I love finding great deals on dolls, but every now and then, I splurge. For me, Enterbay's Real Masterpiece Kevin Durant figure was a splurge. I tried to talk myself out of wanting him. I tried to let some time pass in the hopes that I would forget that I wanted him. Weeks later, I still wanted him. So, he's mine. I did find him at a slightly discounted price.
The box is large and heavy, which gave me the feeling of anticipation that I was in for a treat.
And I definitely was in for a treat. This figure comes with 2 head sculpts (a serious face and a posing face - both an amazing likeness), a 13" body with 30 points of articulation, 10 interchangeable hands, a Spalding basketball, an NBA MVP trophy, an authentic uniform with socks and sneakers, a pair of basketball tights, and a stand.
Here he is out of the box. My photos do not do him justice. The detail on this figure and his accessories are incredible. His 30 points of articulation allow him to pose very realistically, and he's able to hold his poses well.
Here's a close-up. The head sculpt is hand-painted with what is described as a newly developed "multi layer" paint application.
Here's a look at his second head sculpt. I was thinking of getting a second tall body for this sculpt, but I don't know if I want a figure to permanently have this expression on his face. On the other hand, I don't really see myself swapping out the head on this figure with any regularity, so I may as well get the extra body so that this head won't go to waste. What do you think?
His upper body has just enough articulation to pose naturally while remaining aesthetically pleasing. His torso has extremely detailed tattoos.
His lower body poses very well. He has double jointed knees and his joints are nice and stiff, so he can really hold a variety of poses very well. He can even hold a squatting position. The appearance of his double jointed knees does not bother me, but if they did I could simply put his basketball tights on him to cover them up.
Here he is holding his trophy. As with all of his accessories, the trophy is very realistic and detailed.
Here he is in a seated position. You can kind of see the NBA logo on one of his socks in this shot. I tried to get a good clear close-up of his socks and shoes, but failed. His shoelaces look real, but they are plastic (which is good for me because the older I get, the less patience I have for tiny doll shoelaces). Both socks have the NBA logo. His black socks have not stained his legs or feet.
Kevin is the tallest of my 1/6 scale guys. It looks to me like Darius Reid is looking a little sad in the photo below. Perhaps it's that he's not used to looking up at someone. Or could it be that he senses that his position as the favored doll in my collection is now tenuous at best?
My tall ladies are thrilled to have another tall guy around (and such a handsome one, at that).
Overall, I am thrilled with this figure. He is sturdy, well-made, realistic, aesthetically pleasing, and basically everything that I want in a doll. The only downside is that I will have to search very hard to find clothes for him to wear. I'll accept that challenge, though.
I am disappointed with my photos for this blog entry. Normally I think that my photos are okay for the purposes of this blog, but I really wish that I could show you the detail that I see when I look at this figure. I don't have the lighting or the equipment (or the skills) necessary to truly capture all of the details and the wonderful quality of this figure.
Nervousness. That's what Palmer was feeling at that moment as he sat on the couch with Zalika. He asked himself how he could be nervous in this moment, when he can be so calm and cool when speaking in front of thousands of people. He put his hand in is pocket where he was keeping the ring that he had purchased for her. He wanted to ask her right now. He wanted to skip everything else and just ask her, but he knew that was an emotional response, and he was determined that he would act rationally, as always.
Palmer had known that he wanted to be President one day from a young age. His father and his uncle (who had been a politician) encouraged him, led him, and gave him advice. They always stressed to him to think rationally, even when faced with circumstances that would normally elicit a very emotional reaction. They advised him not to act out in anger, not to ever cry, and not to even express too much joy. They said that others would see strong emotional reactions as a sign of weakness. So Palmer had learned from an early age how to compartmentalize his emotions. He dealt with situations very calmly and rationally, and dealt with the emotional elements later. Even when Palmer's father had died when Palmer was a young man, Palmer never once cried. He took care of all of the arrangements, and others commented on how strong he was. Palmer felt that the most fitting tribute that he could give to his father was to not cry over his death.
So he would have this conversation with Zalika very calmly and very rationally. He would tell her what to realistically expect going into a relationship with him, and would also give her worse case scenarios. The time for showing emotions would come late. And Zalika knew him. She had seen him angry, sad, and extremely happy. He felt that he didn't have to hide any part of who he was from her.
