The Watch – Part 234:

(Tom’s perspective)

I wonder how long I’m going to stay in here. What if I act as if I’m not bothered? That might confuse them. That might actually be fun. I can imagine their faces now: Seeing me lying here, on my back, not bothered about being here; that must be really irritating, because I have information that they want, and they are expecting this cell to break me and spill my beans, but instead, I’m just going to stay here, waiting for someone to come and get me.

Oh, that would be so awesome. Someone appearing out of thin air, only for us to disappear. The amount of questions they will have will be incredible. That makes me nearly want to come back and watch their reaction, but that would be completely pointless. Once I’m gone, that will be it. Once my back is turned, I will not be turning it again.

I’ve only just realised how many transitions I’ve gone through in such a short period of time. It really doesn’t feel as if it has only been a day and a half. No, actually, it has only been a day, because I came here in the middle of yesterday, and it is now the middle of the next day, that’s a twenty-four-hour period. Blimey, it has only been one day. That’s incredible.

The exhaustion of feeling so many emotions in one go and having to get used to a new place finally started to kick in.

I find it ironic that I may actually get a good night’s sleep after the biggest change of them all. Or should I say contradictory. I’m not sure. I’ve never been good with identifying the correct use of irony.

My eyelids start to droop; I’m about to fall asleep.

I think the word unexpected hasn’t got any weight behind it now. Not because I’ve said it so many times, but because so many unexpected things have happened that anything unexpected is now expected. I should start expecting the unexpected, which would make then cancel out anything that can be classed as unexpected and make everything completely expected. I did have a point there, but all I ended up doing was saying the word unexpected too many times, and it is actually starting to have no meaning, and the other definition of that phrase as well. The word unexpected having two types of ‘no-meaning’ is weird. Which is unexpected. And I wasn’t expecting that. Now that has to be at least a version of irony. If it isn’t, then I don’t know what it is.

Actually, I don’t think what I am feeling is exhaustion. No, it’s something else. It’s something that I never thought I would be feeling, because I never knew it was a feeling to feel.

Oh, now that’s weird. That is very weird. I should come up with a name for this feeling, unless there is already a name for it, but because I’ve never felt this feeling before, I never had need to find out the name for it. But I would like to know what it is. Ok, here’s what I’m going to do, I will invent a name for this, and then I will seek out the proper name for this later. Someone else must have felt this before. It’s pretty impossible to feel something no one has ever felt before. Our brains may be wired to think different, form unique ideas and opinions, but they are exactly the same when it comes to feelings. At some point, we all – every single one of us – feel the same feelings at least once in our lives. But it is weird to feel a new feeling that I’ve never felt before. And that weirdness is adding a new layer to the feeling, transforming it into something different once more.

If I am to name this, I will have to describe it. So, how do I describe it? Well, before I can describe it, I need to identify the source. And the source, I guess is this place. Laying here, in this cell triggered the feeling. So, maybe it was something that I was thinking about that triggered it. Let’s see… What was I thinking? The first thing that I was thinking about was how I was finding it funny that I wasn’t being affected by being in here as much – if not at all – as Dr Amanda expected me to be. Then I moved on to thinking about the many changes of environment I’ve gone through since coming here, and then that feeling started up. Well, that doesn’t help at all. I still have no closer to describing that feeling, and even further away from giving it a name.

Maybe I can leave it to my subconscious to figure it out. Or maybe I can sleep on it. Maybe I am actually exhausted and need to get some sleep. I don’t know what else it could be.

Oh, I don’t know.

What I do know is that being here would actually help me in figuring it out. No distractions. And now that I’m not worried about anything. No distractions times 2. And now that I don’t care anymore. No distractions times 3. I’m able to think clearly and freely. I am able to… be myself.

That’s it. That is it. That is the feeling.

I am experiencing the feeling of what it is like to be on my own. That sounds bad. Hang on, let’s see if I can better it. I am not worried and I don’t care, and I am in this place, where there are no distractions of any kind.

