Pretty Hurts

Pretty hurts. Shine the light on whatever's worse. Perfection is the disease of a nation. Trying to fix something, but you can't fix what you can't see. It's the soul that needs the surgery.

Beyoncé in "Pretty Hurts"

 



 

I may sound like a broken record, but I cannot stress enough how out of control the media and society has become in terms of the power they have over women and men’s self-image. Women believe that they can only be attractive and worth something if they are skinny, flawless, and vapid. We cannot have flaws, we cannot be intelligent, and we cannot pursue comfort; if we do then we are unattractive and unlovable. For men the media says that men have to be strong, large, masculine, powerful, arrogant, and confident. If men do not live up to these expectations, they are considered weak and a failure as a man. Although there are movements, such as this song, to let women and men know that they can be different from the expectations of society and the media. Unfortunately, we are still far away from being where we need to be.

Serious Pursuit of Peace

The last characters I will examined are my least favorite: Steve Jinks, from “Warehouse 13,” and Jenkins from “The Librarians.”

In terms of appearances on the show, these two men are the last to be added to the show. Steve Jinks was the last agent to be added to the Warehouse, as he was the replacement for Myka when she left the Warehouse. Although Jenkins had worked in the Library’s Annex for an unknown amount of time, he was still the last Librarian to be shown on the “The Librarians,” at least so far.

Steve and Jenkins have both cheated death. Steve was killed while going undercover and he was brought back to life by Johann Maelzel's Metronome. Jenkins is an immortal because Dulaque, the leader of the Serpent Brotherhood apparently cast a spell 1,000 years earlier.

As well as cheating death, these two men seem to have a supernatural ability. Steve has the ability to tell when someone is telling a lie, which definitely help him become an agent. It is implied that Jenkins set in motion the events that led to Eve Baird being able to remember her experiences when jumping into alternate realities.

Steve and Jenkins are both pursuing peace and quiet. Steve is a Buddhist and he finally reached Nirvana when he saved Artie’s life by neutralizing an artifact inside his heart. Jenkins wants to work inside the annex alone, which often causes conflict between Jenkins and the Librarians.

The last similarity between these two characters is their dry and serious personalities. When Steve and Pete Lattimer were partnered together during Myka Bering’s absence, Pete’s jokes did not even make Steve laugh. Jenkin handles the Librarians with sarcasm and disdain, even though he is their caretaker.

                                                               

Genuine Friends

Choose genuine friends who will be there for you over pretty, shallow ones. Don't get carried away by beauty if it leaves you empty.

Amanda Sun in "Ink"

 

 

 

There are very lucky people in this world who have the fortune of finding true friends who will always be there. For some, friendship is not so easily found. Sometimes people will become friends for the wrong reason, which is why I like this quote. It is best to hang around with people who have your best interest at heart. In "Inked," the main character found herself in a new situation and it really helps to have friends to help you through hard times like this.

Kind Hearts and Seeing Eyes

The next two characters I will discuss are women who have kind hearts and eyes that see more than their peers.

Leena, from “Warehouse 13,” and Cassandra Cillian, from “The Librarians,” have visions that helps them in their job. Leena has the ability to read the auras of people and objects, which makes her very useful when it comes to investigating and neutralizing artifacts. Cassandra has a brain tumor that resulted in her having synesthesia which links all five of her senses to her memory. When Cassandra is thinking she visualizes information in the air and sorts through the data using her hands.

            These useful abilities also have a downside, which is the knowledge of how they are going to die. It was revealed in the defining moments, that Leena could read the aura of the Warehouse, therefore she knew how and where she was going to die in the Warehouse. Cassandra is aware that the brain tumor that gives her synesthesia is fatal.

            Leena and Cassandra also share a similarity in how they unintentionally betrayed their teams. James MacPherson controls Leena’s mind using the artifact called the Pearl of Wisdom. Thankfully, Mrs. Frederic removes the Pearl from Leena’s mind. Thinking that the Serpent Brotherhood would release magic to better the world and help cure her brain tumor, Cassandra helped them break into the Library.

            Despite their betrayal, these women have kind hearts that care for their fellow agents and librarians. Leena was called “the mom” of the group by Myka and she risked her life to calm Artie down when he was hallucinating, even though she knew she would perish by his hands. Cassandra gave up her chance to have Excalibur to heal her brain tumor in order to save Flynn’s life.

