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A review by stephtregear
Blindsided by Ruthie Knox
4.0
The third instalment in Ruthie Knox’s Roman Holiday series, Blindsided, brings home the reality of Ashley and Roman’s situation. Their day with Mitzi, Kirk and the others from the swamp commune highlight Ashley’s free spirit, contrasted by Roman’s strong desire for order and control in his life. However, at the beginning of this episode, we gain glimpses of Roman’s denied admiration for Ashley, if only subtle and brief.
We also learn more about Roman’s own life, especially in chapter two where he feels incredible guilt for having sexual fantasies and desires for Ashley. Roman’s shame intensifies the complexities of his character, which makes for an engaging read! Ashley soon realises this hard exterior hides the true Roman, and starts to admit that she actually likes him, despite his plans for Sunnyvale.
But then their aversions toward each other become pronounced when Ashley leaves Roman to talk with Mitzi, and they come up with a plan to drop an environmental challenge on his plans for Sunnyvale. That, mixed with the anger and embarrassment of encountering the commune’s “pet” alligator and Jerry’s careless towing of his Cadillac, riles Roman up to the extent where he can’t fight Ashley off anymore. He must appease her now, to prevent her from dropping the challenge on him which would likely ruin his ambition and ability to please Herberto and Carmen. (I also enjoyed the insight into Carmen’s life, where we see her as an important figure in Roman’s life, but also as a character that has her own agenda, which suggests to the readers that Roman perhaps does not know the real Carmen, just as Carmen may not know the real Roman.)
So Ashley takes Roman on a holiday – she will take him to her friends in an attempt to convince him to maintain Sunnyvale and her memories of those she loves.
It was great to see in this episode both the strong and vulnerable sides of Roman and Ashley, seeing them as more complex and likeable characters. And although I don’t think there was as much humour in this episode as the previous two, I think it’s a necessary transition episode into what is on its way for the final two Roman Holiday episodes of season one.
Again, some fabulous writing by Knox that just keeps us coming back for more!
We also learn more about Roman’s own life, especially in chapter two where he feels incredible guilt for having sexual fantasies and desires for Ashley. Roman’s shame intensifies the complexities of his character, which makes for an engaging read! Ashley soon realises this hard exterior hides the true Roman, and starts to admit that she actually likes him, despite his plans for Sunnyvale.
But then their aversions toward each other become pronounced when Ashley leaves Roman to talk with Mitzi, and they come up with a plan to drop an environmental challenge on his plans for Sunnyvale. That, mixed with the anger and embarrassment of encountering the commune’s “pet” alligator and Jerry’s careless towing of his Cadillac, riles Roman up to the extent where he can’t fight Ashley off anymore. He must appease her now, to prevent her from dropping the challenge on him which would likely ruin his ambition and ability to please Herberto and Carmen. (I also enjoyed the insight into Carmen’s life, where we see her as an important figure in Roman’s life, but also as a character that has her own agenda, which suggests to the readers that Roman perhaps does not know the real Carmen, just as Carmen may not know the real Roman.)
So Ashley takes Roman on a holiday – she will take him to her friends in an attempt to convince him to maintain Sunnyvale and her memories of those she loves.
It was great to see in this episode both the strong and vulnerable sides of Roman and Ashley, seeing them as more complex and likeable characters. And although I don’t think there was as much humour in this episode as the previous two, I think it’s a necessary transition episode into what is on its way for the final two Roman Holiday episodes of season one.
Again, some fabulous writing by Knox that just keeps us coming back for more!