I now know what it is like to be alone with myself. This is what it is like to have some me time. My thoughts are able to wander because they have no obstacles getting in the way. That is the feeling.

‘Tom,’ a man’s voice called, making me jump. Well, that didn’t last long.

‘I was enjoying the moment, you know,’ I called back.

‘Dr Amanda would like to see you now,’ he said.

‘I bet you’ve been waiting to say that for ages,’ I said. Nope, that didn’t make any sense.

‘Just get up.’

‘OK.’

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Mum's Monday: Dunkirk

Warning spoilers

Based on a real life true event, during 2^nd world war, Dunkirk is a film you simply have to; just watch. There aren’t many words within the script, but there doesn’t have to be and too many spoken words would ruin the impact of the film.

It gives an insight on what happened on both sides of the channel, in getting the boats ready, striping the unnecessary items out and loading in the life-belts.

We also see the role the air force took at the time of the evacuation of Dunkirk.

The film focuses on only a few characters, but what is unique about this film, one of the soldiers rarely says anything, we don’t know much about him, only that he is English.

What I found strange during the film, is that it kept swapping scenes between night and daytime, there wasn’t a sense of a time line, or a time of day.

The atmospheric scenes and the music, portrays the horrors of war without being too gory, which makes the film, easier to watch.

Some parts of the film are a little confusing, as to what is going on, which also made me want to keep watching to see what the outcome would be. Even though we know what happens as a result of Dunkirk, I still wanted to see what happened to the individual characters.

It is nice, after all the dark tension, to see the freshness of the scenes, where all the boats are making their way over to rescue the troops. It doesn’t last long, but this is a film set in war time.

It is an efficient film and does what it set out do, that is to tell the horrors as well as the heart-warming story of Dunkirk.

Jerry's Journal: Excited For His Bone

Yesterday, we took Jerry down the market where we let him choose his own bone. When dad was taking him home so he can munch and chew on it, he was too eager and started jumping up. He was able to break through the bag which held the bone. Soon, dad was able to get him home where he could have free rein. He chewed that bone for a good couple of hours before wearing himself out. He slept the rest of the day.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

The Watch – Part 233:

(Tom’s perspective)

The door opened and in stepped Carl, followed closely by another man, who I can only assume to be Bernard.

‘Tom,’ Doctor Amanda said, turning around to face me once more, ‘this is Bernard. He will escort you to your cell. How long you will be there is up to you, but bear in mind that we do want any and all information you have before long,’ she explained. I guess I had better get up from this still very comfortable mattress and make my way over to a place that will probably have a piece of wood compared to what I’m lying on now.

I sat up, swung my legs around and placed them on the floor before standing up. My head started to pulsate and soon a small dizzy spell had hit me. It wasn’t enough to make me lose my balance but it did make the room spin ever so slightly before settling back down again. Even though I have become immune to them once more, I must be still recovering from when I wasn’t when I was shot by the Tasor. Amanda, Carl and Bernard just stood there, waiting for me to recover and be ready to leave this room and walk to my cell.

‘OK,’ I said after the dizzy spell had completely gone, ‘I’m ready whenever you are.’

‘Right this way, please, Tom,’ Bernard said, opening the door and allowing me to step through first. I did just that, but because I have no idea where I’m going, I waited for Bernard to take the lead and soon we were making our way down the corridor towards a blue door. Bernard opened it, walked through, held it open for me to step through and we continued onwards.

I knew that it was pointless to try and engage Bernard in any conversation as he stayed a good couple of steps in front. I could say that he is under orders not to communicate with me, but somehow I don’t think he needed to be told. He had grey hair that had been combed back. He had a long beard and a moustache set that was well kept. He was also wearing a very expensive-looking suit. He must have been in this organisation for a long time. I would be fascinating to hear what he has to say about life from the perspective of being in a secret organisation for years.

