Had a thought or two today and thought to share.
I like the Ian and Mina discussion, I think everyone has very valid points, and I especially liked the idea that Ian was passive-aggresively trying to get her to break up with him. I think this couldbe poor actual self-confidence from him (she's too good for me) and possibly as a way to try to push her to see how she will react. We already know he was pushing her buttons to spice up we can assume was what he thought a boring sex life based on his comments way back in the club when firrst meeting him. It would not be surprising, after being heavily involved in the mind-fuck of the club for 3+ years that he treats everything as a manipulation game to see what results he can get. Is he bored? Jaded? Sadistic? Horny? Maybe yes to all, but perhaps he thinks this is normal nor, much like the old "Friends" episode where the TV was stock on porn for weeks and Chandler and Joey started treating the rest of the world like it was a porn set-up.. lol..
The main thoughts I had today related to Victoria, namely why I kep coming back to her in this story and why her characterr quite frankly makes me as a player, nervous and slightly agitated. It finally hit me, while Edwin may be the heart of the story and the pivot around while everything else turns, Victoria is the
soul of the story and the contemplation of what her 'true' story may be and how it will impact this narrative is the thread that ties everything together.
Victoria and the mystery of her background, along with what Edwin knows (what movies has he seen that we have not?) about her, vs. what everyone else knows and what her experiences were and will be are the single thread that weaves the entire story together. I am sure some dispute that and say that Edwin's story is the single binding agent, but think of this; everything Edwin is or what he thinks he is, plans for the future, everything revolves around his thoughts of Victoria. Every single action he makes, every single person he interacts with, all are shaped from his experiences not just growing up but since he found those tapes.
I cannot imagine what that would have been like to find porn takes of your mom online, not only that, when your mom is arguably one of the best looking in the game at the time of making the films (girls next door for sure) and finding her videos at a time when puberty is raging and hormones out of control. What was his reaction? Was he ashamed? Aroused? Both? Was he afraid someone else would find out? How did finding that influence his relationshops and approach to sex? How did his perception of her change in that moment? Over the next day? Week? Month? Year? We know how he relates to those videos now, but what was his immediate reaction? If he was arounsed, was he later ashamed for it? Does he have lingering issues because of it?
None of this is to drive an incest related srotyline, but more to explore the psyche of how the actions of someone dear to you may have unknowingly shattered innocence and had a huge impact on another, even if they don't fully understand the consequences themselves. And not just in that initial and short term reaction, what will happen in the future, and will those circumstances strengthen, erode or completely implode and destroy the psyche of Edwin? Has everything been a lie? Will Edwin ever really know the truth of all his mom did and what she really thought about it?
I like Victoria as a characrter and while her overall 'screen time' is small it's monumental in impact and scope. I am not ashamed to say that I literally sat stunned as a player for a good 5-10 seconds when it was revealed that the woman in the initial pic you first see him watrching was his mom. A complete and utter "WTF just happened?" moment. The rest of the story loses the majority of it's weight without her and becomes "just another" corruption story, but it's that small little thing that makes me both nervous for what's to come and yet at the same time excited to learn more of her story and how it will impact/fit in to the narrative. It's a sign of good writing (or perhaps just a good twist) when an author can have someone both looking forward to, and dreading, the next tidbit revealed about a character because of what the ramifications could be...
Now speaking of tidbits, after all the disucssion the past few days, I had a thought about the scene that comes to mind for Edwin during the Rose scene.. Some have metioned they think it's a figment of imagination, coping mechanism, or legit movie. Those who state it's not reality point to Vic loking much different and no time stamp in the corner. There has been debate on how long she was in porn and what level of fame or success she had and how wel known she was (or not). With all that in mind this popped into my brain...
Most say that the scene during the Rose movie was a legit movie, or at least had the border but no time/date stamp and Vic was dressed much differently.. Well how about the idea that that was her first 'legit' porn movie with a decent studio, not just using a handi-cam, but sets, props, a real crew, equipment, etc? Perhaps that was the start of her "semi-pro" career? Hell it could (assuming August did know her or shoot her) be the first movie August shot with her as a star. The upgraded clothing and sets fit, as does her appearance being more 'refined', but she could have been 'role-playing' a MILF, basically just channeling herself as part of the role. I mean she IS a MILF, and what better way to hide in plain sight than shoot a movie role like that, but have it more of an upscale production. This would also fit in with how Edwin may have initially found her, if this was the start of her "better money" side of the porn business...
In any event, Victoria is the character I most, and least, want to know more about. It will be interesting to see where things go and honestly, depending on how her story plays out will greatly influence the overall story. Or maybe it won't and nothing much will ever be done with her; with no grand reveal, no real discussion with Edwin to know the truth, just more snippets of the past and leave us all up in the air guessing. Time will tell.