            In some ways Leena and Cassandra are the quiet characters that will always be in the background of the fight. Leena was not a field agent and was not in many scenes. Cassandra was sometimes sheltered in dangerous activities because Eve, her Guardian, was scared that the pressure would accelerate the damage of her brain tumor. Just as these two did not receive a lot of action in the field, they did not receive the hot guy. Leena flirted with Pete during the pilot of Warehouse 13, but Pete’s attention was committed to Myka. Cassandra and Jacob could have had some chemistry, but he refused to trust her after her betrayal.

                                                                          

Dive Into It

It's like a wave, resist and you will be knocked over. Dive into it and you will swim out the other side.

Evelyn Greenslade from "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

 

In life there are moments where it is beneficial to just jump into the situation, whether than trying to analyze the situation. As hard as it is for me to admit, some moments just need to be enjoyed with no thought, because the emotions that come from the moment are strong enough. In the movie, Evelyn tried to put too much thought into her life and she was miserable. When she finally jumped into the experience of life, she finally was happy.

 

Good Natured Criminals

         I can say that I really like one of the criminals who I will be discussing today; I am a fan of Claudia Donovan, from “Warehouse 13,” but not necessarily a fan of Ezekiel Jones, from “The Librarians.”

Claudia and Ezekiel are both good natured but talented criminals. Claudia hacked into the Warehouse and kidnapped Artie Nielson in order to help rescue her brother Joshua Donovan years after his failed experiment sent him to another dimension. Ezekiel is a thief and hacker, which was demonstrated multiple times; an example is his meeting with Flynn in Geneva when a security guard tried to kill him in the middle of a burglary. His obsession over stealing is so strong that he spent his day off using the Library’s secret door in order to rob.

It would seem that thieves and hackers such as Claudia and Ezekiel would be the least qualified people to work in the Warehouse or Library, and in some ways they are, in the sense that they carried hesitation in their commitment to their jobs. Claudia revealed during the flashback of her “defining moment” at the Warehouse, that she loved being an agent so much, she felt that she did not want to give it up to become the Caretaker. Ezekiel admitted to Guardian Eve Baird that he would remain a Librarian only if he was having fun.

Despite their declaration of hesitation these two showed dedication and loyalty to the places where they worked at and their fellow employees. Claudia showed strong dedication and belief in the Warehouse when she risked her life to stop villain Paracelsus from keeping control of the Warehouse when he became the Caretaker. Ezekiel risked his life in order to safe Cassandra Cillian from Karen, the CEO of Golden Axe Food Company.

Although these two individuals have risked their lives, they are not strong fighters and are more suited to succeed with machines, not their fists. Claudia’s ability with technology is the reason she became a Warehouse agent, and her tweaks of existing artifacts, such as her invention of the Tesla Grenade, have improved the artifact collecting business. Ezekiel’s talents lie in technology and how he can hack it, which increases his chances of successfully stealing.

No matter their relatively good intentions, these characters can be irritating and selfish. Claudia is very stubborn and when she wants something she can show a very dark side to get it. Her stubbornness is most evident during her relationship with Artie, who even though he is a father figure to her, is still her boss. Ezekiel is extremely selfish and arrogant, which can often lead to trouble for his fellow guardians when they are relying on him most. His insane luck makes him an even more annoying character.

                                                                                    

                                                                          

                                                                           

Wonders in this Universe

It seems to me there's so much more to the world than the average eye is allowed to see. I believe, if you look hard, there are more wonders in this universe than you could ever have dreamed of.

Vincent Van Gogh from Doctor Who "Vincent and the Doctor"

 

If anyone could see more to the universe, it would be Vincent Van Gogh. By just looking at some of Van Gogh’s paintings, it is evident that each person sees the world in unique ways. Some see the beauty of the world, while others see the bad. And some, like the Vincent Van Gogh in the episode of “Doctor Who” see the beauty in pain. By opening our minds and our eyes we can see wondrous things.

Diamonds in the Rough

        I feel that there are two characters who are the “diamonds in the rough” of their shows, which is why I am comparing Peter Lattimer, from “Warehouse 13,” and Jacob Stone, from “The Librarians.”