We walked down quite a few corridors before finally reaching my cell. This place was cleverly designed to not allow any people who they don’t want to see any of their headquarters not see anything of the sort. On the other side of the door, a classic prison scene met my eyes. Cells on both sides, some on the ground, and some on an upper level. I walked past five before Bernard stopped at the sixth cell, opened it and waited for me to step inside. I don’t have a choice but enter the cell and wait there for further instructions. Without looking at Bernard, I stepped inside and he closed the door behind me. Then he walked off without saying a single word.

There were two beds in here. One against the wall on the left and one against the wall on the right. They were both empty, so it didn’t matter what one I chose, so I went and sat down on the one on the right.

Now what’s going to happen? How long am I going to stay here for? Is this their plan, keeping me here until I don’t want to stay here any longer? They said that if I don’t cooperate, then they will make me. Little do they know that at any moment, someone’s going to appear right in front of me and take me from here, and no matter how much they search for me, I will be nowhere to be found. I looked around and as expected, I found a camera in the corner, pointing down at me. I would love for that to happen, but alas, it might not for a while yet. The best thing I can do at the moment is lay here and wait.

To be honest, I was expecting something a bit more to happen other than being escorted to another bed. It could be because I am not cooperating as much as they would like me to. I’ve already told Tim everything. Well, almost everything. I know he doesn’t have unlimited resources at his disposal, but when I’m gone, there is no reason for me to care about this world anymore. Once I’m gone, I can forget about this place. Any and all information that I will give them, they can use, but what they will do with it won’t actually affect me in any way. And once I’ve given them what they want, they may actually give me at least something in return. I know they said that they won’t be compromising any time soon, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

What if I word my answers in a way that will force them to have to compromise? That sounds interesting. But what do I say? Well, that all depends on what they ask. And I know pretty much what they are going to ask, because if I were in their position, I would have the same questions, and then some. I think I can get away with that. It does sound very tempting.

The sudden change of events, from being in a campsite to laying in a cell in the middle of a secret organisation is something that I’m still struggling to comprehend. I do wish I was able to get to know more of the people there, but I guess that wasn’t how it was meant to be. There’s nothing I can do about it, so I shouldn’t dwell on it. Instead, I should focus on moving forward, and that shouldn’t be too hard…

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Mum's Monday: Insidious: The Last Key

Antony wrote his opinion on the film last Friday, and I thought I would put across my thoughts as well, of what I liked about the film.

This films gives me chills and with the right amount of, ‘Jump Scares’, to keep you sitting on the edge of your seat and keep you focused, on, not only what is going on in the foreground, but also what is happening in the background as well, along with the sounds of the background soundtrack, it adds to the horror of the film.

The film’s storyline, where the main character Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), literally faces her demons from the past. A few twists, showing that a supernatural horror film doesn’t always have to be predominately about spirits. This is a true horror film, but realistically done.

However, it is good to see a few light-hearted scenes, just to break up the darkness, and this is done in such a way that it adds to the film and doesn’t take anything away from it. As part of this, it is nice to see Elise and her family reuniting, becoming closer and letting go of the past throughout the film. I also got, and thought the ‘Side-kick’ joke was funny, but in the film no one else did, which I felt was a shame.

The makeup is done to a high standard and is not over the top, to be unbelievable, it so easily could be, to overdo the horror. It is not overly gory, it is enough and in-keeping for the storyline.

The continuity is exceptionally well done, in a previous film, we see a ‘Red Door’ of no significance and in this film the story behind it is told. It is like they wrote all 4 films in a block and released them as and when they were made.

I am not sure, if there is room for more, with the younger generation stepping forward, it does depend on whether the writers can come up with fresh storylines and not stretch the insidious film idea too far.

If this is the last film, it would be disappointing to no longer see the characters again, but if as it looks like, it has come to its natural end, the film has left me wanting to watch the films 1 to 3 all over again, in a kind of a loop. this is done in such a way to be a good clear, and a, well done, fitting finale, to the insidious films.

Jerry's Journal: How Much He Has Grown

When we first got Jerry, he was so small you could hold him in your arms. Now, he has grown so much and he now loves his picture being taken. 

