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Post by Jack Malone on Jun 25, 2015 19:34:56 GMT -6
"Interview" Review
Firstly, I wanted to talk about the format of the episode. It was definitely a bold move, and something innovative that I believe would have worked better if "Tad" served as more of an antagonist for the episode. When spoilers came out for this episode, I was expecting his journalistic nature to take over, digging into these characters with questions that made them relive that horrible experience to such a degree that added some intense drama and allowed us to go deeper into their emotional state after this tragedy. Instead, it was kind of just recapping what had happened, with everyone kind of just agreeing how terrible and horrific the situation was and didn't add much to what we already knew. However, it wasn't all for nothing (or just a filler to bridge us between the "Warfare" being back and ready for action next week) as it served as the catalyst to put the Alex/Alisha drama to rest before it can even really begin, as well as unearth a side to Mia that I thought had been buried (but apparently I was wrong).
Speaking of Alex and Alisha, I was kind of looking forward to seeing where this conflict would go. As much as I didn't want to see them butting heads with each other, their conflict kind of fizzled out rather quickly. Despite that, this situation kind of called for them to assess the issues they had and put them into perspective: they survived a shooting. They've been through thick and thin together, and one lie to protect Alisha from anymore pain shouldn't be something to stop talking over. So, in examining that aspect, I had less of a problem with the "recap" interview as it was tied more into Alex and Alisha realising that this conflict of theirs was silly in comparison to what they've recently been through and allowed them to fall back together as quickly as they tore apart in the first place. So that was one of my major positives of the episode -- it was a quick, but logical solving of the conflict.
In terms of Mia, I was a little disappointed by her actions. It just felt like a "one step forward, two steps back" type situation with her character, but that is who she is, and so that's no fault on the writing. When she lied and played the audience... it didn't surprise me so much as it made me really disappointed in her. But again, she's that character you're low key rooting to get better and be a better person, but know full well what she's capable of doing. At this point, I can't tell if Mia will be a bad influence on David, or if David will be a good influence on her, and this tug-o-war between liking their scenes together in previous episodes, to now where I'm worried Mia might pull David into a direction I wouldn't want to see him go down... you've set something really interesting up. I just wanna grab Mia and shake her until she realises she can be a good person and she doesn't have to put on this facade for the audience or for anyone.
Sidenote: it was really nice to get a Mia/Robbie scene. It made me nostalgic for last sequence when they were scheming and constantly working together. I wonder if -- with shooting resuming tomorrow -- they will be sharing more scenes together as the sequence progresses.
Lastly, I just wanted to say that while this episode wasn't my favourite in the bunch of S4 episodes, it did a lot to ground certain elements and set other storylines up. The idea behind the episode was a really creative way in trying to tackle the main developments you needed to hit before heading back to set, but I just had a few mixed feelings about how it was handled. Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what drama the "Warfare" set holds for these characters going forward, and I'm still eager for the other storylines that have been set up: David's recklessness and him outside the setting of the hospital, the new "coupling" of Alisha and Kelsey, Mia and David, and Alex and Rose -- and what they have to bring for the sequence going forward -- as well as Michael's exploration to do something fulfilling and rewarding to him and his passions in life. All in all, the characters trumped the plot in this one, but seeing the characters develop is the number one priority I have with anything, and you did a good job of achieving that in Alex/Alisha *sighs with happiness at their names together* Ok, I'm-a shut up.
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Post by Brady Brown on Jun 25, 2015 20:19:31 GMT -6
"Interview" ReviewFirstly, I wanted to talk about the format of the episode. It was definitely a bold move, and something innovative that I believe would have worked better if "Tad" served as more of an antagonist for the episode. When spoilers came out for this episode, I was expecting his journalistic nature to take over, digging into these characters with questions that made them relive that horrible experience to such a degree that added some intense drama and allowed us to go deeper into their emotional state after this tragedy. Instead, it was kind of just recapping what had happened, with everyone kind of just agreeing how terrible and horrific the situation was and didn't add much to what we already knew. However, it wasn't all for nothing (or just a filler to bridge us between the "Warfare" being back and ready for action next week) as it served as the catalyst to put the Alex/Alisha drama to rest before it can even really begin, as well as unearth a side to Mia that I thought had been buried (but apparently I was wrong). Yeah, I definitely knew this episode was going to be a hit-or-miss type of situation, so I'm not too, too shocked that you have mixed feelings about this one. I do like that idea of Tad being more antagonist, though. This was sort of a breather episode, after the events of last week - Alisha continuing to question herself, David's new attitude, the fight between Alex and Alisha, etc. It's definitely not the strongest of the sequence by any means, but I'm glad you found some parts of it enjoyable I don't think the story really called for Alex and Alisha to be in a conflict longer than it did. I mean, I know with my best friends, if we're ever in an argument, in only lasts more than a few hours, a day at the most. I really wanted to show that with them, that they can look past such a small, minuscule thing to be mad about, because, like you said, they've been through so much just in the past few weeks. Glad you enjoyed it! I really love pulling back the layers of Mia this sequence, but I thought it'd be sort of unrealistic to have her two or some odd meetings (that we've seen) with David completely change her personality. She will definitely influenced David, and he will definitely influence her. I don't want to say if it's in a particularly positive or negative way, because I feel like there are a lot of sides to the situation. I also wanted to show the false nature that some celebrities immediately assume when a camera begins to roll. So, hopefully that explained her actions a little more, haha! As of right now, they won't be sharing anymore scenes, haha. Their stories don't really call for it at this point in time, but they definitely might in the future. While Alex, Alisha, and Mia will be returning to the Warfare set, Robbie won't be because his scenes have already been filmed. Yeah, sorry this was a mixed bag for you. Hopefully next week manages to pull back into the high streak you've held to the previous episodes! This was totally a breather, but I felt like it needed to happen, much like 1.10 "I'm Here" back in sequence one. Returning to "Warfare" will only last the next episode. They've only come to shoot one or two scenes, and, from a story standpoint, it's mainly about them returning to where everything happened and dealing with it. Can't wait to see what you think!
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Post by Jack Malone on Jul 2, 2015 18:19:29 GMT -6
"The Inevitable"
It's a phenomenal week on theVPN. Audition is back with probably my new favourite episode of the season, detailing the events of what it's like for Alex and Alisha to return to the scene of the crime -- which just so happens to be the set they're shooting a film on -- and Michael and Rose take a step forward towards their professional aspirations, and it provides two of the best developments of the sequence so far.
