R is for Robert Carlyle & Rumpelstiltskin


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So I'm not sure how many of you have heard of Robert Carlyle or watch the show Once Upon a Time.

He's basically brilliant.

Here's the thing. The show is pretty cool, the premise is intriguing and exciting. But really, it's not a fabulously well-done show. The writing sometimes gets pretty kitschy, honestly, and so does much of the acting. However, I am so totally emotionally invested enough in
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That's kind of what I want to talk about. We worry so much about having an interesting story and complex and well-executed sub-plots and brilliant settings and all that jazz, when really, all you need to bring in and hold a reader is a character they care about deeply. It's more than a given that I'll love anything with a pining lonely older man played by a fabulous actor, so there's Rumpelstiltskin for me. That's just my particular quirk, but any character the reader really cares about will keep them with you.

This isn't the first time this has happened. In fact, my experience with Once Upon a Time has some pretty strong correlations with my experience watching Lost. Very cool premise, but some pretty campy acting and even writing at some points. Lost is definitely the better show all around, in my opinion, but I still watched it for basically one reason. Rumpelstiltskin has become my new
[image error] Strangely, in a way I don't even understand myself and maybe you'll make fun of me for it, both very beautiful men.

Anyone else experienced something like this, not caring about the book/show in general but caring enough about one character you stick with it?

Sarah Allen
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Published on April 20, 2012 04:00
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