What a truly awesome collection of pictures! I thought I was all ready to vote.....and now you've gone and distracted me with these, domino! How am i supposed to choose now!!!
After much torment, I narrowed it down to two and just had to pick one. I went for the tent speech, but the Sylvie one was equal first for me. Such completely stunning acting, and powerful dialogue and delivery. I think what makes Damien's acting so superb, particularly in these monologues, is the minute details in his expressions. Every inch of him is in character, it's like he literally becomes Hal for those few minutes.
The Sylvie speech is really beautiful in that because the shot is so close and intimate. He's on the brink of tears for the whole thing and looks so haunted.
But his emotion and clear love for Tom got me in the tent scene, not to mention it's one of my favourite descriptions of the monster in Hal throughout his whole two series.
Close third for me was "Take a good look boyyyyy" (and it has to be said just like that when repeated!). How can someone make such an evil, egotistical maniac so, so hot!? I actually rooted for bad Hal here. It was the first time I suddenly thought, "you know what, I love good Hal and I want him to live happily ever after, but I could so easily live with it if bad Hal does win." Testament to Damien and to the writers for creating a character whose good and bad sides are so easily loved.
That's enough of that essay. Now, I am in no way shirking from work in favour of acting out any of those speeches. Nope. I'm not doing that at all. Not in the slightest....
Thanks for a brilliant conundrum Domino! x
Oh how this was a truly difficult decision. Like I said on the Twitter, you need an "all the above" option. I wanted to vote for every single one of these. I'm quoting Cat because so much of what she said is what I would have said. And she said it better than I could.
All three of those speeches were my top three.
The tent speech - well I've said it before, I fell in love with Hal more than I ever thought possible during that speech. I cry when he chokes up. His love for Tom is evident in not only the words, but his delivery. Oh God, when he puts his hand over his heart I just about die.
Sylvie's speech - so much I can say about that one, but the biggie is that his performance, how haunted, remorseful he is, inspired me to write a whole story about them. And I've never written anything in my life! I felt the need to give him a little bit of happy time, a happy life with her, his love. It really is a compulsion, I can't stop scribbling and my 100 page notebook is almost full now. I don't know how the writers would have made her, but my Sylvie loves Hal with the passion that I love Hal and she is truly trying to give him a happy life. Even if it is ephemeral...
"Take a good look boyyy" (yes I agree has to be said that way) OMG Yes, Yes, and YES to what Cat said. The man says TEN and I'm a puddle on the floor. I was totally rooting for THAT bad Hal to come out to play. What he does with that voice, his eyes, that wicked smile. *pauses to go rewatch* ....... back, fanning myself..... what was I saying??? Oh yes, he does this complete transformation. THAT is excellent acting. THAT is one of the things that I think is incredible about Damien. The little nuances that he changes, how he can modulate his voice and become ANOTHER facet of Hal. Because really, Bad Hal from 1855, 1918, 1950's, current, they all are so different from each other, yet still the same. And Good Hal goes through quite a bit of evolution from S4-5. And it's not just the clothes, the haircut, it's subtle changes too, the posture, the mannerisms, how he smiles and how much he smiles, the voice is a big one, emphasis on different words, slight change of accent, but I swear even the eyes change. It's incredible!
HOWEVER, I ended up picking the "Not a Man of God" speech. I can't forget the first moment I saw that. I'd not been paying attention since Mitchell had died and hadn't watched S4 till very late last year. Ep 1 I though, "huh, this is the new vampire? Not much to go by". First part of Ep 2 I thought, "well he's funny. and quirky. and cute. And I love the tweed suit." Then this speech happens. My jaw literally dropped open. I literally jumped up out of my seat said out loud "who is this guy?!?! and had to pause my watch to go do a google. It was instant love with Damien Molony. I can't watch that speech without feeling intense awe at his amazing talent. So as much as I love ALL of them, and they each evoke different feelings for me, in my heart this will always remain my favourite.
Rambly enough? See I come here and get all worked up. My heart is racing and tight. I feel the need for a rewatch...
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
My feelings exactly, Whimsy! They're all fantastic and I love the tent speech but the 'Not a Man of God Speech' is the one that made me stand up and take notice. How could I not vote for it? I've watched it over and over and over again and it still floors me.