Both Pete and Jake seem like the classically male character. First, these characters are apt to fight or to use a weapon. Pete is known to be attracted to weapons, such as the Tesla and a sword that he could not stop from pretending to be a ninja. Jake cannot resist a good bar fight, which he demonstrated in “The Librarians and Santa’s Midnight Run.” Pete and Jake are very flirtatious as well. If Pete is not making a joke about breasts or Steve Jink’s alleged attraction to himself, he is not feeling well. Jake flirted with danger literally when he flirted with Lamia, a Serpent Brotherhood henchwomen who tried to kill him.

In fact because of their external characteristics they are often considered as a simple guys. Pete’s joking nature and one tract mind creates a misconception that he is the dumbest of the Warehouse agents. Jake’s southern accent and his hometown appearance creates the perception that he is just a small town mind.

Despite these fallacies, Pete and Jake have strong and often surprising attributes that make them crucial to their team. Pete has “vibes,” which are feelings he gets when he senses that something wrong is going to happen or has already happened. Jake is very intellectual. He is very knowledgeable about art and architecture, and he even publishes articles about these topics using a different name.

In some cases, the talents of these men have caused them to have regrets. When Pete was young, he had a vibe about his father, the firefighter, going to fight a fire. Since he did not tell his father about his vibe, he blames himself for his father’s death in that fire. Jake is ashamed of his intellect and so he put off his dream of traveling in order to stay working at his family’s business.                                                                                        

                                                                                       

Raise Your Voice

When you're lost and can't be found just lift your head and stand your ground. It's always dark before the dawn so raise your voice and sing this song.

Michelle Chamuel in "Go Down Singing"

 

 

As far as I can remember of that season of "The Voice," Michelle Chamuel seemed like an underdog who was familiar with standing her ground. Based on her personality and appearance it seems like Chamuel has enough self-confidence and inner strength that she can stand up to any criticism. I wish I could be more like her because it is so easy to let others' criticism tear you down. For this reason, I really like Chamuel's song. Her lyrics give courage to those who are not apt to stand up for themselves.

 

The Fighter and the Protector

        Myka Bering, from “Warehouse 13” and Eve Baird, from “The Librarians,” are the two strong but quiet female characters I will be discussing today.
        These women were both from governmental agencies before they joined the Warehouse and the Library.  Myka served in the Presidential Protective Division of the United States Secret Service before she was transferred to the Warehouse. Eve was a NATO agent before she became the Guardian to the Librarians.

Once these two characters were transferred to their supernatural agencies, they were very hesitate to settle in. Myka was devastated to be transferred to an unknown warehouse in the middle of nowhere and she bothered her former boss quite often to have him return her to her secret service job. Eve was very hesitant to believe in magic and it took her awhile to become settled in as the Guardian.

In order to become successful as a Warehouse agent and a Guardian, these women have to be skilled and very calm when it comes to danger. Although Myka is very intelligence, she does have physical strength as well. As a teenager she learned how to fence and she appears to be good at martial arts. Eve is obviously able to handle herself in a fight, otherwise, she would not have been considered to be a Guardian.
These women also have a similar personality, one that follows the book while still being calm and quiet. Myka has her head in the books, as well as following the rules of the book without fail. Eve is such a soldier that she treats her Librarians as if she were their commanding officer.

Despite being strong female characters, these women have fallen into the stereotype that a female partner and a male partner cannot work together without falling in love. Myka and her Warehouse agent Peter Lattimer spent the entire series fighting their feelings for each other. It was only until the series finale that these two agents starting dating. Eve kissed Flynn Carsen multiple times, even though she had recently met him. I can’t help feeling that these romances are diminishing the strength and knowledge of these women; as if the shows are saying that a woman can only be involved in a dangerous occupation if she falls in love with her partner.

 

                                                                    

Powerful Stories

Don't underestimate old stories. Stories are powerful. And nonsense is sometimes a word for something we don't quite understand yet.

Una McCormack “Doctor Who: The Way through the Woods”

 

 

When we hear old legends or stories from previous generations, we usually tend to think they are nonsense. Whether these stories are just fairytales or they are the personal experiences of our ancestors, it would be wise for us to listen. All stories, whether fiction or truth, have wisdom and knowledge. Una McCormack's story takes the fear of the woods, which has been passed down from generation to generation, and puts a new spin on it. Who knows, maybe there is a reason to fear the woods.