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Film of the Week: Insidious: The Last Key

Warning: Contains spoilers.

The fourth instalment and possibly the last story in the Insidious series surprisingly doesn’t dip in quality. All four films have maintained a strong, original story that builds upon the last. I can completely forgive them for not releasing the story in chronological order, because when you get around to watching the first one again, Elise’s character already has so many layers. If you were, you have to watch 3, and 4 before 1 and 2.

During this film, we learn more about the life of the psychic Eliese Rainier (Lin Shaye). From when she was growing up to now. This does have a few darker moments compared to the previous three, but are within context of the story; it’s not dark for the sake of being dark.

Unlike plenty of series that extends to four films, each one is strong in its own way, enabling all four to be entertaining, terrifying, and not least bit predictable. With this film using its original elements in conjunction with those we’re familiar with before, it’s able to show us a totally unique experience, along with a good twist. The previous films are purely focused on paranormal activity, but The Last Key adds an unexpected element in – living people. What was previously perceived as ghosts were actually people who were trapped in the family home. So many years down the line, Elise was able to use her gift of communicating with the dead to put those who suffered to rest and rescue those the demon took.

Whilst it’s understandable to believe that Insidious is scrapping the bottom of the barrel by reducing the amount of paranormal activity, I say it helps. It has the same atmosphere, it has plenty of good camera angles, it has some brilliant jump scares, with that newly introduced element, it does feel original instead of a rehash of what’s already been done, or we’re just watching it slowly worsen with each instalment.

One particular element that is consistently strong throughout all four films – most notably in the second – is the continuity. How the writers and directors were able to interweave all four films the way they have, with little snippets here and there to once again build upon the last or, in this case, the next part of Elise’s story, the overall effect fleshes out each film so much more, given them multiple layers, revealing twists and turns, shocks and surprises all at the same time as keeping you on the edge of your seat, and occasionally, making you fall of the seat due to an exceptional jump scare.

My favourite jump scare in the entire franchise was during Insidious 2, where the woman in the white dress teases the mother and appears suddenly behind her in the living room. That literally made me jump off my seat in the cinema. I’m surprised no one noticed, but then again they all were engrossed in the film to care, and picking themselves up off the floor in the process.

The horror genre is inundated with terrible movies. You have to wade through half a dozen before you find a gem, and Insidious is definitely one of those precious films you can watch and watch repeatedly and still be entertained. To make an entire franchise as good as the last is rarer still, and shows off the talent of everyone involved. Also, with the jump scares, they are so well done, that even though you know they’re coming, they can still catch you off guard.

I don’t just highly recommend the first film; I highly recommend all four films. You can, if you want, watch them in the order they were released or in the order the story was built in. It’s totally up to you, because nothing will be lost in the processed.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

The Watch – Part 232:

(Tom’s perspective)

‘Hello, Tom,’ Doctor Amanda said calmly when I had eventually opened my eyes. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Um… I’m feeling good, actually,’ I said. I was still on my back, staring up at the dangling light above my head. ‘Where am I?’

‘You are in the main headquarters of Sector 14,’ Doctor Amanda explained again. She looked to be about in her thirties, with her hair tied up in a bun and she was wearing a very expensive looking suit.

‘No, I mean, where is Sector 14?’

‘I’m afraid I cannot disclose that kind of information,’ she said with finality. She then didn’t waste any time getting to the point. ‘If you are ready, we would like you to answer a series of questions regarding who you are, how you got here and your position here before we can move on with anything else. Does that sound reasonable to you, Tom?’ she said in that tone that is usually used to force the other person to agree, but I wasn’t going to give in so easily.

‘And what will you do with that information?’ I asked.

‘I’m afraid I cannot disclose that kind of information,’ she repeated as if it was programmed in to her software. I was afraid she was going to say that. I don’t have anything to counter it at the moment, so I just nodded and kept quiet.

