There are a couple nice things in amongst the craziness, aren't there?

I'm not sure the sets of 'nice things' and 'crazy things' are entirely disjoint...

Heh, I really don't think there's any salvaging Rani/Cardinal Richelieu, to be honest!

That wouldn't be reverse psychology you're using on me, would it?

(Also, that's v interesting - although I find I instinctively disapprove of people thinking Other Characters could be Elements!)

I can see one major problem with the theory: Sarah, Clyde, Rani and all the incidental characters made it to the end of the story in one piece :-)