Doing my Fall Project "Homework" This Weekend...

I haven't gone away; just being a good girl, and instead of tweaking [too much] with my blog this weekend, I'm doing my 'homework' that I need to do if I'm going to deliver up some meta-analysis and micro-analysis on Seeker, before the end of summer hiatus.

I've already put pen to paper (or keystrokes to word processor) on it; gathering the ideas in rough form as they feel like being spit out from my brain.

And homeworking.  (Which means:  Sitting and re-viewing episodes, with active viewing in mind, not merely passive - for entertainment purposes.)

I'm having fun at it.  :)

And kind of enjoying holding material back, only to blow it out onto the blog in beautiful, cascading form, to strike awe and wonder into the hearts of all who visit, when I finally do.  ...Hold your collective breaths...!
{Self:  Megalomania much?  >:D }

Shameless desire

Have I mentioned that I can't wait for my Legend of the Seeker Season 1 DVD to come, yet?

I haven't???

I can't wait for it to come.  Seriously.

I hope there are some nifty extras like cast interviews and (especially!) perhaps, their audition clips---That would be FABULOUS!!

OH OH...and an outtake reel!!!  A blooper reel!!  Ohhhs....!

Who is five years old right now?  I is five years old right now!!1!!

squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee !
squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee squee (!!!)


I am so glad that Bridget and Craig love their job so much; it makes it that much better and more fun to be all excited about it from the outside [of things], too.  They're excited; we're excited...it's like one great big ol' love-fest of excitement around here.


Think of it; the DVD goodness....

Just imagine looking at this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And of course some of this:

{Mmmmh...yums yums yums yums yums!!}

And absolutely, this:

 And this:

And totally some of this:

And this:

 

 

With some of this ~{Wizard!hugs}
~ thrown in, for good {Awww...} measure:





.....as much as you want.



Yep, before October 13th (or whenever my shipping speed finally gets it here...:(  ) rolls in, I'm going to squee myself to death.  No, no...that'll be when it does arrive.  Though perhaps before.  Antisqueepation, you know.

And to think, a few weeks ago I was above being so giddy.

Newest, Exciting Miscellany

Whellll !

I've been tweaking around with the blog's format and prettying it up [I hope], as well as pondering the whole bees' nest of Post Ideas that have been floating around in my head for some weeks, now.

Fomenting.

I like the word fomenting.

Ah; I just looked that up in my handy-dandy dictionary, and the word 'fomenting' slightly connotes stirring up trouble, such as incitement [like, toward riot].  Well, I wouldn't mind if these thoughts & plans I'm brewing end up a riot...just perhaps of a different kind!

But as this inner fomentation goes on, I realize I've slowed the posts.  However--I think that's O.K.

  DO NOT be discouraged !...yet !

The reason not to worry?

Whenever I foment, good things are happening, beneath the surface.  Not unlike a volcano, before it erupts--except this is in a good way.

As I mentioned before, via the web I'm now all the way through Season 1 of Legend of the Seeker.  I have been for more than a couple of weeks, now.  And ever since, a meta-analysis of sorts has been congealing, in its diffuse fashion, way within the folds of the ol' grey matter, up there.  My brain is stoked, basically; excited by the end of all things [er...conclusion of Season 1], and fired up with all the possibilities of meta-analysis and overarching themes--while at the same time, I'm still reeling over so much of the micro-details and little, bit-part, exciting things that I've noticed, want to go over again to pick apart & notice, and want to share and point out about several of the last individual episodes.

While it is not my intention to do [-nor ever was-] a full episode-by-episode review, I feel I may end up going over a lot, regardless, before the end.

The end of what, do you ask?  The summer.  Well, "the summer" as in:  That time period when TV shows go on their hiatus and we watch re-runs for x months of the year.
I have until November 7th [Hark! All ye! -SEEKER premiere!].

Before that date, my brain had better cough up what it's fomenting, or I - we - are all lost, dear ones.
Okay, you will be lost less than I.  You have other options.  I get that.  I'mma big girl.


SO...it's like Fall Project time here, in my neck of the woods.  Which is why you may see it be a little slower posting, until my project comes due.  My brain is a little overstimulated and glutted with all of the information and excitement that's come with its concluding the first Seeker season.