‘So, you’re expecting me to answer any question you have, without knowing what you are going to use that information for, and I am also expecting that depending on the information that I say will result in what you do with me from then on,’ I concluded.

‘May I just say, Tom,’ Doctor Amanda said, ‘that you have just confirmed that the information that you have is worthy enough for us to keep you here,’ she smiled. Oh, she’s good. I had better watch what I say because she is awesome at reading between the lines. ‘So whether or not you tell us, you will be staying here for the foreseeable future.’

‘Going by that logic, then I can stay here for as long as I want without having to tell you a thing.’

‘We simply cannot wait that long,’ she said, sternly.

‘Why, what’s happening?’ I asked. She looked at me with sharp eyes. She knew that I wasn’t going to play ball. I know what I am doing. I’m waiting for Sebastian. Any and all information that I have will be leaving when he comes and gets me. All I have to do is wait. But from the look in Amanda’s eyes, I had better watch what I say and how I act because I don’t want to push her to doing something that I am going to regret. I went silent.

‘Tom, as much as you would like to know what is happening, that is highly classified and I cannot risk just telling anyone who comes in here because we cannot take that high of a risk. I know that you must watch what you say and how you act, otherwise you would not have gone silent as quickly as you did, and so that is my first and only warning. If you wish for me to push further, I hope you will back down before that happens.’ That was a clear threat. The conversation was over. There was nothing else to be said. She turned to the left and spoke to the man wearing a white lab coat, holding a clipboard on his hands and standing next door to a computer with a stream of data scrolling up the screen at a rapid rate. He snapped his attention towards Amanda the moment that she addressed him.

‘Carl, can you go and tell Bernard that he is awake.’

‘Yes, Ma-am,’ he nodded, placed the clipboard down and hurried out of the room. The door slowly swung shut, clicking gently into place after a couple of seconds. As I was watching the door, I noticed that the room that I was in wasn’t at all that big. All this room has is a bed, a computer system, and two people: Amanda and I.

‘Who’s Bernard?’ I asked.

‘He’s in charge of making sure that there is a space free in the cells,’ she smiled coldly.

‘So you are going to chuck me in there until I speak, are you?’ I said.

‘You will remain there until ready, yes,’ she said. Although that more or less had the same meaning between the words, the way it was said doesn’t sound too promising. It’s as if I was going to have a very hectic time. It’s as if she is trying to scare me into talking. As much as I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to find out what she has in store for me either. I tried to make myself appear as casual as possible, but I don’t think I was successful. She noticed that, and it was then she turned her back on me, ending the conversation, making me think about what she had just said. She’s very good.

‘So we can’t come up with any sort of compromise, then?’ I asked. She turned back around to face me. She was not happy that I wasn’t giving into her methods so easily. But, her aura told me that I wasn’t the first to try and push the limits, and I won’t be the last. She knows exactly what to say and how to say it because at least something will sink in. She just has to find the correct sentence.

Instead, she decided that by not saying anything at all was the best course of action. She didn’t smile, or react in any way. She just looked at me with penetrative eyes, then turned her back once more. Now, that obviously means something. If they really want me to talk, then they can’t harm me… Well, to the point where I can’t speak anyway. Oh, heck, is that what’s going to happen? I don’t want to be subjected to some form of torture.

‘Torture is too strong a word, if I do say so myself, Tom,’ Doctor Amanda said, not even looking at me. I know that she can’t read my mind. She’s just experienced. She’s very, very good.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

The Watch – Part 231:

(Tom’s perspective)

The dream has ended. I’m lying on something soft. A bed, maybe? I was about to open my eyes when I heard a woman’s voice beside me.

‘He’s waking up!’ she said in an orderly fashion as if she was telling someone to carry out a specific procedure.

‘His vitals are fine. All of the chemicals are out of his system, bar one, but his body’s defences have grown stronger, making him immune to it once more. Actually, according to the data, he is fully awake.’ They know that I’m keeping my eyes deliberately shut.

