Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

I’m a fan of detective shows. My favorites are the British ones: Midsommer Murders, Agatha Christie – Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, Inspector Lynley, New Tricks. I also watch Castle (new season starting tonight – Yay!), Psych and old replays of Murder She Wrote. (I get a real kick out of the clothes and 80s hair and the clever mysteries)

I’ve had a good writing day today, and I decided to watch one of the shows I’ve recorded. A postie was doing his rounds, early in the morning. It was still dark and you see him walking along with his headphones on. He delivers mail to a box and moves on. A person approaches him. He smiles, but his smile fades when he sees the wicked knife flash into view.

In the next frame it’s daylight. We see a young girl wheeling her bike out of a driveway. She frowns at the letters and parcels strewn all over the ground. Then she sees the postie, the blood. She opens her mouth and SCREAMS – a long, never-ending scream before the show cuts to the opening credits.

It struck me as I was watching this how many detective shows start with someone discovering the body and screaming. It also made me wonder. Quite frankly I don’t think I’d scream if I discovered a body. Is this a likely scenario or is it dramatic theatre to make us sit up and take note?

I hope I never discover a body to test my reaction, but really, I don’t think I’d scream.

What do you think? Would you scream? Any crime/detective fans out there? What are your favorite shows/books?

During the last couple of months, I’ve been watching Spartacus: Blood and Sand. For those of you who haven’t seen this program you can check out the plot here at Wikipedia. The show stars Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless and John Hannah among others.

Basically it’s a story about gladiators—the training, their daily lives and the fighting in the arena plus all the political maneuvering that took place behind the scenes. The show starts with a warning about sexual situations, bad language and violence. In New Zealand I have to enter a code before I can watch the show.

I’ve followed the show since it started on TV here, yet I spend much of the time looking away from the screen or hiding my face. I don’t have a problem with the sex/nudity because, after all, I write erotic romance. The bad language doesn’t bother me either. In fact some of the insults and the phrasing make me laugh.

No, it’s the gruesome blood and gore that makes me hide my face. The fight scenes are incredibly brutal and graphic. Murders and punishments are gory. Let’s just say there’s lots of the red stuff spraying in all directions. I wonder why the scenes have to be quite so realistic. I’m also watching Sharpe with Sean Bean at present. The fight scenes are awesome. They’re gritty and realistic yet the copious amounts of blood are absent. I enjoy them much better.

Many of you are probably saying – so why is she still watching the show? Primarily I started watching because the setting interested me. The actor who plays Spartacus is excellent in his role and he looks pretty good in his costume. The political wrangling behind the scenes also fascinates me so I continue to watch, hiding my face during the bloody bits.

Have you watched this show? If so do you like it? How graphic do you like your TV shows/movies in regard to violence?

I have an interview at Denise Agnew’s blog today. I’m also giving away a print copy of Tea for Two. If you have time to visit pop by and say hello.

This year I’ve watched Buffy, the Vampire Slayer for the first time, and with all the hype about Twilight and New Moon I decided to do a thirteen about vampires and vampire slayers.

Thirteen Things I’ve Learned About Vampires and Vampire Slayers

1. Vampires are very pale and don’t like sunlight.

2. Vampire Slayers wear cool clothes and are kick-ass tough. e.g. Buffy Summers

3. Slayers hang around in “Scooby” gangs.

4. Slayers fall in love with guys who are totally wrong for them.

5. Vampires are ugly in vamp form.

6. Werewolves aren’t very sexy – all that hair!

7. Slayers don’t seem to need much sleep, and they’re not afraid of things that go bump or growl in the dark.

8. Some vamps have a great sense of humor. I just love Spike.

9. I want to shake Bella.

10. Vamps should run if they see a pointy wooden thing instead of hanging around to sneer. Run Vampire! Run! It’s a stake and it will make you go “poof”!

11. Sleeping in the dirt doesn’t look like much fun. I prefer my cozy bed.

12. Joss Whedon rocks.

13. I’m on team Jacob. Angel can come into my house any time! Open invitation. Yep, David Boreanaz you’re welcome too.

Have you seen New Moon? (I haven’t yet) Did you like it? Do you have any things I can add to my list?