Zalika said "So let's get this over with." Zalika launched into telling Palmer personal details from her past, and Palmer calmly listened.
The things that she told him were mostly things that they had already discussed (in the form of Zalika telling him humorous stories). There were a few surprises. He didn't know about the photos that she had taken for a former boyfriend.
Palmer: You need to tell me his name. Zalika: Why? Palmer: I need the name. Zalika: I haven't even talked to him in I don't know how many years! I wouldn't even know any of his contact information. Palmer: I just need the name. Trust me on this, okay? Zalika [hesitantly]: His name is Calvin... Palmer: Write it down for me, please.
Zalika did what Palmer asked. She did trust Palmer, but the thought of handing him that information made her nervous. Why did he need that, she wondered.
Zalika sat quietly for a moment, trying to find the words for what she needed to tell him next. Palmer said "There's more." It was more of a statement than a question, but Zalika nodded her head rapidly, and then continued to sit in silence.
Palmer calmly stated "I know that this is hard, and believe me I wish that we didn't have to have this conversation. But the reality is, when I run for President, there will be individuals who will make it their mission to dig up dirt on you, and they will use that information to paint you in a negative light. They will be ruthless in how they find their information. Interviews with people from your past, school records, even medical records. They may come up with a partial truth, and they will fill in the rest with lies. And then you could find yourself in a situation where you can't even address the lie, because then you would have to acknowledge the small amount of truth. And they will come up with horrendous headlines in order to sell papers or get hits on their sites. If you've ever tried drugs, they will call you an addict. If you've ever been treated for depression, they will call you mentally ill or crazy. If you've ever terminated a pregnancy, they will call you..." Palmer stopped, but Zalika filled in the blank by quietly saying "Babykiller" as she stared into Palmer's eyes. He looked at her and said "They will call you that, and worse."
In that moment, Zalika knew that Palmer was already privy to information that no one was supposed to ever know about her, and he'd had that information before she'd had a chance to tell him. Her eyes immediately welled up with tears. Of course they had run a background check on her, why wouldn't they? Palmer sometimes talked about the background checks that would routinely run on others who came close to him, why not her? Zalika began to cry.
Palmer immediately put his arms around her and pulled her close. He felt so helpless in that moment. He would've done just about anything to wipe away her pain, so knowing that he was the cause was particularly difficult. He told her "You know I would never have ordered a background check on you. It's my people...it's just what they do. I trust you. You've never lied to me" He felt her nod her head. He said "None of that stuff matters to me. Nothing that you've said and nothing that they've said have changed my feelings for you. You are not alone in this. I'm right here with you. You know that I will defend you. You know that I will try my best to prevent others from trying to trash your name. You know that!"
Zalika raised her head and spoke. "If you defend me, for some people that will be the same as saying that you condone everything that I've ever done. It could become a distraction in your campaign. You would lose votes because of me, and I just couldn't live with myself knowing that!"
Palmer spoke calmly and reassuringly to Zalika, and told her that it would all be okay, that things would be difficult at times, but that everything would all work out. Zalika kept shaking her head. "I can't. I just can't."
"What if you didn't run for President? What if you remained in politics, but just did not run for President?" Zalika heard her own voice saying those words, but could not believe they had actually come out of her mouth. Palmer looked like he crumpled a little upon hearing those words. He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "I've wanted to be President since I was 10 years old. I've been groomed for politics since I was a child. I've spent my life trying to make the right decisions and trying to align myself with the right people. I feel with ever fiber of my being that I am on the right path, and that things are working out in such a way for a reason. Being President is more than just an aspiration for me, I feel that it is my destiny. I have to at least try." Zalika said "I know, and I believe that you will win."
Zalika stood up and Palmer looked startled. He said "This doesn't have to be the end for us. I'm not running for President right away." Zalika said "I can't be in a relationship that has an expiration date. This is too hard." Palmer stood up and took Zalika in his arms. "I don't..." he heard his voice tremble, so he took a moment, cleared his throat, and started again. "I don't want to lose you. I love you."
Zalika had often imagined what it would be like the first time she heard the words "I Love You" from Palmer. She had always known that he loved her, he said it in so many ways other than just those 3 little words. Never had she imagined that the first time she would hear him say the actual words would be as they were saying goodbye. Zalika said "And I love you. I've loved you since the day we met, and I never believed that was even possible until I met you.
