The VS Hotel

Shackles, The Poisoned - 1.01

2008-06-18T15:11:00.001-05:00

I have to admit, for all the anticipation others built up waiting for this show, I built up none. When the pilot first came out, things didn’t really catch me enough to even finish reading it. What a mistake that was! I finally sat down to see what the hype was all about, and what I came to find out was the Shackles was the kind of story just waiting to be told at MZP. The mixing of this slightly supernatural drama, with a deeply troubled family angle is perfect.

Shackles is filled with large visuals that really stimulate all your senses, not just the visual. We have the clanking shackles, the painfully bleeding nails, the plants dying before our eyes. It’s all too much, but I love it. It is probably one of my favorite aspects of the premier.

The main character, Duncan, is an odd one. We learn very little about him in the premier, so I don’t really know what to think of him yet. He seems like this big lovable guy, but the fact that he has done something really horrible to put him in prison all those years is just a bit confusing. There are too many questions left open for Duncan at the end of this episode. I know this is a very serialized show, but I feel like the premier should have been a bit self contained, and this was not the case. I think that might have been the weakest point of the pilot. A way to remedy this, I think, would have been to make this more about Duncan’s immediate transition. He is pushed into this mission with little explanation, and the one he was given was a load of bull, in my honest opinion. I’m sure we will learn more later on, but for a pilot I would have just like to see a bit of a ‘full story’.

For that reason I think the better part of this episode was the first half. Everything was moving at a good pace, setting up a great story, and then what I thought would lead to some sort of closing just brought on more set up.

All that said, I did thoroughly enjoy Matilda. Brilliant character that you’d like to think is more than meets the eye. The character of Epoch is also really well written. He is young when we go into his past, but he seems wise, kind, and oddly alluring.

The ‘Team’ you’ve set up is well put together. You have much of the family working together, which will make balancing the storylines of Duncan’s two different mission a bit easier, but messier. Good drama, if you ask me.

Overall, great start to the series. It left a lot of questions open, but I’m sure all of this will be handled later on. I’ve already read the next two episodes so I more or less know the answer to that. Look out for those reviews later.

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Bring on the Snaz!

2008-06-13T16:27:00.005-05:00

So the red on black got old quick. It was kind of dull. Hopefully this bright new layout will inspire me to read, review, and post more around here. I was pretty much gone form the 'scene' the entire semester. I've been back for a while but have only managed to read about two or three scripts, none of which I gave an 'official' VS Hotel review, but just tidbits. I just finished reading the Shackles opener, so hopefully I can write a nice little review and post it here to make this place seem a little more alive.

One thing that I will be aiming on is focusing on the newer series. I think it's a bit daunting for me to go into a series, like DSR, and see that there is so much to read ahead of me. It's a great show, but that puts me off a bit. I think I get more enthused when I know that I am caught up, or almost, which is why I was able to follow G&C this past season. So for the newer shows, I'm gonna try and follow Shackles, as the opener was goooo00od, and Daredevil, because, well, it's Daredevil. Hopefully I also get of my lazy ass and read a bit of DSR or theCompany.

Also, I want to widen this blog to more than just VS happenings. Just for the heck of it I guess.

...and my counter isn't working. Damn thing!

Spider-Man: Gifts & Curses, Lockdown - 1.13

2008-01-25T01:25:00.000-06:00

This is my second review for this episode. I lost the first one if the black hole that is my laptop’s hard drive. Still, I really wanted to put one out, seeing as the episode was pure brilliance. I have to admit that that reading this was more than reading a season finale. It’s the first show I’ve followed on MZP, and the first show I finish a complete season of. So tear-inducing I know! Okay, on to the review…

What an intense episode. After the action-less episode that was 1.11, which I proudly wrote, by the way, this episode lived up to my own personal hype for it. It managed to move things into a new direction, for what will surely be a superior second season. There were so many storylines opened up for the second season, where to begin?

Gwen. Gwen, oh, cute and sassy Gwen, what have you done? I never expected things to go down like they did. At first, it looks like she was going to run to Eddie’s arms, but no. Jay wouldn’t make it that easy would it. Not in a season finale. The fact that Gwen running off with her mother has MISTAKE written all over it, really tells of Gwen’s own destructive personality. I think we’ve learned a lot about her true character this season, and the fact that she’s the wild one in the gang doesn’t even begin to explain it. I feel so horrible for Eddie. I sense either a big depression, or a big façade of it not fazing him come next season. Speaking from a fan’s perspective, it makes me really angry that she would do that to the people who really care about her. The Marshalls are pretty damn perfect, after all. Jay, you definitely blew it out of the park with how all of this plot’s scenes were written. It might have been my favorite part of the episode, until the ending, of course.