There is seriously much gold to mine.  *glints in eye*

For anyone hoping for material that broaches walls past my one current TV show lovbsession, I think there is hope lurking in the wings for you, too.  My brain foments that-a-way, as well.  So long as you don't mind your psychology and personality theory tinged with Seeker [because I am nowhere near over it]...you'll live.

Fun with 'Seeker' Anagrams! -or- I, WordNerd - Pt.1

Have you heard of anagrams? I hadn't, once upon a time. Here's what they are:

anagram (AN-uh-gram)

noun: A word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase.

verb: To rearrange letters in such a way. To anagrammatize.

And at the same site as that definition links to, you can play with and enter your own names, phrases, & whatnot for the Internet Anagram Server to serve up hours of fun madness for you!

Here's a sampling of my blog name's results [I've chopped it] so that you get an idea::

for "KatLan Stew":


187 found. Displaying all: -Some.
Ankle Watts
Ankles Watt
Anklet Twas
Anklet Swat
Latte Swank
Wattle Sank
A Stalk Newt
A Walks Tent
A Talk Newts
A Walk Tents
A Tanks Welt
A Stank Welt
A Tank Welts
Lank Sat Wet
Lank Tats We
Lank Stat We
Lank At Stew
Lank At Wets
Lank At West
Stalk Tan We
Stalk Ant We
Stalk At New
Talks Tan We
Talks Ant We
Talks At New
Talks At Wen
Walks At Net
Walks At Ten

_____________________________________________

There!  Now you appreciate both what anagrams are, and how much of a mixed bag a computer program which finds them can serve up at you.

Often in order to find something worthy or funny, you have to scan through them and rearrange which words you want first, or maybe take the plural 's' off of one of the words, to add it to another.  Either way, the Anagram Server is doing the hardest of the work for you.

_____________________________________________

And now...KatLan Stew's
Fun with 'Seeker' Anagrams!

Anagrams for:"Legend of the Seeker":

Threefold Geek Seen

Hero Legend: Eek!-Fest

Geek Defense - Her Lot

_____________________________________________

Anagrams for: "Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell":

Heels Charlatan Menfolk Morons

Sacrament Flesh - Halo, Loner Monk?

All Flesh Sacrament, Hero:  Monk On

Nook, or Sacrament Flesh? Man Hell.

Flesh Manacle.  No Hormonal Treks.

--what Zedd tried to warn Richard about Kahlan

Thanks, Romeo-lorn Flesh Manacle!

 --what a sarcastic Richard might say to Kahlan if she boffed, & accidentally confessed, him.

Nonchalant Seeker:  Hmm...Sofa Roll?

--Richard plotting

Seeker Nonchalant As Of Roll.  Hmm.

--Kahlan's after-deed thoughts

Seeker:  Nonfatal Collars, Hmm, Hon?

 --[book]Richard's suggestion to Kahlan  -or- Richard's *interested* response to K's suggestion of Rada'Han funtimes

_____________________________________________

Anagrams for: "Richard Cypher":

Charred Chirpy

--lols. :)  I couldn't help it; I just think it sounds hilarious.

Rich Her Cry Pad

--AWWWWWs!

I Hard Cry Perch

--Yes he is.  <:)

Chap Rid Her Cry

--*Nice chap*

_____________________________________________

Anagrams for: "Seeker Richard Cypher":

Derriere Hacker. -Psych!

--lols.  This one was just one of the best, period.

Creep Shirked Archery

--what jealous old Hartland buddies might say

Archery? Heck, Reprised.

--Richard's reply

_____________________________________________

Anagrams for: "Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander":

Curried?!  Dazzle!  Zounds!

--something Zedd might say, when excited, eating.

Crazed Sizzled Duo Urn

--something Zedd might have buried the remains of Kieran & Viviane in, if he'd roasted them with Wizard's Fire

Rid Crazed Duo's Nuzzle!

 --Zedd's mantra while obsessed with infiltrating the crypt to perform a 'Zeddicus interruptus'

Sizzle Our Zen, Add Crud

--pouty Richlan-speak for: Zeddicus interruptus BAD!

I Add Crud; Zero Nuzzles!!!