The Seasoned Veteran

        Today I will compare Arthur Weisfelt, most commonly known as Arthur “Artie” Nielson, from “Warehouse 13” and Flynn Carsen from “The Librarians.” Both of these characters are seasoned veterans of their supernatural job. Artie has been an agent with the Warehouse for 35 years. Flynn was the sole Librarian for ten years before the new Librarians joined.

       Both of these men have been successful in their jobs for so long because of their intelligence and their knowledge. Artie was a talented musician who could have attended Julliard. He is fluent in Russian, German and French. He can read Latin as well. He worked for the National Security Agency as a cryptographer. During his career at the Warehouse, Artie had a high artifact retrieval rate and was considered as one of the best agent by Mrs. Frederic. By the age of 31, Flynn had earned 22 academic degrees, in subjects such as Egyptology, comparative religions and Cryptology. His strength lies in his extensive knowledge of history. Flynn is also a polymath, which is a person with an extensive knowledge of a large range of topic. Both of these intelligent characters can go into complicated explanations in dangerous moments that annoy their peers.

As is common with geniuses, Artie and Flynn exhibit antisocial behavior. Artie is a man who holds his secrets very closely, even from the people who are closest to him. His personality is stern, serious and quick to become grumpy. Before Flynn became a Librarian he was very isolated. He spent most of his time holed up in his mother’s apartment reading and studying. Even after his appointment as Librarian, Flynn did not like to go on missions with partners, which is demonstrated in his aversion to the appointment of Eve Baird as the newest Guardian.

Despite their prickly personality, these two seasoned veterans are often looked to as father figures or mentors. Artie becomes a mentor and father figure to Warehouse agent Claudia Donovan. Even though Artie gets frustrated with Claudia’s unorthodox behavior, he still cares about her deeply. Flynn is a person who the new Librarians look to for help in their dangerous occupation. Cassandra Cillian is definitely a huge fan of Flynn, since he sacrificed his life in order to cure her brain tumor, even after she betrayed him to aid the Serpent Brotherhood.

Although their occupations make it nearly impossible to have a relationship, Artie and Flynn try to fall in love. Artie Nielson loves Dr. Vanessa Calder, who worked with Warehouse agents Artie and James MacPherson and who also examined Mrs. Frederic. Throughout his career with the Library, Flynn dated or flirted with his Guardians Eve Baird and Nicole, an archaeologist named Emily Davenport, and the vampire Simone. These relationships always prove to be difficult and most likely do not last long.

 

                                                                        

 

Glimmers of Civilization

There are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once know as humanity... he was one of them.

Zero from "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

 

 

Just as the Grand Budapest Hotel lost its magnificence, civilization has lost its courteousness and charm. We are no longer a society that cares about helping others. We have become so obsessed with individuality and the pursuit of self-satisfaction. We no longer care how our words and actions affect each other or even the grand scheme of the human race. In this quote Zero was talking about M. Gustave, a man who still holds on to his manners, even in the face of death itself.

 

Invitation to Wonder

        The first two characters I will compare are the two who are known for creating an air of mystery. Irene Frederic, aka Mrs. Frederic, from “Warehouse 13” and Judson, from “The Librarians,” are both heads of the facilities where they work. Mrs. Frederic is the caretaker and director of Warehouse 13, while Judson is the head librarian at the Library.

Both of these authority figures have a supernatural way of traveling. Mrs. Frederic irritates and baffles the agents of the Warehouse when she suddenly disappears halfway through a conversation. Judson would appear in midair surrounded by a magical cloud throughout the movies “The Librarian: Quest for the Spear and Return to King Solomon's Mines.” In “The Librarian and the Curse of the Judas Chalice,” Judson communicated with Flynn Carson by possessing other people’s bodies in a barber shop in New Orleans.

To add to their air of mystery, both these characters have a prolonged life. Mrs. Frederic became caretaker of Warehouse 13 in 1898 and was shown in a black and white picture, in which her appearance had not changed, in 1950. It was suggested by Flynn Carson that Judson was 2,000 years old. Not only do Mrs. Frederic and Judson have prolonged lives but they seem to have an ability to escape death. When the Warehouse was destroyed in the episode “Stand,” Mrs. Frederic died, however, Artie prevented her permanent death in the episode “A New Hope.” During the pilot of “The Librarians,” it was discovered that Judson died, but his spirit remained in a mirror in the Library.

