Date: November 22, 2017 07:13 pm Title: Fancy New Flenderson
I LOVE The Office, because many parts of it are SOOOO GOOD. I'm a total JAM addict, and although I started out hating Michael (in fact, he's the reason I never watched the show until last year when my daughter made me hang in there for a few episodes), eventually they gave him some depth and empathy and vulnerability. They did the same with Dwight. But they made most of the rest of the characters pretty one-dimensional, including Toby and Kelly, PLUS they never really explained why Toby would tolerate the endless abuse. When you have such great, believable, rich characters portrayed by such fabulous actors, and then put Flat Stanleys next to them, it damages the whole show. So I really resented the presence of the one-dimensional, non-genuine characters like Kelly and Toby. Which is why I AM LOVING THIS STORY!!!! Finally, I can fill in the missing pieces, the black holes of the show with something real and believable and lovable!!! This is beautifully, patiently, lovingly written, and although it leaves the shows storyline in several places, it totally fits, explains and deepens their characters in ways that does not threaten the canon of the show. Wow! I am blown away. I love this! One more chapter to read!
Date: June 16, 2010 06:27 pm Title: Family Resemblance
This is lovely, Steph. I really enjoy your Tobycentric stories, and this was wonderful. Even Toby deserves a little happy, right?
Author's Response: Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. But in my opinion Toby deserves a lot of happy.
Date: June 14, 2010 09:51 pm Title: Family Resemblance
Wow. That was very interesting. I like your Sasha a lot. She's a very well rounded character. Somehow I missed the other part of this series. I'll have to go back now and read it!
Author's Response: Thank you so much. I like writing Sasha. Yes, please do read the other fics, it'll put this one much more in context. I hope you enjoy those as well.
10 [Report This]Date: June 14, 2010 10:00 am Title: Family Resemblance
Fantastic job, Steph. You brought Sasha to life, and Toby, too, for that matter. I'm impressed with the little things that give this story such depth and heart--your descriptions of Kelly's wardrobe, her little gifts for Sasha, Ari's adoration of her older sister. I think my favorite part was Toby calling Ari by names of food--really quirky and funny :D
Author's Response: Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it. It was really fun writing Ariel.
9 [Report This]Date: October 10, 2009 01:38 pm Title: What the Kids Are Watching
"If she ever went to her dad’s office again, she would smile at Michael and play with his trains and laugh when he did funny voices.
And then she would kick him right where it hurts boys the most."
BAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Date: October 04, 2009 02:26 am Title: Small Steps
I already wrote one review for this, but then it seemed too harsh on poor Toby, so I deleted it. Which clearly makes me insane, because Toby is a fictional and as such can't be hurt by my opinion of him. But anyway.
So, the point of my review was that I agree with you that Toby shows some sings of clinical depression in the show, so I find this AU very believable and realistic. I even bought the Toby/Kelly pairing, and I'm usually one of those boring canon people, who find some AU pairings a bit hard to take seriously. But you know these characters so well, and have their voices down so perfectly, that I have no problem seeing why they would be good together. Toby needs someone to bring out the humorous side of him (which does exist, we just haven't seen it in a while) and Kelly needs someone to balance her moodswings a little, so win-win. And they both need love, so win-win-win.
Also, I would pay good money to see Toby stand up to Michael, even though I have a huge soft spot for Michael.
Author's Response: Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. I'm glad you bought the pairing. I'm just the opposite - usually canon pairings bore or annoy me so I make up pairings to entertain myself. I'm kind of strange that way. And for some reason Toby and Kelly just makes so much sense to me - she would take such good care of him and he's someone who could really use being taken care of. So yeah - win-win-win! I always thought Toby, especially in Season 4, just seemed so off and that's always how I explained it away - depression. I think it's because Toby is, for some reason, my favorite character so I didn't want to write him off the way other people did, as just weird or creepy. I would love to see Toby stand up for himself or at the very least have something good happen to him, but I don't know if that's ever going to happen. I guess that's why I keep writing. Thanks again for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.
9 [Report This]Date: October 03, 2009 07:23 pm Title: Small Steps
Steph, when I saw how long this fic was, I decided that I wanted to wait to read it so I could savor it. You didn't disappoint, my dear. This was touching and quite moving. Your characterizations were just so good. I was able to perfectly envision Kelly and Toby as it they really were a couple, a couple that's perfect for each other. Well done!
