Whitechapel - CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T08:07:28-07:00

It's Thursday, it's mid-afternoon in London, it's another wrongheaded morning in Mericky, it's who-the-fuck-knows-when in Australia, and it's time for more Crossed Hideosity.

Episode 11, live and free-to-air.

Remember: Not safe for work, not safe for minors, not safe for people of a nervous disposition, not safe for beachcombers, not safe for Lord Leveson, not safe for USB attachments.

WOTCHOOFINK.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T08:30:23-07:00

...is it me or does that spike in the last cell seem ominously placed?

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T08:30:51-07:00

Well, I hope he makes it back alive and uninfected but seems pretty unlikely. I was sop tense reading this chapter think I need a nice cup of tea. (And why do I think there is something iffy about the lottery, like its going to be used to get rid of 'trouble makers'. I'm betting that Shaky is going to regret being a lucky, lucky cunt when he scoops the jackpot).

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T09:31:28-07:00

@ No Fear

Well, sure Shaky's going to end up going, otherwise we probably wouldn't see the sortie since he's the viewpoint character. I sense some iffiness about the lottery as well. However, even if I didn't, it still seems like a pretty stupid way to pick people. If you're going to send a small group into hostile territory, you're going to want to make sure that the members of that group fall into some golden triangle of willingness to go, caution about going and competence while going.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T09:31:43-07:00

So, it's quite possible that the islanders are about to have to face a trained soldier, plusfaced, right outside their defences. Shiiiit.

That last panel is wonderfully composed. Looking forward to seeing it in print.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T09:43:01-07:00

There is something sinister about the lottery approach, yeah. But I guess a random selection ensures you're less likely to end up with your most capable people coming back to the island as Crossed. Shit, just had a thought. Could the 'canny' Crossed that have been alluded to be the remnants of just such a sortie? I do wonder what the islanders aren't being told by their leaders.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T10:08:52-07:00

I will get the 'trade paperback' when it comes out, hopefully there will be some extras, maybe an interview with the creative team.
If I remember right (and I am old so the old grey cells are dying at an alarming rate) its been about a year for Shaky since London, he wasnt one of the first arrivals on the island so there may have been some sortie prior to that. There are probably secrets to be told but I dont get the feeling that there has been much venturing off the island.
How far is the island from the nearest town/city anyway? I was just thinking about the booby trapped cow from a few issues back, seemed a pretty random thing to put a cow on a boat without expecting someone to come across it. So, do the crossed know there are survivors in the area or was it just a random act of complete bastardy? Also, has the fire/light Shaky saw one night originate from friend or foe?

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T11:57:36-07:00

Still going strong. Great stuff.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T14:02:17-07:00

Love the reverse 'Somme' motif - the crossed advancing towards a barbed wire frontline - very 'British'. I think John is a gonner unless he can remember where the gap in the wire is.

@ No Fear

Check out a map of the Orkneys.

Nearest village is Lyness on the isle of Hoy & after that Kirkwall on the main Island. Cava is about 15 miles from the mainland.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T15:07:39-07:00

This episode is such a tease but that's not necessarily a bad thing....

My whole take on this whole sortie business is that the council doesn't want to take volunteers because they are afraid some won't comeback or something along that lines
maybe something happened during the last sortie and that's why there using the lottery system, I may be over thinking it but I guess we will see! (can't wait!!!)

and I bet/hope the guy at the end dies surprised he lasted this long after the outbreak he's a bit slow :P

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T16:34:21-07:00

"I think John is a gonner unless he can remember where the gap in the wire is."

Not to sound like a smart-arse internet fuck but John's best - probably only - chance of survival is to turn and run parallel to the wire leading the Crossed in a row across where his friends are waiting with their guns.

As far as the sortie goes and the mystery: this is Crossed. People's plans usually amount to nothing. It's quite possible that the sortie never happens, the island is overrun and Shakie dies never knowing what the story is about the fire.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-14T23:20:10-07:00

Yeah, and just like real life there are not always answers/resolutions to everything so the scenario is possible. The fire might not be solved but the sortie plot thread is too much of a biggie to not do imo. Interesting you mention Shaky dying as I was thinking that very same thing this morning. I reached no conclusions though :-(
and thanks to stanandcindy for the info about the mainland etc.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-15T08:35:59-07:00

It was a matter of time, and now comes the joy of running, screaming, and trying not to cross over.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-15T10:09:24-07:00

I said before that this wasn't really my cup of tea, and it isn't particularly. But I've been reading anyway because I felt left out.

I basically just want to second what John Jones said. He's the viewpoint character, so he's got to go. But that's really the only reason I can think of as to why the lottery method's being used, and it doesn't have to do with the characters or logic at all. I'm sure there's some reason, but I can't for the life of me wrap my head around why they wouldn't use volunteers.

Also, my theory is that Shaky has some kind of immunity to the Crossed virus. That's been what I've figured since the episode where he was shown walking barefoot through London after the virus spread. So my guess is everyone else on the sortie is gonna die but him.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-15T12:20:19-07:00

I was wondering about his bare footedness too but just accepted he had no cuts etc on his feet. I raised the question of immunity on another thread and Si said that was an interesting question, which leads me to believe there is something along those lines developing.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-15T17:33:17-07:00

And if Shakie is immune, could still carry the virus (if it is a virus) and infect others?

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-15T23:57:33-07:00

Hahahahahahahahaha.

Sorry.

One of the many questions in this thread will be answered - ish - next week.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-16T01:21:36-07:00

Oh dear lord, Warren used to cackle just like that on the weekly FreakAngels thread. *shudder*

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-16T02:33:51-07:00

The wait till next week just seems longer then usual now. Thanks Simon for making the anticipation even more intense!!!

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-16T06:45:27-07:00

Will we be running into any "crossed" variants. Like ones who are just unmotivated and disaffected with the rash of a single horizontal line across the middle of the face? Or perhaps others with two diagonal lines in addition to the crossed mark that have an airborne version of the virus? Or even others with a single diagonal mark running from top right to bottom left that exclusively attack other crossed?

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-16T13:24:05-07:00

Nnnno.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-16T15:54:09-07:00

Aw, too bad. I was hoping other mathematical operations could get their day in the Crossed-verse in the form of "minusfaces", "multiplierfaces" and "divisionfaces."

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-17T16:36:14-07:00

Integral faces?

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-18T03:24:31-07:00

I wonder if you can be infected but not show the crossed sign?

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-18T12:01:18-07:00

Greater-than and less-thanfaces? Greater-than-or-equal-tofaces?

Alright, I'll stop now.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-18T16:24:02-07:00

Pi-faces. Oh go on, it was just sitting right there.

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-21T12:47:56-07:00

I know I'm coming to this thread a bit late, but did anyone notice Sonsha's dad when she's kissing John? Just look at that face. It looks like he's going to sprout a Cross right then and there through sheer force of will!

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-21T13:41:56-07:00

(Roshan)

CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE -- Episode 11

2012-06-21T14:57:21-07:00

I have to admit the first time I read "plus faces" I misread it as "pus-faces".