I've been watching ML sense is first aired back in September, pre strike. For those of us who have been with it senses the beginning we've all become accustomed to a particular pace that each episode sets. Usually Mick introduces what I call like to call the "topic for the night" and we watch for the next hour as the characters work up to what I refer to as the "punch line". It's the point in the show where either Mick or Beth, or Mick and Beth show us what we've all been waiting for. But episode #11 Love Last Forever did not seem to follow the regular layout. Instead the writers have crammed a lot more into this one. And as a result the whole thing moves a lot faster. I have to say I liked it.

This ep had a very different pace to it. Instead of dealing with just one main concept it worked on three simultaneously. First the writers seemed to be resolving the early relationship stage with Mick and Beth while pushing them forward to the next level. They also resolved the one of the smaller angst between them by writing Josh out. Then on top of all that they had to resolve the main ep's plot by catch the bad guy and give him his just desserts. All said it was a lot to take in!

I guess we should take into consideration, that if this was a regular full season, this episode would be the half way point. In other words this is the episode where the writers usually wrap up the intro/build up of the main character's relationship (Mick/Beth) and to start the next thing for them (Beth is hurt and doesn't want to talk to Mick right now). It is also when the writers usually deal with the original smaller angst (in this case Josh as the boyfriend who's standing in the way of the Beth/Mick getting it on) and introduces and/or reminds us of the truly big issue the main characters will have to deal with before the season is over (in ML it's Caroline and the potential cure). Episode 11 is also the beginning of the build up to the climax in the final episode #22 that would keep us holding our breath until season 2. But sense this isn't a usual season...

I'm sorry I'm not trying to be sync or say that ML is so simple I can figure out what the writers are going to do. (Believe me I can't! I wouldn't even begin to think that I could write this stuff!) I just watch too much TV and as a result sometimes things become a little too predictable. So I'm surprised to say this but I kind of like the break from the norm. PLEASE don't misunderstand me! I would much rather have a full season! But if I have to deal with the strike, I guess I'm just saying this is pleasant side effect to the super short season issue.

Well me personally? I'm still living on the couch, but the TV hasn't been on. Well, not that much. And that's saying a lot! First let me make a confession. I have a problem. I'm a TV addict. I LOVE watching TV. As my hubs likes to tease, "with exception of sports if the bube tube is on you better believe C's productivity level drops off the charts." I'll admit it. I'm there tuned in and zoned out. What can I say? It's one of my preferred forms of recreation. But sense the WGA strike and dwindling new eps of my favorite shows, I'm finding that my TV intake has started to really drop. Don't get me wrong I'm still watching but it's not holding me like it usually does. The problem is I've either already seen it or its reality shows. And come on, who want to see reality. I get enough of that in my own life. Give me fantasy. Give me something that lets me escape!

So what have I been doing? Reading for one. I've done more reading in the last three weeks then the last two years combined. And I'm not talking periodicals. I mean real books I've also been revisiting my personal DVD collection, randomly skimming through all 5 seasons of Angel and 8 of Buffy. I've watched Firefly and Serenity at least two times each. I've hit Sports Night and the early years of The West Wing. I've even gone out and purchased the first season of Veronica Mars just to see something new and find out what all the talk was about. (Liked this one and plan to buy the second season as soon as I'm finished with the first.) The know stuff I've been watching will the PBS documentary Pioneers of Television has been fun and informative. I'm even going to watch the PCA awards on Tuesday night. Of course I would be watching even without the strike. But I'm even more interested now because I want to see this new "format" they're planning. (Rather than having it on stage now it's going to be broadcast from a studio and read audience submitted questions for the award recipients.) Even if the shows and movies I voted for don't win I still think it will be something for the history books.

So ya I'm still living on my couch. And you will probably still find me there later this summer when (it looks like) the directors and actors will follow the WGA's example. I don't plan on moving, I just don't think I'm going to be enjoying my front row seat in the same way I usually do. At least not for a while.

Thanks to some fellow fans (Lanag79, Kandyegirl, and mickfan) and their information on the ML forms, I've had the opportunity to read the first seven chapters of Trevor Munson's unpublished book Angel of Vengeance. Supposedly this is where the idea for Mick St. John and his fellow cohorts comes from. Trevor says that the idea for the novel came after "rereading Dracula and a Raymond Chandler novel back to back" He goes on to say that he was intrigued with the idea of creating a character that blended these two genres, and Mick Angel a.k.a. Mick St. John was born.

The few chapters that he has posted here are a wonderful read! The main character is a hell of lot darker, tormented, and seems to fight with his inner demon a lot more then what we see in the CBS version. We also find that he has a lot more past that needs redeeming for then our own beloved Mick St. John. For starters
***SPOILER***

However some things do remain the same. Mick's main path in life is still about redemption and transcendence, and rising above his nature. He keeps himself removed from the goings on around him except to go out for food and bad guys. He does take his blood by shooting up. (The novel tells us why. And we do see this mode of blood intake once in the first ep of Moonlight. From then on we only see him drink it.) The Vampires in the novel do sleep in freezers and we get more details as to why.
***SPOILER***
And Trevor's Mick is constantly reminiscing about the old days (1943-1946) and how things were better. Not just because he could taste food but the way the city looked and moved back then. He still enjoys scotch and old time jazz, and he loves the good looking dames.

Needless to say the book was a lot darker then our ML. As much as I do adore what CBS has done with the idea I still would love to see it developed in it's true form. More of a Dexter meets Angel. Of course this means it would most likely need to go on cable Well I guess I can hold out hope for the novel to get published. It also sounds like Trevor already has the idea for a second in a series. Here's keeping my fingers crossed.