A sense of balance (Writer's choice)

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

Illya can climb anything. Where did he learn?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12135270

Illya climbing a drainpipe

Comments

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Did I miss this. It's wonderful, and it makes perfect sense that some like IK would indulge in a little Night Climbing.

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

Having no head for heights myself, I got very sweaty palms writing it. Glad you liked it.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks for adding this to the Writer's and Reader's Choice! Enjoyed once again.

[maria-priest.livejournal.com]

fortunately IK not only learned quantum mechanics at Cambridge...night-climbing probably served him better than his official field of study. nicely done.

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much. Glad you liked it - it was a fascinating occupation to read about when I discovered it.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

He didn't deny it when countess whatsername (I love the actress and think she's the most beautiful creature on the series, but can never remember her character's names) called him a second-story man.

I think his gymnastics training reflects a natural talent for climbing and general athletics.

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

I've forgotten that one. Remind me, which episode?

DM's athleticism is one of the many charms he gave that character. It's real, and not often handed over to his stuntman.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Deadly Toys? The one with Angela Lansbury as Miss Van Donck and the brilliant kid, Bartlett. The Countess accused Illya of being a second story man when he got down off the hook, and he didn't deny it. :-)

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Must give it another go - I can't bear Angela Lansbury in this one (I like her as an actress, just not here).

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Even though she IS horribly over the top in the ep, I like her can-do spirit, flying and climbing trees and stuff.

She is grotesque with her flirtation with Napoleon, though - it's so treacly and phony.

[redqueen88.livejournal.com]

Her performance in this always reminds me of Auntie Mame. Maybe was channeling that. Also makes me wonder how much of a performance is due to the writing and how much to the actor's interpretation?

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Good point. Because, oh lord, the WRITING. Sometimes it's great (early seasons) and sometimes there's just no way to make those lines sound anything but ridiculous.

I like Angela Lansbury generally, without supposing she's a great actress or anything - but that character, despite her good points ... yeah. I fast forward through certain sections of this ep, for sure.

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

She annoyingly upstages DM in the helicopter at the end - hides him completely. I resented that...
However, I saw her three or four years ago in London, when she was about 90, playing Madam Arcati in "Blithe spirit". Amazing woman - I can't remember a shopping list, and there she was, word perfect.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

I am going to guess that it's the compressed, time-pressed nature of episodic TV that results in many people seeming to give performances that are beneath them. I like this episode for certain bits of it, but I also fast forward, in embarrassment, during other bits.