Reviews for Running on Faith, Season One
| crayonbreaky gal |
10/10/04 - 03:30PM |
1: Pilot: Goodbye Boston |
Signed |
OK, I said in my e-mail that I'd review the chapters. So here it is. This is a wonderful set-up for the entire series. You hit Faith perfectly. I like that you start out with sane Connor, show us that he is a real person, not some crazy terrorist kid. And Dawn's bitchiness is tops. So true. I loved the fight scene. Vampires in Kevlar? Ingenious.
Author's Response: Hey, thanks! Glad you liked my characetrizations and the vamps in Kevlar. |
| adancer |
10/10/04 - 07:43AM |
3: Episode 3: Everybody’s Got an Angle |
Signed |
Yet again i can only descibe that as WOW! I wish i could read the chapter's with Riley in them as I think he is my future husband but as they are rated R and i am only 13 I can'y but amazing
Author's Response: Thanks for the latest wow review. In the future, I'll try to write a PG-13 Riley chapter. |
| crayonbreaky gal |
10/10/04 - 02:34AM |
22: Episode 22: You Call This a Finale? |
Signed |
Good as always. I like it that Dawn has gained lots of witchy power. And that Buffy is back with the living. I hope that Angel gets through to Connor. And that Giles helps Dana. Keep on with the Faith/Spike storyline. It is very interesting. They are both hurting right now. Good choice.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review and thanks for reading. I'm glad you like Faith and Spike. If I do a second season, I'm hoping to have plenty of *original* Slayer/ Vamp. Connor will be back with occasional appearances by Angel. |
| nemofp135 |
10/09/04 - 11:49AM |
3: Episode 3: Everybody’s Got an Angle |
Signed |
Again, very well done. Another WOW chapter. You are such a good author, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
Author's Response: Thanks again for your review and kind comments. |
| nemofp135 |
10/09/04 - 11:32AM |
2: Episode 2: Trial Separation |
Signed |
I'm not much for reading other people's work, but I can't stop reading this one. OMG it's so good. Wow. Yea... just wow!
Author's Response: Glad you made an exception and read my story. Also glad you can't stop reading it. Thanks for reviewing! |
| nemofp135 |
10/09/04 - 10:22AM |
1: Pilot: Goodbye Boston |
Signed |
Bravo. I'm big Faith fan, always have been and anyone that can effectively use her as a "good guy" has good votes from me. Well done and I look forward to reading the rest.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I'm a big fan of "Good Guy" Faith, too. |
| Angeldove |
10/05/04 - 10:05PM |
20: Episode 20: Growing Up |
Signed |
Thanks for finishing what you started in the previous chapter…you know what I’m talking about….Faith/Spike. This episode also dealt a great deal with Connor, but that is ok by me, I’m very interested in seeing where it is going. I feel it is leading up to Connor’s destiny to become a Champion. And as Lorne says, this can not be accomplished the easy way out as Angel had taken previously by removing the bad memories and replacing them with new ones. However I do believe it was the only option Angel had once it had gotten to that point. Now I can see him going into the other direction, using this second chance to be a father to his son. To do the things he needs to do to help him become what he is destined to become. Whereas Angel’s Champion identity comes from his need for redemption, Connor’s will have to come from something else. I’d like to see what this something else is, I have my own theory, but I can’t wait to see where you take it. “Lotta people for one car” for some reason had me laughing out-loud.
Author's Response: A few people were outright offended by Faith & Spike, so I appreciate the number of folks who’ve mentioned they liked the coupling. I’m also glad that Connor’s story is compelling enough to distract people from the relative absence of Faith. Hope you enjoy the last two chapters. |
| Angeldove |
10/05/04 - 10:04PM |
19: Episode 19: Feral |
Signed |
I surprisingly loved this episode. I was worried initially because I was not a fan of most of Season 4 Connor. But this rendering of him offered me a better understanding of who he was, outside of his contact with Angel. I don’t really think we got to see this aspect of him in the show. Everything was Connor and Angel reacting to one another, and made me sick of feeling like Connor was a whinny kid that needed to get over his issues. More time needed to be spent grasping why Connor reacted the ways he did toward Angel, actual experiences, not just a brief telling of events that don’t feel true unless you can witness them or are given a great deal of exposition to explain such a complex situation. My point and review of this Episode is that I felt this connection to Connor that I was missing, needing, to really understand his temper tantrums as more than, well temper tantrums. He is obviously in deep emotional torment which was accurately portrayed in this episode. (In no way overly manic in my mind).