--what Zedd might bark back at them

A special thank you to the Internet Anagram Server for its contribution to this post. ♥

The Glamourous Life of An Actor -OR- Horrible Questions I Can't Help But Ask

Ummmm-kay:

Today's question does have to do with Legend of the Seeker...of course; and this horrible thought came to me watching episode 3, Bounty.

The scene:

 [The bottom version is how it appeared in-episode; but I'm giving you the flipped version on top so you can see their faces without craning your neck.  Aren't I nice?]

The very first question is for Bridget:  And it's embarrassing.  For silly and pointless reasons [as if a Google search can't see around shade-boxed text when its 'bots crawl the web, and drag it out for God and everybody to see in bold, jumbo font (if it wanted to) anyway]-- I am going to shade-box it, like folks do for spoilers.


1.  Bridget--in Bounty, where you guys have to hang upside down because the three of you get caught in a rope trap, how the heck did you keep the cleavage in???  My first thoughts were of this, being a girl, and eminently aware of the laws of physics of such matters.  Wonderbra nuthin'--that would not (alone) do the trick....  I was trying to imagine myself in that position and had horrible visions of Super Glue; barbed-wire edged bras with teeth that bit into...you know...; and/or, male-kind's favorite solution to any trouble that ails you:

Duct tape.

{I am going to have some keen nightmares tonight; I can already *cringe* feel it.}

2.  Trying to ponder this, my second thought and wonderment was:  Hey, wait a minute...wouldn't Kahlan's dress be falling over her head, too?
But then I thought:  Okay, it is within the realm of reasonability to figure that the rope trap caught the bottom hem of Kahlan's woods-dress, and neatly snugged it around her ankles.  Okay: given.


3.  But THEN, I noticed everyone's hands [and arms]...when you're hanging upside-down, your arms are going to naturally just flail down below you (over your head, that is)...not stay clinging to your side.  Everybody's arms were nearly stock-straight at their sides.

I had a moment of actually wondering if you all weren't really hanging upside down, but that it was a camera trick.  [Because the producers couldn't really be that cruel, could they??  I mean, your ankles & legs/feet would really start to hurt (no matter what you were hanging from)...and...you'd kind of start feeling like you wanted to pass out, after a time, wouldn't you?...and...the boobages problem!?!]

But everyone's hair was hanging down, per gravity....

And finally, I saw a clip online of cast interviews, where it shows the three of you in that very scene...and we get to see that you all are, in fact, hanging upside down.  Very much so.  [Poor guys!]  [Or, wait a moment...they didn't have stunt doubles do that, did they?  It is very hard to tell exactly who you're looking at, recognizing them & all, when they're hanging upside-down....  Hmmm.]

So, if there's a question here in #3 at all, I guess, it's:

a) what in the world reason for the direction to hold your arms at your sides, pointing toward your feet, and not letting them fall over your heads (per gravity)?

b) were those stunt doubles, being filmed, that I saw?
Edit:  Okay, I got a closer look and can see that it was indeed the three of you [re-posted with pic, above].


Final commentary:

That has to be one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen!  I hope you guys can take heart [if those weren't your stunt doubles] that it was well worth it.  Classic!  :D

Legend of the Seeker: Craig Horner

Alright.  There is something that HAS to get straightened out regarding Craig Horner.

And I would like you to think a minute on these things, first:

1. [The show's] Editing/Editor(s)
   
2. Viewer population demographics (possibly what the majority is, or is likely to swing toward)
3. the Role.  What is being played/portrayed, in any given instance.

Finally having gotten through the last episode of Season 1, and having had a chance to watch Craig develop the role of Richard (or portray Richard's development, as possibly planned by the writers), I was struck--somewhere between a re-viewing of Listener [ep.5] and for every episode from Sacrifice [ep.10] thereafter--by the realization that all of the not-really-complimentary online babble about Craig's acting was, in fact, mistaking not liking his [or 'the'] portrayal of young/immature/beginner-Seeker Richard, and those qualities that young, "puppy" Richard had--for Craig's acting quality or skill in general.

Everyone who talked about it seemed to think that somewhere "after Denna" [ep.8] Craig 'grew up,' or matured, as an actor.
After doing careful watching and discerning, and especially after seeing something in Listener [far before Denna] that I hadn't caught or paid enough attention to, before, I re-evaluated the similar opinion I'd had.

Watching later episodes solidified it; it really helped.