The ending was OMG!?!?!WTF?!?!SQUEEL! Not only does *SPOILER* Mary Jane find out who Peter is, but she is – presumably – shot in the head. Of course, it is Mary Jane, and I refuse to believe this is as far as the character will go, but it was still such a shocking moment. It was the perfect ending to the season. The rest of this plot, however, wasn’t all that eventful. I would have liked a few more twists and turns until they found Mary Jane. That bit seemed a bit too easy. I am excited to see what goes down with Fisk and Osborn next season. Which, btw, what happened to Fisk? He ran, I presume.

The only real problem I found, and it really isn’t a problem, is that I would have liked to have seen some scenes where Peter really doubts his abilities for losing MJ and not being able to find her. I felt that, being a season finale, there should have been some minor plot about Peter/Spider-Man reaching a new level of self understanding or something like that. I don’t know, maybe I’m babbling. – Side Note – I loved when Peter’s mask was removed and Pete jumped into action. It really showed how Spider-Man and Pete really are two characters.

In all, it was a very satisfying season finale which really amps up excitement for the show’s return in September. It opens up some already juicy details to be explained next season, which will give the series plenty of fuel to continue.

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The Company, Connect - 1.01

2008-01-08T08:42:00.000-06:00

People warned me of getting addicted. I tried to hold out as much as a could, but yesterday, I finally took the plunge. Many people say that the premier of The Company is one of the best pilots ever featured on MZP. Did it live up to all of the hype? Aside from one minor detail, I would say it did.

The first thing I feel I must comment is the extremely witty dialogue. I’m not the type of reader who sits down and takes an episode in on one sitting. I am more of a read, break, read type of guy. Very few series have done it for me. This pilot was one of them. The dialogue was what absolutely kept everything going. There is a perfect balance of action and dialogue, and even in mundane or normal situations, the dialogue was always just witty enough to keep things moving at a steady pace without being overly fake. It’s a hard combination.

I knew Vi was going to die. I’ve heard enough about this show to know that it happens, but I was so immersed in the first two acts that when it finally came, I was actually surprised. Mad props for having the fall, then the shooting. It was brilliant for those who, like me, knew her death was imminent.

There characters were also brilliant. There is not one I can find any gripes in. Vi, is absolutely perfect, with her mix of insecurity, knowing inferiority, quirkiness, and the tad dash of heroism. She really is a unique character. Her father being crazy was also pretty amazing to see. “New job?” “He went crazy.” I have to go back to the dialogue, because it was just that great. Which brings me to the awesome lines of Andrew. He really made what would have been a rather confusing and dark situation at The Company, such a memorable and hilarious time. He has to be my favorite so far.

The character dynamics are also pretty top grade. The Morgan family, with Penny being this heartless bitch, reminds me of an actual family I know. Bianca vs. Vi + Shane was also great to see develop. It reminded me a bit of Cordelia reaching out for Buffy at first. Then you have Andrew and Jenna, and their very different view of their jobs. All of this gives you plenty of further character development and relationship struggles. It’s genius.

I think the only place it fell a tad bit short was in the explanation of The Company. I got the gist of what it’s about, but I feel like the scenes after Vi’s death were all a bit rushed. Maybe it was intended, as Vi signed without fully understanding, so it seems fitting that the same happens to the readers, but I feel the same feeling of rushed anxiety and glooming doom, not so much the latter, could have been achieved and still had The Company explained more. It The Company is essential what the series will revolve around, or rather Vi’s involvement with it, then more explanation of what was to come should have been presented. Or maybe it was and I am too much of an idiot to really get it.

Overall, the last bit can be overlook by what was some of the best character presentation, dialogue, and fast paced writing I have seen. It seems like, me, like the rest, has been hooked with just one episode in the bag. Mad, MAD, props.

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Spider-Man: Gifts & Curses, 1.11 - Memories

2008-01-04T20:32:00.000-06:00

This show will be the first show which I’ve followed since the beginning, so to watch the season come to a close is a little bitter sweet, especially since I already know what happens in the next episode – I wrote it. That said, this was one of the simpler episode. Although it wasn’t really shorter than any other, it did feel quick. It’s one of those episodes that would seriously have me tuning in five minutes before the next one started, just to prepare myself.

