Yeah, Fandom caught this ages ago...

Funny how long it took people outside fandom to notice.  Excerpt from Ms. Magazine:

In Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, a wildly popular four-book series of young adult novels, the protagonist Bella Swan—by all accounts a very average human girl—has two suitors. One is the unimaginably beautiful vampire, Edward, the other a loyal and devoted werewolf, Jacob. Fans of the books, and now a movie version, often break into “teams,” aligning themselves with the swain they hope Bella will choose in the end: Team Edward or Team Jacob.

But few young readers ask, “Why not Team Bella?” perhaps because the answer is quite clear: There can be no Team Bella. Even though Bella is ostensibly a hero, in truth she is merely an object in the Twilight world.

On the surface, the Twilight saga seems to have something to please everyone. Moms are reading the books and swooning over Edward right alongside their teen and tween daughters. Librarians and teachers are delighted to see students with their heads tucked into books, and since Twilight’s romantic sensuality is wrapped up in an abstinence message, all the kissing and groping appear to be harmless.

But while Twilight is ostensibly a love story, scratch the surface and you will find an allegorical tale about the dangers of unregulated female sexuality. From the very first kiss between Edward and Bella, she is fighting to control her awakening sexuality. Edward must restrain her, sometimes physically, to keep her from ravishing him. There are those who might applaud the depiction of a young man showing such self-restraint, but shouldn’t the decision about when a couple is ready to move forward sexually be one they make together?

Meyer insists that she sees Bella as a feminist character, since the foundation of feminism is being able to choose. What Meyer fails to acknowledge is that all of the choices Bella makes are Meyer’s choices—choices based on her own patriarchal Mormon background. In Breaking Dawn, the latest book in the series, Meyer finally allows Bella’s subordination to end as she takes her proper place: in the patriarchal structure. When Bella becomes a wife and mother, Meyer allows her to receive her heart’s desire—to live forever by Edward’s side, to be preternaturally beautiful and graceful, to be strong and be able to defend herself.

Paging cleolinda  and stoney321  who pegged this ages ago!

Oh and HuffPost:

After initially resisting the movies, the sheer intensity and permeation of Twilight compelled me to finally rent the DVDs and see what the hype is about. Beyond disappointed, I'm completely stupefied to realize the popularity of a narrative that reinforces such retrograde notions that a woman should set aside her own goals and interests to be with a man and that she is a victim in need of rescuing.[...] Worse, the second movie, New Moon, goes even further to promote Bella's self-destructive and reckless behavior when she will go to any length - going on a joyride with a strange man she meets in a dark alley, gunning a motorcycle, jumping off a cliff - to make Edward reappear in her life to save her.  [...]

I don't think it's too much to ask for a heroine with more spunk and strength, who is willing to exercise her own agency and protect herself. Someone who won't whither away for months on end when her loved one leaves her, as Bella does in New Moon.

Yeah, Fandom caught this ages ago...

Funny how long it took people outside fandom to notice.  Excerpt from Ms. Magazine:

In Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, a wildly popular four-book series of young adult novels, the protagonist Bella Swan—by all accounts a very average human girl—has two suitors. One is the unimaginably beautiful vampire, Edward, the other a loyal and devoted werewolf, Jacob. Fans of the books, and now a movie version, often break into “teams,” aligning themselves with the swain they hope Bella will choose in the end: Team Edward or Team Jacob.

But few young readers ask, “Why not Team Bella?” perhaps because the answer is quite clear: There can be no Team Bella. Even though Bella is ostensibly a hero, in truth she is merely an object in the Twilight world.

On the surface, the Twilight saga seems to have something to please everyone. Moms are reading the books and swooning over Edward right alongside their teen and tween daughters. Librarians and teachers are delighted to see students with their heads tucked into books, and since Twilight’s romantic sensuality is wrapped up in an abstinence message, all the kissing and groping appear to be harmless.

But while Twilight is ostensibly a love story, scratch the surface and you will find an allegorical tale about the dangers of unregulated female sexuality. From the very first kiss between Edward and Bella, she is fighting to control her awakening sexuality. Edward must restrain her, sometimes physically, to keep her from ravishing him. There are those who might applaud the depiction of a young man showing such self-restraint, but shouldn’t the decision about when a couple is ready to move forward sexually be one they make together?

