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shipperxWell, in real life... boss and co-workers took me out to lunch to celebrate my passing my boards.
Still had to spend the day doing a check set for the estimators. Still have an unrealistic deadline and an engineering meeting tomorrow. However, the economy being what it is, just appreciate the job.
Farscape chat tonight with some friends going through Season 1 Farscape. The episode "That Old Black Magic." The episode where Crichton gets attacked by some sort of vampire who pits Crichton and Crais against each other in some mental gladiatorial contest. As one friend seeing it for the first time noted, it's nice that Farscape likes to layer their villains. Crais (and later Scorpius) have reasons for what they do. They don't view themselves as villains (which, I think is probably more often than not psychologically true). Everyone is hero of their own story. Crais sees himself as avenging his brother's death, and --to give Crais credit: (Spoiler for my friends who are watching Season 1 unspoiled) I like that eventually Crais has the epiphany where he realizes that it should have been about his brother, but in the end it was all about him and not about his brother at all.
I also really like the way that Farscape uses a stand alone to push forward the main story arc. "That Old Black Magic" definitely stand as a stand alone with Crichton and Zaahn battling Muldus. It's a self contained episode, and yet it also establishes a great deal of character delineation. Crichton, despite his desire not to, was pushed into a murderous rage. He's actually angry that Crais is snatched away before he could kill him. This being Season 1, Crichton is far more of a clear cut (somewhat naive) good guy. This was one of the earlier eps showing him to become a bit more hardened by his circumstances. More interesting was Muldus revealing that he really hadn't been after Crichton at all. Crichton was just a means to an end. . .he was nothing more than bait to lure Crais into coming to the planet, within Muldus's reach, thereby giving Muldus access to a battleship. Also of note that Crais may have been willing to give up his single minded pursuit of Crichton until this MOTW incident. And the twist at the end where Crais kills his lieutinent is neat because it does show just how ruthless he's become in his need for revenge. And I like it better because I know that Crais is complicated. Yes, he's a villain but a villain isn't all that he is.
And I liked noting the foreshadowing in the episode. The show was beginning to establish that the white hats in the show aren't quite as straightfoward as they appear either. Hints of Zaahn's past emerge in this episode, showing that part of her gets off on causing pain, and how she can lose herself in it. It's nice (unlike Season 7 BtVS) to know when foreshadowing is really foreshadowing.
As for AtS...
Reaction to Spoiler Summaries:
I've realized that nothing on a Whedon show will make me actually happy until I see Spike being given credit and acceptance once in a while. As Alane on BAPS says it, as Spike goes, so goes my nation.
I don't like some of the dialog I know of. Typical Fury. Has to get his digs in. Really, it's as if Fury will sacrifice anything to keep the caste systems intact. It doesn't matter that it makes little to no sense that if William was a good man, and if Spike was a less evil vampire than Angelus, that he is in some way inferior to Angel, but boy Fury just keeps on having to forward his agenda with slights and digs such as the atonement line. Blech! However, Fury really doesn't control the plot and the plot is such that, though Spike has every motivation in the world to do wrong here--he's trapped being sucked into hell and his only chance to escape is take the offer to usurp Angel, Spike willingly chooses not to do so. . . not that Angel is willing to cut Spike any slack on that issue.
It does look as though they may be testing Spike/Fred chemistry. This doesn't bother me in the least. I could be all for Spike/Fred if it's done properly. I dont really accept the "But they've paired Fred up with everyone." She's never really been paired with Angel. It was shown as nothing but her having some fannish concept of Angel because he had rescued her from hell. She never really had a relationship with Wesley. And I'm just happy the chemistry free relationship with Gunn is over. The primary problem was that she was only one of two females on the show. That means she gets paired with the guys. I don't see where it's really wrong if the unending Wes/Fred/Gunn triangle is ended and it's left open to her hooking up with the new guy. I would prefer that to her hooking up with Wes or Gunn. And, let's face it, Mutant Enemy isn't going to go to the trouble to hire a female for Spike. Not him. Never him. So if there is any hope of anyone ever coming to love him, it probably does come from someone who is already on the show.
Not that I have to see it go to romance soon if ever. If she'll just learn to care about him and do so openly and without shame she will be lightyears ahead of any other character in the Whedonverse. . .up to and including Buffy. If Fred really can find a way to rescue Spike from Hell, I'll have to root for the girl to some extent. The only other friend Spike was ever allowed to have was Dawn and the show stole her from Spike. If Fred can be someone who lends a sympathetic ear and who Spike can reveal his true self to, more power to her. I could see where he would be attracted (if the show allows that...which I'm not sure the show ever will allow Spike a real ship) because there is something of a Dru to her... just more sane and not evil.