The entire ordeal with Fisk definitely shined in this episode, with everything else being calm. Not dull, but calm. I think it was a wise move, as it allowed us to really focus on what happened with Robbie and Craig. And you just know it’s going to be what build up to what will surely be an awesome finale. One thing that did bug me a bit was how Fisk didn’t find the ear piece. I mean, he ripped off Craig’s shirt to look for a wire, yet he didn’t check for a wireless receiver in the ear? But I can let it pass, because them getting away with the information was needed, and they got caught anyway.

One thing that I especially found entertaining was how real the dialogue felt. Maybe it’s because I just came out of writing for this show, and being the novice writer that I am, I have difficulty with dialogue. I don’t know, but I loved the scenes with MJ, Gwen, and Eddie. It all felt extremely real.

Now, the Peter interview. This is one of those things that is going to be a hit or miss in VS. On television, I can say that without a doubt, I would have loved this episode entirely for the interview and flashbacks, but on a virtual series, I think you have to be a lot more careful on what scenes you pick. They have to be bright, vivid scenes that a person can really picture because you do not have the camera and the actor relaying the feel. They were good scenes, and I thought Peter’s characterization was spot-on, but the scenes themselves fell a little flat. Still, I did enjoy them.

One last thing. I really hope that Strange makes a second, third, 4564^th appearance. From what I’ve read of him in comics and what I saw of him on the Spider-Man cartoon, he is one hell of a character. This episode did a great job of introducing him, given he didn't have a big part. Jay is to too great of a showrunner to let a character like this go, so I am sure he will be back.

So overall, the may not have been the best in the season, but it was still extremely enjoyable, as has been the entire season. The next episode, just skip over, as it’s my first one and will probably be horrible, but then tune in to the finale which will surely be great. And if you’ve yet to read this series, I can already tell you you’re missing out on a lot.

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The DSR, Demons - 1.03

2007-12-30T04:02:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I forgot to pay the hotel’s electric bill and it was cut off. Not really, but it does seem like I’ve been gone for a month or so. I did read three G&C episodes in that time, but didn’t review anything. I guess the holidays just make me lazy. Good thing they are almost over. Okay, so I’m back to DSR. I’m afraid my memory on what happened in episode two was a little hazy, so good thing I have my own reviews. That being said, this series is just getting better and better. This episode was brilliant start to finish. Not to mention that this episode fully cemented Ethan as my favorite character.

Teaser: I think this helps me explain how much I liked the teaser of this episode - Mind Control = Coolest supernatural ability 4evah!1!!!11!! I know it’s only the third episode, but it’s my favorite opening so far. It’s obvious this will be an Ethan episode. Coolness.

Ethan: I felt so sorry for him throughout the entire episode. I did think that him going out to save his friend without first going to Kendall was a bit odd, and not anyway like how I was visualizing the character, but I looked past it. You did it last episode, and now you did it again. Just built up little mysterious to the character. I love that.

Baddie: Falen is gone. I really thought this was one of this characters, like the one in 1.02, that you would keep around, but I suppose he is just too powerful. Like I said before, I loved the ability he had. The fact that you choose to couple him with Ethan was brilliant – the most uptight characters losing his mind.

Jai VS Ethan: I hope Ethan wins!!! Honestly, though, I am really enjoying how the storyline is developing. The fact that Jai doesn’t trust Ethan, leads me to believe that he will one day be proved right. I don’t get the feeling that their rivalry will ever change. At first, I thought this was going to be a mild rivalry where there would be a lot of brooding looks and inner-office mischief, but I can this is something way bigger. Jai is the leader and lead, so if something does happen, I expect it will be on Ethan’s part. He does have that Carson partnership from last episode, which seemed to have disappeared in this one. It’s understandable though, which so much going on.

Overall, this episode was perfection from start to finish. One thing I think you did last episode, that you failed to do so in this one, was develop other stories outside of the main one. Apart from Carson’s little mystery, everything was Ethan focused. Not a complaint really, as I enjoyed this episode more than the last, but I’m still wondering about Mia, the Ahnenerbe, and the explanation on Kendall’s blind trust! Don’t think I forgot about that lost one! Although, props on turning it off for this one.

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Is that you, Real World?

2007-11-27T18:37:00.000-06:00

This has nothing to do with virtual series, writing, or anything else remotely related. But you're already here, so might as well read it.

