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Earl and Fairy: The Finale
This is SO not over. *pout*
Right. Well, when we left our various heroes, they were scattered, and it seriously looked like Team Ulysses had the upper hand. Raven and Nico are prowling around the mansion looking for everyone, Paul is out cold, and Ulysses has Banshee and the amber, while Ermine confronts Edgar and Lydia.
She claims to be helping them, but even though they follow her, it's clear that our hero and heroine are not sure about this. Sensibly, Edgar slips Lydia the pistol. Less sensibly, he tells her not to hesitate to leave him behind...c'mon, Edgar, you KNOW she's never going to. They find the room where Paul is conked out, and discover the bad news. Edgar handles this not very well: he decides the best thing to do is lock up Paul and Lydia, and go find Ulysses to do the noble sacrifice thing. Lydia here asks, "Why do you always leave me behind?" as she pounds on the door. The answer, of course, is that Edgar has a self-destructive streak a mile long. He'll do anything to protect those under his protection, because he truly does not see his life as being as valuable as even the least of theirs.
We also find out along in here why Ermine is probably obeying Ulysses, despite his affiliation with the Prince: she cannot refuse the commands of anyone who has her pelt. Typically, this is used to get seal women to marry mortal men, but in this case, Ulysses just needs a combat butler (aquatic version), so. As they walk down the corridor, they're stopped by...yup, Ulysses, Banshee, and Jimmy. The next little bit is just a contest of smirk, although we do get to see that Banshee is FIRMLY on Team Edgar by this point, which pisses off Ulysses to no end. Edgar knows what he's got, and kindly informs her that Paul is okay, thus cementing her affection for him. Ulysses decides to break whatever hope Edgar might have, and unseals the amber's memories using his own blood. Banshee's memories come back...and are apparently quite painful; she cries a veritable flood of amber as they return to her.
Nico and Raven find Lydia and Paul, at last! And not a moment too soon, because things are getting bad for Edgar, as Ulysses plans to kill him, giving Jimmy permission to come forth and eat his face...until Ermine puts a knife to Banshee's throat and threatens to ruin everything by killing her, unless Edgar is allowed to leave. Ulysses summons a host of Unseelie to show how likely THAT is going to be.
Edgar himself puts the kibosh on this one. He's claimed her as a member of his family, and no one hurts his family, not even Ermine, not even to save his life. Ulysses himself takes umbrage with this: didn't Edgar sacrifice all of his friends before, just to get a shot at the Prince? Edgar simply points out that things were different then, and that his position was different. He takes being a noble, and thus a leader, seriously. Ermine relents, and Ulysses laughs. He may not be noble, but he's going to win, and the bad guys close in.
What follows is a montage of AWESOME. The Unseelie advance on Edgar, only to be cut to ribbons by...Raven, /spinning/ down from the mezzanine above, like the world's most dangerous ballet dancer. He...apologizes for being late. Unfortunately, the shadow beasts are immortal, and start putting themselves together. Upon being informed of Edgar's deadly wound, Raven loses it, going at Ulysses with everything he has. The point of his knife is stopped about half an inch away from Ulysses' eye by little Jimmy...who has manifested a hideously ugly shadow arm. One handed, he throws Raven away, and it's on. These two are Deaths incarnate, and it's a short but beautiful fight, which ends (after some dirty tricks) with Raven pinned and struggling to keep Jimmy's teeth from his throat.
Ulysses orders the rest of the Unseelie to take Ermine apart. They advance...only to be foiled by a wall of water that breaks open the floor and forms a shield between her and them. Kelpie in da house! The rest of the Unseelie want NOTHING to do with him, and cower back as he, let's face it, flirts a bit with Ermine. (Also: black horse WITH FANGS.)
Back at the fight between Raven and the Hound, our favorite Combat Butler is slowly being overpowered by the wolf, until Nico's mask (he's a /cat burglar/, get it?) comes hurtling through the air and distracts the Hound just long enough for Raven to get the upper hand. Which, in this case, means SLICING THE HOUND IN HALF. It does that anime-asymmetry-of-death thing, falling apart offscreen with a hideously wet sound. Nico and Raven for the win!
Ulysses uses this opportunity to try and win the war, if not the battle. He demands Banshee give up her secrets, and the power of the Blue Knight Earl, to him. Her attempt to negotiate him infuriates him, which only gets worse when she comes out explicitly for Team Edgar and says that she doesn't consider him her master. (Ulysses, you poor bastard. No one can stand against the Edgar-charm. If he thought YOU were worth charming, you'd be thinking he was the best thing ever, too.) Ulysses summons a hell of a lot of Hounds, and prepares to just murder everyone.
And this time, because we're taking turns, it's Lydia to the rescue. She's figured out the trick of this little pocket dimension, and is prepared to shut it down. Seems that the linking point is one of the moons: it's holding the mansion in the space between two nights, and she's going to bring it all down. Edgar moves to protect her, only to find one the Hounds about to rip him apart. Now it's Banshee's turn to be bad ass (sacrificial variety) as she takes the hit for him, fulfilling the prophecy (that one of the Earl's family would die). Poor Paul. Lydia shoots the moon, literally, and the mansion is suddenly bathed in sunlight.
