Blackavar

[Hawkbit]

I got the idea to talk about Blackavar reading through the book again.  I realized if we're taking the book as the gospel on the WSD tale, then seriously, both forms of visual media really gave him the short straw.

The film: The original film did justice to Blackavar's plight in Efrafa.  Due to a lack of time you don't see much else.  Death by Woundwort?  Definitely over the top, and if you keep to the book, Blackavar probably could've put up quite a fight once his energy was back.  Owsla material he was, so the quick death was blah.  

The series: Total blah...the series did nothing for him, except make him a whiny little brat.  Thankfully once he's out of Efrafa he disappears and you never hear from again.  If they were going to give him more of the same lines, its for the better we didn't hear any more from him.  


Sure we can nitpick every character and how they were adapted for film or tv.  This is just one character that could've been done better, and he was important enough to show up in both mediums.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

IIRC, Blackavar was strong and more a warrior in the book than in the other media.

In the movie, well we saw his death only to show the cruelty of Efrafa resp. General Woundwort.

In the series, I got the feeling he was only included to have another character from the book. Giving Stephen Gately the voice acting part was also a flaw. His cover version of Bright Eyes might not be bad, but as a voice actor, he definitely fails. I almost got the feeling, Blackavar was like he was in the series to use Stephen Gately as a voice actor... a character, cut into the shape of the voice actor

[Myrkin]

In the movie, well we saw his death only to show the cruelty of Efrafa resp. General Woundwort.

That and perhaps producers of the movie decided to kill him, so the watchers would doubt in heroes' success or worry that other good guys may die, thus increasing dramatic tension. This reminds me of Serenity and Wash's death.

[Hawkbit]

Stephen Gately was as bad a voice actor as Billy Crudrup was for Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

Stephen Gately was as bad a voice actor as Billy Crudrup was for Ashitaka in Princess Mononoke.

Then I'm glad I only know the german version  

[Hawkbit]

Bad joke, but he delivered a very monotone performance with no emotion for Ashitaka.  Definitely reminded me of what Gately did for tv Blackavar....he phoned it in.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

That's the problem when you use a singer who isn't a voice actor  

[StoryMing]

The film cut out or condensed a number of things. Strawberry’s character, for one, is dropped completely (as are Buckthorn, Hawkbit, Acorn, and Speedwell); Dandelion and Silver are barely there at all.

I have been pondering what difference it makes, having Blackavar die in standing up to Woundwort, versus surviving, as he does in the book. But I am not sure what I think. I prefer him living, but I’m not sure how to understand the impact of one outcome vs the other on the overall story.

[Chipster-roo]

That is my main complaint about the film: several characters and subplots being left out, due to the short running time.  I hope the miniseries can avoid this.

As for Blackavar's death, I find the scene rather pointless, since it didn't happen in the book.  Also, why add something like this instead of focusing on something that actually happened in the book?

But either way Blackavar isn't one of my favourites characters so his death doesn't bother me as much as it would have if it had been Pipkin or Blackberry instead

[Alderab]

One thing that bothered me about Blackavar in the book was his bout of amnesia the morning after the group takes casualties during their escape from Efrafa.  If he had just been choosing to give deference to his new chief in making a mistake about where they slept, that would have been one thing.  But it kind of robs the moment when its straight explained that he actually just forgot the whole episode, despite exactly what he predicted coming true.  It also keeps Hazel from having a comeuppance for losing a doe from the only rabbit who could have truthfully said "told ya so", but that's beside the point.

Anyone else think this forgetfulness felt a little forced?

[Kili]

One thing that bothered me about Blackavar in the book was his bout of amnesia the morning after the group takes casualties during their escape from Efrafa.  If he had just been choosing to give deference to his new chief in making a mistake about where they slept, that would have been one thing.  But it kind of robs the moment when its straight explained that he actually just forgot the whole episode, despite exactly what he predicted coming true.  It also keeps Hazel from having a comeuppance for losing a doe from the only rabbit who could have truthfully said "told ya so", but that's beside the point.

Anyone else think this forgetfulness felt a little forced?

Never understood why Richard Adams wrote the scene like that. Perhaps he was trying to keep a low profile because of his experiences in Efrafa - the rabbits from Efrafa could have been so traumatised that they would just agree, or pretend that they forgot to avoid conflict (and therefore, punishment) - it wouldn't have occured to him that other rabbits were different.

Everything about Blackavar in the 1999 series was off. They should have given him the same reverence that they gave Campion. In the film, though I think they killed him off for timing purposes, but book Blackavar is the only media that gives him justice.

[Chipster-roo]

Anyone else think this forgetfulness felt a little forced?

Yep.  That is something I really didn't like.

As Kili points out, pulling an "I told you so" with Efrafan owsla officer would have earned him a beating at best.  But I'm really not sure whether he really did forget about his previous advice, or if he just pretended to have done so.

However, he had already gotten to know the Watershippers a bit since the escape, so he should have known they wouldn't hurt him over this.  Although, considering his earlier arguement with Bigwi, he could perhaps still have been worried.

But regardless, why could he just...say nothing?  This way, he wouldn't have to worry about angering the leader, but wouldn't come off as a cold jerk either.

The whole thing (along with one scene in TFWD) rather soured me on his character, and the lack of character development he gets in the film and miniseries doesn't really bother me.  The 1999 series depiction of him is horrible in every way, but at least they were wise enough to leave him in the background after the escape from Efrafa because his voice actor was too expensive so he couldn't ruin things Although, a Campion-style Blackavar like Kili suggests could have been interesting...