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I have trouble writing shorter fics sometimes. But I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Date: October 02, 2009 09:03 am Title: Small Steps
Steph, I just love this series! Your characterizations of Toby and Kelly are so great that when I watch the show and the two of them aren't as well developed as they are in your stories I'm disappointed.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I get disappointed too sometimes, which is why I keep writing. Glad you enjoyed it.
9 [Report This]Date: October 02, 2009 08:12 am Title: Small Steps
I haden't read any of the prequels, (which i now need to do) but I loved this, because I like Toby and I'm glad someone is giving him a happy ending. The idea of Toby and Kelly is kind of odd when you first think about it, but you know, they just might work. Oh, and standing up too Michael,(slipping into Kelly talk for a moment)-OMG I would so LOVE to see that happen. The look on Michael's face would be Ammaazing!- (Okay I'm back) Is this "the end" of this story or "the end" to this series?
Author's Response: Thank you for reading and reviewing! Hope you enjoy the prequels - they will definitely fill in this story! I still love Toby and if anyone on the show deserves something happy - I think it's him. There is something so odd about shipping Toby and Kelly I know, but I think it does kind of make sense in a weird way. I had an idea to do one last part of the series, but I'm still not 100% sure. Anyway thank you so much for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed this.
Date: May 07, 2009 08:16 pm Title: Fancy New Flenderson
What a lovely ending. I'm so glad that Toby had his therapist to help him sort out his feelings and help him accept Kelly's feelings for him for what they were. I wasn't too happy w/Pam's reaction to Kelly's news but looking back at it, I guess it would be a typical way for her to react. And Michael - gah! What an insensitive jerk. You really brought me into this and made me really feel so happy that Toby has Kelly. Great job!
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the whole thing. It's funny, neither Jim nor Pam are my favorite characters so I think I'm harder on them than other people are when writing them, but what I was intending was Pam was just really taken aback by Kelly's admission and the relationship and just said a few things without really thinking - not in a mean way necessarily, but probably not the most sensitive either. I hope that came across. And Michael is fun to write. Thank you again. I hope you enjoy the other fics I've written - I don't know if you read the first two in this series, but it might round things out a little bit.
10 [Report This]Date: May 07, 2009 08:10 pm Title: Fancy New Flenderson
Sasha's conversation with Kelly brought tears to my eyes. How heartbreaking to see your dad treated so badly at work. What a sweetheart she is. And I'm so glad she likes Kelly and wants them to get married. This was a very moving, very heartfelt chapter.
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so glad you liked the Sasha part.
10 [Report This]Date: May 07, 2009 02:47 pm Title: Fancy New Flenderson
I've been LOVING this story keep up the great work!
Author's Response: Thank you so much! So glad you're enjoying it.
Date: May 01, 2009 08:38 pm Title: Fancy New Flenderson
GAH! Steph! This is so awesome. I'm making my way through all your awesome Toby stories, and I have to say, you completely rock at this! The Kobyness is making me all giddy.
"...what it must be like to take everything in the worst possible way."
Oh, God. This makes me so sad. Just to think about about long these two have been fantasizing about finding the perfect ending... when all along, they were RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. It kills me.
But in fics like this, we can forget what the show has done to Kelly and Toby.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying it. I'll have the next part up tomorrow maybe. Hope you're enjoying all the other Koby stories - I have no idea why I love writing them so much, but I just do. And thank you for reviewing, fellow Koby-shipper. Yay for Koby-shipping. And I'm all for forgetting what's been happening on the show.
7 [Report This]Date: May 01, 2009 07:11 pm Title: Fancy New Flenderson
This was my first time reading one of your Toby and Kelly stories and I really enjoyed it. I've always felt so badly for how Toby is treated by Michael and some others so its refreshing to read a story where he's involved in a happy relationship. I'm going to have to catch up with your other Toby and Kelly stories this weekend.
Author's Response: Thank you! Almost from the beginning, Toby's been my favorite character and I just enjoy writing him so much. And I feel so sorry for him too. I hope you enjoy my other fics as well! I have so much fun writing him and Kelly together.
10 [Report This]Date: March 03, 2009 12:19 pm Title: Breakdown
that. was. amazing.
I just love them together.
you are fantastic. thank you so much for this!
Author's Response: Thank you! I love the two of them together too and am working on a sequel to this story right now.
10 [Report This]Date: July 16, 2008 08:37 am Title: What the Kids Are Watching
I gotta admit, this title caught my eye.
