Reviews For Blue Valentine
You must login (register) to review or leave jellybeans
Reviewer: Maxine Abbott Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: July 28, 2021 09:40 am Title: Chapter 2 - We'll be Fine

I enjoyed reading this take on the season 9 turmoil for Pam and Jim. It’s not easy to write about their struggles here because while there were problems and miscommunication and secrecy they still were very much in love. I think you did a good job in bringing that out.

I’m like you and felt neither was completely blameless and each had to come around to see things from the other’s view. I felt where you ended up was in that spirit.

I also very much enjoyed the bit with the peek a boo bra and Cece. Very cute.

Good job.

Author's Response:

Thank you Maxine Abbott. It was definitely challenging but that part of the season 9 is something I really enjoyed and I fed a bit of victory that writers like you found my version a passable one 😊

I agree with you that none was blameless indeed yet both were equally forgiving at the end. It was a great closure on the show and I am happy you liked the closing I gave this one. And Cece part was my favourite too so thanks again. 

Reviewer: Basscop69 Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: July 28, 2021 04:27 am Title: Chapter 2 - We'll be Fine

Ah, that’s incredibly kind of you to say - but I’m so happy you posted this!! It’s so great 😍 (also, if you ask me there can never be too much fic about what happens after their dukes up chat). This is so heartbreaking to read - I love the way you’ve filled in what happened after their phone call, their new awkwardness around each other, and the way they’re not quite on the same page. I also thought you did a really great job at showing both their sides (especially Jim’s, and the way he feels pulled in different directions). I love, love the little flashback with Cece and Pam’s bra (lol) and the steam at the end. But also the final bittersweet note with Pam thinking Jim’s joking about Philly, and them sort of being ok but not quite: you’ve captured the season 9 angst, and their love for each other, so well. This was fantastic!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much Basscop69 for your kind words. I have to admit that your writing has been source of great inspiration and I try to capture the essence of their characters and feelings, the way you do. Well ‘try’ is the key word here since it’s nowhere close to how well you do it.

 I truly wanted it be heartbreaking, the kinds where I feel the tug inside. It didn’t happen this time but I hope it does as I continue writing. Thank you for the Cece part, it was an interesting part and I enjoyed writing it too. Also the subtle steam, well I am not great at it but it was fun to give a little teaser. 

Thanks again for your time :) 



Author's Response:

Thank you so much Basscop69 for your kind words. I have to admit that your writing has been source of great inspiration and I try to capture the essence of their characters and feelings, the way you do. Well ‘try’ is the key word here since it’s nowhere close to how well you do it.

 I truly wanted it be heartbreaking, the kinds where I feel the tug inside. It didn’t happen this time but I hope it does as I continue writing. Thank you for the Cece part, it was an interesting part and I enjoyed writing it too. Also the subtle steam, well I am not great at it but it was fun to give a little teaser. 

Thanks again for your time :) 

Reviewer: warrior4 Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: July 27, 2021 10:37 am Title: Chapter 2 - We'll be Fine

I get the feeling here, that even though the tension is still there and none of the issues have been solved, they've almost called a truce for the night. They have a night to themselves so enjoy it. So they do. However even if they're ignoring if for the night the tension is still there. I would say Jim bears most of the responsibilty for their S9 woes. But you're right Pam should have stood up for herself a lot faster than what we saw. That was the whole point of her S3 arc. To not be such a doormat and to stand up for herself. That she kind of backslides in canon is frustrating. However you made the reasoning for that backsliding really clear here. Jim has supported her so now it's her turn to support him. But even still, she doesn't want to. She just wants Jim home with her and the kids. Great job for bringing that all out.

You walked a fine line with this one and I think it turned out well. Great job.

Author's Response: Thanks warrior4. That’s exactly what I was trying to deliver. None of the issues were addressed and it all came back to them when they let it linger between each other, not communicating or even acknowledging. 

