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Comments for the week ending June 26, 2005

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Yo, the countdown be in the hizzle. Gonna give a shout-out to all mah peeps. Word.

14 days left until pre-registration for The Gathering 2005 ends.
33 days left until The Gathering 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Patrick
Sunday, June 26, 2005 11:14:24 PM
IP: 68.170.199.45

"25-Foot tizzy Snapple popsicle melts in Union square, pimpin' area wit sticky goo..."

"Watched "Her Brother's Keeper" on DVD spittin' that real $#!t..."

Cracks me up! Thanks, Lord GargFan.


That is all I will say.

Battle Beast
CanadaSunday, June 26, 2005 10:41:09 PM
IP: 198.53.28.99

Sorry for the double post, but most of my previous post was sarcasm. Just wanted to clear that up.

And I'm sorry that I have nothing to offer but a cheer that Todd is doing his own rambles again. Always a pleasure. Too bad that I can't seem to find my tapes. Oh, well!

Lord GargFan
Sunday, June 26, 2005 09:37:25 PM
IP: 67.185.229.228

I found an, um, interesting (to say the least) website in a magazine article and I thought that I'd use it to translate this page into a language that only the gifted few understand. Click my name to see what I mean (and how rediculous you sound).
http://s8.org/gargoyles/comment.php" TARGET="_top">Lord GargFan
Sunday, June 26, 2005 09:31:42 PM
IP: 67.185.229.228

Todd - Actually, I site a different set of Brooklyn's actions during Leader of the Pack as making him suitable for leadership. Lexington was about to go off on his own after the Pack. Brooklyn volunteers to go with Lex, in my mind, to prevent Lex from getting in over his head. Then, Brooklyn has sense enough to get Bronx with them to help them out. Had Brooklyn not acted then, Goliath would have had to assign somebody to go off with Lex. Then, the 2nd show of leadership by Brooklyn in this episode, Brooklyn tries to stop Lex from attacking the Pack until they work out a plan.
dph
ar, usa
Sunday, June 26, 2005 01:22:32 AM
IP: 65.132.36.17

I saw Batman Begins today. I couldn't help but have that aching feeling that I so wanted it to be a Gargoyles live action movie. One scene in particular of Batman gliding with his cape spread like bat wings....Made me think of Goliath. One can dream. Anyway, the movie kicks arse! :D
Siren
Saturday, June 25, 2005 11:43:18 PM
IP: 65.33.112.138

I switched from DVD player to VCR this afternoon, and dug out my "Gargoyles" tapes to watch "Leader of the Pack" on them, now that I'm starting on the second season. After comparing those same old tapes to the DVDs, I can say that the latter definitely show much better quality. Now I'm *really* looking forward to the Season Two DVD. I've been spoiled too much by the Season One DVD to settle back as much with those eight-year-old tapes.

That aside, "Leader of the Pack", while not one of the greatest episodes (Pack episodes tend to be more straightforward fight stories, thanks to the nature of those particular antagonists), is still entertaining. Xanatos comes up with another cunning scheme, with the real purpose being to get Fox out of prison on parole; Coyote and Dingo showing up and busting the rest of the Pack out is just the diversion. (Of course, it also allows Xanatos to see how well Coyote does in a fight.) And the gargs, once again, don't realize that they're not the real target - not that it makes their situation less dangerous.

"Coyote" certainly strikes me as a doubly appropriate name. On the one hand, it fits the Pack's penchant for wild canid nicknames. On the other hand, it also evokes the trickster figure, and Coyote's role is indeed that of a Trickster in that: a) he masquerades as Xanatos and b) he carries out a subtle diversion.

Brooklyn gets a great scene where he's concernedly talking to Lexington about his grudge against the Pack, especially when he admits that he feels the same way about Demona. He may not be able to overcome his hatred of her, but he can still recognize in between encounters with her how dangerous it can be. (It's this sort of thing that helps me understand why Goliath chose him for second-in-command.)

Brooklyn also gets off a few of his usual quips. "Now they [the Pack] know how to make an entrance." In response to Jackal's "That's no way to treat a lady" after Brooklyn punches Hyena, "That was no lady." And the little reference to "Enter Macbeth" with "How come every time you and I take Bronx out, we always wind up in trouble?"

