The Market / The Great Water

[Darkling Nocturnal]

Time for a double-topic

Well, I rated both episodes not very high, yet they are not the worst episodes of the series (remember the sheep-disaster?   )

What I found good is, that both episodes have a total different locations contrary to the rest of the series (similar with the winter episodes).

But I think, both episodes could have been cut together to one episode.

[Myrkin]

When I think of the whole idea of going to The Great Water, I wonder what was the reaction of rabbits who stayed back on Watership Down? Were they happy that Hazel and others had gone to Frith knows where, while General Woundwort was still looking for Watership Down? Were they happy to have less rabbits to defend the warren in case of Efrafan attack or appearance of another elil? I would be less than thrilled, if I had been them.  

[Acacia Heartstrings]

In some places it was listed as a filler, but I do not mind, that is extra love in the series. In Naruto is annoying if the filling.
It's funny the way the rabbits of the sea, but the truth is far more dangerous to drive than the same trip to discover "Watership Down"

[Darkling Nocturnal]

Thereto, I must say:

I got a rating system from 1 - 4 on my website, and I rated the market place episode with 1 out of 4.

But on a regular scale from 1 - 10, a 1-rating from my site would be adequate to 8 - 8,5.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

Got to say something about these episodes, or at least "The Great Water":

I found it quite interesting to see, from what environment Kehaar comes from. The gulls are narcissistic, arrogant, bullying animals. And I think, Kehaar was a part of it.

Then, he hurt his wing and met the Watership Down rabbits. His life changed and so, he's not longer a part o this narcissistic society. But here, we see, how Kehaar was before.

[Hawkbit]

I've always seen these two episodes as filler because there's basically nothing that matters in the overall story that we get from these two episodes.  What's scary is these two (along with a couple of other stories from Season 2) are bad enough to make the show "Jump the Shark" and thus nobody watches the third season--which probably should've been season 2 in the first place.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

Yes. Cut season 1+2 together to one season, remove the fillers and add a real start would've been much better.

But we got a great season 3 and I think, the whole series could've been done much worse.

[Claws]

I honestly place "The Market" as one of the worst entries of the series as a whole. I just can't enjoy it, despite multiple attempts at doing so.

I guess that its biggest problem is that the setting doesn't come off as believable. I mean... yes, they could have totally gotten lost there, but there's NO WAY they are going to be killed in the stinking market while Woundwort, Cowslip and a whole other branch of villains are chilling out back at the down. And it is for that reason that the same thought kept piercing thru my brain while I was watching it: "oh God, when will it end?". I agree with your note on the site, Darkling. This is in no way better than 1/4.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

I've re-rated both episodes on my website

[Acacia Heartstrings]

When I think of the whole idea of going to The Great Water, I wonder what was the reaction of rabbits who stayed back on Watership Down? Were they happy that Hazel and others had gone to Frith knows where, while General Woundwort was still looking for Watership Down? Were they happy to have less rabbits to defend the warren in case of Efrafan attack or appearance of another elil? I would be less than thrilled, if I had been them.  

HAHAHA right! those concerns simply disappeared in these two episodes. Another puzzling thing is that Watership Down went without telling anyone, they just left.

In addition, they passed through much suffering to find Watership Down, "The Great Water" (Ocean), is about 50 times farther away. All suffering is for rabbits and worst travel so far to the beach ...

But then I remember that is a caricature of stuffed bunnies and be nice with fun adventures, I forgive.  

[MeadowRabbit]

I think 'The Market' was a little better than the second episode. At least the Welsh pig had some personality! - and much more than the two new rabbits in the episode before this had! More hooomans! :0 I watched this one a few weeks back now and can't remember what else I was going to comment about it. :P

In 'The Great Water' I found the 'dilemma' near the end tedious. Not exactly gripping stuff really. Think they could have done something better with the seaside scenario. What is with the weird accents in this show? Those gulls had pretty bad voices. Why was Kehaar the only 'black'-sorrypurple-headed gull? Well... not too exciting, yet not an an awful episode.

EDIT: Forgot to add that I was rather annoyed that the crab moved forwards, not sideways away from the rabbits!! How didn't they know crabs walk sideways?? :P

[ZAlcyoneus]

Well, imagine if season 3 had never happened.   Think about it...and this could be an interesting fanfic by the way.  Starts off like canon with Hazel and whoever else (I am only on season 1) go to the market and get lost.  You figure that takes several days journey away, then you got...what a few weeks at least (depending on whereabouts the market is and the ocean even by bus) plus the same time to get back you figure so that's...eh let's say a month or so of time passing. 

Had General Woundwort wanted to (much less known where Watership Down was at that point), he could have (quite possibly) taken over Watership Down, then either enslaved or killed those left behind.    By the time Hazel (and whoever else) got back, they would find their warren gone.    That could have spiraled into its own story arc right there.

[Chibiscuit]

Well, imagine if season 3 had never happened.   Think about it...and this could be an interesting fanfic by the way.  Starts off like canon with Hazel and whoever else (I am only on season 1) go to the market and get lost.  You figure that takes several days journey away, then you got...what a few weeks at least (depending on whereabouts the market is and the ocean even by bus) plus the same time to get back you figure so that's...eh let's say a month or so of time passing. 

Had General Woundwort wanted to (much less known where Watership Down was at that point), he could have (quite possibly) taken over Watership Down, then either enslaved or killed those left behind.    By the time Hazel (and whoever else) got back, they would find their warren gone.    That could have spiraled into its own story arc right there.

That would make a good fanfic, indeed! I can imagine how distressed Hazel (and the others) would be to return home, only to find Woundwort (or another antagonist) having taken over and his fellow Watershippers captured.

You could have two storylines going on at the same time even. Hazel and everyone that went to the Great Water on one side, and then the captives on the other.

There's great potential there.

[ZAlcyoneus]

Thank you.  I might have to write that sometime.

[Chipster-roo]

That would indeed be very interesting @ZAlcyoneus.  If you write it, I will read it.

Also, as far as I remember, before Hazel and the others left with Kehaar, they didn't tell anyone about their plans.  Those who stayed behind might be very confused and/or worried to see the six rabbits vanish without a trace like this.