Trapped.

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

This is my least favorite arc of the whole series because it was really awful to imagine Kara locked up, helpless, driven to a suicide attempt in a deleted scene, even. Katee did wonderful work of course, but it just struck me as the worst kind of torture for her. Paradoxically, I know a lot of people love this arc. What's your take on it? Why do you love it, or hate it? What do you think about the deleted suicide attempt? Did it surprise you? Did you view it as a way--her only way--to take back control, to not let Leoben win? Or did you think she finally had been broken/given up hope? Any brave souls listen to the podcast? Do they explain why they cut it?

Comments

[deborah-judge.livejournal.com]

I didn't like this deleted scene when I first saw it, because I couldn't imagine Kara giving in to despair that completely. Then I used it in a fic (http://deborah-judge.livejournal.com/219909.html) and it ended up meaning something totally different: she was never trying to kill herself (she could've stopped the bleeding in time), just to test the limits of her imprisonment and Leoben's power, and she actually won this round by showing him that he could not ultimately keep her imprisoned against her will if she was willing to die to escape. The way Leoben acts after the suicide attempt is the most questioning and uncertain that we ever see him in the NC arc (or ever, really) so that makes me think that this was a moment when she really got through to him.

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

Yeah I've seen a few folks who like the theory that she's "winning" with this. Personally, I have a tough time seeing that in the scene. She looks so gutted and numb and broken. :( I don't see a hint of determination or triumph or even grim satisfaction on her face and Katee's pretty expressive. She just seems kind of out of it when he comes in and grabs her.

Leoben's characterization has always been pretty murky. It's not like he changed his ways at all after that scene, so I don't know... Maybe he was shaken, but it didn't really make a difference I guess. :(