Firstly, I have to talk about Alisha, who was essentially front and center this episode. I thought the storyline for her this week was done in such a clever way, and I wasn't really expecting the events of the shooting to play such an emotional role in her last day of shooting, which turned out to be one of the greatest aspects of this episode. I like that we're eight episodes in now, and you haven't swept this event under the rug. It's a very real, traumatic experience for these characters, and it's to the point where I hope there aren't any reshoots, and I hope they get to dust their hands, and walk away from the set after this episode. It's in a similar light to how I don't really want Alisha and David to rekindle their flame. I want her to walk away from that too, and I think with the way the episode ended, we are seeing that take shape. We are seeing her move on, and I think it's very symbolic to have that scene happen in the same episode where she's moving on from this film, and moving on from this set. That was done in a very clever way.
From this storyline, we had a confrontation between Alex and Mia that was very interesting. You manage to create such great conflict in a way that really makes you understand both perspectives, and so you can't really pick sides. But Mia dropped some serious truth bombs in this outing that, and I love the line "You don’t get to try and control how [David] puts himself back together after Alisha literally tore him to
shreds." It's true. Alex is just being a best friend to Alisha, and is looking out for his main broseph, David, but at the end of the day, David is his own person, and if Mia screws him over, it will have been David's choice to allow that to happen, much like Alisha has had to face and own up to her own choices that have allowed bad things to happen to her world. I'm glad that Alex kind of backed off at the end, thanks to Alisha, and I hope he sticks his nose out of David's business from here on out considering David hasn't come to him with problems about Mia, and so it's not really any of his business at this point. Also: how can I hate and love Mia at the same time? What games are you playing here, man? I don't know what to do with myself.
Moving on, I wanted to just say that Rose and Robbie have more chemistry between them than Rose and Alex -- sorry! I adored their scene together, and I think that while they're displaying a more professional relationship and dynamic, I can't deny the fact that they play so easily off one another and they're both united in similar hopes and aspirations that it makes me want to see more from them in a romantic capacity. The problem I have with Alex and Rose is that they both seem to serve each other's happiness, and it's convenient for them in that sense because of all the horrible things they've been through, but whatever chemistry they did have originally when Rose was introduced kind of sizzled out, meanwhile Rose and Robbie share few scenes together and there's an instant click, and an instant pull towards those two that makes me excited about seeing more scenes. That's not to say I'm not invested in an Alex/Rose romance, I just think they need a bit of work to get me back to that place of the second sequence where I thought they'd be a good fit. I have a solution, though: Rose/Robbie, Alex/Alisha. *laughs then cries*
Lastly, I have to talk about my favourite development of the series: Michael wants to be a scriptwriter. Do you know what I wrote in my notes the second I saw that: "THAT MICHAEL DEVELOPMENT WAS THE GREATEST THING EVER AND HE CAN BE SO ATTACHED TO THE MAIN PLOT NOT OH MY GOD." I was over the moon, man. It's such a beautiful twist in the story, and a nice way to pull him into the main plot from here on out. One of the greatest things about this sequence has been how you've incorporated Michael and Paula into the episodes, and given them side stories that have made me so happy week in and week out. With the possibilities of them sort of resurfacing in the main storyline makes me over the moon and seeing Michael grow in his status and importance to the show as this sequence has progressed is something I've loved the minute this storyline began. I can't tell you enough how much I love this development.
Overall, the best episode of the sequence. I don't think I've left an episode in a while completely positive and in love with every little scene and moment. This review honestly wrote itself. I didn't have to examine anything, or look closely into too much, it just played out in a really nice, well developed, well put together episode of "Audition." 11/10.
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Post by Brady Brown on Jul 2, 2015 19:08:38 GMT -6
"The Inevitable" It's a phenomenal week on theVPN. Audition is back with probably my new favourite episode of the season, detailing the events of what it's like for Alex and Alisha to return to the scene of the crime -- which just so happens to be the set they're shooting a film on -- and Michael and Rose take a step forward towards their professional aspirations, and it provides two of the best developments of the sequence so far. Thank yoouuuuuuu!! I actually added a lot to Alisha's involvement in this episode, so I'm glad it was a good decision haha. It was a real big moment for Alisha. She's had a lot this sequence; it's been very much about her, and the contrast in the next arc is that it's going to focus a lot on David and how he's been handling things since the shooting. So, this was a real cap on the shooting incident, and on filming Warfare. No more reshoots - they've completed their first movie! I try and balance the pros and the cons on both side of the spectrum. I've never been a fan of "the good guy is always right, and the bad guy is always wrong," so creating gray areas in these characters and their motivations was something I really enjoy doing. That line was honestly my favorite to write this episode. More focus on the relationship Mia and David have will be in arc 2. Haha, that's fine. I don't think Alex and Rose, despite their date, have had any real standout moments this sequence. There's one in episode 10, however, so I'm interested to see what you think about that, and if you still feel the same way about their chemistry. But back to her and Robbie, they're definitely going to maintain the professionalism of their relationship throughout the entire sequence, and beyond. There's no romantic plans in the near future. I think it's definitely easy to find chemistry in them because of their newfound friendship thought - so, no matter what the reasons are, I don't care that you ship it. The next two episodes are HUGE for Michael, and starting up Screenwriters Paradise. I'm so glad you liked it!! I don't want to spill too too much on the next two episodes, so I'll just wait to see what you think. YAAY! I love that you've said "best episode of the sequence" so many times already, and it's amazing to see that you love it so much. THANK YOU SO MUCCCHHHH!
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Post by Brian Melanson on Jul 9, 2015 14:38:18 GMT -6
New Courier -- REVIEW
Brady and Chris, all I can is this. It's my first Audition review and I am so excited. But lets get into the episode, shall we (Oh my god, that sounds so formal)
I'm so excited that we are getting introduced to the characters from "Screenwriters Paradise" so early. Doing this as a backdoor pilot/crossover worked perfectly. It felt like Audition was just introducing new characters but we get to see them on a whole new show in a few weeks. I still liked how you didn't stray far away from the Audition plot such as Alex and Alisha going on an audition and Michael still trying to pursue his new goal of becoming a screenwriter. But personally, my favorite moment from the episode was Paula being left alone in the apartment and unsure of what to do, it's as if everything she was so used to was taken from her. Still, I loved that little scene, couldn't stop laughing.