Meyer insists that she sees Bella as a feminist character, since the foundation of feminism is being able to choose. What Meyer fails to acknowledge is that all of the choices Bella makes are Meyer’s choices—choices based on her own patriarchal Mormon background. In Breaking Dawn, the latest book in the series, Meyer finally allows Bella’s subordination to end as she takes her proper place: in the patriarchal structure. When Bella becomes a wife and mother, Meyer allows her to receive her heart’s desire—to live forever by Edward’s side, to be preternaturally beautiful and graceful, to be strong and be able to defend herself.

Paging cleolinda  and stoney321  who pegged this ages ago!

Oh and HuffPost:

After initially resisting the movies, the sheer intensity and permeation of Twilight compelled me to finally rent the DVDs and see what the hype is about. Beyond disappointed, I'm completely stupefied to realize the popularity of a narrative that reinforces such retrograde notions that a woman should set aside her own goals and interests to be with a man and that she is a victim in need of rescuing.[...] Worse, the second movie, New Moon, goes even further to promote Bella's self-destructive and reckless behavior when she will go to any length - going on a joyride with a strange man she meets in a dark alley, gunning a motorcycle, jumping off a cliff - to make Edward reappear in her life to save her.  [...]

I don't think it's too much to ask for a heroine with more spunk and strength, who is willing to exercise her own agency and protect herself. Someone who won't whither away for months on end when her loved one leaves her, as Bella does in New Moon.

Yeah, Fandom caught this ages ago...

Funny how long it took people outside fandom to notice.  Excerpt from Ms. Magazine:

In Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, a wildly popular four-book series of young adult novels, the protagonist Bella Swan—by all accounts a very average human girl—has two suitors. One is the unimaginably beautiful vampire, Edward, the other a loyal and devoted werewolf, Jacob. Fans of the books, and now a movie version, often break into “teams,” aligning themselves with the swain they hope Bella will choose in the end: Team Edward or Team Jacob.

But few young readers ask, “Why not Team Bella?” perhaps because the answer is quite clear: There can be no Team Bella. Even though Bella is ostensibly a hero, in truth she is merely an object in the Twilight world.

On the surface, the Twilight saga seems to have something to please everyone. Moms are reading the books and swooning over Edward right alongside their teen and tween daughters. Librarians and teachers are delighted to see students with their heads tucked into books, and since Twilight’s romantic sensuality is wrapped up in an abstinence message, all the kissing and groping appear to be harmless.

But while Twilight is ostensibly a love story, scratch the surface and you will find an allegorical tale about the dangers of unregulated female sexuality. From the very first kiss between Edward and Bella, she is fighting to control her awakening sexuality. Edward must restrain her, sometimes physically, to keep her from ravishing him. There are those who might applaud the depiction of a young man showing such self-restraint, but shouldn’t the decision about when a couple is ready to move forward sexually be one they make together?

Meyer insists that she sees Bella as a feminist character, since the foundation of feminism is being able to choose. What Meyer fails to acknowledge is that all of the choices Bella makes are Meyer’s choices—choices based on her own patriarchal Mormon background. In Breaking Dawn, the latest book in the series, Meyer finally allows Bella’s subordination to end as she takes her proper place: in the patriarchal structure. When Bella becomes a wife and mother, Meyer allows her to receive her heart’s desire—to live forever by Edward’s side, to be preternaturally beautiful and graceful, to be strong and be able to defend herself.

Paging cleolinda  and stoney321  who pegged this ages ago!

Oh and HuffPost:

After initially resisting the movies, the sheer intensity and permeation of Twilight compelled me to finally rent the DVDs and see what the hype is about. Beyond disappointed, I'm completely stupefied to realize the popularity of a narrative that reinforces such retrograde notions that a woman should set aside her own goals and interests to be with a man and that she is a victim in need of rescuing.[...] Worse, the second movie, New Moon, goes even further to promote Bella's self-destructive and reckless behavior when she will go to any length - going on a joyride with a strange man she meets in a dark alley, gunning a motorcycle, jumping off a cliff - to make Edward reappear in her life to save her.  [...]

