Reviews For Gold
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Reviewer: darjeelingandcoke Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: March 26, 2021 09:45 pm Title: All In

Ooooh, a lot going on I like in this chapter.

I think you've captured the discomfort of Season 9 really well, both for them and what it felt like for the audience watching them go through this. I was struck by their sense of how shaking it is that they're at this point of needing a therapist at all, which I felt like is definitely something that would have been striking to them. And I'm glad we get to see them wrestling more with their issues internally - Pam being aware of her fear, Jim being aware and feeling guilty of the position he's put her in.

It also fears really, alarmingly true that Pam having a lot more on her plate emotionally might just not allow her the resources to do what she wants to do, which is definitely an undersold part of the problem in Season 9.

In general, I really like how much you're rooting this in their history - which was something I felt like got left out of Season 9 in canon a lot, how this conflict was building off where they had been before and how they would have seen it in light of where they were before. It's great that you're bringing that back into it.

Author's Response:

He's back!

I miss you when you are gone for long stretches. I understand it - you have other things to do besides read and review FF but I do miss getting your take on things (not only my writing but other's too, I appreciate and read your reviews on other stories - sometimes you can see more than I can). Your insights can even help shape what's to come so always glad to see your reviews. 

Anyway, like I said up front I never thought I'd be writing a Season 9 fic. While I had the first 4 seasons on repeat play, I only truly watched season 9 once. Maybe because of the troubles they were having, I preferred my angst to be leading to more fun in the office not to the end of the show.

But between the songs and catching some season 9 episodes on Comedy Central reruns and some encouragement from a writer I respect immensely I started with a story and a rewatch and once I did I realized how much I felt the story had so much more to it and how strongly I felt about certain things which will be revealed later.

I get the sense you are not so much a season 9 fan. I'm so please you like what I'm doing to give it more depth. I agree that the idea of them in counseling would be hitting them hard. I guess when you love as deeply as they do, when you are connected as they are, when there are troubles, they come hard and deep too. (TWSS- sorry had to) and they need some help getting through them.

Anyway glad to see you - just in time for the next update which I hope to get up later this weekend. 

Reviewer: grc73 Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: March 22, 2021 06:03 am Title: All In

Honoured to get a mention (thank you!) but I did nothing really! I really love how you’re writing this.

Love hurts sometimes. You are so realistic in how this is playing out. The imagery and allusions are spot on, and again, we can feel the pain, but also the hope of two people who really love each other but have disconnected. And that happens in adult relationships sometimes, even the best ones.

Communication is an evolving process and you are really showing how they are trying to make that journey to attempt to reconnect. Sometimes it’s successful and sometimes not. But what I love most about this (I’m so naughty starting sentences with ‘but’ and ‘and’!) is the love they have for each each other is shining out like a beacon. And I LOVED that you really examined Pam’s character traits. They are so well considered. Jim seems to recognise that but he also recognises his own needs and right now there is a clash of goals. And this is what makes it all such a balancing act.

I say this as someone who has been (happily) with my husband for over two decades - anyone who says relationships / marriage is easy all the time, is lying. One has to work at it, sometimes there is miscommunication, or no communication, a lot of it is about understanding the other person, what drives them and their character traits so you bring out the best in each other, for each other. One doesn’t always get it right but it’s about thinking before acting and understanding motives (usually good motives in healthy relationships, just the execution can be poor.)

I think for the most of what we saw play out on screen over 6 seasons of their being together, they managed that (and I believe it was a lesson they took with them to Austin) but in this period for them they did lose their way with each other because they stopped communicating.

Gosh, that turned into a critique of marriage counselling!

This wasn’t tough to read at all because that’s what I took from this chapter. It is beautiful and hopeful. I hope we get a happy ending!

Author's Response:

First off - It helps more than you know to have an opinion when certain lines are giving you pause so yes a mention is warranted.

I think we long time marrieds can really appreciate what was happening between them during season 9 and what it takes in a marriage to keep it strong sometimes. Life is always rosy and love as powerful as it is won't fix all the problems that can arise, especially when communication breaks down (and we know these two have a tendency to go inward sometimes). I have a feeling you will love the next chapter based on the things you've said here and I can't wait to get your reaction to that one.

I'm so glad it's coming across that no matter how hard the problems are now, it is not from lack of love for each other. If anything it is the opposite. It's that deep love they have for each other that is actually making it so much harder. Kinda what Brian had said about his and Alyssa - when they stopped fighting they realized they no longer cared. 

I'm really chuffed (hope I'm using this right) to get such praise from you for this one. Knowing that readers (no matter how many or few) are resonating with what I write is so uplifting. So thanks so so much for being so present for this one.

 

Reviewer: warrior4 Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: March 21, 2021 08:11 pm Title: All In

First of all I loved the start of this chapter. The description of the sunrise was just beautiful. Moving onto the counseling sessions I do find it interesting the sunset Pam described and everything that went with it. Even in their struggles they're very similar in thought.

However it's when we dive deeper that the truth does start to come out some. However for both of them I feel like this is progress. To me it feels like they're processing their feelings. Almost as if they have to settle things down in their own heads before they can figure out how to say those things to each other. In that regard, I don't think it was hard to read. Informative to be sure.

Great job with the introspection. Really looking forward to seeing where they go from here.

Author's Response:

The start of this chapter was one of the first things that came to me (after the gold yogurt lid bit) when I heard the song Gold. I enjoyed writing that part - really flexed my descriptive writing muscles.

You are very perceptive my friend - I intended it to come off as baby steps. Like I said never meant to be a one and done - the show made it seem like they went for one session and poof problems solved.

Thanks always for your insights and appreciation. 

 

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