‘It’s alright,’ she said. Her voice sounded comforting, but was packed full of experience, making it sound strong. Whoever she is, wherever I am, I am willing to bet that she is the head of it, or if not the head of the whole thing, then the head of this section that I’m in not, ‘we won’t hurt you.’ I am struggling to believe that. Then again, if she or they were planning on hurting me, they would have done so already. I feel quite fine. This mattress must be memory foam as I can feel the indent that my body has created.

‘It is understandable if you are scarred, but I can assure you that we mean you know harm,’ she said again, with less of the experience but with more of the comforting, which paradoxically, came with experience. She must have done this type of thing many times before. I’m not sure if that is a good or a bad thing. Either way, I am here now, so I will have to go along with what she has planned for me. If I don’t, well, I don’t want to find out. But if she is telling the truth and won’t harm me in any way, then I would want to know why I was brought here in the first place.

‘My name is Doctor Amanda Bana. Or Doctor Bana if you prefer. You are currently in the main headquarters of the secret organisation Sector 14. When you are ready, we would like to ask a series of questions involving your placement,’ she said, professionally. First things first, there is only one reason why she is telling me all of this… Well, two reasons, actually: Two get me to trust her and that I won’t be leaving any time soon so that I won’t spread the word that I was ever here or this ever existed. Second of all, those series of questions she has in store for me, doesn’t sound good. I can already guess exactly what she is going to ask me from the very beginning, but I don’t know if answering truthfully will help me or hinder me in some way.

‘If you are still tired, please nod your head and we will give you some more time to recuperate,’ Doctor Bana said. There’s no point in delaying things. Whether I get some more sleep or not, I will be put in a position where I will be forced to answer some unwanted questions. Plus I just don’t need any more sleep. I am fully awake, I just don’t want to open my eyes yet as that would confirm that I am indeed awake.

I shook my head, signalling no. That means I will now have to open my eyes. I had better just do it because I doubt that someone in her position doesn’t have that much patience compared to what she is portraying. It’s all an act. And if I am right, then that allows me to do some acting of my own.

That sleep did do some good for my head. I was able to relax, figure things out, organise my thoughts, and not worry about things anymore. And by not worrying, my head hasn’t been this clear since the concert back home. I know that Sebastian is coming to take me home, I just have to wait patiently.

I’m actually curious about the secret organisation, Sector 14, to be honest. It would be nice to see how an organisation that doesn’t officially exist on any and all documents, allowing them to act outside the law, pretty much doing whatever they want, how they want, and when they want to do it, and being the person in charge of all of that must be cool. Stressful, very much so, probably pushing you to the breaking point and beyond, but cool nevertheless. Having all that power must be something of a life-time achievement or something along those lines. You are now able to call all the shots, order your people about to accomplish those tasks that the Police dare not interfere with. I may be over-exaggerating it a bit, but the core element of having all of that power remains to be cool.

I wonder what qualifications you have to have in order to be a part of a secret organisation. I guess it depends on what department you want to work it. Maybe, in exchange for my answers, they give some of theirs. They do have the right to turn me down because they won’t know what I am capable of doing with that information, but it’s certainly worth a try. I could say that the more I know about this place, the more I can start to trust it. That sounds a little extortionate, but it I am to keep my head help high, I will have to make sure it isn’t being constantly dragged along the ground first.

I can sense two pairs of eyes staring at me, watching and waiting for something to happen. I mustn’t do anything irrational, as that would lead to many further complications that neither one of us, Doctor Bana and I, want. All she wants is the information that I hold, and all I want is the same in return. That doesn’t sound too far-fetched of a compromise.

I had better open my eyes, hadn’t I? Well, here goes nothing I guess.

Wish me luck.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

Mum's Monday: Jerry Maguire

A successful sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) begins to see the human cost, and realises he should take a different route. The realisation saves him from a potential break down. It is good to see, that you can still be good at your job and just a bit more caring and see the human behind the sports persona. A shock twist sees him able to follow his heart, but he is left with just one client.

