Reviewer: It Was Me Signed [Report This]
Date: September 06 2024 7:33 AM Title: Chapter 3: Growing Into The Role

In your response to my last review, you wondered if my dislike of certain characters was making the story less enjoyable. It's actually the opposite! To me, any character that can make me feel something, good or bad, is interesting, and it shows that I'm invested in them o e way or another.

I just wanted to clear that up.

As for this chapter, my first thought is that Charlie is really going to regret his actions later on. He's in a unique position from which he can see how Kim's personality is evolving (and in some ways, he has even helped shape it), and yet he keeps pushing her to be more extreme rather than trying to dial her back (even when Pete tells him to). He knows her so well, but he won't do a damn thing to stop what's coming, so convinced that he can handle her. His selfishness makes him a good ignorant villain, but the way he tries to convince himself that all of this is for Kim's  benefit makes him that much more hateable.

Kim was starting to have doubts, and he had a real chance to get her to be a little more considerate of her castmates and fight that need to dominate them. Instead, Charlie pushed her to lean into those feelings so that he could cling to her fir power. Deep down, he knows he can't control her anymore, but he refuses to accept it. All he really did was affirm Kim on this darker path she's going down.

But that part at the end of the scene when Kim puts him in his place was fantastic! I love how she transitioned from thanking him for "helping" her to letting him know that she isn’t going to be his puppet anymore. And the danger he felt from such a subtle gesture as she was explaining this to him was so well portrayed here.

Kim is also expanding who she uses her power to humiliate. Up until this chapter, it was mostly Thomas that she set out to embarrass, at least on purpose. Using her legs to trap Monica, though, was not only the hottest part of the chapter, but it marks the first time a sober Kim negatively went after a cast member other than Thomas so directly. I wonder if part of her reason for doing this to Monica is the shorter girl's attraction to feeling small, which Kim would have known about from last chapter. That makes this not entirely a dick move on Kim's part as Monica was right when she said, "It's complicated."

This makes me wonder if she's limiting her antics to people who she feels deserve it and people who she thinks are into it (although it sounds like Aaron is about to drop out of the latter category soon, if he hasn't already).

Pete continues to be terrible. Always passing the buck and expecting his production staff to clean things up. Also, I think his line, "Who approved that" for Kim's "new character" sums up reality TV better than anything else could.

Also, I love how Candace assumed Kim broke Cedric's leg just to get back at her. The paranoia has already begun! Even though it's so different from Growing Closer, I'm liking the darker vibe this story is starting to take.

The way Kim put Candace in her place just by standing up and teasing her a little was a fun scene, too.

I really, really like Valerie as a character. She's fun-loving and legitimately wants to help everyone. The way she tried to play peacemaker between Candace and Kim was so sweet, and her frustration at Kim was reserved enough to have her feel like Kim's closest friend without being a blind yes person.

But Kim's allure is too strong for Valerie. That little moment they shared at the end buokt some anticipation for me. We have to see Kim ravage her at some point! The way Valerie tried to pull away and Kim wouldn't let her, but Valerie didn't t really want to pull away anyway really drew me into the scene.

I'm loving the direction this is going, and I'm looking forward to what Kim gets up to next!