Author: KA Byrnes

Book One: Water

Now that the first season of Avatar has been Enneagram reviewed, let’s look at the entire arc.

ONE

The first episode is basically the season’s One. It’s so funny to think of a time when I knew nothing about bending or the Avatar cycle. The showrunners did a good job establishing everything clearly, and our three characters are distinct and engaging. And Appa! Don’t forget our good boi! Because the believability of the Avatar is so strong, I forget how easy they made the worldbuilding of this IP look.

TWO

And episode two is basically the season’s Two. The Avatar has been missing for one hundred years, leaving the world vulnerable to the Fire Nation. Aang is now ready to tackle his destiny, go North and learn the other bending disciplines, but . . . first there’s a laundry list of distractions. Also in this section is a Zuko vs. Aang battle. How these guys will manage their relationship is definitely part of the Trouble.

THREE

The world has two Air Temples. At the Three they visit the Southern one. Aang confronts a lot of pain here, and in Zuko’s storyline Commander Zhao is introduced and even battles an agni kai against him. Everyone’s wounds are here, and the Air Temple is the visual.

Continue reading “Book One: Water”

KAZ BREKKER, FIVE

He’s ruthless, of course. Incredibly smart. (“Is that scheming face?”) Iron-willed. That he can dominate even with his damaged leg suggests he isn’t a Body Type. His dexterity suggests he is. Are his lockpicking skills inherent, or a product of his determination?

Loyal. Patient. He doesn’t need instant gratification: his revenge plans go on for years. 

He’s a Five. It’s his observational skills. He can find the best crew, and he can concoct the most efficient plans, because his brain is always processing data. Inej surprises him when she approaches him at the Menagerie. He didn’t know she was there, and he’s super impressed by that. Immediately he arranges to buy out her contract and offers her a job. After that she never surprises him again. He heightens his ability to observe her. He knows everyone’s tell, and realizes the moment he’s shown one of his own. It’s that uber-consciousness that identifies him.

Also, he loves his crew but he never shows it or even thinks in those terms. His loyalty and his planning are how he proves himself. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t do those things. This is very Head Type.

Saving Gran Soren

We’re sent on a goose chase. Some message awaits us at the Waycastle gate but when we get there we’re immediately sent back to the city. In the distance, we can see why.

Fire and smoke come from the agrarian district of the keep.

Remember that “dead” cockatrice? It was taken into the castle grounds as a trophy. Salvation (somehow) reawakened it so it would rampage and destroy. Of course we get there in time to stop it. (And kill it! Often it flies away before the final blow, so yay!)

Immediately after, we’re called to the castle for thanks, and also to accept a mission from the Duke. A very long, slow follow walk happens, first behind Aldous, and then back again behind the Duke. At the end of it all, though, is a treasure room. Sadly, the Duke can’t open the really shiny chest because it requires Salomet’s ring and I swapped it out for that forgery. Heh. (It’s a cape in the chest, not a big loss.) As I’m collecting my money bags, a soldier comes in.

Mission change. Salvation has taken captives at the Greatwall and threatens to offer up a grand sacrifice to see the land cleansed. We’re to go on up there and stop them.

Don’t Touch That Dial

I’m afraid I’m a little harsh at the end of this Enneagram breakdown, lol. Look out.

ONE

Nighttime, with separate twin beds. 

TWO

Vision wears an eye mask and Wanda startles awake when a bump is heard. Laugh track. The bedside lamp flicks on and off as Wanda worries. Vision wakes.

Are you using your power to turn on the lights, dear, he asks. Yes. He rises, turns on the light manually, and looks out the window. Nothing. Are you using your night vision, Vision? A bump startles him and he dives into bed. Another bump and Wanda scoots the beds together.

On each side their slippers, which had been tucked under the edge of their beds, are left behind. Cute detail.

For some reason Vision is afraid to investigate the noise. Wanda, determined, slides the curtain wide open, showing a stormy tree branch outside. They relax. Also, Wanda flicks a finger and changes the side-by-side twins into a king-sized bed. As retro commentary it’s a bit obvious, but okay. They eye each other — wink — and duck under the covers.

THREE

From a cartoon moon come an animated Wanda and Vision, flying. Credit sequence, obviously, and a clear reference to Bewitched. It’s a shame the last episode used too many motifs from that show to make a clear distinction, but here we are. (How do you reference The Honeymooners or I Love Lucy, shows without a magical character like Wanda, and hit the same vibe?) It’s an adorable sequence, with cartoon Vision twinkling through walls and Wanda magically grocery shopping. Vision’s inability to eat or drink is referenced, and as Vision drives home through the cartoon neighborhood all the people are in their yards bopping and singing along, sort of smiling and sort of robotic.

Continue reading “Don’t Touch That Dial”

THE PAPER

Good structure. Nice episode.

ONE

The Easter Island head as Squidward exits and set up his lawn chaise.

TWO

He opens a little bubble gum package, pops the gum in his mouth, and tosses the paper away. It lands on Spongebob’s walkway.

THREE

The pineapple house slides forward, right up to the edge of the trash, so that when Spongebob opens his door his feet are next to it. “Squidward!” he calls.

Continue reading “THE PAPER”

SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM (1991), FOUR

There is no Prince John in Prince of Thieves, but the Sheriff is essentially that role. He machinates for the throne and is the primary antagonist.