Craig's got acting chops.  Fine ones.  Watch Listener, and watch it carefully.  Then move on ahead from just about Sacrifice onward, and compare that.  Watch him.  One of the things that I mentioned above is not going to be working in his favor.  Actually, two of them, sort of; conjointly.

One of the reasons that it's harder to catch Craig's skill and his finer moments is -in my opinion- unfortunately, editing.
Though there be many, many women like me watching LoTS, I still think the young(ish) male population is larger, by a bit.  And Bridget is undeniably lovely; not to mention riveting and skilled at keeping you emotionally invested and kind of captivated.  And savvy TV producers who know their majority audience and what that audience wants to look at are not such fools as to not take to good advantage such excellent catnip an asset.
I think I was watching Conversion, and admiring Craig's beautiful expression when Kahlan finally shakes out of the Con Dar [it's several seconds' worth, but it gets broken up]--and I couldn't help but notice:  Gosh, the cameramen favor Bridget!  I mean, we know that this episode is kind of Kahlan's thing--well, a little more so, anyway--it's Con Dar-pivotal, so that makes its theme quite a bit Kahlan-centric [even though major things are happening for both Richard & Kahlan, in this episode; it matters (I think) both more to us, and to Richard, even, what's happening in that dungeon torture-room with Kahlan than what becomes of this particular chance at killing Darken Rahl]

I was amazed, once I started paying attention to it [primarily because I noticed some fine acting by Craig and was trying to focus on it and take Richard's reactions in], at how the camera totally lingered over Kahlan's face.  And kept going back to it.

I know her reactions are important, and we want to see what's going on in her, but I really had a desire to see it more balanced, after more watchings.  They did pretty good- that is, they lingered on Richard's face and reactions a little more than they usually do -but I don't think it was balanced.  Craig really shined, here, and I wanted to linger over his face longer, and absorb that [what he was doing, there. (-It was heartbreaking...!)].  You can really see his [Richard's] fear, and how much he loves her.  I'm getting all verklempt thinking about it.  <:}

[If you haven't ever noticed how good he is at getting the ol' tears in the eyes, you need to pay more attention.  Again, each time I keep going back for repeated viewings of specific parts, I just keep noticing it here and there, more and more.  Again--I don't wish to insult or harp on anybody, or cause argument or malcontent/division--but, pay attention to perhaps the editing choices.  If it cuts away or loses Richard, right when Craig is doing something kind of special--but it's not getting focused on.]

The thing is, as I first wrote, above, there is probably a slight to moderate (or greater?) male-viewership majority, still--and I don't think very many [in the heterosexual population thereof, anyway] men want to linger long moments over the male lead's face, & absorb his emotions.  Supposedly that's girly stuff.  [NOT.  But... ahem.]  They would appear [and I get this from reading male viewers' blog & online commentary, okay?] to want to mainly see the male lead whacking on legions of baddies.  And 'progress the plot.'  [ Yatta, yatta.  Men and their always wanting to progress the plot.  "It did/didn't progress the plot; whah whah whah...!"  Bleh.  ;)  Do you know how boring you are?]

So I think the production team is just being attuned to this.  And as far as that [still probable] male-majority-viewership goes, any Bridget is good Bridget...so it doesn't matter if Kahlan's being all emote-ey, or kicking ass, or doing whatever...just keep the camera plenty on her, and you'll have rendered that population more than reasonably happy.

Anyway, I wanted to make this point solidly, because I feel quite certain that Craig's had the shorter end of the stick, through most of Season 1.

And seeing his portrayal of Richard as Richard "grows" through the first year has convinced me that the first handful of episodes were being played as a young, immature Richard- deliberately.  And you can say that you didn't like how 'puppy Richard' was portrayed [or perhaps written], but what you are viewing [I think] was a characterization choice; not a reflection of Craig's acting skills.


I think Craig has proven that.

Edit: See what he has to say here, in this interview.  I think this confirms it:

 "What’s great is in 22 episodes, I can take him from boy to man."

Regardless, 'young Richard' is no more.  :)  We get to see Craig be cool.

Craig, you've earned my respect and I will very much enjoy watching what you have to do with Richard as time goes on.

Props! and hugs,
KtL

A Richard/Kahlan video for your viewing pleasure

Found another extremely well-made and beautiful video...this one's Richard/Kahlan 'shippy.