Owen gets a fun scene of his own in his encounters with the gargoyles, especially when he invites them to the oil tanker. You can just tell how much he's enjoying it (no surprise, when we discover long afterwards that he's a trickster himself).

Fox displays her literacy in giving her comments on Nietzche and Kafka. Another fun little scene (fitting in with the high cultural tone of "Gargoyles").

One of my favorite moments during the big fight on the oil tanker is the bit where Hudson's surrounded on three sides by Jackal, Hyena, and Dingo, and we see them all eyeing each other just before the actual fight, complete with Hudson beginning to draw his sword.

So how many people were surprised when it turned out that "Xanatos" wasn't the real Xanatos but a robot? (I remember a few people here mentioning once about how they were cheering on Bronx the first time that they saw this episode.) It was a big surprise for me, I know. (And accompanied by Hyena's cry of "Even better!" - now that's disturbing.) And that soon gets followed by the scene where Lex blasts a hole in the middle of the robot - and you can tell that he wouldn't hesitate, just then, to do the same to the Pack's human members.

Another favorite bit of mine: when the gargoyles are all gliding up from the sinking ship, Bronx scrambles onto the one part of it that's still dry and lets out a loud mournful howl before Goliath rescues him.

And at the end, we get final confirmation of Xanatos and Fox being an item - with big consequences down the road.

Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Saturday, June 25, 2005 07:16:49 PM
IP: 4.244.12.136

You can just imagine the ordinary New Yokers just standing there with their jaws hanging open watching the gargoyles cause chaos with this giant popsicle ;)
dudette
walesSaturday, June 25, 2005 05:21:21 PM
IP: 62.252.32.16

It's way too hot outside. At least I'll be well prepared for the Nevada desert.

15 days left until pre-registration for The Gathering 2005 ends.
34 days left until The Gathering 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Patrick
Saturday, June 25, 2005 05:08:32 PM
IP: 68.170.199.45

Big popsicle>Only in New york they would make the world's most largest frozen treat in the street (I buy the new york times out here in texas for a rip off price of 5 dollars).
If they did the same thing out here it would melt in the 103 plus heat in 2 seconds.
Bronx>I didn't know Gargoyles would ever *need* to go to the bathroom. Wouldn't turning to stone every morning reset everything?
.....

kjay - [tigonesskay@netzero.com]
fort bliss, tx, usa
Saturday, June 25, 2005 04:48:52 PM
IP: 69.112.127.17

I find myself reminded of that rather naughty little creativity demon of mine involving Castaway, during one of his anti-gargoyle rants, saying "And that pet of theirs is causing rust damage to the city's fire hydrants".
Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Saturday, June 25, 2005 07:03:28 AM
IP: 4.244.12.135

Gah, sorry bout the doublepost. Guess thats a perk of being connected via a cellphone out in the middle of the desert accessing this site via a free anonymous proxy. ;)
Vertigo1
Saturday, June 25, 2005 02:04:09 AM
IP: 193.251.169.174

Todd: It also presents another problem. See, by the time Bronx gets done, he'll be having to take care of another certain problem pretty soon afterward. I would hate to be the poor individual to have to clean it up. (think Jarassic Park)

btw Shara, I should hopefully be back home within three or so days. Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet.

Vertigo1 - [md2389@gmail.com]
TN, USA
Saturday, June 25, 2005 01:49:45 AM
IP: 70.60.43.74

Todd: It also presents another problem. See, by the time Bronx gets done, he'll be having to take care of another certain problem pretty soon afterward. I would hate to be the poor individual to have to clean it up. (think Jarassic Park)

btw Shara, I should hopefully be back home within three or so days. Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet.

Vertigo1 - [md2389@gmail.com]
TN, USA
Saturday, June 25, 2005 01:49:11 AM
IP: 70.60.43.74

Even crazier creativity demon: Bronx gets loose in Union Square and licks up the remains of the popsicle, which solves the problem of what to do with all that goo, but replaces it with a fresh problem: what to do about all that gargoyle beast drool and slobber left in its place.
Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Friday, June 24, 2005 07:09:17 AM
IP: 4.244.12.1

<< I wonder what Broadway would have thought of the giant popsicle. >> - "Wow, this is great... but what are the rest of you having for dessert?"

16 days left until pre-registration for The Gathering 2005 ends.
35 days left until The Gathering 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Patrick
Friday, June 24, 2005 06:41:52 AM
IP: 68.170.199.45

I wonder what Broadway would have thought of the giant popsicle (and yes, I'll admit that's overemphasizing one particular aspect of his character).

