Summer writing updates and sea monsters

[davetheanalyzer]

Despite my library writer group having the summer off, there was enough interest to have a virtual-only meeting. I didn’t prepare much for it beforehand but I took part and enjoyed the small, informal group where we updated each other on our writing and chatted about various writing topics. I didn’t submit anything this month and don’t know if I will next month but it’s good to still have that group available to talk and get feedback on storytelling. I also posted the next chapters of We Will Hold On Forever and I’m writing three-four chapters ahead at a decent rate. It’s the first draft, so my feelings are switching between “huh, this is okay” and “goodness, can’t wait to fix this in the next draft.” I can’t say when I’ll be posting again but hopefully it won’t be as long as the previous hiatus. 

I wasn’t expecting to see any film this month but when Netflix’s The Sea Beast received good reception around its release, I decided to give it a go and enjoyed it. It seemed like a bit different kids movie in there were fewer jokes especially during dramatic moments and there were things that were left between the lines and not spelled out. Some subtext might have been lost to me but it still came out as a very interesting film. It centers on the crew of the Inevitable, a motley group of sea beast hunters who either want vengeance against the beasts who seemingly threatened the world for centuries or for pursuing a life of danger and excitement as propagated by their kingdom. Though they aren’t pirates, their designs do take their cues from them, including the historical fact pirates included women and people of color. They are treated as heroes, considering each other family and looking out for other sea beast hunting crews. Captain Crow puts the first crack in that image, as he nearly breaks the code to help a distressed ship in order to chase the Red Bluster in revenge for his lost eye.

Jacob is a competent crew member and practically Crow’s adopted son, having taken in the hunter code enough to persuade Crow to rethink saving a distressed ship. Jacob is shown in the first hunt as capable, light on his feet and compassionate to others. After Crow barely survives, he believes Jacob should succeed him. Jacob had a good report with the crew, so I can see why. Meanwhile, the film opens on the other co-lead Maisie Brumble, an orphan who lost her hunter parents and wants to follow in their footsteps. For the umpteenth time, she runs away from the orphanage but is more successful in that she never comes back and meets Jacob, who puts her off from her resourceful attempts to join the crew, to protect her from such a dangerous life even if there are songs glorifying that life.  Even with how glorified the hunters are, the king and queen threaten to have them replaced since the Bluster wasn’t killed and they want to expand their kingdom more. Jacob again shows his cool head by preventing a fight with the royal guard and giving the Inevitable one final chance. Maisie’s resourcefulness lets her sneak on board. I like Crow respects that. Jacob and first mate Sarah Sharpe are annoyed to have to look after her.

Sarah Sharpe is loyal and a voice of reason. She’s a cynical sort, having seen and done things that marked her. Sharpe isn’t good with kids but gives Maisie a dagger which establishes some connection with the stowaway. Despite being teasy and snarky, I like how Maisie can be wise, like when she cuts the rope to the Red Bluster to stop the Inevitable from being dragged underwater. The Red Bluster swallows Jacob and Maisie, which changes things for the crew but not like they expect. The pair survive and through various amusing antics discover the Red Bluster will just leave them be with at worst deadpan annoyance. I do like the reveal that sea beasts aren’t normally hostile and Maisie rethinking what’s known about sea beasts. She’s young, so is more willing to change her mind.  Jacob’s more set in his ways but his sense of right makes him troubled by these incongruent details. I only wish there were more sea beasts they interacted with. The Red Bluster and Blue are major presences but there could be glimpses of other sea beasts, to give a wider view they were friendly if unprovoked.

Meanwhile, I like that Captain’s Crow’s grief over Jacob’s “death” makes him seek vengeance to the point he would indulge in the infamous Sea Witch’s deals that might put his crew in danger. The crew doesn’t seem harmed by a “curse” at the film’s end but Crow’s actions seemed to challenge Sharpe with her loyalty to him. I liked Jacob and Maisie manage to persuade the Red Bluster to take them home and that they use a boat to ride her for stability and shelter. Maisie pulling spears from the Red Bluster’s back and Jacob joning in was good, as was him seeing a spear from the Inevitable and feeling guilt. As they grew more trusting, they return into the Red Bluster’s mouth and marveled through her transparent nose guards the sea and the remains of sea beasts and ships. Maisie talking with Jacob about living as a family was nice. There are parallels with them but I can’t quite articulate what they are. When Jacob’s reluctant to her suggestion, she pulls back and becomes cold, understandably hurt the person she likes doesn’t seem return her feelings.

Jacob’s reunites with his crew, his family but is conflicted when the Inevitable captures the Red Bluster and brings her back home to kill. Maisie and Sarah Sharpe’s have a talk where Sharpe feels it’s too late for her to change and Maisie uses Sharpe’s famous loyalty as an insult. I liked it and that it’ll be a turning point for Sharpe. Maisie finding the royal seal on all the sea beast books was good shorthand the books were all royal propaganda. Jacob speaking out against killing the Red Bluster in front of Crow was good drama, as this continuous Jacob’s tendency to do the right thing and him defying his father figure, who’s so revenge-driven he attacks Jacob. I liked Sharpe appearing to also to do the right thing through action instead of just word by appearing to help Maisie cut the ropes on the Red Bluster. Maisie follows through with her defiant streak by telling everyone that the royal family lied about the sea beasts and that people died to expand their empire – I like the royal guard general hesitated before declining the order royal’s order to open fire, wanting to investigate since she lost someone in the war.

Captain Crow dropping the statue weapon seemed to indicate he has finally given up his grudge, especially after Jacob and Maisie saved him. I wonder if Crow’ll retire or he might make it up with his crew for his rash decisions. I wonder what the crew would do from here on out. So Jacob and Maisie leave with the Red Bluster, where they make a life for themselves as a family and the Red Bluster goes off to live her own life. I guess I would have liked to see a hint the human making it up with the sea beasts and maybe improve relations but it’s understandable after centuries of being hunted, the sea beasts would just like to be left alone. The only caveat I can think of is the Sea Witch has a long nose which might play into some anti-Semitic tropes. With that in mind, I recommend this film for anyone interested, with its great characters and anti-imperialist themes. It ended on a very final note but if there’s a sequel I’d like to see it.

That’s all for now. Slept around the clock again so I can get to bed earlier and avoid snoring so I can get some uninterrupted sleep. I would prefer to go to bed later but until the snoring issue’s resolved, I’ll have to be the one to adjust. Until August’s end, see you!