I think I had the best Thanksgiving I have ever had. The weird thing is, it wasn't with family. My mother and siblings went out of town, country actually, and I was alone. I could have gone to my aunt's, but instead decided to call up a friend and invite myself over. Basically, the three day party started Wednesday night. Let's see... drunk on Wednesday, drunk on Thursday, drunk on Friday. I had an emergency at work on Saturday so went there for a while, then spent the rest of the day asleep. Ah, the good life. I also met my friend's cousin, who I flirted shamelessly with all three days. Too bad she lives far, far, away and is taken. Still, twas fun.

So, needless to say, I've been AFMZP (away from MZP), for almost a week now. Need to get back to it. Happened to read a G&C episode, so I should have a review up later today, or tomorrow if I combine it with the next one I am about to read.

The DSR, Adjustments and Maneuvers - 1.02

2007-11-21T14:57:00.000-06:00

So much for easing the reader in to the show’s mythos. For the second episode of The DSR we are introduced to vampires and werewolves, or in the show’s case Lupans – makes me think of Lupin from Harry Potter. Overall, I think this episode was a great follow up to the premier. It didn’t confuse us with a lot more questions to the overarching plot of the Ahnenerbe, but rather focused on developing inter-DSR relationships and establishing some characters. Now onto the tidbits.

Teaser: It couldn’t have been more perfect to start the show in a ‘flashy’ scene with some actions going on. Seeing as how the action for this episode was a lot less than in the last, it was a good way to get the audience hooked. Otherwise, opening with the debriefing would have just been a bore. One nit-pick, and it’s probably been addressed by someone way back when this episode premiered, but casinos are not allowed in Texas. Gambling is illegal.

Jai & Kendall: Why the blinding trust? WHY!? I can’t completely believe that Jai will ever be this great leader until I understand where Kendall is coming from. I hope it’s revealed soon. Jai did show signs of becoming the leader, so I’m pretty sure he’s capable of it. You wouldn’t have put him there had you not intended to actually make him a good leader. Unless the plot is to watch him fail miserably, which I doubt it is. Still, even if Jai shapes up, I’m still going to be wondering why Kendall trusted that he would in the first place. That being said, these two are not my favorite characters right now.

Episode Plot: It was a great plot. It’s been established in other mediums that vamps and ‘lupans’ are enemies, so it wasn’t hard for me to understand that they were he as well. Reinhardt was a great character to introduced. He’s a friendly foe, who isn’t really black or white. You can never go wrong with a character like that. Also, linking this to the Ahnenerbe makes it that much more of a mystery. The fact that the Nazi-crazies are involved with vamps make it all much more interesting. I would have liked to see more interaction between the vamps and the werewolves, and maybe more backstory to the anatomy of the creatures.

Character Establishment: We all know what’s going on with Jai. Then there is something with Kendall, trusting Jai so blindly. Ethan is the antagonistic teammate, and is now joined by Carson. Mia has this mysterious past with Reinhardt, which I am dying for more information on. So overall, great start at getting the characters to evolve and become more 3-dimensional. Next is Sarah and Anton, right? Hope so.

Ethan: He was one of the things I most liked in the primer, and now I’m getting some asswh@le vibe from him. Shooting Jai because he’s gone rogue? It’s one thing to be this jealous-type who doesn’t want Jai there, but to try and take him out for some personal feelings, that’s just annoying. Which leads me to his partnership with Carson. If they plan to make him leave, or get him fired, then I am all for seeing that develop, but if they are somehow going to take him out with something more aggressive, then Ethan will officially suck.

In conclusion, great start to the series. I say start, because the second episode is what really sets the tone for a lot of the things that will follow. This episode was a lot less action-packed than the premier, but it was just as entertaining. In fact, I think I even enjoyed it a bit more. I just hope Kendall reveals why he has trusted Jai so much. It’s the only major thing I can’t get past.

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Avery Strange, Strange Days - 1.01

2007-11-17T18:03:00.000-06:00

It’s really all very simple. I think that’s what sums up this pilot. I haven’t read a lot of VS, but comparing this to everything else, it’s the most simple story I have read. No, it’s not a bad thing. Simple means entertainment. Simple means fun. I usually take breaks when reading a script. A little intermission in between act breaks, or even random scenes, sometimes. I didn’t do that with this one. It was that easy to read. There were a few errors, but most had been taking care of. One big one, that made me laugh, actually, was:

“Reese: The meter in 5 and ¾ minutes. That’s got to be some kind of record.”

I really think a turtle could walk a meter in in less than five minutes. I guess Guy – Can I call you Guy? – meant mile. But whatever, it made me laugh. Now on to the the review sections.