Watched "Re-Awakening" on DVD today, completing the first season. Some thoughts on it.

I still get a kick out of the scene where Demona introduces Xanatos to Coldstone as "my servant", and Xanatos promptly glances sharply at her. And Xanatos's deliberate "Frankenstein" parody when reviving Coldstone to begin with ("It's alive! It's alive! I've always wanted to say that.") The sequence itself was a great one.

My favorite Coldstone scene in Times Square is when he activates the laser cannon mounted in his arm for the first time - and then stares at it in horror and bewilderment. (Indeed, I can't help wondering what it must have been like for him to wake up a cyborg, when all of this machinery built into him would be completely foreign to him. I wonder if that makes it worse than it would be for one of us, in a high-tech age, to wake up in that condition.)

I still get a kick out of the scene where the trio are watching "Bambi".

A good continuity touch here is that Goliath and the other gargoyles still think that the "red Steel Clan robot" is just that rather than Xanatos in armor, until the helmet comes off.

Of course, moving on to more serious topics, the episode stands out as being (in a very effective manner) the point where Goliath and his clan start protecting the city. One of my favorite moments in this evolution comes when Elisa alludes to the police model, "Protect and Serve", and Goliath immediately takes interest in it, especially the "protect" part, naturally. This is one touch that especially makes it so appropriate that Elisa would be in the police force; what more suitable occupation for the best friend of a group of "mythical beings" with the goal of protecting? We're definitely talking kindred spirits here.

Added onto that is Goliath learning about Mr. Jaffe and why he keeps his store open in a run-down neighborhood rather than relocate to somewhere safer. (I get a kick out of Jaffe's portrayal as responding to the robber's constantly holding up his store with increasing annoyance, to the point of "Can't you rob someone else this time?" Definitely a sign that he's a New Yorker. :))

I also like the echo of "Awakening" in how Goliath pronounces "detective" at the end.

A line of Demona's that still stands out to me is where she cries out to Goliath that his clan was "smashed to pieces by the humans you trusted". Not a very accurate statement, since the humans who carried out the Wyvern Massacre were the Vikings, whom Goliath certainly didn't trust. She might be including the Captain, but I wonder if the real reason here might be Demona's denial problem. She believes (and in a sense, needs to believe, to avoid facing her guilt) that all humans are violently hostile towards gargoyles, and it suits her cause better if the murderers of the Wyvern clan were the humans living in the castle, who had nothing to gain and much to lose by killing their protectors, rather than the Vikings, who would be at odds with the gargoyles anyway no matter what they thought about bat-winged beings of tremendous strength and monstrous appearance, since the gargoyles were hindering their efforts to sack the castle. At least, that's my thought on the matter.

This time around, I suddenly noticed a parallel between "Re-Awakening" and "Hunter's Moon" that I hadn't seen before. Both introduce a character who starts off hostile towards Goliath, but who then comes to understand the truth about him, and winds up saving Goliath's life by taking a shot for him. I'd paid so much attention to the "Awakening" echoes in "Hunter's Moon" that I hadn't seriously noted its echoes of other Season One episodes (beyond the mention of the Daily Tattler); it's neat to find a connection to "Re-Awakening" here. (And one more thing that makes me look forward to the day when Greg gives his ramble on "Hunter's Moon" at last.)

Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Thursday, June 23, 2005 07:08:46 PM
IP: 4.244.18.23

Con registration paid.
Hotel room reserved.
Plane trip reserved.

Looks like I'll be at the con this year. I'll be arriving late Thursday and leaving on Monday. If there's any early-bird partying going on Thursday night, let me know. Otherwise I'll just veg out or gamble my ticket home.

Hope to see you guys there. :)

Gorebash - [gorebash@s8.org]
Thursday, June 23, 2005 02:49:24 PM
IP: 192.207.57.102

"Just what is it we're trying to prove anyway with the world's biggest popsicle-or the world's biggest, tallest, fastest anything?...You can just picture Goliath questioning Elisa to why they'd be doing that-and Elisa trying desperately to try and make sense out of it."

