Writing Wednesday: Darkly Dreaming Dexter, a TV show better than the original book? MADNESS.

"Another beautiful Miami day.

 Mutilated corpses with a chance of afternoon showers."

- Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

As any aspiring writer should, I try to always read the original book of a movie/TV adaption. The only book I refuse to do this for is Big Fish because I'm too scared of the possibly of not liking it. But everything else, I want to read the original, I want to support the author. 

So naturally, as a fan of the Dexter television series I needed to read the book. I finished it Tuesday afternoon, and it took me far too long to read a book that short. I had a hard time feeling compelled to read it since I knew the outcome, at least until the book took a weird turn that didn't occur in the first season of the show. Now that I'm done, I feel weird writing a review of this book because I've never truly and completely liked a TV/movie more than the original book. Live-action and even cartoon adaptions never do the author's words justice. But that's not the case with this book. 

I could tell he was a newbie writer. Things were repetitive. For example, Dexter had to keep telling us he was an unfeeling monster. And we got it after the first chapter. It didn't need to be spelled out for us, after he murders someone. The book also felt rushed, and not thought out until the end. It was as though, Jeff Lindsay knew the beginning and ending but didn't know how to connect the two. 

The best difference is Deb. Even LaGuerta. I'm glad they get more screen time in the series, but they are better characters in the book. Rita too! Oh my gosh, she's in the book so little I almost forgot about her. There's stuff about each of the women that I love in the show, but things I love just as much (if not more) in the book that they changed. One thing I realized during the last season of the show is that it's pseudo-feminist. They try to tell us the women are strong and independent but the women all rely on the men for just about everything. The men rely on no one, not even each other. Deb is like that in the book, but LaGuerta isn't. She's more sexualized in the book, but a slight bit more badass. 

Overall, I would give the book a 2.5. Feel free to voice your opinions in the comments!

Also, I'm excited for the new season even though some think it should have ended early. What do you think?

Manic Monday: Disappointment in Pepper Potts

"Baby, you're in a relationship with me. 

Nothing is ever going to be alright."

-Tony Stark, Iron Man 3

 

On Thursday I spent the day in an AMC theater rewatching the first two Iron Man films, The Avengers, and then Iron Man 3 for the first time. 

One of the things I was looking forward to in seeing this movie was Pepper Potts becoming a BA. She was in a way in the previous films, but I was looking forward to her kicking some ass. But she didn't. She was a victim, and a damsel in distress. Honestly, she was kind of mean to Tony who was clearly having trouble dealing with ALMOST DYING. AGAIN. 

But Pepper has only ever gotten her "powers" from men. Even just being CEO of the company was something that Tony almost nonchalantly gave her. The extremis virus and the Iron Man suit were the same. She was given something (by men) that could make her powerful and she struggled with it. She doesn't know how to use to her new powers and then feels guilty about using them. She's no Black Widow. And the Marvel films need more women like Black Widow. 

Overall, I loved the movie. I really enjoyed it despite mixed reviews I've heard. I never read the comics so I didn't have much to go off of in comparison. I would give the film a 3. The Avengers was the best, and I have no idea how anyone will beat it. 

Last question to the writers of Iron Man 3, WHY DESTROY ALL THE SUITS?