Now how the SP characters were introduced flowed perfectly into the episode. How Shawn was introduced was my favorite. Just reading Alex and Alisha just fan-girl over him and thinking they were going to lose their favorite character in their favorite show, made me laugh. Joshua and Andrew's intro worked well. Having Joshua eye Michael was funny and Andrew kinda having to try and hold his friend back, was great. Even though Joshua wants to look over Michael's scripts to just possibly get into his pants, still opens up a way for Michael to either be the bridge that connects the two shows. Or that Michael leaves the show all together and goes to SP. I hope it's the first option.
My personal favorite was Emily. I want a lot of her in SP. Her character was everything I love about a strong female character. How she talked felt so real and like someone who is an Agent Hollywood would talk. Even though she was super bitch-y to Michael and tearing him a new one with his script, I still can't help but love her. She will be my favorite character in SP, I have no doubt in my mind about that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this episode. I can't wait for Part Two and then the premiere of SP. I cannot wait to see whats to come next, I'm so proud of the both of you! (Sorry if this review sucked, its the first one in a LONG time)
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Post by Jack Malone on Jul 9, 2015 20:32:18 GMT -6
"New Courier" Review
It's a new vibe for "Audition" this week as Michael takes center stage, scratching the surface of a storyline that had me extremely excited for the direction of his character. While we got to see some of our other Audition favourites, we were also introduced to a few characters from the upcoming "Screenwriter's Paradise" that both links these two worlds together, but also gives us some insight into the voices we'll be following in what is bound to be the next big webisode hit for theVPN.
Firstly, I have to talk about Michael as this episode was primarily about him and his journey. I had mixed feelings about the actualisation of his arc and the storyline that was introduced in last week's episode. It just felt rather rushed and too coincidental and something that kind of feels a bit... I don't want to say a slap in the face for aspiring screenwriters, but more or less a very unrealistic approach. I mean, he somehow lands an interview with an agent, which is thrown away with his own disbelief of scoring one, which introduces us to Emily, who only accepts his script because of Michael's looks (despite cutting his pitch off and considering his idea ill-fit for hollywood). I mean, in researching agents, aspiring writers don't need one right off the bat, and getting one without a portfolio is almost impossible without certain connections -- it would have made more sense if Paula knew people and could hook her bestie up, or knew someone that could read his script and it was an instant smash hit that got him offers, or whatever else other than the explanation that we did get.
Speaking of Emily, I feel like she's a bit of a firecracker, and while this episode didn't really make me excited to see her in the new show because of how unprofessional she was, and how pedantic and slightly rude she was, I'm sliding this first introduction to the character under "bad first impression" and waiting to see what she will be like in Screenwriter's Paradise because there's only time for development, and back story and exploration of character within the series she will be from as opposed to a one-or-two-off crossover episode with her in it.
Moving on, we next catch Michael working on his script where he was approached with yet another opportunity, on the same day, to get into the industry because he is somehow the luckiest dude on the planet. But that scene introduced us to Joshua and Andrew, who I really enjoyed. I legitimately thought they were a couple -- Brady told me otherwise -- but they just have great chemistry, and a good back and forth dynamic that is fun to read and was a nice contrast to Emily, who was the opposite. I did kind of get the feeling that everyone just hones in on Michael because of his looks, and it creates an element of shallowness that I didn't appreciate, but that was a fleeting moment with Joshua and Andrew who, as I said, seemed to want to genuinely help the guy or figure him out, and they were really nice to him which I appreciated, considering this is his first big crack into this profession. That said, I didn't really like the approach to Michael's arc. It's like he figured out what he wants to do, and the next episode, he's already got an agent willing to look over his script, and then two other writers agreeing to read it too and it's just too fast and too unbelievable for me to really be 100% happy with it. But again, I do love that Michael has found a direction that can take him to the A Plot, and even having him at the centre of the episode... it just felt right, and it felt like something I didn't really know I wanted or know could work until it happened and now I'm itching for more and more focus on him. I just hope there are some knock backs and while this did introduce characters from "Screenwriter's Paradise," I kind of hope these encounters don't work out for Michael because of how much it just kind of diminishes the struggle of getting into the industry, and diminishes the logic and realism of what is expected to crack into the industry. I mean, up until these last two episodes, we didn't know that this was his passion, or know that he could even really do it in a way that is up to industry standards, and so it's all just too quick a pace for me, despite my love of the storyline, and my love of the character and his direction for this sequence. *gasps for breath*
Anyway, my review is getting me down cause I sound so negative, so let's talk about all the awesome in this episode. I really liked the scene with Paula at the beginning. I think it's hilarious how she wasn't the main focus here -- usually she storms into the house, and makes a huge scene and is bubbly and excited and has all this energy and gets things rolling, except this time everyone had something going on and they were all frantic and busy and she was left in a "new" and "awkward" position that could only bring humour after four sequences of episodes doing the complete opposite. I really enjoyed it, and it really did launch all the storylines forward in an organic way. Plus, I love that she's Alex and Alisha's agent and she's wondering what they're running late for -- she is seriously adorable, and I love that light-switch moment from being inquisitive to "oh that's right, you better not be late dammit." I just really liked that scene.
My favourite scene of the whole episode was definitely the scene with Alex, Alisha and Joshua. This scene had me cracking up -- honestly, I love the idea that they could run into an actor for a character they adore and figure out that they're being written off the show and I think this scene was just adding a lot of the comedy to the drama that was very much needed and always done perfectly in "Audition." There's always a nice balance between that on this show, and a nice genre blend that I've loved since it premiered.