At this point, it's pretty much all over but the shouting. Jimmy SOMEHOW survived being cut in half, and steals Ulysses away, but not before the latter points out that Team Edgar is still fucked: the Prince is coming to England. But who cares? Now there shall be rejoicing! Except for Banshee, who dies a sparkly death. Poor Paul, again.
The wrap-up reveals that Lydia's dad is fine; he's just been researching. The majordomo of Edgar's house is also supernaturally competent: he has no problem preparing after-battle food for a party consisting of a carnivorous horseman and a cat.
...and yeah, Edgar's STILL trying to figure out who's name he said way back when. He's been thinking about it all this time, and is down to pet dogs. Lydia is very Lydia about the whole thing. Raven offers, once again, to help out, and is shot down. (Side note: Nico is sitting on Raven's lap in the carriage; these two make the best buddies EVER.) This is actually a very cute and touching scene, where Edgar finally comes out and says /to Lydia/ all the things that he's been saying to himself, rather than just being charming and obfuscating.
And...that's the end.
AUGH. We need more. We definitely need a second season; there's a lot more to be done here, and it's totally not fair that we never get to see the Prince.
Right. Well, when we left our various heroes, they were scattered, and it seriously looked like Team Ulysses had the upper hand. Raven and Nico are prowling around the mansion looking for everyone, Paul is out cold, and Ulysses has Banshee and the amber, while Ermine confronts Edgar and Lydia.
She claims to be helping them, but even though they follow her, it's clear that our hero and heroine are not sure about this. Sensibly, Edgar slips Lydia the pistol. Less sensibly, he tells her not to hesitate to leave him behind...c'mon, Edgar, you KNOW she's never going to. They find the room where Paul is conked out, and discover the bad news. Edgar handles this not very well: he decides the best thing to do is lock up Paul and Lydia, and go find Ulysses to do the noble sacrifice thing. Lydia here asks, "Why do you always leave me behind?" as she pounds on the door. The answer, of course, is that Edgar has a self-destructive streak a mile long. He'll do anything to protect those under his protection, because he truly does not see his life as being as valuable as even the least of theirs.
We also find out along in here why Ermine is probably obeying Ulysses, despite his affiliation with the Prince: she cannot refuse the commands of anyone who has her pelt. Typically, this is used to get seal women to marry mortal men, but in this case, Ulysses just needs a combat butler (aquatic version), so. As they walk down the corridor, they're stopped by...yup, Ulysses, Banshee, and Jimmy. The next little bit is just a contest of smirk, although we do get to see that Banshee is FIRMLY on Team Edgar by this point, which pisses off Ulysses to no end. Edgar knows what he's got, and kindly informs her that Paul is okay, thus cementing her affection for him. Ulysses decides to break whatever hope Edgar might have, and unseals the amber's memories using his own blood. Banshee's memories come back...and are apparently quite painful; she cries a veritable flood of amber as they return to her.
Nico and Raven find Lydia and Paul, at last! And not a moment too soon, because things are getting bad for Edgar, as Ulysses plans to kill him, giving Jimmy permission to come forth and eat his face...until Ermine puts a knife to Banshee's throat and threatens to ruin everything by killing her, unless Edgar is allowed to leave. Ulysses summons a host of Unseelie to show how likely THAT is going to be.
Edgar himself puts the kibosh on this one. He's claimed her as a member of his family, and no one hurts his family, not even Ermine, not even to save his life. Ulysses himself takes umbrage with this: didn't Edgar sacrifice all of his friends before, just to get a shot at the Prince? Edgar simply points out that things were different then, and that his position was different. He takes being a noble, and thus a leader, seriously. Ermine relents, and Ulysses laughs. He may not be noble, but he's going to win, and the bad guys close in.
What follows is a montage of AWESOME. The Unseelie advance on Edgar, only to be cut to ribbons by...Raven, /spinning/ down from the mezzanine above, like the world's most dangerous ballet dancer. He...apologizes for being late. Unfortunately, the shadow beasts are immortal, and start putting themselves together. Upon being informed of Edgar's deadly wound, Raven loses it, going at Ulysses with everything he has. The point of his knife is stopped about half an inch away from Ulysses' eye by little Jimmy...who has manifested a hideously ugly shadow arm. One handed, he throws Raven away, and it's on. These two are Deaths incarnate, and it's a short but beautiful fight, which ends (after some dirty tricks) with Raven pinned and struggling to keep Jimmy's teeth from his throat.
Ulysses orders the rest of the Unseelie to take Ermine apart. They advance...only to be foiled by a wall of water that breaks open the floor and forms a shield between her and them. Kelpie in da house! The rest of the Unseelie want NOTHING to do with him, and cower back as he, let's face it, flirts a bit with Ermine. (Also: black horse WITH FANGS.)