I don't think it's too much to ask for a heroine with more spunk and strength, who is willing to exercise her own agency and protect herself. Someone who won't whither away for months on end when her loved one leaves her, as Bella does in New Moon.

Farscape Re-Watch 1.08-1.10

1.08 - That Old Black Magic

Rygel: I don't know your customs for these situations -- not that I care. So, I'll give you the Hynerian Ceremony of Passage and be done with it. John Crichton, valued friend...now wait a minute, valued friend is a bit of a stretch. John Crichton, unwelcome shipmate, may you have safe transport to the hallowed realm. Actually, not our hallowed realm. That's for Hynerians. Go find your own hallowed realm. With the Ceremony of Passage complete, I declare you officially dead, and claim all of your possessions for myself.

( It seems to be the week for vampires )

But this vampire serves his purpose as it is through him that Crichton and Crais directly interact and Crichton comes to realize that there is no talking his way out of Crais's vendetta. The vendetta isn't even really about him. And to combat the MOTW, Zhaan is pushed to violence, unleashing that which she had thought permanently contained. (Which makes me think of BtVS's post-Darth Willow. There's an interesting contrast to be made there someday, I think).

In shadowcat67's rewatch, she mentioned that she thinks that Zhaan episodes may be the weakest of the character episodes. I don't think I disagree. (Though she is also correct in pointing out that D'Argo episode rarely seem to be particularly dynamic). That Old Black Magic may or may not be a Zhaan-centric episode, but she does have perhaps the most prominent storyline this episode.

Anyway, I think that Zhaan as a character-type may have been a challenge for the writers. While discussing Doctor Who with elisi we both mentioned that most protagonists need to change. The few that do not change (such as the Doctor) usually have to change those around them. Zhaan as an elightened zen-like priest doesn't leave a lot of room for change. What little change that is possible for her is largely what we see in this episode, which is breaking her zen to de-evolve and ( spoiler )

. It's an understandable instinct on the writers part to try to deconstruct Zhaan's zen to have a story, but that only leaves her a story of losing her development then regaining it again. Zhaan's character archetype just doesn't leave a great deal of room for change, which would leave her changing those around her. I suppose she really does work best as sounding board and guiding sage for other characters. I think this may be why they eventually introduce Chiana. Farscape is really good about having female characters on hand and Chiana has more of an emotional journey to make than Zhaan does. I can see why they took to Chiana once they created her... which isn't for a few episodes yet.

The other character who is featured this episode is Crais. Do the villains get character development episodes? Crais gets development here as they show us his background,( spoiler )

And then there's the moment where we know that Crais has really and truly gone off the deep end. ( spoilers )

---

1.09 - DNA Mad Scientist

So the Fugitives are offered maps through the Uncharted Territories to their homes. What would they do for it? Darn near anything. ( spoilers )

This isn't Star Trek, folks. Farscape's characters can, at times, be shockingly ruthless...as people become when left in survival mode for very long. ( spoilers )

For Aeryn, there is no map home. She knows where she is. She knows the way home. She just can never go there again.

Aeryn: They are going home. And someday, you will too.

John: Sure. I mean - if I ever find a way home. Yeah.

Aeryn: I was born a Peacekeeper soldier. I've always been one among many. A member of a division, a platoon, a unit. I've never been on my own, John. Ever.

John: When I find a way home - if I find a way home - I'll take you with me.

Aeryn: Me? On a planet full of billions of you?

I love this moment. I love it because it is sweet for Crichton to offer and it's a sign of just how far he must travel from this point to reach the day he tells Aeryn "Anywhere in the universe. You choose." Because... Aeryn is right. Her going to Earth is not an option. It certainly sounds like a viable option to John at this stage of the game. But what would Aeryn do on Earth? As bad as her situation is, traveling through the galaxy fighting bad guys (and occasionally saving the universe) are things that she knows. It's where she fits. Earth has no place for her. She knows this. John doesn't understand that yet. So it is sweet for him to offer and it's also a sign of how much he has to learn about Aeryn.

