In the fifteenth chapter of Deadline, FINALLY. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Deadline.
Chapter Fifteen
There’s really only one significant thing that happens in this chapter, as I think the first half of chapter fifteen largely just deals with some worldbuilding. Of a shower. Okay, I swear, that sounds way worse than what actually happens! But it’s necessary to get Shaun in that distracted, serene state. Without it, I don’t think he would have responded as he did to Becks, or at least he wouldn’t have in the same way as he does here. She catches him off-guard, and it’s through this that he realizes he’s been chasing the dead for so long, he forgot to exist among the living.
There’s a lot to like here about Shaun and Becks having sex aside from the fact that FUCKING FINALLY. I’ve pointed out a few times that I was concerned about Shaun’s behavior and mental state, and I never once thought that he just needed to get laid. But even that simplifies what happens here. This is as much physical as it is spiritual. This is about two deeply lonely people recognizing just how alone they are in the world and changing that. Yes, it’s only for a brief moment in time, and I’m sure something is going to happen to mess everything up forever, but that doesn’t negate how significant this is. In this chapter, in this moment, these two people live among the living.
God. For the first time in longer than I could remember, the world felt like it was actually back the way that it was supposed to be.
And I don’t read this as Shaun living out some fantasy. I don’t think he’s denying the reality of the post-Rising world. He’s saying that sex with Becks reminded him what it meant to live instead of chasing ghosts and the dead. Because of that, I’d also like to disagree with myself. In the video for this chapter, I thought it was terribly awkward that Shaun said good night to George instead of Becks. Perhaps Becks will say something in the next chapter. I don’t know! It’s possible. But reading this a second time, I think it’s intentional that Shaun feels alive, and he bids his dead sister good night. In this scene, he’s able to move on without his sister. I’m sure it won’t last, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Georgia never speaks up during this.
Oh god, my heart. This is so great. Well, okay, not the whole CALLING BECKS GEORGE THING. But still! HOW WILL EVERYTHING GO TO HELL AFTER THIS? Come on, I am expecting it! It’s going to happen! I just don’t know how. What has this series (and Joss Whedon, let’s be real) done to me???
Part 1
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGTN3f9D-to]
Part 2
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGqZ_imuyLg]
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