Fizgig777
The beauty of this show is multidimensional. On the surface, yes, a love story between two people who fate brought together and their fight to hold onto a love that people wouldn't understand or accept. But there are so many deeper meanings to many of the episodes -- which probably played a large role in dooming the show. In order to understand these nuances you had to be willing to allow yourself to be pulled into the story, while also having a real grasp to the complexity behind the main characters. The stories, poetry and imagery used in the episodes told a story within a story; extended the story beyond the mere visual details and really gave you pause to think.It also showed -- for those who took the time to really see -- that love isn't always about carnal desires. It showed that sometimes loving someone means that you have to give up everything. For anyone who has known what true, deep love means, they can relate to the heavy price love can exact. This wasn't a story about fly-by-night or whirlwind romance... It was about those quite moments in a loving relationship where people can just enjoy the quiet moments and be fulfilled... In many ways, it was the story of what love should be. The fact that real intimate moments between Catherine and Vincent were left to insinuation, implication, and imagination was no accident -- it was brilliant.Unfortunately, the two main characters were so well linked with each other, that once L. Hamilton left the show there was no saving it. The way the story of Catherine and Vincent was told made it so the two characters were so completely linked that losing one would change the other so completely that the show would have to completely change around the remaining character in order for the show to survive. When Linda left, the whole premise of the show went with her because, as loyal followers of the story could attest to, Vincent could never love another. They did try to introduce another character like Catherine, but the chemistry and bond just never worked out. Plus, once father and son were reunited, it was the natural end point to the story...This show still has a lot of followers because of the uniqueness of it. The depth of the story and complexity of those deeper meanings are so fascinating that you want to watch the episodes again and again... And you will usually come away with new tidbits, deeper understanding, things that really make you think and analyze things every time you watch some of the episodes.
tharianbotting
Beauty and the Beast, starring Hamilton and Perlman, is an important, indeed revealing tale of many, many truths. Have you ever thought to yourself, 'There is something, terribly wrong with this world' and wondered what could be done? Vincent and Catherine are phenomenal characters and the whole series, upon first viewing this show over the last two weeks, appears to revolve around the love of these two characters. Look...Deeper! Perhaps most women, and some 'civilized' men, can appreciate the quality of this T.V. series for what it actually does. It challenges and educates about gender roles, allowing for a woman to show strength and to be confident in her femininity, yet resilient and capable, even in violent scenes. In one artful sweep this series allows for her to co-exist, interdependently – successfully, with an empathic, physically powerful but conscionable masculine force. This show challenges the legitimacy of our current societal state (particularly in the U.S. and somewhat in Canada), showing the audience that another world is possible. We are left aware rather than ignorant of the issues that still pervade our world. We are not all Gabriels in this world, nor are we all Vincents. But we were all newborns, once upon a time; once, we all were the unlimited possibilities and hopes of those before us and of our own futures. By looking deeper at those sub-plots of corruption, and how 'the love of money is the root of all evil', juxtaposed against the respect, compassion and yes, EMPATHY, that Vincent represents, we are jarred into awareness. You may think me a socialist! Nay, I am but one person who can see the value of having my needs met, but not at the expense of other's needs. A simple life in the tunnels is appealing, over the insanity of a world where "fear" rules us all (S1E2); fear of terrorist attacks (that may or may not be backed by corrupt government (also featured in S2&S3 - E. Birch sub-plot)), and the tragic, (and sadly condoned or ignored by so many, too many), inexcusable failings of our societal institutional structures. We would demand our right to bear arms (despite the reality that such weapons lead to death – as Father would likely agree) over the right to life and medical care of each person. Some would make the death of a foetus more reprehensible than the total general lack of care for our fellow human-beings once they are born. Pardon me for emphasizing the principles Vincent's world seems to exist by, that each person, poor, weak, ill, strong, wealthy, of all walks of life, each feels loves, bleeds, hates, can rise or fall, has fears and dreams. As we are, we are all alone. Vincent's world represents an alternative to being alone, where even a beast of inhuman characteristics can be treated as an equal, and loved as a son, a brother, a friend...a human being. LOVE is not 'sappy'. But violence and brutality beget more violence and brutality. This series shows this truth. I am researching all Beauty and the Beast tales published to date for my own series of stories/screen-plays and I discovered this show mere weeks ago. Initially, by the end of my first viewing of the whole series, I hated - a strong word for me - how season three started and most of its storyline. It ruined all of my hopes and dreams for a world that is possible, (perhaps not Beauty and her Beast, though, by my own admission this is my reality, too, in a way) the dreams of a world of respect, appreciation, equality and acceptance. I actually wept and felt anger and an absolute feeling of denial for days, a testament to writers and the strength of their characters. Catherine's demise was anti-climactic, and hateful. But when one considers reality, as it is, S3 was beautiful, painful, poignant, and taught us many truths, for it captured the lack of "Heart" in our modern neoliberal world, a world that is ruled by a select few (Gabriels) who would destroy, and do destroy, thousands of Catherine Chandlers all over the world, every day. By the end of my second viewing of this series, I can now see that it was a brave and challenging way to conclude a story that did - and does - reach so many. I still find S3 to be disastrous to this series, but, I have hopes that a new series will be produced, soon, one that will take this original series and build upon lessons learned; start afresh with new, yet similar characters, and delve deeper. The time is ripe - the people desire a revitalized story that represents the now, while showing a world that we may be going towards, one that echoes back to Catherine and Vincent's world. A new take, made in a modern context and which would be more accommodating of the modern needs of those who seek more action, visual effects, and heightened levels of sexual tension. We want to see another world and maybe, learn how we can make our own possible. In part this is what I am doing, or hoping to work on, one day. We need stories like B&tB in order to remember what is important. Truth, Compassion, Empathy, Equality, and Love, – Hope.
SataiDelen
OK, I've been reading several of the reviews/comments here, and as I'm an adult now (mostly), I forgot for a moment that I was 12 when this series first aired. I certainly never thought of this as an adult or child's program. I simply found the premise of this show fascinating, and I loved the chemistry between Vincent and Catherine (until it got bizarre in the last season when Linda Hamilton left). I also quite simply, fell in love with Vincent, and later came to learn who Ron Perlman was, and have tried to watch him in anything I can get my hands on that isn't too bizarre (a very strange French movie comes to mind on the bizarre scale). Point being, this show reached a far range of viewers of all ages. Why? I wish I knew. I think that tom_amity has some incredible theories and insights, and I was impressed that as a guy (no offense) he, I feel has some very good points.I also feel that this show was taken in completely the wrong direction in it's last season. Between the forced consummated relationship of Catherine and Vincent, resulting in Catherine's death, and Vincent becoming a father, and the suddenly incredibly violent path that the show took, well, I have to say that I was incredibly confused as to what had transpired between the season finale of season two, and the season opener of season three, and had a very hard time following what was supposed to be going on. I think that it was a mistake to have tried to alter the show so tremendously.Someone here mentioned that there was no show like this ever again. I happen to think that person was wrong. Another show I watched faithfully after this one, that also seemed to end badly (and also on CBS... pattern anyone?) was Forever Knight. That show to me had very similar elements going on, what with the main character being a kind of freak, and his at-a-distance lover (the gal that worked in the morgue) and how it was obvious that they were attracted to each other, but could not be together. That show too eventually had problems and got a little stranger toward the end.I would love to know why it's so difficult for networks to accept that which is different but has such great potential? Both of these shows were incredible, and both wound up having a short life, and both wound up going in strange directions before finally burning out.
