"Saving Grace"

Yes, I know it's been a while since I blogged. Moving will do that to you. More on that later. What I really want to talk about it the TV show "Saving Grace" starring Holly Hunter. Yes, I know I'm coming late into this since the show is now over, but without cable, I had to wait on the DVDs and just got to watch the finale last night.

I have to say I'm hugely disappointed in the writers.

First of all, if you don't know the show, it's basically a cop show that centers around Grace Hanadarko played by Holly Hunter, a lewd, crude, Oklahoma City cop with a very dark side and an angel named Earl, brilliantly played by Leon Rippy. Grace drinks too much, swears a blue streak, smokes like a chimney in winter, and humps every man she meets. But she has a heart as big as the outdoors. If you're her friend or family, there is nothing she won't do for you to protect you. If you're her enemy, there's nothing she won't do TO you to protect others.

As a writer, I have to admire the characters created in this series. They are believable and well written. The dialog, though rough, is realistic. The situations are also realistic. It's a well-written, well-crafted show. It's not my usual fare and it surprised me that I liked it as well as I did. But the ending left me flat. Okay, I'll give the writers some credit. Maybe they'd just found out they'd been canceled. Maybe they were having an off day. Maybe they were trying to leave a message. Maybe...well, whatever, it fell flat.

In the last show, I guess Grace is trying to find solace after accidentally killing a young girl in a car accident. She goes to Mexico to trace the child's path. Along the way, she finds "rebirth" and "baptism" by the ocean and returns to OK to face a demon/evil who has been plaguing her over the past few episodes.

First issue - why didn't the writers introduce this guy earlier in the series? By bringing him in now, it's almost like an afterthought. I don't find it very believable.

Second issue - the ending itself. It was a complete and total downer. Yes, she sacrificed herself. I knew that was coming. All of us who watched it knew that was coming. But the ending left no hope for the survivors - or the viewers. It was completely devoid of any spark, except that of darkness. Does that mean evil won? By Grace sacrificing herself, will evil now have free rein? A possibility. But... in today's climate of hopelessness, I would have left the viewers with a thread to hold onto. Perhaps my ending would have been like this:

Scene: Ham and Butch carrying stretcher with body bag (supposedly Grace) to ambulance. Everyone lined up in two rows saluting, sobbing.

Cut to picture of Grace sitting on top of pile of letters, possibly even drinking a beer, Earl standing behind her.

Grace: Will they be okay?

Earl: Eventually.

Grace: So, what now?

Earl: We go home.

Grace: Will G-pa and my sister be there?

Earl: Yep.

Grace: Cool.

Grace stands, puts the beer bottle down, takes Earl's hand. There is a flash of brilliant white light. Everyone turns, sees only the beer bottle sitting on top of the pile of letters. Rhetta grins through her tears.

Fade to black, roll credits.

And that's how I would have left the characters - and viewers - with a little hope.

But then, I'm all about the happy endings. :)

It's Moving Time

When I moved into my current house five years ago, I swore this would be it. My last move. After all, I've moved 21 times in 37 years (and spent 20 years at the last place - you do the math).

But, as they say, "famous last words" and all that. Yep. I'm moving again. But this time is vastly different. Instead of downsizing because the kids are all grown and gone, I'm upsizing to a bigger place to move in with my son, d-i-l, and their two kids. We are going to become a generational household.

I can hear my friends and relatives now (and have heard them) - why in Heaven's name do you want to do that? You'll miss your quiet. They'll make you babysit all the time. You'll never have any privacy. And so on.

To all the naysayers, I say, let us give it a try. It is a fiscally sound arrangement for all parties involved. And we have already hashed out the "in-law" quarters aspect, who is in charge of what in the house, etc. Yes, there will be challenges and issues that will have to be dealt with, but we've made a good start.

There are probably very few families who could do this, but I have a really good relationship with my d-i-l (and son!) and I believe this will work.

Besides, they are both creative, writer-type people and what could be better for a writer than having a live-in critique/brain-storming partner any time you need one?

Now, if we just had the painting,cleaning, packing and moving aspects out of the way!