A member of our group transcribed a portion of Mr. Moore's Sky One audio interview for us (THANK YOU!), and wondered what we thought about his ideas on Wolf, and on the sequel. I have really wanted to respond to this.
Of Wolf, Mr. Moore said:
"Of all the parts, I was most worried about finding a convincing Wolf. To find a leading man who could be both a romantic hero and a confused, vulnerable schizophrenic and a wild dangerous animal - well, it was asking a lot."
And the transcribing member said of this: "That dovetails well into the dangerous human-eating Wolf that a lot of you seem to favor. I'm afraid I've never seen him in that way. Probably because I don't want to. I'm not attracted to dangerous men. My childhood had more than enough people that I couldn't trust in it. I like adventure where you're pretty certain they'll be a happy ending and good triumphs over evil and the people who are different turn into well-loved heroes. You know . . . fantasy. Cos the real world isn't always like that. I can see where the dangerous human-eating wolves would fit in as the perennial bad guys who can never really be civilized or trusted. But I guess I tied in with them more as the unwanted minority who's found to be unacceptable mostly just because they're different. There was a lot of that too. Especially when they didn't change Wolf into a full four-legged wolf and he didn't actually hurt anyone. Maybe there'll be more clarification on this in the sequel."

To which I reply:
Well. I guess I am one of the ones who sees Wolf as the former (saw Mr. Moore's vision of him, I mean): and I love him and accept him like that. I myself love and trust those that remain forever wild: guess that's why I live up here in the high mountains and champion the wolves, the bears, the mountain lions (saw one last week!); the birds of prey. However I do realize that a lot of people don't feel like I do...leads me to wonder: how many of those out there who love Wolf would continue to love him if they didn't think he was being "tamed down" somehow? How many can accept him only if he becomes human, or at least represses the animal within himself (I swear I read something somewhere: a fanfic, maybe? Wherein the author proposed Wolf get prescriptions for hormones, or Ritalin or SOMETHING that would curb his behavior!). For me this would be as good as killing off Wolf! The Wolf I love, anyway! I do see Wolf's task within the journey that is this story as being the integrating of the two parts of himself so that he is no longer "schizophrenic" but is rather a whole being with the power of two: The "enhanced human" that he refers to himself as in the book. And for me, he accomplishes this. I see the fact that he DOESN'T transform into a 4-legged wolf in the barn scene as conformation of this too: He isn't a creature who is first one thing and then another: he is the two all the time! By the way: that's not truly a "werewolf", is it ? You know - I have never really thought of Wolf as a werewolf! There are so many ways that Wolf fits into the man/wolf dual spirit archetype much better than he fits into the small European corruption of that archetype that is the traditional "werewolf". It seems, though, that Moore originally may have had him more of a werewolf, and then changed that. It looks to me from what I can glean from reading interviews, etc., that a lot of these changes have come about because of Mr. Cohen's interpretation of the character! And from Mr. Cohen's own words, I almost see him as having more of a handle on the actual character than Mr. Moore does now. Wolf is now Mr. Cohen's invention more than Mr. Moore's! (Which is why I can't imagine anyone else playing the character!) For something that he worked on for 10 years, put so much passion and so much of himself into, Mr. Moore certainly seems willing to acquiesce to the thoughts of others on his creation now, doesn't he? Is getting some sort of sequel made so important that he is willing to corrupt his creation?
On this subject Mr. Moore said: "I have an open mind on this. What do the fans think?"
I know it seems in the context of the interview (which I'm sorry but I don't have a copy of now!) that he was possibly referring to the romance portion of the tale, but I think we could infer that he might be "open" concerning other parts of the story as well! From my personal point of view as an artist, it just seems odd to me that he seems so willing now to go with popular opinion on something that is born of his passion! I myself, while creating saleable work, also create many works from passion. These works come from inside myself, and I don't give a fig what other people think of them! I also don't sell them, either, though! (My Wolf pictures fall into this category, also dream-inspired pieces that I do: in fact I often say I have to keep creating the saleable work just to support my "real art"!)

I guess in the end I'm led to wonder how far off from Mr. Moore's original vision the sequel will be...