Elisa: Well, ummm...you see Goliath, a vast majority of the world is more or less ruled by human males, and they kinda have this thing about SIZE. Serious mental issue, more like. And so, they uh, often feel the compulsion to go about attempting to prove theirs and their nation's masculine worth with ridiculous displays of 'BIGGER/FASTER/STRONGER' through sport, art, and general pig-headedness..."

And yeah, I'll stop there. I swear I don't hate my own gender, but her talk with him might go something like that. Except in better Elisa-like dialogue.

And then, if she felt he was ready for it (if he hadn't already gotten to it in his spare reading time), she might get into Freud.

Kris - [plekopleko@hotmail.com]
Ontario, Canada
Thursday, June 23, 2005 12:05:24 PM
IP: 69.17.169.178

People do wierd things. Like the Popsicle or the 40-foot pair of Jeans erected in South Korea for last month's International Jeans Expo (or something like that). They were so big I hear you could see them from North Korea. Which probably made Kim Jhong Ill wonder if we're not all just as crazy as him.
CKayote - [CKayote@worldnet.att.net]
Orlando, Fl
Thursday, June 23, 2005 11:23:57 AM
IP: 64.192.79.151

Funny how no one considered that a giant popsicle left out in the sun in on the second day of summer might be prone to melt.

17 days left until pre-registration for The Gathering 2005 ends.
36 days left until The Gathering 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Patrick
Thursday, June 23, 2005 06:44:44 AM
IP: 68.170.199.45

That Popsicle incident leaves me to wonder-with all the insane things we humans do - just how it would leave the Clan scratching their heads in wonder (especially Goliath & Hudson) just how insane a race of beings we humans really are. Just what is it we're trying to prove anyway with the world's biggest popsicle-or the world's biggest, tallest, fastest anything? It's one thing to try and better ourselves-but to what extreme? Hey, it's 2am so maybe I'm just in a ramble here, but I just couldn't help but wonder what Goliath & Co would be thinking after watching the news clips of this popsicle failure on TV. You can just picture Goliath questioning Elisa to why they'd be doing that-and Elisa trying desperately to try and make sense out of it.
Wingless
Thursday, June 23, 2005 02:09:38 AM
IP: 70.28.12.78

News from Manhattan:

25-Foot tall Snapple popsicle melts in Union square, flooding area with sticky pink goo.
Gantros
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 08:26:52 PM
IP: 67.189.1.250

Hmm... maybe someone from the Gathering 2005 con staff should skim through the unanswered questions section of "Ask Greg" and provide some info to Cal and the others who are asking questions about the convention, before it's too late for this year.

Just a suggestion. :)

Patrick
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 08:08:21 PM
IP: 68.170.199.45

Watched "Her Brother's Keeper" on DVD. I still find myself thinking that the second season episodes on tape are going to seem poorer (in terms of picture and sound) after this; the Season One DVD has really spoiled me. At least it gives me extra reason to look forward to the release of the Season Two DVD.

A few comments on "Her Brother's Keeper".

This is the first time that we specifically see Jackal and Hyena working as a team minus the rest of the Pack (except for Fox giving them their orders in the background), in such a way that we can get to see their interaction and contrasting characterizations. The big difference between them (which shows up again in "The Green")is their grasp on strategy: Hyena likes to simply charge in, while Jackal focuses on having a plan. This is especially clear in the Diamond Exchange, where Hyena just wants to grab the Coyote Diamond like that, where Jackal insists on finding a more subtle approach towards getting the diamond out of there - and has the smarts to ask the lady removing it from its case about who bought it. Jackal thinks first, then acts, as opposed to Hyena, who just acts. (Greg summed it up in his ramble on "Grief", where he stated that Hyena is a psychopath and Jackal a sociopath.)

Brooklyn's clearly picking up a lot of 20th century information, since he's now talking in terms of modern-day pop cultural references, as in "Use the Force, Lex!" and "You and what Starfleet?" Definitely a quick adapter.

Of course, the central point of this episode is Xanatos offering Derek a job, which leads to our getting a better look at Elisa's family, including her parents (Peter sides with Elisa in viewing Derek accepting Xanatos's offer as a bad idea - even though he doesn't know why Elisa's so opposed to it, while Diane supports Derek on this one). Elisa allows her suspicion of Xanatos (justified here, of course) to bungle her efforts, by coming down so hard on Derek that it encourages him all the more to take Xanatos's offer, simply to make it clear to her that he's the one who decides what to do with his life, not her. (Barging in on him in the middle of the locker room clearly didn't help matters either.)