The last similarity is that these two characters gave a speech to the new agents and librarians which introduced them to the wonder of the Warehouse and the Library. Mrs. Frederic gave “an invitation to endless wonder” when she summoned Pete Lattimer to become an agent for the Warehouse. Judson told Flynn Carson, “you are about to begin a wondrous adventure from which you will never be the same.”

  

                                                                                 

 

Scars Show Where We've Been

Scars only show us where we’ve been, they do not dictate where we are going. 

Harrison Scott from Criminal Minds "Anonymous"

 

 

 

As a person who is very familiar with scars, I do not want to hide my wounds because I have a similar philosophy to Harrison Scott. My scars show that I have suffered pain and I have conquered that pain. Pretty much any character from Criminal Minds have suffered pain, in one form or another. And no one is better to demonstrate how to overcome the ugly truth of this world than the profilers on the television show. These profilers see the worst of people every day but they do not let this define who they are.

 

Where the Supernatural Stays

        For fans who are devastated by the series finale of “Warehouse 13,” there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. The new show “The Librarians” from TNT, is very similar to the SyFy original. Since the first season of “The Librarians” ended recently, I decided to compare characters of “Warehouse 13” and “The Librarians.” So, starting tomorrow, I will compare two characters each day.

In terms of the similarities of the shows there is one very obvious connection. Both shows have a building that houses supernatural objects. Warehouse 13 is a secret government facility that houses and neutralizes supernatural artifacts, such as Lewis Carroll's mirror or Edgar Allan Poe's quill pen, which have dangerous effects. The Library is a secret facility located under Metropolitan Public Library that is dedicated to protecting the world from magic, which can mean keeping objects such as Pandora’s Box, Excalibur and the Spear of Destiny.
Both Warehouse 13 and the Library have supernatural abilities. For example the Warehouse can expand using joints created by Albert Einstein, which allows more artifacts to be stored. In the pilot of “The Librarians,” the Library folds up upon itself and is lost in time and space as a defense mechanism. These two supernatural buildings also have been located in various coutries, such as Egypt and Britain.

Both of these supernatural buildings have levels of personnel for the people who work inside them. Agents of Warehouse 13, such as Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer, are at the bottom of the Totem pole. The Library just recently received amateur Librarians (Jake Stone, Cassandra Cillian and Ezekiel Jones). These characters do most of the field work but are not in charge of the operations of the facilities. Artie Nielson, from “Warehouse 13” and Flynn Carson and Charlene, from “The Librarians” are veterans agents and Librarians who are more experienced than the newbies, but who still have bosses. Characters like Irene Frederic (Warehouse 13) and Judson (Librarians) are the heads of the facilities; Frederic is the caretaker and director of the Warehouse and Judson is the head Librarian. In Warehouse 13, the Regents are the overseers and protectors of the Warehouse, while Eve Baird is the Guardian who protects the Librarians.
One last connection between these two shows is that some personnel from these buildings have betrayed the place they once worked for. James MacPherson, the agent who was partnered with Agent Nielson, betrayed the Warehouse by trying to release artifacts into the world. Previous Librarian Edward Wild betrayed his Guardian and lover Nicole, faked his death, and joined the Serpent Brotherhood, the enemy of the Library.

                                         

 

Pass You By

Take all your chances while you can. You never know when they'll pass you by.

"Chances" by Athlete

 

 



This is a simple message but a significant one. So often we think that we can let chances slip by because there has to be more in the future. This is foolish because you never know what the future holds. I heard this song during the Doctor Who episode “Vincent and the Doctor.” This episode focused on Vincent Van Gogh and the beauty and pain of his life and paintings. As Amy Pond learned the hard way the beauty of Van Gogh could be vibrant one second and could be distinguished the next.

 

 

Somebody's Else's Life

You can't live somebody else's life for them. They have to make their own choices. And sometimes all we can do is learn to live with them.