{Please let it get to {2:04}-that's where the song hits its stride & is good! Even I love & have this song, but don't love it until then.}




:)  Only the best for you, Precious.




*Song= My Skin /Artist= Natalie Merchant /Video artist=Elyoon64

Hearting Bridget Regan again: Her love & portrayal of Kahlan

RE: This:

"...I have fallen head over heels in love with Kahlan and that’s what makes the job so good..."

in an interview at SFUniverse.com.

--Meeee tooooo!!

Except, you know, I am loving her Kahlan even more than book-Kahlan.  Maybe it's because I'm better at seeing a character interpreted, than picking up an interpretation from a book.  I had a hard time loving book-Kahlan; maybe because honestly my first exposure was the TV show, seeing Bridget "be" Kahlan...and then I picked up books 1 & 2.  For some reason it was harder to love book-Kahlan, afterward.

There was something missing from her, for me.

I'll figure out what it is, over time, I'm sure, but for now, I can list these as differences [strictly my personal take & opinion]:

• the quality of Kahlan's vulnerability & toughness

 Having started with Bridget's K., when I started to read Wizard's First Rule, book-K. seemed, well...I don't know...awfully...wimpy.  Like, immediately terrified and clinging to Richard.  And very unabashed about verbalizing her fearfulness/vulnerability.  [I could quote passages for examples, but I'm not going to.  If you've read the book, I think you'll be able to bring them to mind.  If you haven't, you're going to have to go read it; I can't help you.]

As much as book-K. is supposed to be this worldly-wise Confessor who's seen it all, and learned some of the harshest realities and survival instincts from her great war-general [king] father...and as tough as she demonstrates she has the capability of being in Stone of Tears, the beginning chapter(s) of WFR are strange and make Kahlan seem as if she's pandering to the masculine protectiveness thing in Richard, for some bizarre reason.  If you've read through Stone of Tears and then go back to this, it doesn't seem to fit.

Knowing that Kahlan is braver and tougher than that [as shown in numerous examples in the books later on], it makes me respect book-K. a little less.

(I kind of feel about it the way I did about girls who went all "girly" in high school...only when there were boys around.

Blech.

Then they reverted back to being respectable, fairly normal human beings when the boys left.  I never could respect women who lost their identity in the presence of the opposite sex....)

I know that this probably isn't what book-K. is supposed to be doing, in those first few chapters; but I can't help how it strikes me & the impression it left.


--> In contrast, Bridget's K. is somehow more vulnerable, while wearing it less.  Does that make sense?  From Bridget's K. I get a sense of a woman whose 'toughness' comes out of the strength of the courage of the heart; out of conviction:  Right and wrong; good, bad; moral and evil; righteous and just vs. corrupt and unjust, or what's twisted, in the purity of its values.  Her courageousness seems to come out of righteous anger and the disregard of the need of sparing or protecting her own life.

(While this is the underlying theme for book-K., I can see it come out, more visibly & obviously, in Bridget's K.)


Underneath this, in the show, as we get to know some of Kahlan's background more, we can see that there is a lot of history, and reason enough for a lot of vulnerability.  [Especially thinking of the episode Listener; ep.5]  I find Bridget's K.more vulnerable because she's full of heart; but bears up under it [its vulnerability] proudly.  It takes a very special person for her to let be seen just how vulnerable and on-her-own she does feel.
Contrast to book-Kahlan who is nearly flying apart at the handles by Ch.1? 2? to a complete stranger (as Richard is, at that point) grabbing his lapel and [though gritting her teeth,] nearly crying and telling him she's "scared to death" (or something close to this) of another quad.  {This was at Richard's brother's party.}


As for the vulnerability of Bridget's K., I feel like we're let in to see it more slowly, over time.  She takes her time to really let Richard see much of her vulnerability, in particular.  Perhaps it's how they're writing the series, but in the show they really start out with Kahlan kind of being a guide (in more than just a "trail-finder" sense of the word) to Richard; she almost kind of raises him into the Seeker he's destined to be, in a way, at first.  Whereas in the book you get this turn-around where you feel like Richard metaphorically (and literally) takes her by the hand, and is the 'leader,' early on.  Even though Kahlan is supposed to be quite a few legs up on him in both experience, knowledge, and understanding [basically, all things], once they are into the Midlands.*

*Hmm...these thoughts are leading me more and more into reminders of what's been said by other [female] book readers: subtle sexism, kind of.  At least when Richard's character is around (i.e., Kahlan's not apart from him, even if in the presence of other males).  It kind of makes me think this interaction habit, then, is one of Terry Goodkind's romantic "male hero = protector-to-heroine/love interest" fantasies.   :(   Bleh.  S'fine if that's what floats your boat for you, Terry, but you can't expect the rest of us [especially the women] not to get bored.