Palmer held Zalika close, and he kissed her. She kissed him back, and then tearfully said "Goodbye, Palmer. You will always have my vote."
Palmer and Zalika have been dealing with a lot of pain since the break-up. Check out their latest video, "Unbreak My Heart" (with vocals by yours truly).
As Adele and Darius were having their discussion in the church office, Palmer and Zalika were having a discussion of their own. They chatted about the long drive to Morristown, about the wedding, about Adele and Darius, and about themselves. The conversation between them flowed very naturally, and they made each other laugh. They felt comfortable together and enjoyed each other's company.
When many of the other guests began to leave the church, Palmer became a little concerned. He asked Zalika if Adele and Darius had told her where they would be. Zalika shook her head "no". Palmer asked if they had told Zalika how long they would be, and Zalika shook her head "no" again. Palmer then asked Zalika what exactly Adele had said. Zalika straightened up and became very rigid, raised her head and looked down her nose at Palmer, and said in her best Adele imitation "MISS, I need to speak with Darius. Right now. ALONE." Palmer laughed and said "That was a pretty good imitation." Zalika shrugged her shoulders and laughed.
Later, Palmer suggested that maybe Darius and Adele had gone back to the limo. Zalika and Palmer walked outside but did not see the limo. Palmer said that he thought that the driver had parked just down the street, and the couple walked the short distance and found the limo. "Let's just wait for them here." Zalika suggested. "Ok" Palmer said as he reached for the fully stocked bar. During the drive to Morristown, Zalika had suggested that they all have a drink before the wedding, and Adele and Darius had both balked at the idea. Zalika had later apologized to Darius, thinking that perhaps her suggestion had been inappropriate since they were on their way to a church. "Oh no, it's not THAT", Darius had said. "I didn't want to be in a moving vehicle with open containers, when there was a chance that some of it could spill on my clothes. I'm sure Adele felt the same way."
Palmer found some champagne in the limo's bar and grabbed a couple of glasses. He opened the bottle and poured them both a glass. Then he proposed a toast: "To Rod and Danielle - I don't know them but they seem nice. I wish them much happiness." Zalika raised her glass and said "To Rod and Danielle!" and they drank. Zalika said "I propose a toast to Darius and Adele - may they both someday love another person as much as they love themselves. And their clothes. And their shoes. And their money. And..." they both began to laugh. Palmer raised his glass and said "To Darius and Adele!" and they drank. They continued on in this way for quite some time. The more time passed, the sillier the toasts became, and the more they laughed.
They were still laughing about Palmer's last toast when Zalika said "To Laverne and Shirley - schlemiel schlemazel!" They both cracked up laughing even more. Palmer said "To Laverne and Shirley!" and they drank while trying not to choke on their drinks between their laughter. Palmer raised his glass again and said "Ok, I've got a good one. To... US." Zalika was taken by surprise. She had expected to hear something silly that would make her laugh. She wondered if Palmer was just joking, but by the look on his face, she could see that he was sincere. She smiled broadly and raised her glass and said "To us." And they drank. And then their champagne glasses fell to the floor as they leaned forward and kissed passionately.
Was it the champagne that had lowered their inhibitions? Were they moving too fast? In that moment, they did not care. All they knew was that being together in that way was far more intoxicating than the champagne. As they began to undress each other, they gave no thought to where they were. They just wanted to be together right then. They both felt that this moment was like a dream.
If it was a dream, then they were suddenly rudely awakened when the limo door flung open and they saw Darius and Adele standing there. Adele let out an audible gasp, and they all froze for a moment with startled expressions on their faces. Palmer grabbed his jacket and covered Zalika as she shrieked "Close the door!!!"
Darius and Adele were invited to attend the wedding of Rod and Danielle, but broke up prior to the big event. While devastated by the break-up, Adele wanted to go to the wedding to support her friends. Although she would not admit it, she also wanted to impress all of the guests, so that word would get back to Darius that she has moved on and that she is doing (and looking) great. She invited Palmer to be her date for the event.
Darius heard about Adele bringing a date and, not to be outdone, decided to bring a date of his own.
Darius and Adele had already paid for a limousine to transport them to Morristown for the wedding. The couples agreed to share the limo and ride together. This should prove to be a very interesting ride!