Quote of the episode: "Sometimes you have to fail in order to succeed, even a little bit." - Andrew (can we just talk about the fact that this is a quote I want to write on a word document, print, and hang up on my wall because its just motivating af)
Overall, it wasn't as mixed an episode as the one a few weeks back. I love the storylines, and I liked how the SP characters threaded into the main story -- it was creative, and refreshing to see all these new faces and I'm definitely excited to tune into SP (whether this crossover existed or not). As I said, it's hard to warm up to any character from another show without seeing the show first because this is new characters interacting in an environment they wouldn't usually be in, so I'm sure when I read SP, Emily won't come off in the way that she did, and there probably won't be this shallowness involved that I'm assuming was just the easiest way to link these characters to Michael to better further his storyline. Again, I loved what this episode was about, and every character had great moments. The only thing that I didn't like about it was how convenient things were happening for Michael, when there could be so much story in him trying, and failing, and getting back up again, and really struggling to crack into this industry as he is a supporting character and doesn't have to be thrust into it as quickly as Alex/Alisha in the pilot with meeting Paula. Anyway, I hope anything negative I've said translates in the right way, and the important thing is I love all the storylines that have been set up and tackled this sequence so far.
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Post by Brady Brown on Jul 9, 2015 21:26:35 GMT -6
"New Courier" Review It's a new vibe for "Audition" this week as Michael takes center stage, scratching the surface of a storyline that had me extremely excited for the direction of his character. While we got to see some of our other Audition favourites, we were also introduced to a few characters from the upcoming "Screenwriter's Paradise" that both links these two worlds together, but also gives us some insight into the voices we'll be following in what is bound to be the next big webisode hit for theVPN. I really loved having the opportunity to have these characters introduced on Audition before appearing in their main series, because I thought that was just such a a fun and clever way to pretty much kick start a series. I think there's a real struggle with writing a webisode with so many different storyline and so many things happening, and having to shove everything into less than 15 pages is probably one of the hardest things I've had to do while planning this series. I get what you're saying, though. I was really overly ambitious about putting Michael in the spotlight, that I allowed little things to slip such as talking about him and how he's been actively looking for an agent and working on his portfolio because I thought that would be something people would automatically pick up on, just like how Paula is constantly looking to book auditions for Alex and Alisha and just how Robbie is still actually looking for an agent. It slipped my mind, really. I wish I had more pages to try and develop these things and show all of these things in more detail, but I don't, and that's entirely on me. A lot of the coincidental elements will be explained in the future episodes of Audition/Screenwriters Paradise, and I think that's where a lot of your problems stem from. That's all I can really say on the subject now because of spoilers, but I'm at least glad it didn't really affect your overall enjoyment of the show. I think Emily is a really blunt character. I can't say too much about her future on SP, because I don't even know what's planned from her, but from having written this episode with Chris, that's the one word I would use to describe her. Her unprofessionalism is really a part of who she is, and I think that's fine that you don't like that aspect of her. I compared her to Cordelia in the early seasons of Buffy to Chris, and he seemed to think that was accurate. She's in the next episode, and while she doesn't make any drastic coffee orders, she's pretty much the same character. A lot of her, you're just going to have to wait on SP for. It's not really "another opportunity". Andrew and Joshua are aspiring scriptwriters just like Michael, and while they've been writing longer than he has, they're pretty much on the same level of "getting out there". So, in terms of getting lucky, there was only really Emily. I really love Joshua and Andrew, as well as their relationship. From what I've read of SP, I'm obsessed with them and them being together, whether it be platonic or romantic. I think people honing in on Michael's looks have been a running gag on the show, from Judy, to Emily, to Paula in some instances. I never really considered it shallow, just an attraction, unless you were referring to his attraction being the reason that someone would offer him help. Again, it stems a lot of what's going to happen in future episodes, and the constraint of having less than 15 page episodes to produce a story that could go up against one in 50+ page ones. I don't think this show is every going to be put under the believability category because of its format. I'm not trying to use it as an excuse more than I am an explanation of why some things probably didn't work. I hope that makes sense. There's a focus of denial in the next episode, but Emily and Michael are still going to share a scene, so I guess mentioning that before going in could get you prepared for anymore rushed things that might occur. But with that being said, I think Emily shows a different side in the next episode. Joshua and Andrew will be there too, sharing a small scene with Michael. I don't know how you're going to feel about it, so we'll just wait and seeeeee. I really loved having Paula in the apartment alone, even for just one or two lines. It's so polar from how her usual scenes in the setting are, so I thought it was just really funny, if I do say so myself. She's really been the subtle bridge between all of the storylines happening to Michael and Alex and Alisha, so I like always having her in small scenes like that remind everyone that she's the reason they all have some success. Yeah, this was inspired by what I would do if I saw one of my favorite TV actors at an audition. Pure joy turned into horror. It also gave leeway into Shawn's arc on SP, which I really liked adding in their in a fun way. Just an example of the genius Chris Davis exhibits on a daily basis, haha! Yeah, sorry it didn't 100% connect with you, especially coming off of an episode you said was one of your favorites. Hopefully you warm up to them, especially Emily, in the next episode, because while she still carries that blunt nature that is so true to her character, she also shows a different, more tender side of her. It wasn't really the "easiest" way to link them together, more than it was a logical, comedic one. Michael is a fairly attractive man and it's been shown before that people really enjoy looking at him, so I think that's why I decided for it to go down that way. Again, I could rant on and on all day about how I've constrained myself to 15 pages, but that's just putting myself down haha. I don't know if you'll feel any differently about this episode than the next, but as always, I hope you enjoy it more so than you did this one!
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Post by Brady Brown on Jul 9, 2015 21:27:34 GMT -6
New Courier -- REVIEWBrady and Chris, all I can is this. It's my first Audition review and I am so excited. But lets get into the episode, shall we (Oh my god, that sounds so formal) Just wanted to say thank you for the review, Brian! I already told you, but Chris should be fully replying to you soon, because it'll mostly discuss the characters on Screenwriters Paradise.
