feels like at times that it's going to be just a round of conversations around the different monsters in the street or wherever and other times I think it's going to peak into something. I did catch a comment in this episode where one of them said something about opening the door and he wasn't sure if he would go out. Hmmm? I'm curious if I read that right and will keep reading just to figure out that mystery. lol. No it's a good piece of work. I can honestly see the humor in the show.
On to the next. Good job!
7/10
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Post by Andrew on Feb 15, 2013 17:30:50 GMT
Now on episode 103 and I can say this is your normal - oopsy episode - You know those shows where you do something wrong and that something wrong comes back into the picture. It's a classic reveal and it always, most of the times works. I could see that look on Kellan's face when he saw the guest. Inching further along in the story and I just realized something pertaining to my comments in the last episode...Someone is dropping supplies so that means there is either an "Outside" like I mentioned or maybe an area somewhere in the city that is safer. Of course the curiousity is peaked and I must go on!
7/10
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Post by RJ Alden Lackie on Feb 15, 2013 18:52:19 GMT
Thanks very much for the reviews so far, Andrew; I'm enjoying them immensely.
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Tony O'Black
Evolution Participants
Writer. Reader. Lover. Chicken, mostly.
Posts: 60
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Post by Tony O'Black on Feb 16, 2013 10:59:10 GMT
1x02:
Man alive this show is super gay isn't it? Like a lot of fiction I've read online, there's still a sense of trying too hard with 'Tess' to really hammer us over the head with the erotic homosexuality clearly at the heart of Dead City Blues, which oddly enough only makes it more alienating to those of us who aren't gay. Y'know, I'm more interested in this creature infested city than seeing Kellan randomly hook up with a gay prostitute.
What I got most out of this was the eponymous Tess, who is straight out of the self-empowered, hard ass chick book Caele has spent years studying, and I definitely am the most interested in her so far. Shane is a swaggering bellend and Kellan just needs to grow a pair and stop being such a doormat, so Tess was a neat injection - and I liked how Caele layered in details here of how they all connect, that was nicely done.
The lack of a sense of plot involved as in the previous episode meant I didn't get as much here, plus there's some blatant SPAG troubles that leapt out, but Tess and decent writing saves it.
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Post by RJ Alden Lackie on Feb 16, 2013 14:32:14 GMT
Cheers, Tony! So, 1x01: Thanks! A huge concern going into webisodes is whether you can establish those three things, as well as an aesthetic, in a handful of pages. I like to think I did pretty well on that score! I'm glad you caught that! One of the major themes of the series is what happens to people who survive in the dead city. I'm hoping the nuances of Shane and Kellan's relationship will intrigue you as the season progresses. I'm very pleased you've given DCB a shot, Mr. Black! Especially grateful since it's probably very much not down your typical alley. Whether or not you find it to your liking, I hope you get something out of it. I know I'll deeply appreciate even negative reviews, as you tend to make very smart observations about structure, character development, etc. Here's hoping you enjoy as the next few eps broaden the universe somewhat with the supporting cast. ^_^ Thanks again, mate! Looking forward to the rest!
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Post by RJ Alden Lackie on Feb 16, 2013 14:32:53 GMT
Tony! Welcome back! I totally understand the frustration with the show's sexualisation. There's a specific point to it, even though I expect it's somewhat alienating at this early stage. Relationships and sexuality are central to the ongoing plot of the show, which will make more sense come 1x03. Also, when I set out to create this show, I wanted these young men to feel real. In a world where you could die at any moment, physical pleasures and instant gratification become paramount, which is why guys like Shane and, to an extent Kellan, feel so oversexualised. So though the sex feels like a distraction from the interesting world they're in, to me, it's just as much a piece of worldbuilding as that lovely montage in the pilot showing the city. I won't promise that the erotic elements of the show vanish, but I will say that over the course of the season, they become much less pronounced. Stick with it, because the sex is really a storytelling tool I'm using to push the characters onward. If you get to the end of the season, you'll see where things are headed and they're a bit less oversaturated. Though I do always want the show to have a bit of sexy swagger, I also don't want it to become Dante's Cove (shudder). Very pleased Tess worked for you! Of all the characters in the first season, Tess' voice is the most clear to me, and I really enjoy writing her. She's got a nice journey on the way, I think. Just as Shane's going to have to grow out of being a post-apocalyptic jock and Kellan's going to have to grow a pair, Tess' life is going to get nicely complicated as well. Li and Claire, in particular, have great Tess scenes in episodes coming up. One fair warning to give: in sequence one, I mostly eschew plot for character development and worldbuilding. Be patient with it, as it's a bit of a slow burn. I apologise for the SPAG issues. Even after all these years, SPAG isn't my strong suit. Cheers, Tony! Loving the reviews so far.
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Post by Andrew on Feb 16, 2013 22:52:32 GMT
Okay now 104, still the story is building into something else. I still feel like there is more to this than just the local drama that is going on. I like the triangle that developed in this episode plus the unique bartender that made Kellan think. I think for the most part it's still a cute little story that keeps my attention. I don't know maybe it's a guilty pleasure to send myself into a reality that would never experience anywhere else. I can clearly see myself staying with this in the hopes that you will slowly get me to raise my rating (lol). When I first read about this show I thought it was going to be a serious zombie, monster show but the humor mixed with drama mixed with a mystery...It keeps me coming back!
Good job.
7/10
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