[Paddywack]

Mmmm. I think I intuitively study like this, but I often have issues recalling the original word. For example - remembering “shy” for the dwarf “Bashful”, my brain will cycle through heaps of synonyms trying to pick which one is right (while not not making a fool of myself).

[eszed]

Those are the most revealing moments! When my brain goes to a synonym it tells me that I understand the scene, but not the character. There's something different about their perspective and mine: why did I think this, but they thought that? "Mistakes" like that are gifts.

(This applies far beyond acting. Why did a co-worker explain a concept this way, instead of that? It'll tell you something about their thought process - and yours - if you give it some attention and some thought.)

[Paddywack]

Thanks - such an awesome perspective! I’ll pay more attention to the character and see how it goes!

It will save a lot of internal frustration if I nail that!

[krisoft]

> When my brain goes to a synonym it tells me that I understand the scene, but not the character.

That of course assumes that the script writer is infallible. Maybe you do understand the scene and the character deeply, and the writer screwed up by choosing the wrong synonym.

[hyperthesis]

I was curious: they all have two-syllable names except for Doc (leader).