Avery: Sarcasm and snark are king. When used at the right moments, it will make your character shine and shine, and that much more fun to read. That being said, I really liked the lead. He seems to be in control of his own life, and extremely self-reliant/independent. It’s a perfect set-up to get him into trouble, which I think will be the case in a lot of the plots. The first two tragedies means that he also comes with some darkness and baggage. So overall, a well rounded character. Then again, he seems to have put both tragedies behind him by the end of the pilot. Let’s hope not.

Avery and Jane: They have great chemistry throughout the script. Every scene they were together had me pretty much smiling, even laughing at times. The only thing that got to me was how quickly they made up. It seemed a little forced that they would just pick things up after both, but mostly Jane, were so bitter. Plus, how much of a coincidence is it that Jane had a sister who was killed by a monster-dog? But once I got passed that, it was smooth sailing. Them, together, was the highlight of the script.

Overall Plot: One thing that worries is me, is that this series is will have to much stand alone issues. For a VS, I feel that arcs are much more important. Also, the ending of the episode didn’t really leave me panting for more. It was a good story, and any questions raised where quickly answered in flashback, but it seemed too closed at the end. So I guess it was a good quick fix to put the last scene in. Still, I wish you would have left some things open.

Supporting Characters: They can be a bitch, at least for me. I felt like there wasn’t enough to them. Aside from Jane, who got good script time (my version of screen time), I felt that everyone else was sort of just bland. A good scene showing more to Dad or Reese would have been good.

Supernatural Plot: I’m a little on-the-fence on how much I liked it. I think it was a good idea to make it a quick fix because you had to introduce other things. Still, how does Avery get this vision from the cup ala Phoebe Halliwell? Then, how does he automatically know that Mr. Lawson is the older kid? Sure, it doesn’t take a PI to figure it out, but it just seemed like you were trying to get it over with.

Avery Mars: I kept reading that this reminded them people of Veronica Mars with a supernatural angle. Well, I’ve never seen V. Mars (hides), but this show actually made me want to go and watch. So good job on that.

So in all, I really enjoyed this script. It was a story that I could easily follow and didn’t find myself wondering so many questions. Some mistakes and a bit of contrivance, but I’ll overlook it. Seems like a good time to get staffed on another show! I hope this gets picked up.

Your First Break

2007-11-16T08:47:00.000-06:00

It's soon to be a month since I started my Staff Writer gig for Daredevil. It still sounds amazing as I read that. Just the fact that I am doing something that somewhat mimics what I want to do in the real world is amazing. I remember writing those three quick scenes that I sent to Ian to try and get on the show. They were probably horrible; I'm to scared to look. Still, Ian took a chance on me, and there I was. Signing up at MZP Backstage and getting access. It all felt a bit surreal. I know it sounds cheesy, but it was an exciting moment in my otherwise mundane life.

If you're that person, trying to get your ideas out and wanting to have your own show, you really should try to get on another show before you do anything. The admins at MZP know what they are talking about. It's not that they don't think you can handle running a show without experience, they know. Just in this first month I have learned so much about how the behind-the-scenes works at MZP and in virtual-series-world. Thinking that you can go in, plop down a pilot, and be picked up is ludicrous. Writing is one thing; you may have that down, but knowing how to structure the series, seeing what will work, getting those people on your staff motivated, outlining, storyboarding, and casting. It is all very daunting and a lot of work.

That being said, I thank Ian for taking me on. Working on my first episode has been quiet an experience. When you are writing for your own ideas, its so much easier as you have things visualized in your head. Writing from a storyboard can be difficult, at least for me it is. I have to put myself in Ian's spot. What is he seeing here, where does he want me to take this. Needless to say, the first two acts took me a long, long, time to write. I was very nervous about the entire writing process and if I was going in a direction that was intended. Once he previews the first two acts, gave me a thumbs up, working on the last two has been a lot less stressful.

Maybe I sound like a nerd, a wierdo, when talking about all this as if I'm making it in Hollywood, but for a guy who was scared the first time around at MZP, I kind of am.

The DSR, Welcome to the Black Hole - 1.01

2007-11-15T15:35:00.000-06:00

Before I get to any actual reviewing, let me just say that I came to DSR with some skepticism. Not on Tony’s part, but on mine. I had eyeballed the series for some time, as I have most other MZP staples, and was hesitant to read because my mind is virgin to any Alias material, except for one episode I caught randomly. Once I read this, I think I found it to be more of a blessing. If there were any things that were similar to Alias, they they were novelty to me. Another thing that probably helped in how much I liked this episode, and man did I like it, was the fact that I am also not a Lost watcher. I knew both Jai and Kendall were portrayed by Lost actors, but I had no notions of what the characters in said show were like. I had nothing to compare them to.

