Dance Academy 3.01 - "Glue"

[lizbee]

Have to say, it's quite weird to be watching week to week instead of in a block! And on the TV instead of my computer! (Thank you, iView, iPad, Airplay and Apple TV!)



FLASH FORWARD! GUYS, I LOVE FLASH FORWARDS SO MUCH. I feel like this one strongly suggests that Tara will get a contract with some company, since she's the one dedicating the Samuel Lieberman Memorial Studio. 'Scuse me, something in my eye.

(Having said that, I hope the year's voiceover isn't entirely from her speech, because NO.)

As usual, I want to wrap Tara up in a soft blanket and protect her from her own bad decisions. Although in this case, it's not so much a bad decision, just Ben Tickle being a general ass. I actively disliked him when he was first introduced last season, grudgingly grew fond of him, and then went back to dislike as soon as he decided that Tara "should" like him. He's a bit of a jerk, and doesn't have nearly as good an excuse for it as, say, Christian. And it really bugs me that the Tumblr fandom seems to think Tara/Ben is (a) a good relationship and (b) endgame.

THOSE ARE MY ONLY SHIPPING FEELS, although I totes friend!ship Abigail and Ollie. And their reluctant realisation that they're alike.

My main feel is CONCERN for Kat, on account of how I fear the thing with the cake and the bathroom is going to end with wacky eating disorder adventures, and unlike Abigail, she'll have to do it without a Sammy. On the other hand, she's under the eagle eye of Lucy Raine now.

My other feel is DISLIKE for Grace. All through the episode I was making a conscious attempt to not hate her, but seriously, remember that time she made a false accusation of sexual abuse? And waged a campaign of psychological warfare against Tara and Abigail for a year? Maybe if she showed any remorse for those things I'd be forgiving, but as it is, she's still spoilt, entitled and nasty.

On the other hand, spoilers say Saskia's back in the Company, and we all know how she feels about talented younger dancers. I don't particularly want Grace to be targeted by Saskia, but I'm a little curious to see if mutually assured destruction could result.

Finally: BARRY OTTO, WHAT? I hope his role stays small, because there's only so much scenery to go around. BUT HE'S AMAZING, I LOVE HIM.

Comments

[rj_anderson]

Yeah, I'm worried about Kat too. Leaving the cake on the dresser and shutting the bathroom door is... ominous. She's thinner this season, too, so you wonder if it's been happening for a while.

I do feel sorry for Grace, though. I think she was trying to be better, and it was pretty unkind of Tara and the others to shut her out. But if your first reaction to not getting the acceptance and forgiveness you crave is to throw a tantrum and push somebody else's very expensive birthday cake into a pool, I'm not sure how deep your repentance went in the first place...

Speaking of which, HOW DID TARA AFFORD ALL THAT STUFF?!? That was weighing heavily on my mind after all her financial woes in the first season. Presumably they took up a collection for stuff like the cake and balloons, and used costumes they already had for the dancers etc., but it just looked like a super expensive party to me.

I like Ben in general and don't think it actually wrong of him to tell Tara he's still holding out hope, but he does remind me of a big slobbery puppy who won't GET DOWN, BOY. Not quite a creeper, but certainly cringe-inducing at times.

Is it next week yet?!

[lizbee]

I have decided that Tara saved money over summer by doing chores and teaching tiny country children basic ballet. Also, I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT IT TOO HARD.

I feel like the others would have been more receptive to Grace if she had apologised, or even admitted she had done the wrong things. But there's no sign of any of that.

[rj_anderson]

That's true about Grace. She seems to expect to be accepted simply because she made the effort to come back and be pleasant, without actually doing anything to make amends.

And yes, probably best not to overthink these things. :)