On the idea of "coming on too strong", as Wolf does to Virginia, pretty much overwhelming her - I have to admit I identify with him there! I am a passionate, pro-active, verbal person myself: always likely to take the iniatiative and come on too strong...in most ANYTHING I'm doing! I am "exuberant" in the extreme! So in lots of ways I identify with Wolf's behavior here rather than with Virginia's...indeed I can't imagine what it must be like to be so closed-off! In a relationship for myself: I can just imagine how I would love reciprocity in my strong active feelings! Most males are just far too unwilling to show their feelings, for me, much less be willing to show their silliness, share their thoughts, just generally be demonstrative in an open, heart-on-his-sleeve way, in a relationship. Our culture just hasn't approved of men doing that. And most males DON'T LIKE a woman coming on so strong! Our culture doesn't approve of that either! But, well, that's who I am! Just a Wolf at heart, I guess!
Within the structure of the story, I believe that a love as overwhelming as Wolf's is necessary to get Virginia's attention! It will take way more than the attention the average guy would be willing to bestow to convince Virginia of the validity of his feelings. (Mr Cohen himself said he would have given up on Virginia!). It took a great big pick to chip thru that block of ice!

Someone on the discussion group asked us each to tell what our favorite 10K/Wolf scenes were. Hmmm...my favorite Wolf scenes...uhm...every one he's in? OK, OK. I'll narrow it down to three. The scene that melts me: the barn scene...so much raw sexuality! I WANT HIM in that scene... [STOP IT!... calm down!] The scene that affirms his acceptance of his wolf side: the Hide 'n Seek scene. I don't see that scene as so overtly sexual as the barn scene! What I see there is him courting her as a wolf would his mate (A mating dance), and behaving in a playful predatory fashion. When he scrooches down and you see his eyes peering out from over those ferns...well, you just know. I knew, anyway! The scene in the cottage (the "fireside chat"): I see as evidence of how sensitive, intelligent, and intuitive he is. And I don't see this scene as necessarily a demonstration of "humanity"! In my work with animals, I have seen many similar sessions between mates, and close companions, in all the species I have had the privelege of being close to! Just because we don't hear human words, doesn't mean intimate communication isn't taking place! The cottage scene just shows a caring thinking being at work. I do feel that the qualities Wolf shows here (sensitivity, intelligence, intuition, and a measure of slyness), are the same ones he will utilize, albeit in a different way, much later in the story when he fools the Queen and saves everyone at the Coronation Ball.
I want to close these Wolf thoughts of mine by saying that I think; have always thought, that he is an extraordinary individual, probably among his own people as well as everyone else. I do not think his personality, thought, or behavior will necessarily be indicative of the wolfs as a people. How different from him they are is a matter for speculation, I think!

We have been discussing how Wolf seems to have many personalities. I myself see him as playing several roles, personifying several archetypes, that we find in fables and fairytales. He IS the Hero; he is also the beast/man (or man/wolf), he is also the Big Bad Wolf. Yet again he is the Trickster. I think his most important roles (most dominant personality traits) are the man/wolf and the Trickster ones. Wherever he is found; the man/wolf acts as a guide and healer. And the Trickster walks a balance between honorable and dishonorable traits: he's a romantic and a thief, a schemeing smooth-talker who will suddenly blurt out the truth, a "wise fool" if you will. Both these characters are the Hero of many tales from around the world.

(By the way, has anybody noticed how Mr. Cohen seems to have the uncanny ability to look like several different people, and works that into Wolf? If you don't believe it: look at some of these screensavers or wallpapers that people have on some of their sites: some of the montages look like there's at least a couple of different guys there, not all the same guy at all!)