Beyond that, this episode is very much about the way people use people (etc.) to get what they want, and how everyone justifies this behavior to themselves. ( spoiler )

---

1.10 - They've Got A Secret

D'Argo episode, where we learn that the way that he describes himself in the series premiere is even more inaccurate than we already thought! ( spoiler )

Farscape Re-Watch 1.08-1.10

1.08 - That Old Black Magic

Rygel: I don't know your customs for these situations -- not that I care. So, I'll give you the Hynerian Ceremony of Passage and be done with it. John Crichton, valued friend...now wait a minute, valued friend is a bit of a stretch. John Crichton, unwelcome shipmate, may you have safe transport to the hallowed realm. Actually, not our hallowed realm. That's for Hynerians. Go find your own hallowed realm. With the Ceremony of Passage complete, I declare you officially dead, and claim all of your possessions for myself.

( It seems to be the week for vampires )

But this vampire serves his purpose as it is through him that Crichton and Crais directly interact and Crichton comes to realize that there is no talking his way out of Crais's vendetta. The vendetta isn't even really about him. And to combat the MOTW, Zhaan is pushed to violence, unleashing that which she had thought permanently contained. (Which makes me think of BtVS's post-Darth Willow. There's an interesting contrast to be made there someday, I think).

In shadowcat67's rewatch, she mentioned that she thinks that Zhaan episodes may be the weakest of the character episodes. I don't think I disagree. (Though she is also correct in pointing out that D'Argo episode rarely seem to be particularly dynamic). That Old Black Magic may or may not be a Zhaan-centric episode, but she does have perhaps the most prominent storyline this episode.

Anyway, I think that Zhaan as a character-type may have been a challenge for the writers. While discussing Doctor Who with elisi we both mentioned that most protagonists need to change. The few that do not change (such as the Doctor) usually have to change those around them. Zhaan as an elightened zen-like priest doesn't leave a lot of room for change. What little change that is possible for her is largely what we see in this episode, which is breaking her zen to de-evolve and ( spoiler )

. It's an understandable instinct on the writers part to try to deconstruct Zhaan's zen to have a story, but that only leaves her a story of losing her development then regaining it again. Zhaan's character archetype just doesn't leave a great deal of room for change, which would leave her changing those around her. I suppose she really does work best as sounding board and guiding sage for other characters. I think this may be why they eventually introduce Chiana. Farscape is really good about having female characters on hand and Chiana has more of an emotional journey to make than Zhaan does. I can see why they took to Chiana once they created her... which isn't for a few episodes yet.

The other character who is featured this episode is Crais. Do the villains get character development episodes? Crais gets development here as they show us his background,( spoiler )

And then there's the moment where we know that Crais has really and truly gone off the deep end. ( spoilers )

---

1.09 - DNA Mad Scientist

So the Fugitives are offered maps through the Uncharted Territories to their homes. What would they do for it? Darn near anything. ( spoilers )

This isn't Star Trek, folks. Farscape's characters can, at times, be shockingly ruthless...as people become when left in survival mode for very long. ( spoilers )

For Aeryn, there is no map home. She knows where she is. She knows the way home. She just can never go there again.

Aeryn: They are going home. And someday, you will too.

John: Sure. I mean - if I ever find a way home. Yeah.

Aeryn: I was born a Peacekeeper soldier. I've always been one among many. A member of a division, a platoon, a unit. I've never been on my own, John. Ever.

John: When I find a way home - if I find a way home - I'll take you with me.

Aeryn: Me? On a planet full of billions of you?

I love this moment. I love it because it is sweet for Crichton to offer and it's a sign of just how far he must travel from this point to reach the day he tells Aeryn "Anywhere in the universe. You choose." Because... Aeryn is right. Her going to Earth is not an option. It certainly sounds like a viable option to John at this stage of the game. But what would Aeryn do on Earth? As bad as her situation is, traveling through the galaxy fighting bad guys (and occasionally saving the universe) are things that she knows. It's where she fits. Earth has no place for her. She knows this. John doesn't understand that yet. So it is sweet for him to offer and it's also a sign of how much he has to learn about Aeryn.