I am also enjoying the protectiveness Connor is providing Dana. Reminds me of the protectiveness he had for Cordy after she had lost her memory. It seems the only time Connor can let someone into his life is if she’s just as lost as he is, the place where he fulfills a need thus providing him with a sense of purpose. And in helping others is able to hide from the past, the feral one that turns into compassion when dealing with those like him. I didn’t see this until I read it in this story. It had been there with Cordelia, just not explored so well.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I’m so happy you enjoyed the episode. I know a lot of people weren’t fans of season 4 Connor. Personally, I loved him. So, yeah, I took this series as an opportunity to try to indoctrinate people- lol. I really think if you look at Connor’s story, Angel shares a tremendous amount of blame for their falling out (euphemism for Angel’s sinking). As for Connor being whiny, everyone on the damn show was whiny. At least Connor was carrying enough baggage to justify his whining. *exhales* Okay, short version: I’m happy I succeeded in shedding a more sympathetic light on Connor. |
| filmtheory |
10/03/04 - 09:46PM |
14: Episode 14: Traffic School and a Hefty Fine |
Signed |
Being an idiot, I accidentally erased this chapter and the review that was on it. Below is a review Angeldove posted for this chapter:
So…Dru and Eve, have to say I didn't see that coming. Then there is Faith and the Mayor, also an interesting twist to the plotline. I enjoyed getting more Angel/Connor, Angel/Spike interaction. I especially liked where the episode ended with Angel, as I look forward to seeing him confronted with the reality of the past he seems to be running from? Yes, that's me hinting for spoilers again.
Author's Response: This was my response to Angeldove's review: When you say you didn't see Dru and Eve coming, was that in a good way or a bad way? To satiate your lust for spoilers, I will tell you Angel will soon deal with the past from which he’s running. But not just yet.
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| Danielle_G |
10/02/04 - 08:48PM |
21: Episode 21: I Shanshu, You Shanshu, He Done Been Shanshued |
Signed |
Hi! I'm really enjoying this story! I like the idea of a Faith series cause I thought the Faith Charactor on Buffy and Angel was cool! Cant wait for the next chapter!
Author's Response: I thought Faith would be a nice character to center a series around. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series. |
| Kevin |
10/02/04 - 03:29PM |
4: Episode 4: Failed Transport |
Signed |
Where to begin? Spike and Connor’s car chase and escape were an exhilarating read. I could see the action in my mind and feel my heart pounding as I read it. The exploration of Connor’s thoughts on Fred was very moving. The scene between Dawn and Amy was equally awesome in action, emotion, and character development. You really work those three in well. Spike’s reaction to Riley and Connor’s to Buffy were hysterical and right on. Buffy was right on target as well. Valdimir is a very cool original villain. The Risen seems to be shaping up to be an awesome OC villain as well. But I like how, just after killing Amy, you throw in another familiar face on the villain front. Another great chapter! Definitely 10/10.
Author's Response: Thanks for the extremely generous review. My original villains will probably be around for a while, but I want to keep them moving in and out of the story and interlacing them with villains from the show. I particularly enjoyed writing the Dawn and Amy scene, so I’m glad you liked it. |
| eerie_ave |
10/01/04 - 06:22PM |
21: Episode 21: I Shanshu, You Shanshu, He Done Been Shanshued |
Signed |
It’s not a small thing when I say that I think this was your best chapter yet. It was definitely my favorite. Despite the fact that you are great at writing fight scenes, I found it ominous yet thrilling to only learn about the fights when Faith and the crew show up to see the results. Your interpretation of the Shanshu prophesy is so simplistic, yet still pure genius. I want to say more, but I don’t want to write a spoilery review. I do want to say that one of the things I love most about this story is how you take all these loose threads from the show and weave them into this thrilling and beautiful tapestry. Most of all, I loved the ending. God do you know how to end a story! Your cliffhangers are always great, but this chapter ended with one of the few legitimate resolutions in the series. Moreover, it was a resolution that the show cheated us out of, although I didn’t realize that until I read this chapter. I literally cried BOTH times that I read that ending. Connor saying he was so lost seemed like an easy and natural line. But you struck pure gold when you parlayed that into Angel’s line: “However lost you are, you can always look to me. And I will always lead you home.” *sob* I’m tearing up again. I loved your exploration of Angel’s thoughts. The character was always so withdrawn that it was nice to read that lovely ending about Angel, Connor, and their future. The line that “Connor was paradoxically the key to both his mortality and immortality” wash both brilliant and moving, as was the ensuing paragraph. I can’t tell you how much I loved this chapter. I wish I could give it a rating higher than 10.