Anyway, all that aside, another quality Bridget I think brings in, to Kahlan, is showing her heart through a penchant to worry.

I don't remember really reading 'worry' type thoughts in book-K., apart from the persistent fear that Richard would find out her 'secret,' and that she felt it was such a bad thing (what she was).

Bridget's K. doesn't seem to share really that same quality of worry about her powers--not in the sense that what she is is something shameful, or bad--more just that what/how that limits what her interaction/relationship to Richard can be, and how he might take that, will make things awkward and also affect him.  I don't quite get the same sense from Bridget's K. that she has this background fear that what she is is something horrible/shameful.  Ah!--Stigma.  That is the word I am looking for.  That she doesn't feel such a sense of bearing some kind of stigma for what she is; only the awkwardness she feels about it in relation to Richard.  You kind of get a sense that Bridget's K. takes Confessorship [new word] in stride, more; she's fairly used to & comfortable in her skin (again, outside of Richard); whereas book-K. wears it a bit mantle-like, like a martyr about it.  Kind of "I hate it; look at me do my job...!"

Bridget-K.'s reservations about her powers (outside of Richard) seem to have more to do with the moral weight/burden of how to use her power, when, why, how often, and all of the repercussions.  It's not quite the same quality as book-K does, as 'sensing yourself as' something "terrible."  Bridget/show-K. doesn't internalize it.  Only the moral magnitude of it [which book-K. does as well, but, plus the additives].

Oddly enough, Bridget's-K. only really senses a real 'horror of herself' when she comes under the Con Dar; book-K. doesn't react this way to going into the Con Dar at all [that I recall...].  She's too pissed about Richard's supposed murder.

While on the show Richard's life was only threatened (that Kahlan knew of), she didn't think he was already dead--and while I suppose that makes the circumstances precipitating the Con Dar a little different--it still does not change the fact that what freaked Bridget's-K. out was the loss of a feel for herself, and of control; and book-K. did not have this.
That's a distinct difference.

Though I can understand the lack of care for what one may do, when in a rage over one's loved one's death, and can understand book-Kahlan for this, and her mentality--somehow I like Bridget's Kahlan better for being horrified over losing control over a power she knows bears so much weight; magnitude. -That eradicates and obliterates souls & lives.  It makes her more likable to me, as a person.  I can empathize with her in that.

You get the sense that while protecting innocent people and protecting lives is important to both, in Bridget's K. it seems to touch Kahlan's heart, more.  (Perhaps I needed to get further than book 2, but I kind of don't think so.)  For some reason it still kept feeling to me that book-K cared, but was a little removed, inside, at least in a heartfelt (rather than moral-indignation feeling) sort of way--and again, I kept mostly feeling that it was righteous rage combined with doing her duty; and sort of the 'burden of her birth.'


More (maybe) later, as this is already pretty long, but,  in short, I can admire the character of Kahlan Amnell for how Bridget is interpreting her.  I feel like she brings out all the best that Kahlan is, or should be--and that she's interpreted well--by a woman (which I think is key; & really important).  I love her moral strength, and heart, and lack of self-concern.  The only emotion that she allows herself 'selfishly' is to have a vulnerability where Richard is concerned; to love him, and be deeply in love with him.  And even that, I feel I can believe, she would sacrifice, if she had to, for the need of the world, and so many people who had no other hope than her coming through, and bringing the Seeker to the fulfillment of his goal.  She wouldn't sacrifice the hopes of so many for her own happiness.

I know you love book-Kahlan, Bridget...but -[forgive me]- to me, book-Kahlan is a little whiny.  And a little resentful/selfish, and a bit of a martyr.

You're doing her the way she'd want to be.  :)
Don't worry; we can still see she's human (or, Confessor-human).  I can just like her more, this way.