The first time that I saw this episode, I thought that Elisa's secretly tape recording her conversation with Fox would finally do the job in convincing Derek - of course, once "Metamorphosis" came along, it became clear that it didn't.

Xanatos displays his customary chutzpah once more in his scheming - including telling Derek about the gargoyles before Elisa can. With the really great touch being his admission that he'd made some errors in dealing with them - which undercuts anything that Elisa can say to Derek about Xanatos's going after the clan after that. No wonder Fox admires him so.

And a great ending, with Elisa standing in the doorway of the clock tower as the gargoyles turn to stone and the snow falls, silent.

Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 06:58:49 PM
IP: 4.244.18.113

Todd - I checked last night and there was well over 200 questions until the Gathering 2004 journals. Oh well. Current question #5 is totally stupid.
dph
ar, usa
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 01:51:19 PM
IP: 65.132.36.89

Actually, yes, that post is spam... they were advertising celebrex once, I think.

Another shameless plug...

Any way, last night, the American Film Institute picked it's list of the 100 best quotes from American film. Not surprisingly, Casablanca had six quotes on the list. (Why can't they write that good now???)

The #1 Quote was from Clark Gable's Rhett Butter in Gone with the Wind: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

You can see the full list of quotes at my web site... if you try to get onto the AFI site, it'll just say "server busy."

www.geocities.com/oscarmovs/quotes.html

or clicky my name.

That is all I will say.

Battle Beast
CanadaWednesday, June 22, 2005 12:42:03 PM
IP: 198.53.28.99

I'm not sure, but I think the previous post is spam because I recall reading the exact, same thing in previous weeks. That, and the poster is advertising hotels.
Gantros
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 12:32:47 PM
IP: 67.189.1.250

Well, Greg answered my question in the queue last night, so evidently I didn't end the question-clearing there. I suppose that he just must have been extremely busy (which, between "W.I.T.C.H." and the negotiations with Slave Labor, seems a realistic enough assumption).

The one thing that worries me is that, while he's made good progress in whittling down the queue, it's going to get a lot bigger in August again once it gets opened up for Gathering 2005 reports and those reports get accompanied by a lot of questions - and let's hope that this time those questions won't be mostly of the variety of "Why did the show end?" or "What are gargoyles?" Maybe Gorebash will have the revisions for screening those questions in place by the beginning of August, though. Let's hope so.

Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 07:32:28 AM
IP: 4.244.12.195

18 days left until pre-registration for The Gathering 2005 ends.
37 days left until The Gathering 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Patrick
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 06:52:43 AM
IP: 68.170.199.45

I, For one, loved "Long Way..." In fact, I have a question about it in the Q that's on deck in a little while.

Anywho, I'm quite fond of Hudson. I think people under-estimate his potential (as Xanatos does in "Price.") He's even fairly useful in "Vendettas." Not only that, but how well would Brooklyn have gotten about without him?

Goliath trusts him completely; he even goes as far as choosing him as second in command first over the others.

"Long Way" really shows the wisdom Hudson has; it also shows strengths (both mental and physical.) Any doubts about Hudson, anyone thinking of himas an old fogey... you're worng.

I'll save my better thoughts for "The Price."

That is all I will say.


Battle Beast
CanadaTuesday, June 21, 2005 10:11:21 PM
IP: 198.53.28.99

DPH - As I said, I don't know for certain whether I stopped clearing questions in 2003 or 2004, and I'm currently unable to link to the clearing page, so I don't know just where I halted. Maybe Greg's gotten up to that point and maybe he hasn't; I just don't know.

Watched "Long Way Till Morning" on DVD today. This is another episode that I'm particularly fond of for several reasons. One is another medieval flashback (in which we meet Prince Malcolm and the Archmage) - when I first began watching "Gargoyles", those were my favorite parts. Another is some great atmospherics about Demona's pursuit (especially when Hudson sees her approaching the graveyard, and then when she emerges, wings first, from behind the angel statue - when she's standing atop the statue, incidentally, she has a truly terrifying smile upon her face). And finally, the big focus on Hudson.