Still, I think it's probably overly optimistic to expect the show to let Spike find anyone who actually cares about him and his welfare. And, though I will have to wait to see how JM plays it, it seems to me that the way that AtS is writing Spike is closer to Season 4 Spike than anything else, and while I loved Season 4 Spike in Season 4, it seems "off" to me. I can see Spike, soulless, "not giving a piss" and while I loved that attitude and cheered it on. . .this is where soulling has taken the story to other directions. I can't really buy that SOULED Spike doesn't "give a piss"... William was a good man, and a sensitive one. If they wanted that sort of Spike they should have allowed for soulless redemption! If they choose souling him, then respect the damn soul and William's characterization! Not that I would really blame Spike not really giving a piss about other people. He's had lifetimes of people not giving a piss about him. No one, but his mother, gave a flip about William and ostracized him. Dru betrayed him with Angel. Nothing Spike ever did was enough to be considered anything but dirt by the Scoobs. Giles tried to kill him. Buffy could never accept him--regardless of whatever her nebulous feelings were she always phrased that he was useful. . .the only times she ever added anything ike valuing HIM was in private. Never in what she said to others. And here he is, fresh off of saving the world he's incorporeal, being sucked into hell, and the AI gang are talking about killing him being the best options. Why would Spike trust anyone? If I was Spike I sure as hell wouldn't trust anyone. Unfortunately he's been shown that no matter how he tries, his good actions never count. Though kudos to Fred for perhaps acknowleging it in Ep 3 and for pointing out that what they're discussing is killing Spike.
Still, despite all the debates on BAPS about drama and plot construction, I've realized I'm going to continue being pissed off with the show until they manage to make some character actually acknowledge that Spike in and of himself... and FOR HIMSELF ALONE... has value and is worthy of something other than contempt.
Still had to spend the day doing a check set for the estimators. Still have an unrealistic deadline and an engineering meeting tomorrow. However, the economy being what it is, just appreciate the job.
Farscape chat tonight with some friends going through Season 1 Farscape. The episode "That Old Black Magic." The episode where Crichton gets attacked by some sort of vampire who pits Crichton and Crais against each other in some mental gladiatorial contest. As one friend seeing it for the first time noted, it's nice that Farscape likes to layer their villains. Crais (and later Scorpius) have reasons for what they do. They don't view themselves as villains (which, I think is probably more often than not psychologically true). Everyone is hero of their own story. Crais sees himself as avenging his brother's death, and --to give Crais credit: (Spoiler for my friends who are watching Season 1 unspoiled) I like that eventually Crais has the epiphany where he realizes that it should have been about his brother, but in the end it was all about him and not about his brother at all.
I also really like the way that Farscape uses a stand alone to push forward the main story arc. "That Old Black Magic" definitely stand as a stand alone with Crichton and Zaahn battling Muldus. It's a self contained episode, and yet it also establishes a great deal of character delineation. Crichton, despite his desire not to, was pushed into a murderous rage. He's actually angry that Crais is snatched away before he could kill him. This being Season 1, Crichton is far more of a clear cut (somewhat naive) good guy. This was one of the earlier eps showing him to become a bit more hardened by his circumstances. More interesting was Muldus revealing that he really hadn't been after Crichton at all. Crichton was just a means to an end. . .he was nothing more than bait to lure Crais into coming to the planet, within Muldus's reach, thereby giving Muldus access to a battleship. Also of note that Crais may have been willing to give up his single minded pursuit of Crichton until this MOTW incident. And the twist at the end where Crais kills his lieutinent is neat because it does show just how ruthless he's become in his need for revenge. And I like it better because I know that Crais is complicated. Yes, he's a villain but a villain isn't all that he is.
And I liked noting the foreshadowing in the episode. The show was beginning to establish that the white hats in the show aren't quite as straightfoward as they appear either. Hints of Zaahn's past emerge in this episode, showing that part of her gets off on causing pain, and how she can lose herself in it. It's nice (unlike Season 7 BtVS) to know when foreshadowing is really foreshadowing.
As for AtS...
Reaction to Spoiler Summaries:
I've realized that nothing on a Whedon show will make me actually happy until I see Spike being given credit and acceptance once in a while. As Alane on BAPS says it, as Spike goes, so goes my nation.