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Post by Jack Malone on Jul 9, 2015 22:04:08 GMT -6
It's not really "another opportunity". Andrew and Joshua are aspiring scriptwriters just like Michael, and while they've been writing longer than he has, they're pretty much on the same level of "getting out there". So, in terms of getting lucky, there was only really Emily. I really love Joshua and Andrew, as well as their relationship. From what I've read of SP, I'm obsessed with them and them being together, whether it be platonic or romantic. I think people honing in on Michael's looks have been a running gag on the show, from Judy, to Emily, to Paula in some instances. I never really considered it shallow, just an attraction, unless you were referring to his attraction being the reason that someone would offer him help. Again, it stems a lot of what's going to happen in future episodes, and the constraint of having less than 15 page episodes to produce a story that could go up against one in 50+ page ones. I don't think this show is every going to be put under the believability category because of its format. I'm not trying to use it as an excuse more than I am an explanation of why some things probably didn't work. I hope that makes sense. There's a focus of denial in the next episode, but Emily and Michael are still going to share a scene, so I guess mentioning that before going in could get you prepared for anymore rushed things that might occur. But with that being said, I think Emily shows a different side in the next episode. Joshua and Andrew will be there too, sharing a small scene with Michael. I don't know how you're going to feel about it, so we'll just wait and seeeeee. Yeah, sorry it didn't 100% connect with you, especially coming off of an episode you said was one of your favorites. Hopefully you warm up to them, especially Emily, in the next episode, because while she still carries that blunt nature that is so true to her character, she also shows a different, more tender side of her. It wasn't really the "easiest" way to link them together, more than it was a logical, comedic one. Michael is a fairly attractive man and it's been shown before that people really enjoy looking at him, so I think that's why I decided for it to go down that way. Again, I could rant on and on all day about how I've constrained myself to 15 pages, but that's just putting myself down haha. I don't know if you'll feel any differently about this episode than the next, but as always, I hope you enjoy it more so than you did this one! Ah, okay. I didn't know it was a running gag. I just thought that was Judy's character, in general, and when she saw what she liked she just jumped at it. I know you're limited in the amount of pages and story you can flesh out in one episode, but I wasn't really expecting this to go from realising what he wanted to do with his career, to being in the midst of all these opportunities and possibilities. It's just... the best way I can explain it is it's kind of like if Laurel suited up as Black Canary and suddenly knew how to fight and be a ninja and have all that under her belt without us getting to see her develop from point A to B to C, etc. I know there's limits on how much you can do in an episode, and I totally would struggle with trying to do everything I wanted to do within this format, but I don't know how it calls for things not to develop over time. But again, these opportunities might not lead to a job straight away, and I don't know what's planned, so I hope things don't go in such a quick direction for him in the future and he kind of earns the career, and not just given it because of his looks or whatever else it might be. Anyway, thanks for clarifying certain things for me, man. I definitely appreciate it.
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Post by Brady Brown on Jul 9, 2015 22:34:41 GMT -6
I know you're limited in the amount of pages and story you can flesh out in one episode, but I wasn't really expecting this to go from realising what he wanted to do with his career, to being in the midst of all these opportunities and possibilities. It's just... the best way I can explain it is it's kind of like if Laurel suited up as Black Canary and suddenly knew how to fight and be a ninja and have all that under her belt without us getting to see her develop from point A to B to C, etc. I know there's limits on how much you can do in an episode, and I totally would struggle with trying to do everything I wanted to do within this format, but I don't know how it calls for things not to develop over time. But again, these opportunities might not lead to a job straight away, and I don't know what's planned, so I hope things don't go in such a quick direction for him in the future and he kind of earns the career, and not just given it because of his looks or whatever else it might be. I just don't really see it as him having more than one opportunity. The only one I see is him getting a meeting with Emily and her being willing to read his script, which was something never assumed that she was going to a) enjoy, or b) pick up for her agency. There are distinct A's and B's and C's that I reaaaalllyyy wish I could talk about in this thread right now, but I can't. I think that comparison with Laurel, though, well... it would be impossible for her, really. I don't think its entirely impossible for Michael to get lucky. Does everyone get lucky? Nah. Because if they did, I would be in films and TV. What I can compare it to is Emma Watson getting noticed for Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series. She had the look and got noticed without any prior film experience; sure, she had past theatre experience, but it was mainly luck. I definitely get what you're saying though, and I hope I never came across as excusing your remarks or concerns because of saying I was limited to episodes, because I didn't say or mean for it to sound like I was saying the short page count made up for a lack of development. That's just a flaw in the episode, but I thought it needed some further explanation, just like... what I just said, I guess haha. But yeah, I hope I wasn't trying to excuse any flaws in the episode because of the amount of pages. Thanks again for your review and clarifications!
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Post by Jamison on Jul 10, 2015 13:27:42 GMT -6
New Courier -- REVIEWBrady and Chris, all I can is this. It's my first Audition review and I am so excited. But lets get into the episode, shall we (Oh my god, that sounds so formal) I'm so excited that we are getting introduced to the characters from "Screenwriters Paradise" so early. Doing this as a backdoor pilot/crossover worked perfectly. It felt like Audition was just introducing new characters but we get to see them on a whole new show in a few weeks. I still liked how you didn't stray far away from the Audition plot such as Alex and Alisha going on an audition and Michael still trying to pursue his new goal of becoming a screenwriter. But personally, my favorite moment from the episode was Paula being left alone in the apartment and unsure of what to do, it's as if everything she was so used to was taken from her. Still, I loved that little scene, couldn't stop laughing. We were really excited about getting this crossover done. So I'm soo glad you enjoyed it, Brian! At first, I didn't think Shawn was going to be able to fit in this episode, but was glad Brady found a place for him. We were even able to throw in some backstory for how his character starts off in SP. So, I think that worked out well. His scene with Alex and Alisha made me smile. Brady and I wrote it together, with him writing for Alex and Alisha and me writing for Shawn. We kind of did that throughout the episode, which was fun. Kinda like roleplaying, in a sense. So, really glad you liked that scene. Joshua and Andrew's story with Michael will continue on in next week's episode. They'll have a little scene together that should make you smile if you liked them all together in this episode. Can't wait to see what you think. Emily is a character I really love to write. You'll definitely see more of her and get to explore her character more thoroughly in SP, but at her core, she's very blunt, opinionated and accustomed to things in her life going a certain way. That comfort sort of gets taken from her at some point in SP and she really falls hard, and then its all about her building herself back up. I hope to make a really deep character out of her, so I hope you enjoy her upcoming arc Thanks Brian! I'm just really grateful Brady came to me with this idea. He's really the main reason I decided to get back into SP so, THANKKS BESTIE!