One more thing, I tend to review in a random way. I go with certain things I found important and just explain how I feel about it. I don’t feel I have much knowledge to make a cleverly outlineD review that talks about structure, pace, and whatnot.

Teaser: There possibly couldn’t have been a better start. The teaser perfectly gives Jai his motive. There is no time wasted in establishing a connection with the three characters, they are already family. It’s a great choice, as opposed to two random mercenary partners. We know that this guy is a thief, but we also know he’s destined for some form of greatness, and the teasers sets him on the path.

Jai: I am not sold on Jai as being this great leader. To me, he shows the qualities of a great fighter, an asset to the team, but his hatred for Glissman and wanting revenge gets the best of his, and that’s not good. I guess Ethan would agree with me. Why does Kendell trust him so much? Does he know something that we don’t? Kendell goes on about how Jai’s experience in covert ops and stealth will help the team, yet we don’t get to see any of it. I think it would have helped me accept Jai as a capable leader if we had seen Jai planning the invasions, or giving Mia or Anton some pointers. I’m sure he will end up being a great leader, but I’m just not sold at this point.

Nazi-Love: No, I don’t love Nazis, but I am extremely impressed with Glissman, his Blonde Men, and the entire mystery. The fact that it is based in something real, just makes it more real. Redundant, but it’s true. Just why was Connor kept for so long? What is the energy transfer all about? This ‘arc’ has some great beginnings. Also, it does help that Glissman’s minions were named Blonde Men. I mean, they are Nazis, so it’s a given that they are all Aryan-like and what not, but just the fact that you named them Blonde Men is amusing.

Ethan: He’s supposed to come off as this by-the-book, annoying pratt, but I really liked him. All the points he brought up were valid. If I were in his position, I would react entirely the same. I just really hope he doesn’t keep singing the exact same bitter-tune for the entire show, falling into that on-the-team enemy stereotype.

Overall, I enjoyed the episode very much. Actions shows are not something a readily watch, or read, so it was a nice change of pace. The exposition was heavy early on, so I found myself confused a bit. Yeah, too much exposition seems to turn my brain off. Once we got passed that, though, it was smooth sailing. The last showdown with Glissman has me saying, “I saw this coming,” but the fact that Connor was found and the magic aspect kept it interesting. I’ll be tuning in for the next episode.

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Checking In...

2007-11-13T20:40:00.000-06:00

I did it. I looked into my inner most desire and realized that it was to create my very own blog. To take bloggers across the nation, the galaxy, the universe, by storm and become the best blogger that ever was. *Pokemon Theme Song Begins to Play* - I want to be the very best, that no one ever was...

Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a bit. I found the link of Oddjob Reviews while in the Eternity section of MZP and thought, "Hey, I can do that." So minutes later, literally, I am writing this entry. But reviews is not all you will get here. Reviews could just as easily be posted in the appropriate threads at MZP. No, I will provide more! Yeah, I know, I am so full of myself but just play along. I have a sensitive ego. In addition to reviews, I hope to provide others my insight, however uninsightful it may be, on the working of MZP from a relatively new member's perspective. I joined the virtual series world that is MZP in December of last year, but as a small fish in a big pond, I was worried the other, bigger, more talented fishies would eat me. God knows I am against cannibalism. So the daunting fear that I wouldn't survive pushed me into a hermit like state of being. Not really, but I did flee MZP like a little gay boy fleeing from a vagina, political correctness aside.

- Side Note: If I offend you, please don't be offended. Its involuntary word vomit that I am to lazy to correct.

Sometime later, September or October of this year, an urge to return to the place that had scared me oh so much came upon me. It made me miss the days I spent staring at the main forum, not exactly sure where to click. Not just that, but my friend Harry was making some progress with his series - The Family Spell - and I thought I could hijack it and ride into fame and glory without lifting a finger. In all seriousness, this time felt a lot different. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't written anything in so long, I'm not sure what. Oh, I forgot to mention I had totally bailed on a graphics gig the nice people at BVC had given me. So I started by returning to that, embarrassed that I hadn't finished any artwork. Then, I pushed any thoughts I had about not being good enough aside and just started to post around. I found the people to be genuinely nice and entertaining, yes like puppies. Since then, I've really enjoyed my time, and am getting more and more involved, but I'll save that for a later time.

So if you're new to the Virtual Series world, and not sure how to start, don't flee, just stick around and get to know some people.