Author's Response: Wow! Thanks for the far too kind review. It’s nice to know you’re enjoying this. I was afraid some traditionalists would not like my version of the Shanshu prophecy, but so far I’ve received nothing but positive feedback on that. I’m also happy you appreciated Connor’s paradoxical value to Angel. Most prophecies on the show, of course, had vague meanings. I thought it would be nice if I did the same with this one. I, too, liked the “however lost you are” line and actually considered calling this episode “Beacon” as a reference to that line. In a way, Angel is acting as a moral beacon for a couple people in this ep. I’m pleased you liked the discussion of Angel’s thoughts at the end and didn’t think that was overdone. I’m also pleased you wish you could give me more than a ten. Thanks again! |
| eerie_ave |
10/01/04 - 05:55PM |
20: Episode 20: Growing Up |
Signed |
This chapter was way cool. As with most of your chapters, I love the title since it seems to reference so many people. In this case, at least, Faith and Dawn grow past the roles that they held on the show. Very nice. As another review stated, I’ve moved past caring how much any episode is based on Faith. I’m a Faith fan and I love reading stories about her, but you write so many characters so well that I can’t help loving the story. I was so disappointed when the hot Faith/ Spike sex got broken up a few chapters ago. However, you made all worthwhile. Finally, they got together. That really seems so natural to me. More importantly, it wasn’t just a throwaway thing or a relationship. Having sex with Buffy’s ex helped Faith realize she isn’t just a Buffy retread or Buffy, the lesser. I like that Faith finally feels “every bit the slayer Buffy is.” I also loved the ending. Faith’s “We’ll manage,” was a rather obvious double entendre, but I feel like there was doubt in it. Like Faith was telling herself that as much as everyone else. Good job.
Author's Response: Thanks! I really enjoy writing these many characters, so it’s very helpful to know you guys like reading them. I’ve received a few e-mails from readers who liked the Faith/ Spike sex scene, so I’m happy at least one reader representing those who enjoyed the pairing reviewed. |
| Michael J |
10/01/04 - 02:01PM |
21: Episode 21: I Shanshu, You Shanshu, He Done Been Shanshued |
Signed |
Another fine chapter. Can I say that I'm glad Buffy's under the influence. It'll be interesting to find out exactly how long she's been (if it dates back to her night with Connor, then you wrote yourself into a plot hole). Enjoying Faith's unwavering devotion to Angel. Honestly I thought you were leaning towards putting the two of them together if you end up doing a second season of this, but one way or the other, seeing Faith 100% devoted to a mission is a refreshing change in her character. The end I think borders on weak, but only because you're a tad too descriptive. A weakness of efiction in general is that it's very hard to convey the subtle messages that come across when you see something on screen. Everything you say at the end about Angel showing Connor the world, well I think that is pretty obvious without you laying it out for the reader to see. Leave a little for the reader to figure out. You're a talented enough writer that you get the point across just from Angel's speech and the hug they shared. Explicitly saying it all actually weakens the significance of the moment for me. This is episode 21, so there's just one more to go. I sincerely hope you wrap up the dangling Buffy thread and set up something to center on Faith for later. I'm very interested in seeing Faith get her own Big Bad, her own universe, etc. to live in.
Author's Response: Thanks for reviewing once again. It’s always nice to get the feedback. To answer your question, Buffy was not under the influence of anything but alcohol when she slept with Connor. In fact, she wasn’t yet possessed when she told Kennedy to bring Connor in over the phone. Not until arriving in L.A. on the most recent trip was she nabbed. However, explanation of this will not happen until next season, provided I write one. Also provided I write a next season, the story will certainly be more Faith-centric. As for the narrative at the end that you felt weakened the story, I personally like it. There’ve been people who’ve e-mailed me in the past who wanted nothing but material like that. Some people, mostly guys, like the action and tend to complain character exploration. These are both valid viewpoints. However, they generally lead to readers criticizing me for either not writing enough thought/feeling narrative while others think I do too much. For my part, I try to walk a fine line between these two philosophies and provide a bit of both. And damn if I don’t think I have. The writings that I try to sell (as of yet unsuccessfully) are screenplays, so I understand the idea of conveying thoughts, feelings, and exposition solely through dialogue since narration is not an ideal option. However, I think it’s a strength, not a weakness, of narrative fiction that the writer can explore a character’s thoughts and feelings. This isn’t meant to say that your own perspective is invalid, but rather a warning that this kind of writing, which you feel borders on weak, will likely be in future chapters. However, so will the action sequences and dialogue that you seem to like. Whether what you like in my stories is worth putting up with what you don’t is for you to decide. In the meantime, I’m glad I have intelligent readers like you who can discern emotion from my dialogue. And again, thanks for the review. |
| somnambulist29 |
09/29/04 - 06:57PM |
20: Episode 20: Growing Up |
Signed |
Awesome story on the whole. It's very interesting. I have to admit though that I totally forgot that it was suppose to be based around Faith. Maybe it's just because so much is going on or something. I like the way you write for each character. Keep on going! I can't wait for an update.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the review. Reviews like this definitely keep me going. I’m ecstatic to learn that people like the story and the characters. Although Faith was supposed to be the central character, I always wanted this to be an ensemble kind of story. I’m glad the absence of the lack of plotlines for the leading lady hasn’t been a distraction for you. Hopefully my characters and stories can keep you interested throughout the rest of my run here. |
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