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Post by Jack Malone on Jul 16, 2015 15:41:58 GMT -6
"Final Draft" ReviewI'd like to preface this review by saying I'm incredibly sleep deprived so I hope this makes sense. 'Final Draft' delivered on the storyline I was excited to see from Michael, and the Screenwriter's Paradise characters definitely felt less out of their element than they were in the first part of the two part crossover / back door pilot event, blending into the world of "Audition" a whole lot better in the second outing. This episode also featured a nice progression of the Alisha/Kelsey dynamic that is taking quite an interesting direction, and even -- dare I say it -- had a nice moment between Alex and Rose that felt unique in the sense that only she could have been the one to make him feel better about his audition, and only that kind of interaction and vibe could have come out of an Alex/Rose moment. Overall, I'm a less mixed, more happy camper for the second outing of this Audition/SP crossover event! Firstly, I wanted to talk about Michael. This episode had everything I wanted coming out of such a hasty development with the first parter, and that was a set-back for our favourite father figure. While the first episode set us up for probably the most convenient drop into a career ever, this episode slowed the engines down and added much needed realism back into a storyline that had me really eager for this episode, and Michael was able to take another step forward without needing to take any steps back. It was nice to see his passion be noticed and understood, and while the technical elements of his writing sounds to be less than ready to rumble, you really got the sense that he has a gift for good stories, and maybe it's not necessarily about becoming a screenwriter so much as it is about getting this story out there, and sharing it with the world -- a story that seemed to even convince Emily of it's worth. Speaking of Emily, I felt she was far better this time around, and I definitely found her certain pedantic characteristics fell into the more comedic side of things rather than the vibe I got from her in the previous episode which wasn't all too great, so I definitely think it was a true to character moment that just didn't show her off in the best way because of how little time we get with the character, and this follow up episode allowed us to see more layers, and to see a heart underneath it all that I really appreciated. I'm really glad Michael didn't get reeled into a job straight away, and fell into the career straight away because I would have hated that and I do want his development to be treated like every other character on the show, despite him not being the "central character" of the series. So I'm looking forward to him polishing his craft, going to meetings, writing, probably more interviews with agents, building a portfolio, shopping his script around, doing whatever it is that you've got planned for his future and his journey into this new career that I'm sure will be as interesting a ride as any other storyline on "Audition" (by the way, I love that it's the title of Michael's script, that's very meta of you, but its perfect because it gave us the perfect sense of what type of story he's doing and you just picture him writing a version of this show from his own eyes and you immediately know what Emily and Joshua and Andrew are talking about when they say all these nice things -- it helps add to the believability of this story being amazing without having to force feed us a story in a story if that makes any sense, and I'm finishing this sentence up now). Moving on, this episode had Kelsey resurface as quite a source of conflict for Alisha. It was nice to see a conversation between Alex and Alisha take place about Kelsey, because another perspective on the situation was nice and you really felt that Alisha needed another voice, and another opinion on what to do with this situation. I get the sense that Alex is supportive no matter what and I get the feeling that whatever she turned around and said, he would have been all for her meeting up with Kelsey, which is nice. The approach to this storyline is something that I really appreciate because it's not five pages of exposition trying to convince us of Alisha's feelings, or thoughts, or anecdotes to build up to something, it's showing us these realisations, and this attraction, and these glances and you're kind of getting to see Alisha fight it as much as you see her not really wanting to fight it and while we're yet to know if she's had crushes on girls before, or if she's even looked at another girl in the way she looks at Kelsey before, it's just nice that we get that foreign sense alongside her as much as she's having these foreign feelings and attractions. The only thing we really knew about Alisha, in terms of her sexuality, was that she dated David, and that she wasn't the girl to get romantic attention, and the minute she did, she kind of developed feelings from there. The only person we saw that with was Robbie, but Kelsey threw the moves on Alisha too which I feel immediately prompted this response, and so I'm just really interested at this point to see where everything is heading. Kelsey is such a nice, open and forward character and I feel like she's someone who wouldn't take any BS, and I think that's someone Alisha could use right now -- as a friend, or a potential love interest. Either way, Kelsey allows us to explore sides of Alisha that have yet to be explored, and give us more layers to a character we've loved, sometimes hated, but mostly loved for four sequences now and she's probably the stand-out for sequence four, actually. She's had a really good sequence, story wise. Lastly, I have to mention my anti-ship, er -- I mean Rose and Alex. No, honestly, they had a really genuine moment in this episode, and I kind of commented on it in my intro to the review but what I said I have to repeat: you get the sense that this kind of scene could only happen with these two characters. Rose, often at times, gets pushed into the background. She's very much got her own thing going on but its very rare we get to see that thing going on for too long, and to pair her up with Alex I felt came a little too late, in terms of there already being build up, but having it dismissed and put in the background for it to resurface so quickly in a whole other sequence. I wonder if I read through all of Audition again, and get to them pairing up that I'll be more on board with it? Either way, this was a genuine moment between the two where I sat back and realised I'd like to see more stuff like this, and more intimate moments where it's just the two of them talking, and the two of them being supportive and happy and shedding some light on stuff only they could shed light on. I think what's nice is the fact that in the real world, most couples aren't "oh my god, we are so alike in our interests, lets get married" and this scene really made me think about how Rose deals with similar situations but is on a different path and has different interests, and she and Alex can meet in the middle and that's kind of a beautiful thing. I wish more time would be devoted to these two for me to be completely on board, but this scene was a step forward for the two, both development wise and from my perspective as someone who got off the Rose/Alex ship. Again, it's difficult because its a week between episodes, of which are ten-fifteen pages long, and so we can't see them together every week, but I feel it's important to keep momentum because a lack thereof was the problem their "build up" to getting together was forgotten on my part. Overall, this was up there in the greats for Audition S4 episodes. I definitely think the previous episode would read better if these two episodes aired at the same time, and a lot of my problems with the previous episode -- Emily aside -- had to do with how fast it felt Michael's storyline was going, when in reality, it was only a slight step in the right direction for him. I'm glad that it seems Michael isn't getting the easy way out, I'm glad Alisha is shaping up to the MVP of S4 and we're getting more interactions with her and Kelsey, and I'm uber glad that Alex and Rose are getting enough focus for me to enjoy them as a couple. Also, the Screenwriter's Paradise characters moulded much better into the Audition universe this time around, and I'm excited both for the show, and future crossovers -- especially with Michael on this career path now. Awesome job, man!