To me it is plain that the insecurity and self-hateWolf displays at some points in the film come from his human side (as was alluded to by Mr. Cohen in one of his interviews). The animal side is the confident, street-wise, courageous side. It is also the intuitive side: Wolf is extremely intuitive (almost psychic, in my opinion!) when he is not trying to repress his animal side! I think this is why he is so messed up in Kissingtown, makes bad judgements: as someone pointed out: he couldn't even smell the Huntsman! He was trying his best here to act like a human man trying too woo and win a woman, instead of allowing his wolf instincts to tell him how to win his love. This is why he failed. The cub-like wonder and naivety are definitely animal (and most endearing to me), and I don't see him losing that as he matures and grows as an individual. Being "aware of wonder" is a trait that adult humans either lose or repress: and it is our loss! Adult animals don't lose this trait. I have worked with many elderly animals (and have a few now). I have a 28 year old mare who greets every day, every meal, every walk down the road (I take her for a walk every day: her arthritis is to bad for her to be ridden), with boundless enthusiasm. She greets every new experience with joy. I see this as one of the great blessings of animals: and something humans need to try to get back, somehow!

People who don't want Wolf to remain so much an animal seem to question the Hide N' Seek scene: they wonder what it "means"! Sometimes others do too...I have a hard time understanding this confusion myself, as it's crystal clear to me! ... I think everybody knows how I feel about the Hide 'n Seek scene, and what I think is going on there! After all, I wrote "Mating Dance" just because I felt so strongly about it being an affirmation of Wolf's acceptance of his Wolf side. He does become a mature being here: he has a mate now: with all the increased responsibility and status that entails. But I think that this also signals the completed integration of the parts of himself: he is a whole being now: yes - he has become the man/wolf. Which doesn't mean losing the cub-like capacity for wonder: rather it means that it becomes, along with instinct and intuition and having a tail, all a part of who he is. And all of it is good.

Wolf seems to be the least interested in money of the "Fab 4": I think because of how he seems to have lived; as well as who/what he is. I feel he primarily lives by his wits (or did before he was put in prison, anyway): he hunts for food or steals it: steals new clothes when he needs or wants them. His sole belongings are probably the clothes on his back and whatever he cares to keep in his pockets: necessities like a knife and whetstone, maybe a book tucked away somewhere. If he truly lives like people did in olden times he'll have a flint and tender with him too, and a drinking cup. If he spies some shiny little object somewhere (a watch? whatever) and takes a liking to it; I'm sure that finds it's way into his pockets also! That's a wolf trait. Since he is a bachelor wolf; I think he is a wanderer, and I don't think he sleeps in Inns every night. I'm sure he sleeps under his beloved stars most nights: finds a barn or abandoned cottage if the weather turns bad. This lifestyle is diametrically (sp?) opposed to that of Virginia and Tony. Sure, Wolf knows what money can buy: but he also knows he doesn't need it to live! I think this is why the money distresses him so much: that and the conflict winning it places him in! Between the two, it's no wonder he makes unwise decisions at Kissingtown.

In our discussion of the goings-on at Kissingtown, we have started wondering among ourselves exactly what Wolf means when he tells Tony that his intentions toward Virginia are "dishonorable". We have diverse and conflicting views on this, it seems. A lot of you seem to feel that the display of desire, either for romance, or for mating, by a wolf with a human female may constitute "dishonorable intentions" in the Kingdoms. I don't necessarily think that's true anyway ( I also don't think Wolf gives a fig for the conventions within the kingdoms!), but even if it were, the statement Wolf makes still doesn't wash! Now, it would if he were talking to Wendell, who is from the Kingdoms and familiar with the customs and laws there. But Wolf isn't talking to Wendell! He's talking to Tony. Tony isn't from the Kingdoms: he's not familiar with the rules and traditions there. And Wolf has had enough of a glimpse of Tony's world to know that it is quite different from the Kingdoms. Also I think Wolf reads Tony pretty well: he knows Tony doesn't think much of the way things are done, and a lot of the attitudes within the Kingdoms, himself. Why make a statement to Tony about dishonor that Tony doesn't even have a context for or agree with? No, I still can't figure the whole dishonor thing out to my own satisfaction! He could have even said it if he meant it literally, and tried to ravish Virginia on their date (which Wendell seems to think he will!). It wouldn't have been a nice thing to say, and I would have been disappointed in him, but it would have been true. But Wolf didn't do that: indeed he displayed very courtly manners on their date! Also, did anyone notice that Tony didn't act on Wolf's statement of dishonorable intentions? He just let them go off on their date! Seems like if he were concerned enough to ask he would have acted on an answer like the one he got! I think that is part of why the line seems to me like a thrown-in joke!