I always liked the way that Hudson was portrayed in "Gargoyles". Greg Weisman mentioned in the Series Bible that Hudson was the gargoyle least enthusiastic about the modern world (apart from television and easy chairs, of course), in contrast to the extremely eager trio or the more analytical Goliath. What works about this facet of Hudson's characterization is how it's handled. He's portrayed as being uprooted from the world that he knows, placed in a very different environment, and fears that he's too old to adjust to it. You can see it in "Awakening Part Three" when, after staring down at the city streets below with their streams of cars and distant sirens, he explains to Goliath and Elisa why he won't be accompanying them, "This world is too big, too bright, too loud", with a strong touch of sadness in his voice. In "Long Way Till Morning", we see that Hudson also fears in general that he's too old to do much for the clan any more - in spite of which, he still doggedly faces Demona throughout the night, protecting Goliath from her, while knowing that he has little hope of defeating her. (As he puts it, "I can face her. I just can't beat her.")

We also get a look at him back when he was the leader, and how upset he is when he fails to prevent Prince Malcolm from being poisoned by the Archmage. This comes across, I think, particularly effectively when a young Princess Katharine shouts at Hudson to get away from her father, and Hudson simply steps back as she commands, too guilt-stricken to argue with her, even convinced that she's right to yell at him the way that she does in light of his failure.

Another nice touch is making it clear to the audience, at the start, that Demona's plot to poison Elisa failed thanks to her badge (though Demona doesn't know that, of course). That way, the audience, aware of this, with no worries over finding an antidote for our favorite police detective, can focus on Goliath and Hudson's troubles as Demona pursues them - and need feel no shame over having forgotten (as Demona points out at the end of Act Three) why Goliath and Hudson originally set out to confront her.

Other bits that stand out to me:

Goliath refuses to even consider the possibility of killing Demona as a way of taking care of her. I found that touchingly effective.

Brooklyn's still bitter with Demona from "Temptation".

Prince Malcolm's foolish use of gargoyles as bogeymen to scare Princess Katharine - and how that'll have dire ramifications down the road. (Though I've mentioned this before.)

Another detail that I like: those old leaves blowing into the mausoleum when Hudson opens its doors.

Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 07:03:53 PM
IP: 4.245.16.218

Police academy training would include some basic physical fitness and self-defense training, but from the types of moves we've seen Elisa do, I would imagine she's done some martial arts training on the side.
Patrick
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 06:06:39 PM
IP: 68.170.199.45

I don't think we know for sure, but I would guess that Elisa got some martial arts training at the police academy.


Phil - [p1anderson@go.com]
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 04:59:58 PM
IP: 134.215.241.133

speaking of karate (which I do), does Elisa know karate or another form of martial art too? I don't think there is a reference in the programme of Elisa knowing a martial art, but she seems to hold her own very well physically against her opponents/enemies.
dudette
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 04:50:16 PM
IP: 62.252.32.16

Todd - you did clean out all the 2003 questions, right? Ironically, the next question in line belongs to . . you. All the way from Wed, September 24, 2003.
dph
ar, usa
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 02:15:00 PM
IP: 65.132.36.70

Yeah, I'm guessing that the connection is that these are all parts Greg did the voice for ("Nice Mask" obviously, we know he was Voice Director for the 3x3 Eyes dub and may have mentioned doing that humming himself, and I guess he did a cameo voice in the particular "TaleSpin" ep). So this is probably a hint that he was somehow involved (likely voice directing again) with the dub of Ikki Tousan and has a cameo voice in there too.
Demonskrye
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 08:13:45 AM
IP: 146.115.115.131

I do think that there was a bit of insecurity on Xanatos's part in "The Edge", though maybe "insecurity" is too large a word for it. At the beginning of the episode, remember, he lost the karate match to Owen, and was a little concerned (as he reveals at the end) over the possibility that it was a sign that his combat skills were getting rusty. His confronting Goliath in that suit of red armor and being able to fight him to a draw was something that he felt the need to do, to make certain that he wasn't "losing it".

I wonder if Greg may have reached the end of the currently cleared questions (I wish that I could remember where I had left off on clearing them; I stopped clearing questions some time ago at Gorebash and Greg's request, because of Gorebash's plans to revise the system so that the questions that keep on being asked too many times could be handled by assistants without having to reach Greg himself, but now I can't remember at what point in the queue that happened). For the last couple of weeks, he hasn't answered any more questions, and for a while I thought that he may have simply been too busy (since he's in charge of the second season of "W.I.T.C.H.", and no doubt also busy taking part in the negotiations between Disney and Slave Labor over the possible Gargoyles comic book series, that would be a reasonable assumption) - but since he's still been able to ramble a couple of times, I wonder if maybe the queue's empty. I wish that I could remember just where I left off.

Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 07:22:24 AM
IP: 4.244.12.7

Hooray for more Gathering guests!

19 days left until pre-registration for The Gathering 2005 ends.
38 days left until The Gathering 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Patrick
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 06:51:02 AM
IP: 68.170.199.45

JJ Gregarius: "Does anyone know what Greg's "Nice mask!" line, the Panda-la ep of TaleSpin..."

I think Greg was the voice behind those lines.

Leo
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 06:37:25 AM
IP: 68.231.241.236

Personally, I think Xanatos is the complete opposite of insecure. He's just as much a warrior as a mastermind. I think he genuinly enjoyed going into battle in his armor.
Greg Bishansky
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 02:21:35 AM
IP: 69.118.108.212

Personally, I think Xanatos is the complete opposite of insecure. He's just as much a warrior as a mastermind. I think he genuinly enjoyed going into battle in his armor.
Gregory
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 02:21:24 AM
IP: 69.118.108.212

Sometimes I wonder if Xanatos risking his own life in combat with Goliath indicates some deep routed insecurity. It would explain a lot.

Ikki Tousan>> I just read the latest comment from Greg at Ask Greg. Does anyone know what Greg's "Nice mask!" line, the Panda-la ep of TaleSpin and homeless folk humming the Gargoyles theme in 3x3 Eyes have to do with eachother, or with this Ikki Tousan show (anime, I presume?) Greg's recommending? He lost me so! :-(

JJ Gregarius
Tampa, FL
Monday, June 20, 2005 11:47:12 PM
IP: 4.247.206.63

In the hope of jump-starting the room a little, here's some thoughts on "The Edge", which I watched on DVD today.

I'm still appreciating the better-quality sound and picture on the DVD compared to my now eight-year-old tapes. Season Two is really going to seem poor in comparison when I have to switch to those same tapes to watch it. It makes me all the more grateful that the Season Two DVD will be coming out. (Specific things that I caught this time around in that department were the lobby door slamming open when Elisa and Matt enter the Eyrie Building - to be barred by Owen - and the sound of their footsteps.)

Quite a lot of introductions here. We meet Travis Marshall and Matt Bluestone (well, we glimpsed him in "Deadly Force", but we now have a name, a voice, and a characterization for him). The Eye of Odin shows up for the first time (more about that in a bit). We get our first mention of the Illuminati (more about that below as well). Xanatos unveils his red suit of armor. The Emir gets a brief mention (how many people thought, the first time we saw this, that he'd get his own episode 34 stories later? I know that I didn't. I thought that his mention was just to show Xanatos meeting with other powerful people, to give the audience an idea of the circles that he moved in). And, of course, we see the gargoyles fully settled in the clock tower.

Xanatos shows himself a step above other animated antagonists in his remark that he'd fire Owen if the latter pretended to lose a match to him. Certainly a refreshing piece of behavior.

I still get a kick out of the meeting between Goliath and Xanatos in the castle, that displays their characters so effectively. Goliath serious and passionate, enraged (and understandably so) over Xanatos's scheming against him and his clan. Xanatos being - well, Xanatos - displaying a certain element of chutzpah. The bits that stand out to me are these two bits:

1. XANATOS: You see, soon everyone in the Big Apple is going to be hunting gargoyles.

GOLIATH: Because of you!

XANATOS: If you're going to be picky, we're not going to get anywhere.

2. After Xanatos points out that the choice for the gargs is between being hunted like animals or living in his research facility where they'll be "safe", Goliath loses his temper, demolishes one of the lampposts, and storms out, gliding off in a rage. Xanatos rushes up to the battlements and calls after him "You're taking this much too personally!"

The Eye of Odin's name immediately intrigued me from the very first time that I saw this episode (being the Norse mythology fan that I am), although I honestly didn't expect it to turn out to be literally that or to see Odin himself show up. (Which may have made it all the more enjoyable a surprise when they did.) Funny that I should be mentioning it just now, in light of the Anthology coming out. Is this good timing for my comment, or what?