Ya know, I love it all, but this line:
"He was hot. Why would he have a drug problem?"
Perfectly hilarious!
But I love how you took these characters we saw for only like 20 minutes, and fleshed them out, and really fleshed out families and friends intereactions. Never even thought of this idea, and you did it beautifully.
9 [Report This]Date: May 23, 2008 06:29 pm Title: Breakdown
I've always been a diehard Ryan/Kelly fan, but this story was so sweet! I really loathed Toby for most of Season 4, so seeing another (not-Pam-loving) side to him was nice. I could totally see this happening. Nice work!
Date: May 21, 2008 05:32 pm Title: Breakdown
Oh, this is so nice! I like the progression of it all, and how this particular relationship is maturing Kelly -- but not too much! ;)
Good job!
Author's Response: Thank you! I think just as being around Kelly would cheer Toby up, I think being around Toby would mature her a little. I love writing those too. But yeah - I couldn't mature her too much. Otherwise she wouldn't be Kelly.
Date: May 21, 2008 10:29 am Title: Breakdown
I don't comment often on stories...next to never. This is the best story I have ever read on this site. You are a fantastic writer and capture emotion so well.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
10 [Report This]Date: May 21, 2008 10:17 am Title: Breakdown
Seriously. I just re-read this. This is awesome.
10 [Report This]Date: May 20, 2008 11:04 am Title: Breakdown
I love Toby! I absolutely lovedddd What The Kids Were Watching, I'm so glad you wrote this all about Kelly and Toby! Seriously, I never would have even thought of them, and nowwww... I really wish Toby had a Kelly.
I love that they were both so true to their characters, I LOVE you writing from Kelly's POV, it is so freakin perfect and spot on, like "She didn't know why exactly. He was lots older than her. And while he wasn't bad looking or anything, he certainly wasn't gorgeous. And he wasn't fun or anything."
I love that just by being surrounded by her and happy things and frivolity, he just improved. And I like that Jim and Pam were understanding but that Toby was still ashamed of himself. I love that he couldn't understand why she would want to date him when he is so broken and she's so young and happy, but she's just firm and honest and determined.
So freaking awesome. You have identified the characters' inner voices so well - just perfect.
Author's Response: Oh man. Thank you for such a nice review. I'm sure it's obvious by now but I really ship (shipped?) those two and I think those two could have really been good for each other. I love writing Kelly's pov - just getting in touch with my inner 15 year old. I'd like to think Jim and Pam would be understanding about Toby's behavior if they knew it was a deeper problem.
Date: May 20, 2008 10:28 am Title: Breakdown
Now I want to watch the Naked Gun and go on a bit of a Leslie Nielsen bender. Thanks.
Also, good fic.
Author's Response: Thank you! Yep, if Naked Gun/Airplane/Hot Shots won't cheer you up, I don't know what will.
9 [Report This]Date: May 20, 2008 10:23 am Title: Breakdown
Steph, yet another solid fic from a unique perspective.
Yellow was a happy color, but she looked horrible in yellow and if she wore yellow then no one would be happy. Instead she wore pink and a wide, happy smile as she opened the door to his room. Very sweet and very Kelly.
You made me believe that these two could actually be a happy couple. Great job.
Author's Response: Thank you! I think they could have been a happy couple too. I still wish the writers had gone in this direction rather than his crush on Pam, but oh well.
Date: April 29, 2008 08:25 pm Title: What the Kids Are Watching
Oh, Steph, I really like a lot. I like the repetition of how they didn't watch it, but then all ended up watching it through one circumstance or another. The background is great; you've rounded these people out so well.
I love the bit about Meredith and Jake stocking the kitchen with food and such, preparing for social services. I really just love what this story chooses to be. You've left me no choice but to favorite it, as well.
Really good.
8 [Report This]Date: April 28, 2008 07:45 pm Title: What the Kids Are Watching
I'm here by way of TWoP (I'm Resplendent over there, too.) And I'll be honest, I think that this is a great idea for a fic and is really well executed as well. I especially liked "each silently congratulating themselves with getting away with something" and the Kelly/Toby pairing--I'd never thought of them together, but I can see it now.
I also think that you integrated characters idiosyncrasies from The Office really well (your depiction of Kevin comes immediately to mind with the fist bumping and the M&Ms.)
Very enjoyable because it is well thought out and well written.