Siuan Sanche Waits For Only One Woman

Anaïs in Love (2021) dir. Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet

Coronation Street | Carla Connor + Betsy Swain

watch out, Lisa: these two are in cahoots!

Okay. So, the thing I was spoiled on was Siuan’s death. So it’s hard to say what my actual reaction is to that. Because I knew it was coming. But one thing is for sure: I think it's stupid and I think the justifications that Rafe gives for it are stupid too. But to be honest, book!Siuan has been dead a while, and they only ever let glimpses of her out anyways.

Last season, people got mad at those of us who were angry with what the show did to Siuan's character-- making her literally the opposite of her book character and using her storyline as an accessory to Moiraine's rather than her own-- saying 'wait, you'll see/you can't keep everything in the books/trust the process/you guys never like anything the show does'. Many of us felt less enamored with the show and the fandom after that, some haven't been posting and some haven't been watching.

I hate saying we told you so, but we did. They killed off Siuan, a character whose biggest storyline comes after she was deposed, not before, to give Moiraine the reaction that lets her 'kill' Lanfear. They decided that everything Siuan does after she is deposed-- guiding Egwene, becoming a mentor to her and a secret force of support to her, telling a story about how a woman who has lost everything comes back and finds a purpose-- is less important than finding a will for Moiraine to do something that she had already planned to do.

And let's talk about Moiraine for a second, without the Twisted Doorway, what was Moiraine's cutting Lanfear's throat really worth?? That is the exact same injury that Lanfear healed herself from in season two, she isn't out of commission, and if she is, that's just another inconsistency they've introduced. As for Moiraine without the Tower of Ghenjei to be trapped in, I doubt this is actually 'her death' or we would have had more of a reaction and them talking about it in the actor conversation afterwards. So, we have Moiraine, who has hardly any story left, alive and not trapped and Siuan, who has plenty of story left, dead. I don't know who they will have fill Siuan's role if they fill it at all, whether it will be Leane or Moiraine, or if Moiraine will maybe take Cadsuane's role. But this sucks, completely cutting off Siuan's storyline to add to Moiraine's story in such a minor way. I think it would be horrible to do regardless of who played Moiraine and Siuan, but I think that it must be said that it is an especially bad look that they have seemingly extended the white actress/character's storyline while prematurely cutting off the black actress/character's storyline.

As for Rafe's justifications that Siuan's story after her deposition is 'not at the forefront' and that he wanted Sophie Okonedo to be able to have a big moment before leaving, what complete fucking bullshit. As I've already discussed Siuan's most meaningful plot was ahead of her, Siuan with the wondergirls in Salidar especially Egwene was iconic and important. And Sophie's big moment and monologue could have easily come before her being stilled, not her being killed. And even if the show felt like they couldn't have justified keeping an actress like Sophie on for more seasons cost wise, the book gave them the perfect out--after being stilled, Siuan is de-aged, she could have easily been recast with a cheaper actress. The truth is that the showrunners and writers never respected Siuan as a character outside of her relationship with Moiraine and don't really care about a lot of elements of the story that are important.

Siuan Sanche being 100% unimpressed by the Dragon Reborn

ENTREVIAS ― S04E05

SIUAN SANCHE 3.05 | Tel'aran'rhiod

↳  Les amours d'Anaïs (2021) 

"We umm, we haven’t met. I’m Luce."

Imagine Me & You (2005, UK)

“Marta and Fina are very much in the same boat. They just need to learn how to row in synchronicity.”

I really can’t with the vitriol against Marta after today’s episode. There’s people going “If I were Fina, I’d leave her” or “Fina needs to subject her to the same treatment”.

Like. Leaving someone because they’ve been overwhelmingly swamped at work for ONE WEEK and have yet to find some semblance of balance? (not to mention the personal blows Marta’s being subjected to and the proverbial noose tightening more and more around her neck) Are we even watching the same thing? While drowning in work and sleep deprived, Marta tried to bake for her girlfriend and bent over backwards to secure them tickets at a unique event at the opera, because the woman she’s in love with is so special to her and deserves nothing less. She planned their outing with so much excitement, all so they could finally spend quality time together away from all the problems at home. And when it all came crushing down around her, like everything does as of late, she hated for Fina to miss out and encouraged her to take Carmen instead, to try and have a good time regardless. Yup. That’s an awful girlfriend right there.