Beyond that, this episode is very much about the way people use people (etc.) to get what they want, and how everyone justifies this behavior to themselves. ( spoiler )

---

1.10 - They've Got A Secret

D'Argo episode, where we learn that the way that he describes himself in the series premiere is even more inaccurate than we already thought! ( spoiler )

Farscape Re-Watch 1.08-1.10

1.08 - That Old Black Magic

Rygel: I don't know your customs for these situations -- not that I care. So, I'll give you the Hynerian Ceremony of Passage and be done with it. John Crichton, valued friend...now wait a minute, valued friend is a bit of a stretch. John Crichton, unwelcome shipmate, may you have safe transport to the hallowed realm. Actually, not our hallowed realm. That's for Hynerians. Go find your own hallowed realm. With the Ceremony of Passage complete, I declare you officially dead, and claim all of your possessions for myself.

( It seems to be the week for vampires )

But this vampire serves his purpose as it is through him that Crichton and Crais directly interact and Crichton comes to realize that there is no talking his way out of Crais's vendetta. The vendetta isn't even really about him. And to combat the MOTW, Zhaan is pushed to violence, unleashing that which she had thought permanently contained. (Which makes me think of BtVS's post-Darth Willow. There's an interesting contrast to be made there someday, I think).

In shadowcat67's rewatch, she mentioned that she thinks that Zhaan episodes may be the weakest of the character episodes. I don't think I disagree. (Though she is also correct in pointing out that D'Argo episode rarely seem to be particularly dynamic). That Old Black Magic may or may not be a Zhaan-centric episode, but she does have perhaps the most prominent storyline this episode.

Anyway, I think that Zhaan as a character-type may have been a challenge for the writers. While discussing Doctor Who with elisi we both mentioned that most protagonists need to change. The few that do not change (such as the Doctor) usually have to change those around them. Zhaan as an elightened zen-like priest doesn't leave a lot of room for change. What little change that is possible for her is largely what we see in this episode, which is breaking her zen to de-evolve and ( spoiler )

. It's an understandable instinct on the writers part to try to deconstruct Zhaan's zen to have a story, but that only leaves her a story of losing her development then regaining it again. Zhaan's character archetype just doesn't leave a great deal of room for change, which would leave her changing those around her. I suppose she really does work best as sounding board and guiding sage for other characters. I think this may be why they eventually introduce Chiana. Farscape is really good about having female characters on hand and Chiana has more of an emotional journey to make than Zhaan does. I can see why they took to Chiana once they created her... which isn't for a few episodes yet.

The other character who is featured this episode is Crais. Do the villains get character development episodes? Crais gets development here as they show us his background,( spoiler )

And then there's the moment where we know that Crais has really and truly gone off the deep end. ( spoilers )

---

1.09 - DNA Mad Scientist

So the Fugitives are offered maps through the Uncharted Territories to their homes. What would they do for it? Darn near anything. ( spoilers )

This isn't Star Trek, folks. Farscape's characters can, at times, be shockingly ruthless...as people become when left in survival mode for very long. ( spoilers )

For Aeryn, there is no map home. She knows where she is. She knows the way home. She just can never go there again.

Aeryn: They are going home. And someday, you will too.

John: Sure. I mean - if I ever find a way home. Yeah.

Aeryn: I was born a Peacekeeper soldier. I've always been one among many. A member of a division, a platoon, a unit. I've never been on my own, John. Ever.

John: When I find a way home - if I find a way home - I'll take you with me.

Aeryn: Me? On a planet full of billions of you?

I love this moment. I love it because it is sweet for Crichton to offer and it's a sign of just how far he must travel from this point to reach the day he tells Aeryn "Anywhere in the universe. You choose." Because... Aeryn is right. Her going to Earth is not an option. It certainly sounds like a viable option to John at this stage of the game. But what would Aeryn do on Earth? As bad as her situation is, traveling through the galaxy fighting bad guys (and occasionally saving the universe) are things that she knows. It's where she fits. Earth has no place for her. She knows this. John doesn't understand that yet. So it is sweet for him to offer and it's also a sign of how much he has to learn about Aeryn.

Beyond that, this episode is very much about the way people use people (etc.) to get what they want, and how everyone justifies this behavior to themselves. ( spoiler )

---

1.10 - They've Got A Secret

D'Argo episode, where we learn that the way that he describes himself in the series premiere is even more inaccurate than we already thought! ( spoiler )