The Dresden Files > DF Reference Collection
Doylist analysis on LC fix timing
۞†Grey Warden†۞:
--- Quote from: Griffyn612 on April 03, 2012, 02:07:02 AM ---That's my only problem with it. Who would he have to let in to work on LC? The only people that would fix it (Mab, Leah, Future Harry, Eb, Elaine) would already have the ability to let themselves in.
--- End quote ---
You are forgetting LC itself.
Vairelome:
--- Quote from: Priscellie on April 02, 2012, 10:41:59 PM ---P.S. I love the concept of Watsonian vs. Doylist analyses. I'll have to start using the terms!
--- End quote ---
I agree very much, as someone who has consciously made both Watsonian and Doylist arguments at various times on these boards (though I was unfamiliar with the terminology at the time).
On the broader point, this was a good catch, Serack; I think your logic is convincing.
SAZ:
Wow – good catch Serack.
I’m inclined to believe one of two things about the timing of Thomas leaving as Harry gets back from the hospital visit.
1. Thomas let the Gate Keeper in (either knowing or unknowing). The Gate Keeper then fixed LC. This all hinges on the Gate Keeper’s pre-cog abilities and the fact that the Gate Keeper got Harry pointed in the right direction. Maybe the Gate Keeper was even working with/for Mab as it seems much of what else that happened in PG was of Mab’s design. So I don’t see it as a stretch that Mab and the Gate Keeper were in cahoots with each other.
Or
2. It was meant to be a red herring for us reads to suspect Thomas had something to do with fixing LC. However much to JB’s surprise, few of us actually noticed the red herring until now.
beetnemesis:
I love this (and TVTropes). I love using the idea of "what was the author thinking" when trying to predict plot twists.
Another thing that I like reminding people is that it is in Proven Guilty where we first learn the basic theory of the rules of time travel. Don't cause paradoxes, predictions have to be vague because otherwise they'll invalidate the prediction, etc.
But the thing is, the plot of Proven Guilty essentially has NOTHING to do with time travel. The Gatekeeper didn't have to use oracular powers to warn Harry.
There are two possible Doyalist (out of character) reasons time travel is brought up (and discussed for a few pages, even):
1. Jim was writing the Dresden Files RPG at the time, and had just formalized the rules himself, and wanted to show them off.
2. Jim was laying groundwork for the time travel book we KNOW is coming, and therefore had had to formalize the rules, at least for himself.
Serack:
--- Quote from: SAZ on April 03, 2012, 02:02:27 PM ---1. Thomas let the Gate Keeper in (either knowing or unknowing). The Gate Keeper then fixed LC. This all hinges on the Gate Keeper’s pre-cog abilities and the fact that the Gate Keeper got Harry pointed in the right direction. Maybe the Gate Keeper was even working with/for Mab as it seems much of what else that happened in PG was of Mab’s design. So I don’t see it as a stretch that Mab and the Gate Keeper were in cahoots with each other.
Or
--- End quote ---
Intersting. This gets me thinking... Whoever Thomas could have let in would have to be someone that doesn't care about a WCV living with Harry or flat out knows their relationship. It also inspires some other thoughts that if expressed, I fear could lead to derailment. I'd rather hear more opinions like this one first.
Edit: Also, the fact that Thomas greeted Harry with the sawed off Shot Gun at the beginning of Ch 18 when he is coming in the door made me think that maybe he was particularly jumpy at the time, and wonder how that flavors this theory. I started going down the train of thought that maybe the perp was still in the appt at the time, but if so, Mouse would have probably keyed in on a veiled exit.
--- Quote from: beetnemesis on April 03, 2012, 03:05:52 PM ---I love this (and TVTropes). I love using the idea of "what was the author thinking" when trying to predict plot twists.
Another thing that I like reminding people is that it is in Proven Guilty where we first learn the basic theory of the rules of time travel. Don't cause paradoxes, predictions have to be vague because otherwise they'll invalidate the prediction, etc.
But the thing is, the plot of Proven Guilty essentially has NOTHING to do with time travel. The Gatekeeper didn't have to use oracular powers to warn Harry.
There are two possible Doyalist (out of character) reasons time travel is brought up (and discussed for a few pages, even):
1. Jim was writing the Dresden Files RPG at the time, and had just formalized the rules himself, and wanted to show them off.
2. Jim was laying groundwork for the time travel book we KNOW is coming, and therefore had had to formalize the rules, at least for himself.
--- End quote ---
Jim didn't write the DFRPG, he just read over it and told them things like, "You can't use that, I won't be revealing it until much later in the series." However, seeing their writeup might have motivated him to flesh out the points for your #2.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version