I do agree with those who think that Wolf could hardly keep from raping Virginia in that barn back in LLV. But hey: he didn't! I think that by managing to control himself there he really displayed a huge amount of respect, restraint, yes: honor (at least in my opinion), especially considering his condition! He neither raped anybody or ate anybody even in the throes of his full-Moon passion: a tremendous amount of self-control. Even if you consider him only thinking of these acts as being dishonorable: I don't believe that constitutes "intentions". Especially not after the fact.

As for Wolf not being truly in love with Virginia when he makes the "dishonorable" statement, I don't think that's true either! I see that a lot of you feel that his love didn't really mature and become "true" until after she broke his heart. I myself don't feel that way! I think that the time when his infatuation turned to love was during their "fireside chat" in Snow's old cottage. It is there that he gets his "reading" of Virginia, he knows that she is hurting, and that she is an innocent in all her mother's nefarious activities: indeed she doesn't know where her mother is, or that she's now this Evil Queen. That's when I think Wolf really "lets go" into love, and after that, there's no turning back for him. Virginia has him hook, line, and sinker.

One last thought on "dishonorable"- one member of our group has raised the question that perhaps Wolf realizes Tony just doesn't see he and Virginia as getting into an "adult" relationship? And wants to enlighten him to the possibility? I could entertain that as being plausible...odd way to do it though! And still, why doesn't Tony DO anything? Or react in some way?

Now, onto betrayal...I never for one moment thought that Wolf truly gave his will to the Queen! Not at the begining, not ever! When she lets him out of that prison cell at first: that weird dodgy shifty eye thing he does: that's a classic animal avoidance expression! Seen it a million times in wolves and horses. The NOT looking at her says it all to me. I think that the way Wolf has lived most of his life is a testimony to the biblical adage: "...take therefore no thought for the morrow, sufficient unto each day is the evil thereof..." (Matthew something [sorry!]). And he's just following that philosophy here: do anything, say anything, to get out now: worry about the rest later! I think that Wolf has a kind of consumate (sp?) faith in himself, and the powers of the universe, that he'll just be able to work things out. I don't think prison has effected this philosophy much for him, either: after all, he may have been working on some other way to get out (the magic bean in his pocket?), when this opportunity presented itself! When opportunity knocks, Wolf answers!
I feel that when Wolf again agreed to serve the Queen, sitting there on the ledge at Kissingtown, he was just doing the same thing again: agreeing just to buy himself some time to go off and lick his wounds, regroup, and "think about things". I think he has devoted his life to Virginia at this point: he just needs to figure out a different way to win her now: he certainly wants more than ever to protect her. He definitely could follow her, across time or anything else, and would. Remember: he is the one who says to himself that his life won't be worth living without her! He doesn't need anyone to tell him where she is: all he has to do is re-activate his wolf instincts, which I believe he does at this point, as I believe this heartbreak experience is the catalyst for him accepting himself as he is.
I stand by my opinion about his silence when Virginia tells him that she loves him! His eyes say it all in that scene: no words are needed! There are some things that overwhelm even us wordy exuberant folks! This is one. His eyes show his intense joy at this moment. Someone wondered about how Mr. Moore wrote that, or how it was in the book. Interestingly: it isn't IN the book! The scene cuts when Virginia declares her love, and cups her palm around his face. Those are the last words of a chapter in fact! No reaction on Wolf's part is given! So I believe that this emotion all belongs to Mr. Cohen's interpretation of Wolf, which I think is perfect. Because of this, I cannot believe he is playing to the audience at all here. He IS that character and the character's feelings. I don't think he's playing that to keep us guessing!
I stand by my ideas about hide 'n seek too. He is asking for a wolfy mating there, I think. It includes sex, but includes a lifetime commitment as well. I think that's why he changes his words: "..for me..." to "...with me..." , he realized that statement came out sounding like he thought she owed him. That's not what he means, or is asking for.