Amanda Hocking from “Wake”

 

I think one of the hardest things to deal with is knowing that your loved one or friend is making a giant mistake. It's like watching a train wreck because it is so horrible to look at but you can’t turn it away. Unfortunately, sometimes there is nothing we can do but hope that our loved one can make it through their mistake in one piece. Gemma Fisher, the main character of “Wake” found herself in a situation that changed her beyond her recognition but she still held on during this journey.

 

Last Inch

Our integrity sells for so little but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us, but within that inch we are free.

Valerie from "V for Vendetta"

 

Honesty and integrity is a very hard thing to come by these days, with social media and the Internet forming a disguise to hide behind. This is why I very much agree with Valerie. With the right price, our integrity can sell for so little. However, it is the one quality that can make us feel free. If we live a lie for so long, we lose ourselves and therefore we are trapped in the person we have fabricated. The character of V is very contradicting in this sense. He hid behind a mask and yet he was very open about the type of person he was.

Life is a Carnival

Life is a carnival. Some play it safe on the merry-go-round. Others go for the thrills on the roller coaster.

Fiona Good from American Horror Story: Coven "The Sacred Taking"

 

 

I have never been much of a fan of Jessica Lange’s characters on American Horror Story, but I can say that I agree with Fiona Good’s analogy in this quote. I do think there are two types of people in this world. Those who ride the merry-go-round and those who ride the roller coasters. You can play it safe while the world passes you by as you spin around in endless circles. Or you can ride the highs and lows of adventure, no matter how scary they may be. Of course Fiona Good, and all of Jessica Lange’s characters, do not play it safe, almost to the point that her characters create their own demise in their need to get everything they can out of life.

Change the Voices

You're so mean when you talk about yourself, you are wrong. Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead.

Pink in "Perfect"

 

With the media continually pushing unrealistic expectations of beauty, it is really hard to think of yourself as beautiful. For many people self-confidence is not a trait that comes naturally. Many people can never feel content with who they are. This song tries to encourage people to love themselves no matter what their flaws are. I really like Pink’s songs because she is not afraid to be honest about her flaws. She is not ashamed about her faults and she can still love herself.

 

Begin to Learn

We can't begin to learn until we admit how much we don't know.

Claudia Gray from “A Thousand Pieces of You”

 

 

I think the only way to learn is to open your mind to the fact that you have so much to learn. If you go into a situation thinking that you know everything, you will end up missing out on knowledge. Marguerite Caine, the main character of this book, traveled through alternative universes with the main mission of avenging her father’s death. However, throughout her journey she realized that she was in the middle of a situation that had many more layers than she originally thought.

 

 

Adventure of a Lifetime

You've given me the adventure of a lifetime in one night and I have a feeling it's going to be a beautiful sunrise.

Amelia Earhart from “Night at the Museum 2: Battle at the Smithsonian”

 

This quote is not necessarily a nugget of wisdom but it still touched my heart. In this movie the removal of the Egyptian tablet essentially meant that the museum display of Amelia Earhart would no longer be alive. However, rather than complain about her situation, Earhart said these words. I think this is a good way to think about death. Hopefully at the end of our lives we can say that we had an adventure of a lifetime and that our death, or sunrise in this case, will be a beautiful one.

Potential for Good

Everyone, no matter what their choices are, have the potential for good.

Santa Claus from The Librarians “And Santa’s Midnight Run” 

 

I think this message is an interesting interpretation of the good and evil debate. Many people think that the choices we make are direct indications of the type of person we are. If someone is morally good then they will always choose to do the right thing. If they make bad choices then that means they are permanently evil. The Santa Claus in this episode of “The Librarians” is breaking down this black and white philosophy. His gift to the world every Christmas showed that he still had hope for humanity. I like the idea that a person always has the potential to do the right thing, no matter what their choices have been in the past.

Follow Your Arrow

Say what you think, love who you love, because you just get so many trips round the sun. When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight, just follow your arrow wherever it points.

Kacey Musgraves in “Follow Your Arrow” 

 

As far as we know we only have one shot at life on Earth, so we really can’t waste our time trying to please everyone else. Otherwise we are going to spend our life in misery. I really like some of Musgrave’s songs, especially Merry Go Round because it seems she is not afraid to be honest about who she is and what her thoughts are. If appropriate, I think it is best to live your life the way you want to. If you don’t then what you bottle up inside will fester inside you and you lose who you are.