You are right, Jim did get a little linear in season 9, taking everything for granted and just focusing on what he wanted. While he was having fun with his sports idols, Pam was struggling with office and kids by herself, while worrying over her husband because he was ‘stressed’ with investors meetings and such. She bore the burden and sort of dragged it, being so unhappy, a bit like how she was with Roy.
 I am so happy you felt my rendition was good:) 

Reviewer: darjeelingandcoke Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: July 26, 2021 07:03 pm Title: Chapter 2 - We'll be Fine

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOF.

Again, I thought you did well here with their degree of avoidance of conflict and how it plants the seeds for things to get even worse from here - the little digs, some not even purposeful; the tension that they're failing to acknowledge; the teasing that passes for real communication... ouch. Just ouch.

Author's Response: Thank you DJC. It feels great that you liked the part of their avoidance-deflection-ignorance. I attempted to kinda reflect on a perfect looking couple, deviating from their perfect path because pobody is nerfect😉

Reviewer: darjeelingandcoke Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: July 25, 2021 07:01 pm Title: Chapter 1 - To wine or to whine

I thought you did well here playing out some of the beats of their relationship - that these are both avoidant/conflict-averse people, especially with each other, and much as they *need* to fight they really don't know how to or want to. You're also drawing some interesting parallels to their earlier years, and the way they just kind of hit the reset button and ignore the difficult things between them until they really can't anymore.

Never be afraid to dive into your own interpretation of the untraveled spots in canon, and I say this as a huge fan of BC69. Getting everyone's headcanons and versions of how it could have played out is so much of the fun of fanfic!

Author's Response: Thank you so much. I always felt that they never really ever talked about difficult things in their relationship and always fell back in their beat, based on their impeccable ability to love each other, putting aside all the past feelings of hurt and heartbreak. They were so eager to be together that they never wanted to touch on the parts that pained. Forgetting that the same yearning made them who they were.

Reviewer: HazyGirl Signed [Report This]
Date: July 23, 2021 08:49 pm Title: Chapter 1 - To wine or to whine

I enjoyed the difference in the perspectives of Pam and Jim. Can't wait to see how this story plays out!

Author's Response: Thank you so much. I am glad you enjoyed two different Povs. I hope you like the other half as well :)

Reviewer: New Hogfan Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: July 23, 2021 08:37 pm Title: Chapter 1 - To wine or to whine

Jim’s being a real ass right now.
He’s taking his marriage and family for
granted. For Jim to apologize to his work colleagues for taking “personal” time is
the worst part, especially since he’s talking
to on the phone with one of them when he’s supposed spending time with Pam.
Jim really is becoming a mindless suit. 😡

Author's Response: Jim did lose sight of what was he doing and why he was doing it. I think it happens to best of us when we take one thing which is most dear to us, granted. He was really not himself during that time is all I could say. Thank you for reviewing :)

Reviewer: warrior4 Signed 1 [Report This]
Date: July 23, 2021 05:35 pm Title: Chapter 1 - To wine or to whine

Please don't sell yourself short. This is a great look into how out of sync they are at this moment in their lives. Even though they agreed to go home and hash things out, they've fallen back into the habits they've built up this year. Avoid the big topic. Put something else first. Try to pretend everything's ok. Things aren't ok. They're not on the same page in the slightest. You brought that out really well.

We can really feel Pam's longing here. She wants her husband back. Not the suit who puts work before family. Jim may think he's doing what's best for his family, but he's not quite at the point to see that what's best for his family is for him to be there for his family. To that end I get the feeling he'll be in for a somewhat rude shock. Thinking Pam is ready and waiting for something intimate when that's probably the last thing on her mind right now. Really good job to bring all that out.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for your support. You are so encouraging, it's like having an amazing positive person in your life, though virtually I am still grateful. I am glad that you felt that the dynamics of their relationship- habits, PAM'S yearning and Jim's ignorance came out well in this one. Yeah the last one was quite something. It's really awesome you picked that part specifically where two people are literally on two different tangents in the same moment. Thanks again for your time.

You must login (register) to review or leave jellybeans