I think something else that happened after Kissingtown is Wolf realizes, in view of the way events are progressing, that he needs to plan what he will do a little more than he ever has before! The seat-of-the-pants thing won't work here: he has other lives to consider besides his own! The consequences are much bigger here, the stakes much higher, than anything he's ever been involved in before. He is realizing that he has to begin to take on the real responsibilities of being an alpha. I believe he well knows when he catches up to Tony and Virginia that he must get them inside the castle: that Virginia MUST confront her mother. He knows he will probably have to appear to betray them: he needs access to the Queen's trust for a while, once they're all there. He has to play both ends against the middle for everything to turn out just right! I agree with those among you who think he probably almost shoves Tony and Virginia thru the mirror when they find it: maybe as a fail-safe measure: maybe because he isn't sure he can pull off his elaborate scheme. I mean: think about what he's attempting here: this is an intrigue worthy of James Bond! This is big-league stuff; hardball. Then when the Queen walks in, well: he just goes for it for all he's worth: he plays that woman like a fiddle! With the snarls (I think the snarl was directed AT Tony and Virginia: gotta let the Queen know he really has a lot of disdain for these stupid humans he's just misled and betrayed, after all!) and the eyebrow thingy and the cute candy-eating trick and letting her pet him and all! And remember it gets even harder: he has to switch out that punch, and keep everyone in the kitchen thinking he's just the loyal little "Chief Wolf" (I love his talking to himself about how "... the farmers don't know what's gonna bite 'em...", just loud enough for those around to hear!). He has to maintain his air of complete loyalty to the Queen until things play out, however they do (because the one thing he can't effect too much is Virginia and her mother's reaction to each other).
On Virginia's reaction to all this: I can see being numb at that point: it's almost like Wolf's reaction to the declaration of love, you know? But the emotion is completely at the other end of the spectrum! As one of our members has pointed out: the book makes it more clear how Virginia feels inside. As it is seen in the film: it makes a perfect silent counterpoint to the other silent moment in the film. Extreme joy: extreme pain...there are no words for those, so: extreme silence.

Isn't it interesting how Wolf of the book is a different Wolf than Wolf of the film! Yes, the passage from the book where Wolf decides the psychiatrist isn't trying to seduce him might raise some eyebrows! But I think Wolf of the film is definitely a virgin! Now, that doesn't mean he hasn't engaged in some sex-PLAY before: young and unmated animals (and humans as well) often do! But I don't believe he's gone all the way. I believe the full Moon is a particularly hard time for him, though: I think (as I elaborated on in my long post about the Full Moon a month or so ago) that this is a time when he requires both a great deal to eat and then a sexual outlet: has gotten by in the past by fierce hunting and over-gorging himself, I think. I do feel that Full Moon Time is a time of particularly intense sexual expression among those of Wolf's kind who are mated. (And I myself am writing a story on that right now!) As for women throwing themselves at him: probably at least some half-wolf females have, and some human gals too if you take the behavior of those Peep heifers as any indication! 'Cause it's not like he's some mangy scruffy-lookin' old wolf either: he's a beautiful wolf! And that's where the sex-play probably came in! And I agree: he wasn't LOOKING for a mate going into this mess: most people or animals usually aren't when they meet theirs! He WAS instantly infatuated with Virginia when first he smelt her: indeed I think her smell is more important to him than her appearance! But I think it was just infatuation at first: my opinion is he fell completely in love with her after their conversation in Snow's old cottage. He had a pretty good reading on her there and after that he went on and let his guard down: let himself go and fell deeply in love. And when he and Virginia finally do make love, his dazed behavior afterwards supports this having been his first time! I know, I know...he could have just had a really mind-blowing monster orgasm (in fact I'm sure he did!): but still, he isn't collected at ALL there! He just hasn't done THAT before...the whole universe just went off on a different tangent for him! I'm surprised he can even walk!