It really is a beautiful piece of writing, fifi. The combination of the writing and the delivery is perfection.
The emotion of the tent speech was also very powerful. That still made it a tough decision.
They all have their merits. Not a shabby one in the bunch.
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"I should have left a clue. Like, I don't know, locking him in a cellar and tying him to a fucking radiator!"
@fifi bravo! you got there in the end , thank you for voting!
this is beautiful :
"There is something....genuine about Hal at this moment. He is controlled, but relaxed - out of his 'safe zone' but isn't yet 'circling the drain' - and is in control of his bloodlust. There is nothing explicitly threatening about him.....but his composure, his tone of voice, and his eyes all convey threat. And there is a suggestion of suppressed excitement which is just mesmerising. My favourite moment in that speech is "..... when you actually do it there's nothing more exhilarating, you play god and it makes you feel powerful, invincible..." - which carries a hint of emotion....of exhilaration. "
Not much to add to that just nodding in utter agreement For me this scene first time was like falling into a very deep sky...filled with clouds...and the many shades of Hal began to open up to us..this was a man and a vampire who had deep deep experience, pain, wisdom, and dark pasts....so thrilling, so tragic, so kinetic, and as you say mesmerising.
@rubyrosettared for as long as we have known each other in the fandom, you have always expressed your love for this speech and I would have been surprised if you went for any other. thank you for voting!
@whimsy I am grinning like an idiot after reading your beautiful rambles - thank you! and for voting!
"Oh yes, he does this complete transformation. THAT is excellent acting. THAT is one of the things that I think is incredible about Damien. The little nuances that he changes, how he can modulate his voice and become ANOTHER facet of Hal. Because really, Bad Hal from 1855, 1918, 1950's, current, they all are so different from each other, yet still the same. And Good Hal goes through quite a bit of evolution from S4-5. And it's not just the clothes, the haircut, it's subtle changes too, the posture, the mannerisms, how he smiles and how much he smiles, the voice is a big one, emphasis on different words, slight change of accent, but I swear even the eyes change. It's incredible! "
YES! there is a school of acting which is about changing the outside (costume, makeup, voice, posture) to convey and get into the character. Damien doesn't need it...he juts becomes the character from within...even at his most subtle ad contained the energy just oozes from each and every nuance, he truly is a remarkable actor not only of his generation..but of all acting.
@RandomJane 'not a shabby one in the bunch' I know right?!
and I have thought of more! (another post)
EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW! YES DAMIEN IS AN INCREDIBLE ACTOR BUT HIS FANS ARE EVEN MORE FUCKING INCREDIBLE!
sorry for shouting it but needed to!
thank you for sharing and for being here...
*collapses into a mushy sobbing heap on the floor*
I'm totally happy with how I voted, but I just keep thinking that it's impossible not to have voted for some of the others...especially the three that whimsy mentioned - Sylvie, the tent speech, and take a good look. How can there be a poll, and none of those actually get my vote? Even those further down my list would win most other polls by a mile!
If I had to choose between these three, though....I think that "take a good look, boyyy" would probably just edge it -and nobody has voted for it yet! Not just because he does that amazing transformation - which is truly astonishing - but...omg! .......I really love bad hal!!! What else can I say?! I have problems with how this scene fits into bh canon (it's not the sudden switch...it's the 'he was here, wasn't he?') and there is nothing particularlly special about this piece of script writing. It's all down to Damien.....and it is simply glorious - a real masterclass! Somebody has got to vote for it!!!!
Can't believe that I'm going to miss this Hal chat on Sunday! Looking forward to seeing what everyone has to say about it. I may ramble on at length in that thread after the event!!
Had to vote for the Not a man of God speech, although the desire to be human speech came a very close 2nd, even though my eyes were drawn to the picture of 1950's Lord Harry...... *thud*
@fifi why haven't they invented polls where you can give percentages for each one! one would still have a higher percentage choice though....even if it just snuck post th others all sneakily with a half %.
@Friendly Ghost Hallo! thanks for voting lovely to see you and your avvie again!
My goodness, I don't think I could rank them in order; that would be simply too difficult to contemplate!
And everyone is so eloquent with how and why they picked their favourites; it's great to hear everyone's views on how these speeches affected them. It really is amazing that Damien's portrayal of Hal can move us all so much (plus some pretty good writing of course!)