Where We're Headed

Knowing where we're headed in life isn't easy for anyone. No one really knows what's going to happen. We just sort of keep moving forward because we have to.

Amanda Sun in “Ink”

 

 

I think that humans have the desire to foresee the future but also need to be blind to what is in store. I am one of these people. I am the type of person that skips to the end of the book. In a way I wish we could do this for our life. I would feel more confident when I encounter obstacles because I would already know the outcome. However, life would hold no surprises for us. I feel this is part of Sun’s message. We keep moving forward because I think we are pursuing the surprise of our life. 

 

Stop Waiting

You can have anything you want, you just need to stop waiting for someone to tell you you deserve it.

Evelyn Greenslade from “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

 

 

I believe my generation is one that tends to feel they are entitled to everything. I do not agree. I feel that life is a gift that is given rather than taken. I also think that some people, myself included, need to have others tell us we deserve something good, as if the perception and opinion of others defines who we are. This is a bad habit to have because there will always be people in life who judge you and who deem you unfit for rewards, regardless of your talent or goodness. I think that Greenslade finally realized that if she did not take ownership of her life, then she would never receive the rewards she deserved.

Magic in the Ordinary

There is magic in the ordinary. There is magic in the things we can see. Birth is a miracle, love is a miracle, death is a miracle. Forgiveness is a miracle, especially if you can learn to forgive yourself.

Niall Brigant from True Blood "May be the Last Time" 

We seem to think that only extraordinary occurrences can be magical. However, we seem to take for granted the beauty in the ordinary. Small gestures of politeness, kind compliments or just a simple smile can turn a bad day into a small miracle. When Niall said this quote to Sookie after she asked him to help cure Bill, it seemed idiotic that he answered in this manner. However, there is a kind of miracle in death. Or I should say that when we depart, our impact on others can be the miracle. If we leave our wisdom and spirit within the hearts of our loved ones then we have created a miracle when we pass away.

Brightest Flame

Be believers, be leaders, be astronauts, be champions, be truth seekers. Standing in the hall of fame and the world's gonna know your name cause you burn with the brightest flame.

The Script in “Hall of Fame”

This song is really inspirational because it encourages the listener to be anyone he or she wants to be, especially if they want to be someone who steps up and helps humanity. I like the message that the people who are in these positions have a flame within. In order to lead others, a leader must have a special quality that allows them to shine in the darkness of life. The only part I don’t necessarily agree with is implying that leaders are placed in the hall of fame. I feel that the best leaders are those who do not want the spotlight, just the chance to lead their followers properly.

No Benchmark for Life

There's no benchmark for how life's supposed to happen Perry. There is no ideal world for you to wait around for. The world is always just what it is now and it's up to you how to respond to it.

Issac Marion in “Warm Bodies”

I can completely understand wanting to wait for the ideal world to magically appear. Unfortunately if we want to change the course of our life and our environment, we have to be the ones to take the initiative because no one else can do it for us. The main character of the book “Warm Bodies” could have remained as the brain eating zombie that he was. However, after finding a cause to regain his humanity, he changed his life rather than wait for someone else to find a cure for him.

 

Battles You Lose

There are things you can't control. There are battles you lose. At the end of the day the only thing we have is the people we trust.

Ethan Chandler Penny Dreadful “What Death Can Join Together”

 

I wish with all my heart that we all had our happy ending; that we could fly through life without having to experience pain and loss. Reality is cruel and difficult and it does not care about happy endings. Penny Dreadful is definitely not a show that sugar coats reality. This show exemplifies pain and the flaws in humanity and is not afraid to show the worst in people. Despite its grim content, this show still has glimmers of hope in that the characters slowly learn to trust each other and to stand together.

Think of You Only

When the time comes that I'm feeling lonely and I'm feeling oh so blue, I just sit back and think of you only. That's why I'm glad we had this time together, because it makes me feel that I belong. 

Carol Burnett from the "Theme song for the 'Carol Burnett Show'"

 

In my opinion, the stars of the “Carol Burnett Show” seemed to be a family who enjoyed each other’s company. I think this was one of the many reasons why the show was such a success. The chemistry between Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman and Lyle Waggoner created an atmosphere of humor and warmth. Human connection, especially positive connection, is what makes life worthwhile and what makes us feel like we are part of a large family.