If there is a race of beings like Wolf (and according to Simon Moore there are "...whole villages of quarter-wolfs and half-wolfs...") - how does he relate to females of his own kind? Pretty differently than to human women, I'll bet! Myself I think his confusion and craziness arises out of this indeed being a HUMAN female that he's fallen for! I think that wolfs generally mate within their race, and Wolf expects that if he ever mates, he will do the same! And I think that generally the wolfs see humans as prey: plain and simple. Otherwise why would the human populace of the Kingdoms hate and fear the wolfs so much? Not just because of a little sheep-worrying, oh no! There seems to be a long-standing loathing between these folks, and this would explain it! Does anyone here think Wolf would want to consume a half-wolf female? Does anyone here think that all the half-wolfs are male? If so: all these fellas have to go thru this mental mess to mate! And: male or female, some of the half-wolfs must go thru this, because there are those "villages of quarter-wolfs", which implies that some of the wolfs do choose human mates! I wonder if Wolf, and the others like him who have chosen to love a human, are violating a taboo, maybe a strong taboo: loving and mating (in other words, ultimately having relations with), what they should only be eating! Like the farm boy with the cow: the human taboo against "bestiality"! (And what would ya call that..."humanality"?) Now that is something that probably WOULD make him crazy! And cause him to be hated and ostracized by more than a few, of both races. And this is a possibility I see looming for Wolf and Virginia, at any rate! A lot of folks on both sides aren't gonna like it that they got together!
On whether Wolf was a Jekyll-Hyde ("Wolf White - Wolf Black": how lyrical! Thank you Meg: I love that! Wish I'd thought of it!)...he IS sort of played that way AT FIRST, but I see times when the two intersect: one that really stands out is when Our Heroes come to LLV and Wolf first spies those Peep hussies. Dinner or Date? Hmmm...the expressions on Wolf's face there are for me a combination of thunderstruck, amused, amazed, and aroused all at the same time! I have some beautiful pictures here on my website that Ruby let me use that show these expressions off really well: and they are among some of my favorite pictures of Wolf! I don't know how one guy can pack all that expression into one face, I really don't! But anyway I see what we might at first think to be a Jekyll-Hyde character bring both personalities together here. Soooo....I really don't think he is...unless he was temporarily and it's "cured" now? Hmmm...
No...I don't think the personality is "split" with the dividing line being food-sex. I think the dividing line is man-wolf, and that he DOES cure himself through the course of his quest via integrating the two, and accepting himself as a whole being: a man/wolf. Well, that's what I think, anyway!

We've started discussing the "rewards" meted out by Wendell after all is said and done, to his companions on the epic journey that is 10K...
I agree with several members of the group who feel that Wendell shory-changed Wolf there in the apology department! "Wolf and Wolf alone" IS responsible for saving all those royals from all the Kingdoms from a gruesome death by poisoning, and he really saved their Kingdoms as well, because the Queen had designs on all those lands that she surely would have implemented had she been successful in killing off the rulers. Even with the killing of the Queen, the death of the Royals would have left their Kingdoms in disarray if Wolf hadn't prevented it! But all of this never even is mentioned! The pardon seems almost a tokenistic gesture, doesn't it? A "...we'll do this and it seems grand but it's really pretty much meaningless"...sort of gesture! And I noticed the groans when Wolf received the pardon the first time I viewed 10K. I can only think that Wendell just still has some deeply-ingrained, cultural dislike of the wolfs. A formal apology, which is what Wolf richly deserves, is something that for some reason Wendell can't bring himself to give! I think that while politically it appears Wolf may have done a great deal to advance fair treatment for his people, in reality they still have a hard uphill battle ahead of them! Much like the civil rights movements in the US! And I don't know HOW the idea of humans being a natural food source for them could be rationalized: the wolfs would probably have to make compromises of their own, be willing to make concessions in that arena equal to any human concessions made to them!

NOTE TO READERS: I have not added anything to this page for some time, however I think I will go ahead and in the forseeable future archive all my remarks from "School of Thought" here, as I am considering moving the group from YahooGroups or deleting it. Late in this year of 2001 we are finding less and less participation within these groups. The fan base for 10th Kingdom seems to still be strong, but to have "changed venues" as it were, and people are not coming to the Yahoogroups for discussion anymore. So look for me to add a lot more of my thoughts here!