I admit I went on gut feeling and "A Monster Inside You" hit me so hard the first time I heard it, something I think back on again and again - the emotion I felt when I heard it, plus the setting of the scene; the fact that it's outdoors and Hal is convincing himself as much as he's appealing to Tom, just the whole thing is brilliant.
For all our rambles though Kat we probably all returned to the gut feeling to decide how to vote! and you are très eloquent my dear!
Completely agree with you on the 'A Monster inside You Speech' and the power of emotion - the duality as he was trying to convince Tom - I experience it as a real insight into Hal's moment by moment existence, his struggle, a rare glimpse into the private inner world that we constantly sense but is rarely expressed, his pain that he hides and carries alone..the pathos of that on top of the emotion of Tom is just so intense.
'Not A Man Of God' speech is well in the lead with 57.9%
'A monster inside you' ('Tent' speech) at 21%
'Sylvie Monologue' at 10.5%
'Raid the dressing up box' and 'And I had a shield' at joint 5.3%.
how about the other 200 ish of you who visit the forum every day? come and add your vote too! all you need to do is log in and click in the poll above, and the poll is anonymous!
Do you know, when he's talking about killing, and 'the mess you made of him' etc, i know i've said this before but i'm wondering whether he's remembering Cutler during the speech because he did make a mess of him ultimately.
I just like how understated the entire speech is. There's no grand emoting, no scenery chewing, he just talks from experience, because he knows what he's talking about. He doesn't really raise his voice and as has been said, he just draws you in. It's an incredible performance and i never get bored with it. I remember tweeting him after i saw that episode and that speech just saying 'You'll do. Welcome to Being Human' Toby said (to the annoyance of a lot of people) that once you'd seen him, you'd be saying 'Mitchell who?' and he was absolutely right. I loved Mitchell, Aidan was incredible but Damien is just on another plane talent wise. Amazing speech, amazing talent. First time i've watched someone and got serious shivers and all he does is speak.
Hi Lisa, agreed, this particular speech is powerful for many reasons ! I hear people say this is what put Damien on the map for them. I was already caught with the barber shop scene with Leo, there was so much depth to Hal straight away, a weight to his character that was intensely intriguing and compelling. But I do agree this is The mega speech, the containment makes it kinetic, and as with many of Hals speeches has layered meaning relating to his past, his own regrets, remorse, angst... The same is true of the tent speech!
Oh my...how on earth could I have omitted the Hal speech from BH5 Ep2 when he throws Crumb out of the hotel?
"You stay away because I will kill you, there is so much more at stake than you, you are nothing to me, now, you are nothing to me now you are sediment , you are detritus, you are regret and disgust, and nothing more, stay away! I have killed men and women and children just think how easy it will be to kill you."
(I have added it to the poll, but it is not in sequence or that would have messed up existing votes!)
I'm not surprised you missed this one, domino. It was a pretty long list already! But I totally agree that this deserves to be there. I find this strangely upsetting (considering everything else that hal has done/does) It's a very 'bad hal' thing to do....but completely lacking 'bad hal' compsure. He is totally blaming Crumb for his own guilt....
Agree, it is a disturbing little moment on all sorts of levels, and again a blurring of the bad/good Hal divide. When Hal's stability, safety - that he is clinging on to by his fingernails - is threatened he can be very intimidating indeed. Awesome moment though, a glimpse into the scary Hal hinterland both past and present.
Interesting statement fortunato (still wanting to call you il padrino... ) perhaps it depends on the guy and the speeches?
i take it you didn't vote for the 'not a man of god speech' ?!?
I am stunned in a different way that only 21 people have voted! but thanks to everyone who has far....still time to vote!
I voted for the Sylvie monologue, because, well, to put it succinctly: OMGTHEFEELS.
It just kills me every time. The way he says "disappointed" at the end...and the sheen of tears, and the interaction with Alex afterward, and the fact that he's losing faith in himself, and...yes. Did I mention the feels? ;)
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For me this scene first time was like falling into a very deep sky...filled with clouds...and the many shades of Hal began to open up to us..this was a man and a vampire who had deep deep experience, pain, wisdom, and dark pasts....so thrilling, so tragic, so kinetic, and as you say mesmerising.
