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Heroes 2x02
The Peter-in-Ireland plot continues to make me faintly squirmy with discomfort, and I think I've figured out why - apart from the hilariously obvious, of course. It's that... gangland violence is... I'd hardly describe it as, like, tearing up the nation or anything, but - let me put it like this. If I were to group Dublin headlines into four major distinct groups, it would look something like:
- Madeleine McCann
- Bertiegate
- Man Shot 7 Times Outside Local Chipper/Molotov Cocktail'd Through Living Room Window/Found Dead in Flat; Police Suspect Gang Feud
- Other
So... it is a Thing, yes. And I'm not sure how cool I am with making something that is a real social problem here into a brief 'slumming it' plot device for a(n American) character. Nor with using it as - thus far - shorthand for Ireland in general. But then, following season one's insightful teachings on race and gender, it is clearly part of this season's drive to educate us about different cultures using meaningful cultural ciphers.
Latin America = curanderas and smuggling people into the USA!
Ancient Japan = samurai and cherry blossoms!
Ireland = bars and blackmarketry.
To conclude: I would quite like - allowing, of course, for plot constraints and all that, and I realise we haven't even rediscovered Niki et al yet, but as long as we're devoting time to this particular storyline... I would quite like to meet an Irish character who is not a criminal.
If I do have further thoughts on the episode - like, you know, about things that actually happened in it, and such - they will have to come after I have slept, because DEAR GOD.
- Madeleine McCann
- Bertiegate
- Man Shot 7 Times Outside Local Chipper/Molotov Cocktail'd Through Living Room Window/Found Dead in Flat; Police Suspect Gang Feud
- Other
So... it is a Thing, yes. And I'm not sure how cool I am with making something that is a real social problem here into a brief 'slumming it' plot device for a(n American) character. Nor with using it as - thus far - shorthand for Ireland in general. But then, following season one's insightful teachings on race and gender, it is clearly part of this season's drive to educate us about different cultures using meaningful cultural ciphers.
Latin America = curanderas and smuggling people into the USA!
Ancient Japan = samurai and cherry blossoms!
Ireland = bars and blackmarketry.
To conclude: I would quite like - allowing, of course, for plot constraints and all that, and I realise we haven't even rediscovered Niki et al yet, but as long as we're devoting time to this particular storyline... I would quite like to meet an Irish character who is not a criminal.
If I do have further thoughts on the episode - like, you know, about things that actually happened in it, and such - they will have to come after I have slept, because DEAR GOD.
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You have not slept?? D:
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CULTURAL OUTREACH: YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.
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It's true, the Irish do seem to have a serious stereotype when they're portrayed over here. Like someone earlier said, either Darby O'Gill or militants or criminals. I think a lot of people in the USofA probably think the majority of Irish still have sheep and live in thatched houses and leave cream out for the fairies. But don't let that get you down. A lot of people in this country still think anyone from Louisiana lives in the swamp, rides around in a pirogue, and keeps pet alligators. Seriously.
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Word. As squeaky-gleed as I've been about the fact that they've set a major plotline in Cork, I...come on, writers. You are being dumb again. Please stop.
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You know what's even a little worse than that? That whole deal kinda made me homesick for Ireland.