Beauty and the Beast, starring Hamilton and Perlman, is an important, indeed revealing tale of many, many truths.
Have you ever thought to yourself, 'There is something, terribly wrong with this world' and wondered what could be done?
Vincent and Catherine are phenomenal characters and the whole series, upon first viewing this show over the last two weeks, appears to revolve around the love of these two characters.
Look...Deeper!
Perhaps most women, and some 'civilized' men, can appreciate the quality of this T.V. series for what it actually does. It challenges and educates about gender roles, allowing for a woman to show strength and to be confident in her femininity, yet resilient and capable, even in violent scenes. In one artful sweep this series allows for her to co-exist, interdependently – successfully, with an empathic, physically powerful but conscionable masculine force. This show challenges the legitimacy of our current societal state (particularly in the U.S. and somewhat in Canada), showing the audience that another world is possible. We are left aware rather than ignorant of the issues that still pervade our world. We are not all Gabriels in this world, nor are we all Vincents. But we were all newborns, once upon a time; once, we all were the unlimited possibilities and hopes of those before us and of our own futures. By looking deeper at those sub-plots of corruption, and how 'the love of money is the root of all evil', juxtaposed against the respect, compassion and yes, EMPATHY, that Vincent represents, we are jarred into awareness. You may think me a socialist! Nay, I am but one person who can see the value of having my needs met, but not at the expense of other's needs. A simple life in the tunnels is appealing, over the insanity of a world where "fear" rules us all (S1E2); fear of terrorist attacks (that may or may not be backed by corrupt government (also featured in S2&S3 - E. Birch sub-plot)), and the tragic, (and sadly condoned or ignored by so many, too many), inexcusable failings of our societal institutional structures. We would demand our right to bear arms (despite the reality that such weapons lead to death – as Father would likely agree) over the right to life and medical care of each person. Some would make the death of a foetus more reprehensible than the total general lack of care for our fellow human-beings once they are born. Pardon me for emphasizing the principles Vincent's world seems to exist by, that each person, poor, weak, ill, strong, wealthy, of all walks of life, each feels loves, bleeds, hates, can rise or fall, has fears and dreams. As we are, we are all alone. Vincent's world represents an alternative to being alone, where even a beast of inhuman characteristics can be treated as an equal, and loved as a son, a brother, a friend...a human being. LOVE is not 'sappy'. But violence and brutality beget more violence and brutality. This series shows this truth.
I am researching all Beauty and the Beast tales published to date for my own series of stories/screen-plays and I discovered this show mere weeks ago. Initially, by the end of my first viewing of the whole series, I hated - a strong word for me - how season three started and most of its storyline. It ruined all of my hopes and dreams for a world that is possible, (perhaps not Beauty and her Beast, though, by my own admission this is my reality, too, in a way) the dreams of a world of respect, appreciation, equality and acceptance. I actually wept and felt anger and an absolute feeling of denial for days, a testament to writers and the strength of their characters. Catherine's demise was anti-climactic, and hateful. But when one considers reality, as it is, S3 was beautiful, painful, poignant, and taught us many truths, for it captured the lack of "Heart" in our modern neoliberal world, a world that is ruled by a select few (Gabriels) who would destroy, and do destroy, thousands of Catherine Chandlers all over the world, every day. By the end of my second viewing of this series, I can now see that it was a brave and challenging way to conclude a story that did - and does - reach so many. I still find S3 to be disastrous to this series, but, I have hopes that a new series will be produced, soon, one that will take this original series and build upon lessons learned; start afresh with new, yet similar characters, and delve deeper. The time is ripe - the people desire a revitalized story that represents the now, while showing a world that we may be going towards, one that echoes back to Catherine and Vincent's world. A new take, made in a modern context and which would be more accommodating of the modern needs of those who seek more action, visual effects, and heightened levels of sexual tension. We want to see another world and maybe, learn how we can make our own possible. In part this is what I am doing, or hoping to work on, one day. We need stories like B&tB in order to remember what is important.
Truth, Compassion, Empathy, Equality, and Love, – Hope.
