1 [Report This]Date: April 22, 2022 07:53 pm Title: Chapter 3. The Discovery
Oh my god, they time traveled to the day of Booze Cruise... I am HERE FOR THIS!
Also, Randall has seen time travelers before?! What?!
Author's Response:
What better day to redo - but alas doesn't work that way in this time travel model. But still things can still be affected...
YUP!
1 [Report This]Date: October 22, 2021 09:31 am Title: Chapter 3. The Discovery
As anyone knows who has ever read anything I’ve written, I’m firmly in the camp of Roy is just an irredeemable, terrible human being but I always thought there was more to the the Jim and Pam interaction at the beginning of this episode. It always seemed like the way she said “a little” was very loaded and you can tell it messed with Jim’s head a bit. I love that you give us a little insight to what happened there and to the fact that she might of actually enjoyed herself.
I appreciate how she quickly realizes she can’t alter the past for the sake of the present. I also appreciate how you wrote Michael as completely unfazed by the entire notion that they have time traveled. Again, you write him really well.
Great chapter!
Author's Response:
One of the biggest challenges in writing this story (especially once getting into it) was the whole Roy bit. I mean in canon she was with him for almost 10 years and I struggled throughout my creating this to figure out why.
I decided there had to be some happy times, some good memories, something like I said besides inertia. If ever there was a time she and he would be getting along and she would be feeling loved by him, it would be post re-engagement.
But don't worry, plenty of hateable Roy to come too.
Thanks as always for sharing your feelings and your thoughts on this story. It's always so inspiring to hear from you.
1 [Report This]Date: September 21, 2021 03:46 pm Title: Chapter 3. The Discovery
I really appreciate the look into Pam’s slightly happier vacation with Roy here - as much as I’m biased to think Roy is just awful all the time, it makes much more sense that she must have had at least some good moments with him that weren’t captured on camera, and it’s very in keeping with the way she is in that episode afterwards. Although the line about his attention ‘only’ being split between her an the skiing is also so sad (and telling). And oooh we’ve come back to a v interesting time - can’t wait to see how this plays out! I love the little note with the coat too. And Pam and Michael on this escapade together continues to be a joy - I particularly love Pam’s parental softly whispered bark, this is such an excellent description of the way she is with Michael. And Randall at the end!!! The plot thickens…
Author's Response:
So yes, had to be some better time with Roy - she did seem happy some of the time with him even if fleeting and even if he was awful a lot.
Pam and Michael - I have a soft spot for them together although their relationship has not yet grown to the sweetness I see in later seasons, - who knows maybe after this experience it will - or will she just want to kill him after this...we'll have to see.
Thanks as always for being a regular reader and reviewer - I do appreciate it and enjoy sharing this with you.
1 [Report This]Date: September 17, 2021 10:55 am Title: Chapter 3. The Discovery
I think they really did have a good time. Pam seemed quite happy after she came back from that trip if I remember the episode after correctly. I love how this chapter really starts to open the story up. And so the realisation of the time travel paradox begins - you can't interfere in the past! Mwhahahaha!
Author's Response:
Sinister laugh noted.
The paradox begins indeed as does my challenge in writing double timelines - thanks for your help in making sure I don't mess anything up and the reviews.
1 [Report This]Date: September 17, 2021 08:09 am Title: Chapter 3. The Discovery
I don't disagree that Pam and Roy enjoyed that trip. It was right after they set the date and Pam did look genuinly happy that night on the booze cruise. Makes sense that some of those feelings would still carry over. I always kind of saw it as the last gasp of the Pam and Roy relationship. It kept life support going until Casino Night when everything finally came to a head and the realities really settled in. So that's my take on that.
Otherwise interesting choice to send them back to this time. I can see a lot of possibilites for how things could happen. Will future Pam and Micheal get aboard the boat? If so what will future Pam overhear/see that could give her pause? Will future Pam go insance babysitting a Micheal who wants to re-live the time and "fix" things?
It's also telling to me how much introspection Pam is doing. Despite everything going on it feels like she's is unintentionally comparing her two main relationships. Roy is only 100% with her when there's nothing else to distract him. Jim is 100% with her despite distractions. Nice juxtaposition. I wonder if Pam will be able to figure that out any time soon?
I also liked how you set past Jim and Pam apart there at the end. The italics were a good way to clue us in there. However Randall seems to know what's up too. Nice little twist. Looking forwared to seeing how that plays out as well.
Author's Response:
Last gasp indeed - but yes, she seemed happy enough both on Booze Cruise and even when she returned from trip.
Good questions indeed - time will tell (pun intended)
Look out for the italics in chapters to come - one of the challenges in writing 2 versions of the same timeline but good to see you picked up on the shift.
Thanks for reviewing as always - very helpful to see what you see (and get verification my story is coming across as intended). And of course I just adore reviews.
1 [Report This]Date: September 16, 2021 06:37 pm Title: Chapter 3. The Discovery
As you know I'm 100% on board with Team There Must Be *Something* To Recommend Roy, and I thought you did a good job finding the balance of that here - that Roy is capable of being a good partner but really only does it when there's basically no other option, and immediately thereafter having Pam talking herself into thinking that what Roy wants (over her express say-so) is the right thing.
I love the comic use of Meredith's Christmas flashing incident to lodge us in time... this is a much better way for that to come back than for Michael to just use it to bully Meredith. And I *really* love the idea of Pam going back to pre-Casino Night, a moment which ACHES to be redone.
Michael just rolling with the punches and snacking and enjoying his carpet is fun.
But let's be real. THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE TWIST THAT RANDALL KNOWS THEY CAN TIME TRAVEL. That's what I call a cliff-hanger!
Author's Response:
I need my own Time Turner (don't we all) - so busy but wanted to say thanks for the review. Glad you felt the enjoyment of the trip was not OOC but also that she defaults to his wants is the balance.
This part with Meredith while fun to write made me feel a little bad for writing it about Kate Flannery- but glad it worked for you here. I did try to research what the old windows filmstrip photo displays looked like - couldn't find them. Hope at least some readers can remember them.
I have a lot of fun with Michael in this story. Randall too however, sorry to keep you waiting. Especially on a cliffhanger.
1 [Report This]Date: September 16, 2021 06:20 pm Title: Chapter 3. The Discovery
I’m enjoying this story so much! I love how she figured out when they were, and the attention to detail in that discovery. Re: Roy, it’s sort of fun to write him as an aggressive douchebag (I’m guilty of it for sure) but I agree with your take that it can’t be all that terrible. It’s hard to believe Pam would stay with Roy even as written. But then again, Pam is written in S2 as a person who *would* believably stay with him. So there has to be some good there, I would hope.
Very excited to see the changes they make (assuming you mess with the canon!) and also what’s going on with the camera crew…
Author's Response:
SO busy and so behind that I wish I had a Time Turner so a quick note of thanks - As I write I am kind of shocked at her staying with him too, in this story and on show but inertia is pretty powerful.