As part of caring Jerry finds himself in a car with the only person, Dorothy (Renee Zellweger) to leave the office with him and her son Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki). Jerry soon finds out you don’t try and compete with a child, this is so cute to watch unfold.

During the film we see the realistic reaction of a relative to what Dorothy has given up and what situation she has found herself in.

The film it becomes heart-warming but deviates from the sporting aspect of it. It shows the perils of rushing into something for the wrong reasons. It all becomes good at the end once it goes back to the sports storyline. At the NFL game it is touch and go there for a bit but humanity wins out in the end.

Throughout the film Jerry adds one more to his client list only to lose him again, but they, at the end see what type of relationship, agent and sports star can have, it seems they soon regret their decision, by the end we see Jerry could go far.

This film shows the difference between playing a game with your heart and not just for the money, although the money helps.

Jerry's Journal: Playing With His New Toy

After he chewed his red bone to pieces we decided to get something more robust. Pets at Home do the a bone in the same material as the Kong. 

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

TV Show of the Week: Marvel’s Runaways

Marvel’s Runaways is a fresh take on what we’ve seen over the past decade. It has been confirmed it is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not one reference is made to the films or other TV shows. It’s made as if it’s completely separate from it all, almost in a different world altogether.

Well, in a way it is, because whilst the movies and TV shows centre around New York City or just around the vicinity, Runaways is based in a different part of America, and each state is as if you’re entering a completely different world. There’s no need to make any references, because the world has been established so the audience just knows it’s set in the same continuity, we don’t need constant reminders of that. By making no references, Runaways can focus every minute and every bit of dialogue and setting to be exclusive to their show, to make it much more fleshed out.

There may only be 10 episodes (3 less than the Netflix series and 12-13 less than the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) but they managed to make an incredible series – developed their characters, explained only what needed to be said, build up their world their way. Not necessarily slowly but surely, but at a steady pace; to keep the audience entertained, and not rushing. I was a bit surprised when it got to the season finale, and there wasn’t a climatic fight, or indeed the end of the storyline they had set up. If they had, it would definitely be a rushed job. The creators of that show must have been confident the show would continue passed season 1. It’s set up the right amount of questions, they’ve set up relationships between the characters, they’ve explored every family’s dynamic and how each family is affected by the show’s main storyline. They done so much in only but 10 episodes, but they done it so well, it most certainly wasn’t rushed.

Overall, the series was light-hearted, funny at times, subtly intense at times where you weren’t on the edge of your seat, but you really wanted to know how things would plan out the way the characters wanted them to, and they had a few emotional scenes as well. My conclusion is: it’s nice and different, whilst subtly maintaining and building upon the world we’ve been following for ten years, but if you haven’t been interested in the cinematic universe I do still recommend this show simply because it’s a superhero show that does its own thing. It allows those who are interested in the universe take away what they want, and those who aren’t interested take away what they want, and everyone’s happy.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

The Watch – Part 230:

(Tom’s perspective)

‘You know, and don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s hard to talk to you when I already know what you are going to say,’ Alex said.

‘I don’t think I can say the same to you,’ I said curiously. ‘Because, the last thing I want to do is find a question that we both don’t know as that will just play on my mind until I figure it out. I wouldn’t mind a break from them for a while, if I’m honest,’ I said, stretching my arms upwards.

‘But at the same time, I’m getting bored of just sitting here in silence,’ Alex said, lifting her head up to allow me to stretch before settling back down on my shoulder once more. I don’t know how much longer I have left before I wake up. Even though I would prefer to be awake than unconscious, I am going to miss being here. This has been the first time since I can remember that I could have some me time. I can relax, recharge my batteries and, hopefully, wake up feeling refreshed, although I don’t think having a load of sleeping chemicals in your system is going to help that.

‘Benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic sleeping pills,’ Alex said suddenly, making me jump.

‘What?’ I asked.

‘Benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic sleeping pills,’ Alex repeated.