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Post by Brady Brown on Jul 17, 2015 10:12:35 GMT -6
"Final Draft" ReviewI'd like to preface this review by saying I'm incredibly sleep deprived so I hope this makes sense. 'Final Draft' delivered on the storyline I was excited to see from Michael, and the Screenwriter's Paradise characters definitely felt less out of their element than they were in the first part of the two part crossover / back door pilot event, blending into the world of "Audition" a whole lot better in the second outing. This episode also featured a nice progression of the Alisha/Kelsey dynamic that is taking quite an interesting direction, and even -- dare I say it -- had a nice moment between Alex and Rose that felt unique in the sense that only she could have been the one to make him feel better about his audition, and only that kind of interaction and vibe could have come out of an Alex/Rose moment. Overall, I'm a less mixed, more happy camper for the second outing of this Audition/SP crossover event! I'm extremely glad this episode worked a lot better for you. I agree it was probably the stronger of the two, so hearing from you that everything was more integrated is really great I really thought showcasing the dedication and passion Michael had for his project was something that would not only allow Emily to see it, but to let the reader form a connection on things that they're passionate about. With Michael, this is really about finding your place in the world and doing what makes you happy and trying to discover the dreams you never knew you had, but for him it came at a really late time in his life. He's not the best, and that's something that's going to get focus in arc 2, but he is passionate and I think, even in one of the most messed up cities, that counts for something. There's a scene in 411 between him and Alex that really explains a lot about what dreams mean to the both of them, which hopefully only increases your liking to the story! I won't comment too much on Emily - 1) she's ain't mah character, ya feel; and 2) I don't want to give away the slight bit of information I know about her on SP. I will say, however, that I am glad you enjoyed her more in this episode. I love the character and love how complex she can be, and I can't wait for you guys to see her really shine on her own show. Back to Michael, I think, like Alex, he's going to struggle somewhat with rejection. Not to the degree of his son, but there will be similarities there. And YAY for "Audition" being the title haha. I was really nervous about that, but I'm glad it paid off. I really wanted to try and end their scene on a "cliffhanger" or sorts. I think Alisha is confused out of her mind and has no idea what's happening with herself, but she finds comfort in Kelsey and how she presents herself. And whether or not she reciprocates these feelings that Kelsey exhibited to her, she still wants to be her friend, and I think that's a really nice thing, and I hope that came across to you the way I intended it to. I think Alisha's talk with Alex really showed that they can really talk about the simplest of things, yet they can mean the absolute world to one of them. Just, thanks a lot man. I'm really passionate about this storyline for her, and I've been trying my best to have it come across and natural yet interesting at the same time. So to hear that you've enjoyed it so far is a huge plus. Alisha's sexuality will really be a driving force for arc 2, so hopefully that connects with you the way it has been. I've told you this already, but sequence 4 is really an Alisha sequence, while sequence 5 will have just as big of a focus on Alex, and I'm excited for that. I think a lot of the intentional build up for Alex/Rose started in sequence 3 when they started hanging out more frequently. I think, back when she was introduced in s2, there might have been an expected relationship since David was still in a long distance relationship with Alisha, and Rose and Alex were the only single ones of the trio. I don't really know, hahaha. But anyway, i'm really stoked you enjoyed their scene. I thought it was important to show the support that these two mutually share, and that even though it can be somewhat deep, it can still harvest a moment of sentimentality to it. Their relationship, I will say, won't be focused on in every episode because they're both doing their own thing, and I think that's what I love most about them. They have their own separate passions and are going to be interacting with completely different people, and they both respect that. Thanks again, Jack! Glad this one connected with you a lot more, and I'm glad you're enjoying the developments that are happening. For the 4239284x, I hope you enjoy the rest of the sequence! But until Audition returns, EVERYONE MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT SCREENWRITERS PARADISE!!
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Post by Brian Melanson on Jul 17, 2015 14:12:27 GMT -6
FINAL DRAFT REVIEWAlright Brady and Chris, this might be one of my favorite episodes of Audition, like ever. And thats saying something, considering how quickly I read through FOUR SEQUENCES in a week. One of things that stuck out to me was the development of Brady's characters. I liked how, while this was Part Two of a backdoor pilot, we still got insight into what we're going into with the next arc. I'm so excited for Rose and Alex. Rlex? Aose? We'll work on that one. Their first kiss was just nice and made me giggle like a little school girl! Now Alisha and Kelsey is a whole new story that I am very excited to see play out, Brady. I like how you're developing Alisha to (possibly idk what you have planned) to have some form of feelings or curiosity to be with Kelsey. I think it's a great way to play with your character and see where she and Kelsey will go. I ship them as friends, and I ship them as a couple, so wherever you go with the story, I am 100% ready for it. Now my one, big concern with this episode is, WHERE IS PAULA? I'm sorry but this episode seriously lacked my favorite Agent. I needed her to burst through the door of the Berreta apartment while Alex and Rose kissed, only for her to leave awkwardly. I needed those moments, Brady! And you took her away from me! #BringPaulaBack2k15 Now with the Screenwriters Paradise, I am 100% ready for next week's episode. This really didn't introduce the story we will get for SP, but it did give us a sense of the characters and where they will be headed, going into the spin off. Joshua and Andrew do seem like they are struggling screenwriters, but they still take their time to help Michael. I also enjoyed Emily, yet again. She's just such a great character that I can't wait to see why she is the way she is. And now....this is where I'm flipping out and flipping over tables. AUDITION WRITTEN BY MICHAEL BERRETA. Still mindblown about that and will hope to see further development with it, just cause it's now META AF. But Overall, another great episode of Audition, loved everyone word and cannot wait for it to return. Hm, if only there was another show that I could read while yours is on hiatus...hmmmmm.....HMMMMMM.....
