Comments on: fixing Exile http://www.haibane.info/2007/11/15/fixing-exile/ a celebration of science fiction, anime, and geek culture Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:16:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Alex http://www.haibane.info/2007/11/15/fixing-exile/#comment-1192 Alex Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:28:59 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2007/11/15/fixing-exile/#comment-1192 We're still in a minority, though; I can't understand any of the love for <i>Last Exile</I> as it didn't impress me on any front at all - I don't think it diminished, I pretty much believe it never took off. It also stands in my mind as something that I watched when I had time off work - and because I didn't like it, it seems like a "wasted holiday" show. Same category: <i>Irresponsible Captain Tylor</i>. We’re still in a minority, though; I can’t understand any of the love for Last Exile as it didn’t impress me on any front at all - I don’t think it diminished, I pretty much believe it never took off.

It also stands in my mind as something that I watched when I had time off work - and because I didn’t like it, it seems like a “wasted holiday” show. Same category: Irresponsible Captain Tylor.

]]> By: Bear http://www.haibane.info/2007/11/15/fixing-exile/#comment-1188 Bear Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:44:57 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2007/11/15/fixing-exile/#comment-1188 hmmm.... Trying to put some coherent thought into this. I was hoping waiting a day would allow me to have an efficient argument, but even after two days I'm still all scrambled. So, I'll have to try with what I have. First: I don't think the alternate story line is what is needed. I think you are right, however, with the comment on dropped plots and story arcs. It falls back to the idea that they had to rush the ending. There is a lot of good material in the story, its a damn shame they couldn't stretch it out another couple of disks. It makes me wonder if some of the needed material didn't end up on the cutting room floor to make way for the opening story refresh segments (there seems like there should be a technical word for that...). It got annoying toward the end of the series since it seemed the story refreshes were getting longer and to make matters worse they were being cut and chopped as if they went through a meat grinder. That would, at least, make the story issues a directorial mistake. I also want to counter that I liked the "reset" Claus segment. It just felt good. It was one of the few story arc payoffs the series offered (an other being the vanship pilots reuniting). Now, I can't argue that the build up was lacking since the story was getting jumpy in that point of the series. But again... both the story and the payoffs could have ended up on the cutting room floor if they were trying to fit a three season series into two seasons. Blah, I missing to words for some other arguments... maybe I'll add another post if my brain starts cooperating. In closing, I still maintain that this is a very easy series to get wrapped up in a second time. I just can't stop myself from rooting for Claus and Lavie... even while knowing what story holes are coming up. Or... it could be I'm just addicted to the opening theme song. Every time I hear the bagpipe "Bahweeee-ow" followed up by the dance mix, I'm pretty much stuck to my seat for an episode. Perhaps that is the series biggest flaw, the theme song builds too much excitement that an awesome story with crappy direction can't back up... /shrug hmmm…. Trying to put some coherent thought into this. I was hoping waiting a day would allow me to have an efficient argument, but even after two days I’m still all scrambled. So, I’ll have to try with what I have.

First: I don’t think the alternate story line is what is needed. I think you are right, however, with the comment on dropped plots and story arcs. It falls back to the idea that they had to rush the ending. There is a lot of good material in the story, its a damn shame they couldn’t stretch it out another couple of disks. It makes me wonder if some of the needed material didn’t end up on the cutting room floor to make way for the opening story refresh segments (there seems like there should be a technical word for that…). It got annoying toward the end of the series since it seemed the story refreshes were getting longer and to make matters worse they were being cut and chopped as if they went through a meat grinder. That would, at least, make the story issues a directorial mistake.

I also want to counter that I liked the “reset” Claus segment. It just felt good. It was one of the few story arc payoffs the series offered (an other being the vanship pilots reuniting). Now, I can’t argue that the build up was lacking since the story was getting jumpy in that point of the series. But again… both the story and the payoffs could have ended up on the cutting room floor if they were trying to fit a three season series into two seasons.

Blah, I missing to words for some other arguments… maybe I’ll add another post if my brain starts cooperating.

In closing, I still maintain that this is a very easy series to get wrapped up in a second time. I just can’t stop myself from rooting for Claus and Lavie… even while knowing what story holes are coming up.

Or… it could be I’m just addicted to the opening theme song. Every time I hear the bagpipe “Bahweeee-ow” followed up by the dance mix, I’m pretty much stuck to my seat for an episode. Perhaps that is the series biggest flaw, the theme song builds too much excitement that an awesome story with crappy direction can’t back up… /shrug

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