Back at the fight between Raven and the Hound, our favorite Combat Butler is slowly being overpowered by the wolf, until Nico's mask (he's a /cat burglar/, get it?) comes hurtling through the air and distracts the Hound just long enough for Raven to get the upper hand. Which, in this case, means SLICING THE HOUND IN HALF. It does that anime-asymmetry-of-death thing, falling apart offscreen with a hideously wet sound. Nico and Raven for the win!
Ulysses uses this opportunity to try and win the war, if not the battle. He demands Banshee give up her secrets, and the power of the Blue Knight Earl, to him. Her attempt to negotiate him infuriates him, which only gets worse when she comes out explicitly for Team Edgar and says that she doesn't consider him her master. (Ulysses, you poor bastard. No one can stand against the Edgar-charm. If he thought YOU were worth charming, you'd be thinking he was the best thing ever, too.) Ulysses summons a hell of a lot of Hounds, and prepares to just murder everyone.
And this time, because we're taking turns, it's Lydia to the rescue. She's figured out the trick of this little pocket dimension, and is prepared to shut it down. Seems that the linking point is one of the moons: it's holding the mansion in the space between two nights, and she's going to bring it all down. Edgar moves to protect her, only to find one the Hounds about to rip him apart. Now it's Banshee's turn to be bad ass (sacrificial variety) as she takes the hit for him, fulfilling the prophecy (that one of the Earl's family would die). Poor Paul. Lydia shoots the moon, literally, and the mansion is suddenly bathed in sunlight.
At this point, it's pretty much all over but the shouting. Jimmy SOMEHOW survived being cut in half, and steals Ulysses away, but not before the latter points out that Team Edgar is still fucked: the Prince is coming to England. But who cares? Now there shall be rejoicing! Except for Banshee, who dies a sparkly death. Poor Paul, again.
The wrap-up reveals that Lydia's dad is fine; he's just been researching. The majordomo of Edgar's house is also supernaturally competent: he has no problem preparing after-battle food for a party consisting of a carnivorous horseman and a cat.
...and yeah, Edgar's STILL trying to figure out who's name he said way back when. He's been thinking about it all this time, and is down to pet dogs. Lydia is very Lydia about the whole thing. Raven offers, once again, to help out, and is shot down. (Side note: Nico is sitting on Raven's lap in the carriage; these two make the best buddies EVER.) This is actually a very cute and touching scene, where Edgar finally comes out and says /to Lydia/ all the things that he's been saying to himself, rather than just being charming and obfuscating.
And...that's the end.
AUGH. We need more. We definitely need a second season; there's a lot more to be done here, and it's totally not fair that we never get to see the Prince.
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!!!!!!!
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Raven/Nico is mty new OTP, they are just too damn cute for words! I love how Raven manages to both be stylish death on legs and cute as all get. ♥♥♥
Kelpie....oh, Kelpie, how I adore him. He is the machoest horse with fangs that ever stomped unseelie ass! While I know it's not gonna happen, I'm still rooting for him getting his Lydia (and perhaps a few hints on etiquette and stuff -- she can't supersonic slap him all the time, her arm would go numb!). But since I ain't getting her, he and Ermine should at least get a chance. They're both wet-type fairies, and they kick ass and they' be LONELY if they have to remain, well, alone. I don't want them to be lonely. ;;
And Edgar. Edgar. Edgar. I adore him, too; him and all his hang-ups, bad ideas, noble nature and sparkliness. He's like the ruthless, world-wise older brother of Tamaki-sempai. ;)
Oh, Banshee... *snf*
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Raven/Nico is all KINDS of adorable. Putting my thinking hat on...it's interesting to see the two 'sidekicks' growing closer together, as their 'masters' grow beyond them. Raven and Nico, one gathers, were nearly ALL that Lydia and Edgar had, for so long...an absent father and a dead sister/mentor don't really count. Both of them are growing to incorporate more people, and their one sidekick is no longer the focal of their emotional life. Again, a dynamic I'd like to see further explored!
Kelpie is great! And I do think Lydia has feelings for him, but it's just nothing that compete to the Edward-sparkle. (Also, Lydia NEEDS to feel useful, and Kelpie has no use for her. In it's way, it's almost more selfless than Edward's desire for her, but she would be bored stiff in Kelpie's turf.)
Edgar is the cutest little Magnificent Bastard that we ever did see. I admit, I had my doubts in the first episode, because I was afraid that it would go the route of the borderline-abusive-dominant partner and the one who falls in love with them. But Edgar, despite being ruthless and cynical, is a /good guy/. He claws his way up from the monster he could be, not by breaking the people around him and then regretting it, but by monitoring himself and overriding his own worst instincts.
Poor Banshee. I was really shipping Paul/Banshee pretty hard. They are lovely together.
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(Kelpie so in da house! God, I love Kelpie. And I fully approve of his flirting with Ermine.)
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(And yeah, I share the Kelpie love, and the idea of Ermine/Kelpie. There's this little part at the end where Kelpie is essentially saying, "I'm all about the Lydia," and Ermine counters with, "Well, I'm all about the Edgar," and you can just /see/ them both thinking that over, and the problems inherent in it. It's sweet and sad.)