I don't like some of the dialog I know of. Typical Fury. Has to get his digs in. Really, it's as if Fury will sacrifice anything to keep the caste systems intact. It doesn't matter that it makes little to no sense that if William was a good man, and if Spike was a less evil vampire than Angelus, that he is in some way inferior to Angel, but boy Fury just keeps on having to forward his agenda with slights and digs such as the atonement line. Blech! However, Fury really doesn't control the plot and the plot is such that, though Spike has every motivation in the world to do wrong here--he's trapped being sucked into hell and his only chance to escape is take the offer to usurp Angel, Spike willingly chooses not to do so. . . not that Angel is willing to cut Spike any slack on that issue.
It does look as though they may be testing Spike/Fred chemistry. This doesn't bother me in the least. I could be all for Spike/Fred if it's done properly. I dont really accept the "But they've paired Fred up with everyone." She's never really been paired with Angel. It was shown as nothing but her having some fannish concept of Angel because he had rescued her from hell. She never really had a relationship with Wesley. And I'm just happy the chemistry free relationship with Gunn is over. The primary problem was that she was only one of two females on the show. That means she gets paired with the guys. I don't see where it's really wrong if the unending Wes/Fred/Gunn triangle is ended and it's left open to her hooking up with the new guy. I would prefer that to her hooking up with Wes or Gunn. And, let's face it, Mutant Enemy isn't going to go to the trouble to hire a female for Spike. Not him. Never him. So if there is any hope of anyone ever coming to love him, it probably does come from someone who is already on the show.
Not that I have to see it go to romance soon if ever. If she'll just learn to care about him and do so openly and without shame she will be lightyears ahead of any other character in the Whedonverse. . .up to and including Buffy. If Fred really can find a way to rescue Spike from Hell, I'll have to root for the girl to some extent. The only other friend Spike was ever allowed to have was Dawn and the show stole her from Spike. If Fred can be someone who lends a sympathetic ear and who Spike can reveal his true self to, more power to her. I could see where he would be attracted (if the show allows that...which I'm not sure the show ever will allow Spike a real ship) because there is something of a Dru to her... just more sane and not evil.
Still, I think it's probably overly optimistic to expect the show to let Spike find anyone who actually cares about him and his welfare. And, though I will have to wait to see how JM plays it, it seems to me that the way that AtS is writing Spike is closer to Season 4 Spike than anything else, and while I loved Season 4 Spike in Season 4, it seems "off" to me. I can see Spike, soulless, "not giving a piss" and while I loved that attitude and cheered it on. . .this is where soulling has taken the story to other directions. I can't really buy that SOULED Spike doesn't "give a piss"... William was a good man, and a sensitive one. If they wanted that sort of Spike they should have allowed for soulless redemption! If they choose souling him, then respect the damn soul and William's characterization! Not that I would really blame Spike not really giving a piss about other people. He's had lifetimes of people not giving a piss about him. No one, but his mother, gave a flip about William and ostracized him. Dru betrayed him with Angel. Nothing Spike ever did was enough to be considered anything but dirt by the Scoobs. Giles tried to kill him. Buffy could never accept him--regardless of whatever her nebulous feelings were she always phrased that he was useful. . .the only times she ever added anything ike valuing HIM was in private. Never in what she said to others. And here he is, fresh off of saving the world he's incorporeal, being sucked into hell, and the AI gang are talking about killing him being the best options. Why would Spike trust anyone? If I was Spike I sure as hell wouldn't trust anyone. Unfortunately he's been shown that no matter how he tries, his good actions never count. Though kudos to Fred for perhaps acknowleging it in Ep 3 and for pointing out that what they're discussing is killing Spike.
Still, despite all the debates on BAPS about drama and plot construction, I've realized I'm going to continue being pissed off with the show until they manage to make some character actually acknowledge that Spike in and of himself... and FOR HIMSELF ALONE... has value and is worthy of something other than contempt.
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no subject
Date: 2003-08-12 08:54 am (UTC)I know exactly how you feel. *sigh*
BTW, on LJ, you shouldn't white out spoilers like you did (because many people view their page on their friends list, which usually has colors to match that person's LJ, so the whiting out doesn't work).
The appropriate etiquette is to use a LJ cut tag. Just enclose the text you want to cut starting with [lj-cut text="Whatever text to describe what's behind the cut"] and then close it with [/lj-cut]. Only replace the [] with html brackets.
It's in the FAQ here:
http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=75