The Bletchley Circle

[osprey_archer]

I am beginning to worry that Code Name Verity has ruined me for all other World War II related media. I couldn’t get into Bomb Girls at all (I know, what is wrong with me?) and while I liked The Bletchley Circle, it didn’t blow me away. And I wanted it to blow me away. It is a period piece! about women! solving crimes!!!, and therefore it is like they made it for me personally!

I did enjoy it, I just...I wanted it to blow me away. And it didn’t.

I thought it would have been better if...

Susan threw herself on the hand grenade at the end to save her friends. It’s not that I want Susan to die, but...the heroism! The honor! The self-sacrifice! It totally would have been a better ending.

And then of course the remaining members of the Bletchley Circle would then swear eternal vengeance to keep investigating murders in honor of Susan's memory.

It was even foreshadowed! Susan’s husband Timothy goes to a yearly dinner to honor a fellow from his battalion who threw himself on a grenade to save his buddies. Think of the beautiful resonance of Susan martyring herself in the same way...Timothy might understand that, even though the others couldn’t explain to him about Bletchley.

But maybe Code Name Verity has just primed me to want all World War II related narratives to end in tears.

Comments

[ladyherenya]

I know what you mean about feeling like anything WWII related can't end happily.

That said, I'm rather glad that Susan didn't die, if only because it means there could potentially be more stories about her.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Yes, as a character, I'm glad she didn't die, because she clearly is the driving force behind the Bletchley Circle solving mysteries. It just would have been so dramatic.

[surexit.livejournal.com]

I also feel like you've been warped by Lost Prince - this all sounds very Loristan-y to me. :D

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I think the Lost Prince played into an already-extant fascination with martyrdom. If you've got to die, you might as well go out serving your country or saving your friends or something, after all.

[surexit.livejournal.com]

Truesay. :D:D:D