Irene Adler vs. Irene Adler

Before you read this post, you must know that I a) LOVE Moffat's Irene Adler and b) find Doyle's Irene Adlere boring as heck. So, if it's the other way around for you, I might harsh your squee, just a fair warning.

Much has been said about both Irenes since A Scandal in Belgravia aired (for the sake of this post, I won't mention Ritchie's Irene who didn't make much impression on me either way) and no opinion has more merit than the other. I can speak only for myself when I compare these two...

Doyle's Irene Adler


Granada's Irene Adler

I never understood why she became The Woman for Sherlock Holmes. She was an actress with a checkered past who used to be the mistress of a wealthy patron. I didn't really understand that part since a) the guy was a jerk and b) he was the heir to the throne. Esp. b) made me wonder what she expected from him. Marriage or what, that she behaved like a woman scorned? And what was her plan when she sent the letter, telling him about the photograph? How could he have thought it was anything but blackmail? And why did she send it when she was in love and about to be married anyway? Revenge? Doyle didn't really bother with logical motives sometimes, did he? Well, I think she was lucky that he wasn't a jerk enough to just send someone to kill her and burn the house down around her, it would've been an easier solution, that's for sure.

But let's talk about Irene and Holmes. So, she figured out who he was and followed him to be sure it really was him and then fled. Wow, good job there. After she had been specifically warned that Holmes would be after her, it was a real hardship to figure out that the one guy she let inside her house was the sneaky detective she was warned against. And what did she do? She packed her bags and fled in the middle of the night like a common thief. Wow, what an accomplishment.

You know what would've made her The Woman in my eyes? If she had stayed and waited for them to show up in the morning, lounging relaxed on her sofa, and then burned the photograph right there, in front of the king's eyes, told him to go and screw a donkey and then left the room with her head held high like a queen. Now THAT would've made me love her. But Doyle's Irene? She just took for the hills. Bravo!

Also, I thought that there were more interesting women in Doyle's stories. Like the daughter in The Speckled Band who finally found the courage to stand up against her abusive step-father and went to Holmes for help. Or the girl in The Solitary Cyclist who, when she realized she was being followed, first tried to ambush her stalker, then tried to chase him and then went to Holmes for help because she would not tolerate this! How awesome was she?

Moffat's Irene Adler


Lara Pulver as Irene Adler

Now here's a woman to my liking. And I don't care what anybody says. Why did she have to be a dominatrix? Moffat's a misogynist for using her sexuality! She had to be rescued by Sherlock in the end! Boohoo, cry me a river! For 80 minutes out of those 90, Irene played Sherlock like a fiddle, she made him dance like a puppet, she used his vanity against him, she used him to destroy Mycroft's anti-terrorist plans and then she threw him away like a used tissue. And let's not forget that she saved his life at the beginning of the episode. And if you think that was an accident, think twice.

So yeah, dear Irene Adler, how I love this incarnation of yours. An aggressively sexual, sensual woman who uses her knowledge of what heterosexual men and lesbian women want against them, to get what she wants. A woman who's not afraid of her sexuality, who considers sexuality pretty much fluid - lesbian yet attracted to Sherlock the way John's straight yet attracted to him too, see the scene in the warehouse! - who's not afraid to experiment and explore any road that opens to her. A woman who, just like Sherlock, doesn't let her feelings get in the way of her getting what she wants. A woman for whom this, the ep's plot, is NOT about a man! A woman who has one flaw - her arrogance.

And it was this arrogance that Sherlock used against her the way Moriarty used Mycroft's arrogance against Mycroft. It was her arrogance that allowed Sherlock to crack the password and destroy her plans. And why did he save her? He beat her, he didn't want her dead! He considered her an opponent worthy enough to go the extra length and keep her alive. Did he do it for anybody else (except for John, that is)? No, because he couldn't be bothered. But she, THIS Irene Adler, made an impact on him because she was smart as heck and knew how to manipulate people. And I don't understand people who disregard the previous 80 minutes for the last 10. Eh.

Also, she didn't work FOR Moriarty, what a nonsense. She was an independent contractor who sold him stuff she got her hands on. She wasn't one of his lackeys. Sheesh. Talk about reaching in your hate for the character!

So, all I can say is, thank you, Mr. Moffat, for introducing me to this exceptional woman. I'm a little bit in love *_*

Benedict Cumberbatch interview

There's a really great interview with Benedict Cumberbatch over on TVLine: link. He talks about Sherlock and Irene Adler and Downton Abbey there and he comes over as incredibly sweet and bashful. A lovely guy...

Of course, on ONTD, when they reposted the article there - link - people called him a privileged dick in the comment section. And again - what the fuckity fuck?! What a bunch of losers do these people have to be to consider someone as talented and outspoken and articulate as him a dick? Wow. Maybe he needs to use smaller words and improper grammar and throw a few "fucks" in for them to feel at ease with him. I guess they are like a support group, holding hands and reafirming each other in their smallness. I mean, I'm used to them calling him ugly and whatnot but this took the top, seriously!

30 Days Relationship Challenge #18

I keep forgetting about this meme! -_-


Deymio & Khyel, RingDancers by Jane S. Fancher

RingDancers is a fantasy series about a ruling family that has a mighty source of power under its control, a power that manifests itself through huge rings that spin and spin and spin endlessly. It's an amazing series. I've read only the first 3 books so far because the last one is available only in e-book form, but you can take the first three as a finished series, there was no real need for a continuation: link.

It's the story of 3 brothers, Deymorin (Deymio), Mikhyel (Khyel) and Nikkaenor (Nikki). The youngest one is a brat and not very likable - he shouldn't be, that's the whole point, his older brothers spoiled him which leads to many, many problems - but Deymio and Khyel... wow, just wow. As children, they were incredibly close, than a misunderstanding separated them, causing Deymio's bum leg and Khyel's trust issues. Many years later, they're reunited - and closer than ever.

And by closer than ever, I mean CLOSER THAN EVER. As in Khyel offers himself to Deymio and Deymio doesn't exactly say no, they are so enthralled with each other. And if Deymio didn't have Kiyrstin already at this point - a kick-ass lady in her own right! - I think he would've accepted the offer. They are so attached to each other. So yes, Deymio marries Kiyrstin and Khyel gets together with Dancer who is both male and female at once but both Kiyrstin and Dancer acknowledge the bond between the brothers, the fact that they are inseparable, communicating telepathically, feeling each other's emotions and so on... And it's glorious! *_*

Podfic rec: Sherlock

"Shadows on the Wall" by arasigyrn, read by lunchee | AU | Sherlock/John | John came back from Afghanistan psychic. | 2hrs. 18min.

Halfway down the street, he stops; just a split second before the gun comes to rest against the back of his neck. He looks up at the smirking, horribly familiar figure in front of him. All around them, the CCTV cameras are dark and dead. John breathes out, even and calm.

"Hello, Jim."

Loved the fic and rec'd it some time ago and this podfic is simply AMAZING! Lunchee put so much work into it! Awesome.