‘Repeating it doesn’t help me understand it,’ I said.

‘Remember when I was explaining to you that you were injected with some sleeping chemicals, and that I was calling them sleeping chemicals because you couldn’t remember what they were called?’ Alex asked, sitting up straight and looking at me trying to remember.

‘Yeah?’ I asked, hoping that she would elaborate a bit further.

‘Well, I was trying to remember what they were called. Or rather, you were trying to remember what they were called.

‘Was I?’ I still needed some more clarification. All this ‘I am you’ and ‘you are I’ is getting a bit confusing now.

‘Listen,’ Alex said, making me concentrate on what she has to say next. ‘I am your subconscious. If you cannot remember something, I am the one who is given the task to try and find the answer to that thing you cannot remember,’ she unnecessarily explained because I already knew that.

‘I know that you already know that, but the moment that I brought up the fact that you couldn’t remember what those sleeping chemicals were called, I was given the task of finding out what they were called, and they are called, Benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic sleeping pills. You read about it on the internet when you were studying for an assignment that needed to be completed for college the next day. Do you remember now?’

‘Oh, now I remember,’ I said as the memories suddenly clicked into place. That generated a question.

‘So, how come I was affected by those chemicals when the Police Officer shot me?’ I asked.

‘I can’t tell you, but the more logical reason would be that it’s a different concoction than what is made back home,’ she explained.

‘That makes sense,’ I said. Then I noticed something strange.

‘Where’s the picnic basket? I thought it was right there.’

‘Ah,’ Alex said, sitting up straight once more. She knows what’s going on. And if she knows what’s going on, then that means I’m going on, but I just haven’t told me yet.

‘What?’ I asked, curiously.

‘I think you’re about to wake up,’ she stated.

‘Are you sure?’ I asked. ‘I mean, I am in my imagination. What’s stopping the extraordinary from happening?’

 ‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘But your imagination – this place – has been solid ever since you got here, because you were deeply unconscious. Now that things are starting to disappear, you are slowly floating up to the top. When you hit the dream-like state that will be the last step before you wake up. I’m about to disappear soon.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I can feel you fading away.’

‘What will happen to you?’ I asked.

‘Nothing will happen to me,’ Alex answered reassuringly. ‘I’m staying here. You’re the one that’s going. I will always be here, helping you, even when you don’t know it.’

‘I cannot thank you enough,’ I said.

‘Remember, you’re thanking yourself.’

‘Ah, but technically speaking, I’m thanking you,’ I said. ‘Just accept my thanks and then we can move on,’ I said.

‘In that case,’ Alex said, ‘I accept your thanks.’

‘Good,’ I smiled. But then nothing happened.

‘Huh, well, that’s a bit anticlimactic. I thought it was going to happen now. Are we going to know when I’m about to wake up or will it be spontaneous?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Alex said. ‘Maybe the picnic basket is just a bi-product of something random happening?’ she quizzed.

‘I’ve never heard you talk like that before,’ I said.

‘Me neither,’ she said. We slipped into silence once more and for all we know, for the last time.

‘It’s tense, knowing that this will end at any moment.’

‘Are you scared?’

‘I’m a little bit nervous about what wake up to, but I wouldn’t say I’m scarred. I mean, I could be anywhere. But I know that wherever I am, whatever happens… Well, you know,’ I said.

‘I do,’ Alex nodded.

‘Good,’ I said. ‘I’m glad you do. For a second I thought I had to explain it, and well, I’ve explained it to myself more often than not and it’s getting a bit boring if I do say so myself.’

‘Which I do,’ Alex said. We both smiled at each other. ‘See, you’re getting the hang of this. Finally,’ she said.

‘I know, right,’ I said.

And then she disappeared. I watched her gradually fade away before I was the only one in the field. I believe I am now in the final layer before I wake up. I’ve never been that deep into my subconscious before: I thought I was going to feel something as I wake up, but nothing. It’s turning into a quick and simple process. But I guess I just have to wait for the dream to end naturally now.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)