I’m quite sure that Alan Rickman knew exactly what he was playing, but I’m sure I don’t. As I mentioned before, he’s in a different movie from the rest of the cast. He’s delivering large: big expressions, dynamic voice, comic reactions. It’s more of a stage than screen performance.

I would say he’s driven by envy, like the other Prince Johns, but he’s not brother to the king. Who does he envy? He has a wooden statue, life-sized, made of himself. He’s possibly just envious of anyone who has society’s attention.

He puts his trust in a witch woman. She has a satanic altar? I don’t know. She’s almost a freaking Muppet she’s so strange and inexplicable. Is she his mother? Look, don’t try to understand. He’s superstitious, though, and she’s basically one of the spinners of fate to him.

And he wants Marian. She’s the only eligible woman in the movie, so who else would he want? Did he desire her before Robin started paying attention? I can’t remember. At the climax of the movie, though, he tries to impregnate her on the floor, wrestling about in a semi-rape, semi-slapstick way, as the priest who married them is still standing there. I swear, the scene is possibly the worst Eight ever filmed. He does fight Robin and end up dead, though.

He’s emotional, he’s funny, he’s envious, and he’s only marginally competent at fighting. Four. Like Robin’s character, I believe he played the trope rather than the script, but he was consistent.

The Wyrmking’s Ring

It’s been three months of me trying to manage my tendonitis. As it seems to be chronic now, and as I don’t want to stop gaming, I’ll move forward with the Dogma story. My current regimen: Try to keep a light touch on the controller, and if a hardcore battle comes take a break afterward and stretch the thumbs. Also, ibuprofen.

Remember when I accidentally killed the griffin and I said I missed a quest and an entire corner of the map? Well, now it’s time to visit the Blue Moon Tower. Salomet’s gone to ground there. If I’d fought the griffin I would’ve dropped a portcrystal for later, but no matter. We trudge out there and fight Salomet’s outlaws on our way to the top.

It’s easy to lose a Pawn here off the edge of a broken staircase and into the aether, but we all make it to the final battle. Salomet challenges us and attacks. He doesn’t fight well and he doesn’t say much of interest. I really don’t understand his purpose, but . . .

No worries, I can see fine from back here.

He falls off the edge, leaving behind his magical ring.

I’m to deliver it to the Duke, but I take it to the Black Cat and pay for a forgery to be made. Anyone who carries the original ring has their magical powers augmented. We wants it, precious.

Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience

As a child I loved Bewitched, so I was initially charmed by this first episode of WandaVision. On a second viewing, though, it becomes old very quickly. Nostalgia is only good for a brief moment, apparently. Structurally, you’ll see the episode is fairly sound. It’s just not funny, and the unsettling creepiness is too low key. Full notes are at the end of the Enneagram breakdown.

ONE

The screen clicks on, like a tube tv would, to show a black and white scene. A classic car, with a Just Married sign on the bumper, drives down a road. Inside, still in wedding gear, are a smiling Wanda and Vision. Sitcom music plays as they pass through a neighborhood. The mailman waves and Wanda, smiling, waves back while Vision pulls down his hat brim. Anyone who’s seen a sitcom has seen these dynamics: friendly wife, grumpy husband.

Wanda gestures at the For Sale sign in the yard, and it magically has a Sold banner across it. Vision, with his bald, metallic head, carries her, bride style, toward the threshold. With animated twinkle stars, he goes through the closed door and she drops to the welcome mat, shaking her head in mock confusion. He opens the door and carries her in proper while credits roll: “Starring Wanda Maximoff”. We get the picture. It’s winsome and retro, and also a little puzzling.

In the kitchen Wanda, wearing apron and pearls, magically levitates the dishes as she organizes the room. It’s done with CGI, I’m sure, but they’ve animated the dishes to look like they’re on wires, the way the old shows would’ve done it. Fun. Vision comes in, reading the newspaper, and they go through the sitcom schtick — insult, smile, give an “Oh, you!” with a dismissive gesture. With laugh track!

TWO

Vision asks if today is special. The calendar has a heart on this date, but neither of them remembers why. And they won’t admit they’ve forgotten. Just before Vision leaves for work he changes his face to a normal human presentation. So that explains that.

THREE

A knock at the door and here’s Agnes, “your neighbor to the right”. 

Continue reading “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience”

MAID MARIAN (1991), NULL

In my memory this Marian was pushy and dominating. Funny. In the first half of the movie she’s completely reasonable. As cousin to King Richard, she keeps her head down and provides for her tenants. She’s politically savvy and a good landlord. Robin, apparently, was a lightfoot lad before crusade, and she formed her opinion of him accordingly. He’s not a serious person to her.

Her practicality and efficiency are very Seven.

However, in the second half she changes her character. When Nottingham insists she marry him, she reacts much too emotionally for the era and for a Seven. A noblewoman of this time would’ve expected to marry for expedience, not love. Now, the Sheriff is repugnant and she should object, but not with such surprise and outrage. His request is logical and she would’ve expected it.

And how am I to properly judge her Enneagram when she’s given scenes utterly unreasonable? A woman with her property holdings would certainly know how to birth animals, let alone handle a woman’s breach delivery. That she’s sidelined by the guy is laughable and insulting.

I think I always expect Mastrantonio to be her character from The Abyss. She was so excellent in that part. Surprisingly, I would welcome that style for this Marian. Anything would be better than this hopscotch person we end up with. She’s a Null.