The Illuminati's introduction. Michael Reaves mentioned at the 2001 Gathering why he had Matt so interested - almost obsessed - with the Illuminati when he developed his characterization. He wanted Matt to be investigating the gargoyles, trying to find out what they were, but he wanted the audience to find it believable. So his idea was to portray Matt as a "conspiracy theory nut"; if the audience sees him believing (before he gets even a glimpse of the gargoyles) that the world's being run by an all-powerful secret society, they'll find it more convincing that he'd believe in real living gargoyles. Which makes me wonder what Reaves thought of Greg having the Illuminati turn out to be real in Season Two (and with links not just to Matt, but also to Xanatos and eventually - down the road - King Arthur).

I still sometimes can't help wondering whether the Eye of Odin really counts as "modern art", since it would have to have been around at least since the Viking Age and no doubt long before (we don't know for certain, of course, how long ago Odin had that drink from Mimir's well, though it was obviously well before 975, when the Archmage was already after the Eye). Maybe the MOMA's staff were too excited about the donation to consider the fact that the Eye wasn't modern.

I can't help suspecting that "The Edge" would have to be different in one sense nowadays; after September 11, I seriously doubt that you could get away with the gargoyles getting into a big battle at a New York City landmark. At least they didn't do any damage to Lady Liberty.

And the episode ends with one of the big surprises of the series (for me), when it turns out that the red Steel Clan robot was Xanatos in disguise, as opposed to just a Steel Clan robot with better artificial intelligence. Though I do wonder a little what Xanatos was hoping to do with the gargoyles if he'd caught them; obviously he must have known that they couldn't be duped into stealing for him a second time. Or did he have other plans for them up his sleeve (as "The Price" suggests)? We'll probably never know now.

Todd Jensen
St. Louis, MO
Monday, June 20, 2005 06:56:08 PM
IP: 4.244.18.175

Even more good news. Dan Vado of Slave Labor Graphics Publishing is coming to the Gathering! Join us for this unique opportunity to welcome Dan to the fandom.
kathy
Monday, June 20, 2005 06:42:24 PM
IP: 66.82.9.85

11th! ;)
Siren
Monday, June 20, 2005 05:24:17 PM
IP: 65.33.113.83

New Guest Added to the Gathering Line Up! Dennis J. Woodyard Season 2 Co-Producer will be at the Gathering. Will you? Click or surf for all the details: http://gathering.gargoyles-fans.org
kathy
Monday, June 20, 2005 09:54:28 AM
IP: 66.82.9.38

10th, and on with the show!
Todd
St. Louis, MO
Monday, June 20, 2005 07:34:54 AM
IP: 4.244.12.44

9th, because spammers are like Democratic ballots in Florida. They don't count.

Thanks for the opportunity to leave the countdown!

20 days left until pre-registration for The Gathering 2005 ends.
39 days left until The Gathering 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Patrick
Monday, June 20, 2005 06:59:48 AM
IP: 68.170.199.45

I'm l8 :)

Guandalug la'Fay - [guandalug@gargoyles-fans.org]
Monday, June 20, 2005 04:57:45 AM
IP: 129.217.139.11

7th?

Gantros >> Thanks for the link. That's a whole lotta Gargoyles art.

Kris - [plekopleko@hotmail.com]
Ontario, Canada
Monday, June 20, 2005 01:53:23 AM
IP: 69.17.169.178

6TH!!!!

...like always...

matt
O'Fallon, Mo
Monday, June 20, 2005 01:49:10 AM
IP: 68.92.89.86

5th!
kjay - [tigonesskay@netzero.com]
fort bliss, tx, usa
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:42:22 AM
IP: 69.112.127.17

4th!
Leo
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:16:32 AM
IP: 68.231.241.236

Wingless - Nope, just tired of getting my numbers wrong. :P
Renee
Augusta, GA
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:02:45 AM
IP: 68.47.110.33

Ack! you guys are fast!-third!
Wingles
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:01:07 AM
IP: 70.28.12.78

2nd!!
dph
ar, usa
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:01:02 AM
IP: 65.132.37.11

First-maybe
Wingless
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:00:34 AM
IP: 70.28.12.78

1st!!
dph
ar, usa
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:00:32 AM
IP: 65.132.37.11

Woot! First!
Renee
Augusta , GA
Monday, June 20, 2005 12:00:30 AM
IP: 68.47.110.33