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Post by Jamison on Jul 17, 2015 23:01:10 GMT -6
4.04 "The First Date(s)"
Okay, first I want to apologize for these coming so late! I do this thing where I read things but forget to review them so I have nothing to show for it. lol But here I am! Sequence four. Episode four. Lets get into this. I loved the opening scene. Alex and David's friendship has always been a highlight for me. I love that even though David and Alisha aren't on the best of times, and Alex and Alisha are best friends, Alex still thinks of David as his friend as well. I'm glad he doesn't feel like she's too stuck in the middle between them, and can support the both of them equally. It just makes me love Alex that much more. Now onto the actual scene - such a nice scene between those two. I totally pictured them in the same room even though I knew they were talking over the phone. I love how David seems more enthused about Alex asking Rose out than he does. haha! Please give us more from them! I crave it! Everyone snooping on Alex's conversation was funny. I like that they're all rooting for him. It's just great. And then, the moment we've all been waiting for. Alex finally asks Rose out and she's says yes! Really looking forward to seeing how this progresses. And then we get Michael asking Paula out on a 'date' as well, which pretty much made me faint the first time I read it. I know, I know, they're only going as besties, but its a step in the right direction if you ask me. But I'm looking at it all through shipper goggles. I accept that. I enjoyed the scene between Alisha and Robbie. I liked that Alisha is taking responsibility for what she did, and she's no longer trying to place the blame on others. Shows some growth on her part and I'll always be here for that. She made it pretty clear that she wants nothing to do with Robbie, so we'll see how that turns out. The actual date scene is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. Rose and Alex are just so sweet and adorable together. They both deserve to be happy. Meanwhile, Michael and Paula are well... Michael and Paula. We've watched their relationship develop and I'm still as in love with them as I was from day one. I love that Michael has accepted that Paula is always gonna be a part of his life, and acknowledges her friendship. They're two peas in a pod. I'm in love with them, but you already knew that. And then the two 'couples' spot each other and things just get SUPER awkward. I almost got second hand embarrassment reading it, and that rarely ever happens. Overall, this was a fun, kinda chill episode that got me excited for more Alex/Rose interaction, ecstatic to see Michael and Paula together and interested in seeing how Alisha's arc turns out in the coming episodes. Onto da next one!
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Post by Jamison on Jul 18, 2015 0:22:46 GMT -6
4.05 "Let's Go Out"Alisha/Rose interaction! F-CK YEAH! I just love it when the girls together. Can we just stop to talk about the female characters in this show. Like one.... there are so many of them. And two, they're so different from one another and equally as interesting and it's just amazing. Love love LOVE your female characters. But back to Alisha and Rose. Upon going to this mixer, we meet the lovely Kelsey Marks for the first time. A character who I was sooo excited for and she's finally here! Really loved the awkward moment between her and Alisha. I think their relationship can go soo many interesting places and I'm so here for it, you don't understand! haha! David and Mia's scene gave me everything. This is a dynamic I didn't see coming at all, and I'm really intrigued by it. It feels so natural and it looks like its helping peel some of Mia's layers back which could possibly lead to some kind of redemption arc for her. We're really getting to see her in a new light, which I really enjoy. Her being able to confide in David is interesting. I loved their interacts and hope for more of them! Alex basically bouncing down the hallway, excited about having a girlfriend was so adorable. I'm glad he's so happy, even though it was such a short moment. Michael is lost! He doesn't know what he wants to do, but feels he needs to be a part of something. And I appreciated the fact that Paula is helping him do that. Thanks for that. But lemme stop acting like I don't know what's about to happen. But I'm excited for him. Excited for more storylines involving Michael and for him to step into the spotlight more! Very solid episode that introduces a bunch of cool stuff. Looking forward to seeing more Kelsey, further exploring the relationship between David and Mia (and just Mia's development as a character). Nice work here, Brady!
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Post by Brady Brown on Jul 18, 2015 11:34:42 GMT -6
FINAL DRAFT REVIEWAlright Brady and Chris, this might be one of my favorite episodes of Audition, like ever. And thats saying something, considering how quickly I read through FOUR SEQUENCES in a week. One of things that stuck out to me was the development of Brady's characters. I liked how, while this was Part Two of a backdoor pilot, we still got insight into what we're going into with the next arc. I'm so excited for Rose and Alex. Rlex? Aose? We'll work on that one. Awesome! That's great to hear. While this was a backdoor pilot/crossover, I thought it was important that it still progressed the plot of Audition, so I'm glad that you thought it was accomplished. Oh, and their ship name is "Rolex" haha. I thought it was important to keep developing Rose and Alex's relationship since it's pretty impossible to see them together each week. They'll still have little cute moments peppered throughout. With Alisha and Kelsey, it's very much about the former growing to know who she is. A lot of what Alisha's feeling is expressed in 411, not through a conversation but more so through a much more mundane thing. So, you'll have to wait and see what happens She'll be back! I promise. Screenwriters Paradise is going to be the bomb dot com. Hahaha! I thought it was really natural for Michael to want to tell a story so close to home, especially since he's been nothing but supportive and passionate throughout the entire series so far. But yeah, thanks for the review, Brian! MAKE SURE TO READ SCREENWRITERS PARADISE!
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Post by Brady Brown on Jul 18, 2015 11:48:29 GMT -6
4.04 "The First Date(s)"
Okay, first I want to apologize for these coming so late! I do this thing where I read things but forget to review them so I have nothing to show for it. lol But here I am! Sequence four. Episode four. Lets get into this. I loved the opening scene. Alex and David's friendship has always been a highlight for me. I love that even though David and Alisha aren't on the best of times, and Alex and Alisha are best friends, Alex still thinks of David as his friend as well. I'm glad he doesn't feel like she's too stuck in the middle between them, and can support the both of them equally. It just makes me love Alex that much more. Now onto the actual scene - such a nice scene between those two. I totally pictured them in the same room even though I knew they were talking over the phone. I love how David seems more enthused about Alex asking Rose out than he does. haha! Please give us more from them! I crave it! Everyone snooping on Alex's conversation was funny. I like that they're all rooting for him. It's just great. It's totally fine! haha. I really love showcasing the bond that Alex and David share, and that's something that's going to happen a lot more in arc 2. I felt like that was lacking in s3 so it's glad to know that people still enjoy them! It's really easy to write them together because they play off one another so well. And Alex and Rose are definitely going to get some more development, too. Haha! I'm glad you ship them. I think they have a relationship built upon mutual respect and attraction, and I really enjoy that dynamic. And I thought Michael asking Paula to eat dinner with him was really important to show that he knows that she's an important part of his life, even if he was extremely hesitant about that at first. That was pretty much the last scene they're going to share. I wanted to have to it finally put a close to that lingering tension that's been with them even if they haven't been on screen together. Glad you enjoyed it. Yay! I'm really happy you liked that scene, and the couples that were in it haha. Like I said above, Michael really needed to come to terms with Paula being a major part of his life, and I thought a date was a perfect opportunity for him haha. Thanks again for the review, Chris! It means a lot, bestie
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