And treating her the same way? You mean, the way Marta’s always so considerate with Fina, even when things seem to be stacked against them? Like Marta being sad, deeply frustrated and apologetic at having to cancel their plans together? It’s not like she was uncaring or jubilant at having more issues heaped onto her plate. It’s not like she’s dismissive of Fina or takes her for granted. On the contrary.

Marta’s not cold or unfeeling. If anything, she’s always felt so deeply and she’s struggling so much with this. This is killing her just as much as Fina, or more. She’s well aware of the toll this is taking on them and, most likely, feels selfish for even asking for understanding, fearful this might prove too much. You can see the agony of it all on her face, because she doesn’t want to disappoint Fina, doesn’t want to hurt her. It’s all there, plain to see, because when it comes to Fina, Marta wears her heart on her sleeve.

Let’s also look at the following:

Marta is 10 years Fina’s senior and her responsibilities in management are something Fina is not entirely used to (see Fina’s stance on Carmen’s promotion as well). Not to minimize Fina’s own obligations, or discard her countless merits, because she’s the most amazing person with a heart of gold and Marta’s so damn lucky to have her. There’s no better match for Marta than Fina and vice versa. But the burden on Marta’s shoulders is crushing at the moment. Hell, right now, hers might as well be a Sisyphean task, for no matter how hard she tries, her efforts are thwarted. She needs cuddles, not struggles. And, try as she might, Marta cannot be as free and unencumbered as Fina, especially given the yoke of her position (she chose it, some might say, which is true; we know she’s wanted her work to be recognized and acknowledged, to not be written off for being a woman; but she’s also wanted this position so she could change things for the better, ensuring fair treatment across the board; this isn’t just a personal goal, even as it plays a part in her decision making: it’s also a genuine desire to turn things around, make amends for her family’s misdeeds, do good and effect positive outcomes; the sad truth is it’ll probably end up hurting her more than anyone, because no good deed can go unpunished)

Fina also tells Isidro Carmen has changed since she’s been promoted. Again, the weight of added responsibilities are making themselves known. And Carmen too, just like Marta, wants to do a good job and be respected for it. No one’s going to hand her anything, she has to fight for it. A woman in a position of authority, in a society that’s deeply misogynistic, Carmen doesn’t even have her husband’s support, given that idiot tries to diminish her accomplishments to make himself feel superior. The only one encouraging and trusting Carmen is Marta herself (and Fina and Claudia, of course, when they’re not giving her grief lol). This, in turn, means Carmen’s new position offers her a unique understanding of Marta’s world. So it makes sense for Carmen to have told Fina that, now more than ever, she needs to support Marta as it won’t be easy for her girlfriend to fight the battles ahead. Because whatever crap Carmen is dealing with, Marta has it even worse.

Anyway. I could ramble on forever. It just baffles me to see such negativity.

There’s a thing called character arc. It has highs and lows and everything in between. The writers on the show have said that no matter how hard it gets, Marta and Fina’s storyline will remain one of hope, with light at the end of every tunnel. But there needs to be conflict, tension and drama. Which, in turn, make victories, both small and large, all the more significant. All the more remarkable. All the sweeter and euphoric after a series of trials and tribulations.

Lessons are learned, obstacles are surmounted, triumphs are celebrated. Step by step. Life is, more often than not, rather monotonous with some excitement here and there. And it’s a given: it can’t, and won’t, be a continuous loop of smooth sailing.

Ultimately, what matters is to find a way to navigate together, whether the seas are calm or stormy. Marta and Fina are very much in the same boat. They just need to learn how to row in synchronicity. As it is, for the most part, they’ve got it down pat. For the most part. But they’re a damn good team, the best even, and though they falter, they’ll find their rhythm again.

Swear your oath, Moiraine Sedai.

Rafe Judkins: They’re such fascinating characters in the books and they have, you know, especially when you read New Spring, they have - I mean, for a queer person reading the books, it feels very explicit. Like, oh, they’re just saying it. They clearly say it. But I think that relationship is one of the core relationships for Moiraine, obviously, in the entire series in The Wheel of Time (…) The goal was, in that scene at least, to see something akin to a marriage bond between these two women, a bond of trust in a world where you can’t trust anyone. — for Empire Magazine’s Spoiler Special Film Podcast