daredevil muffin-y genius ([info]monanotlisa) wrote,
@ 2008-01-30 20:00:00
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Entry tags:meta, multifandom

From several people
While I'm doing my exercises:

Ask me for a fannish opinion, in any fandom I've ever shown any more than a passing interest in. Ask about a character, a plot point, for speculation (whether canon or my own fanon). Ask me about some meta issue, whatever.


I omitted the sentence that wasn't true (hi, Siri).

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[info]technosage
2008-01-29 09:36 pm UTC (link)
Heroes. Has it jumped the shark?

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[info]monanotlisa
2008-01-30 02:57 pm UTC (link)
I think Heroes was always swimming in pretty infested waters for me; the very set-up reflected a male- and US-oriented comic book world a bit too strongly to make me completely comfortable. Admittedly, other shows don't even try to be more inclusive, but at the same time, that's precisely one of my points of criticism: If you market your show as universal and inclusive, pat yourselves on the back for that, then you cannot stop at Good Intentions and tokens left and right.

That said, the first season had enormous momentum, some amazing character ideas if not always executions (Mohinder and Hiro, I'm thinking of your awesomeness!) and a Claire that took my breath away.

The second season still had intriguing character moments and the wonderful arc-based plot writing that I adore in tv shows but rarely ever get, but the characterisation and dynamics made me wince--the journey and depiction of the Twins made me look away from the screen more than once, and during the Claire/West scenes, I had to physically remove myself from the room or fast-forward.

I also think bringing Sylar back was a bad decision, aimed only at pleasing the viewers, not looking at the story leel. I'm with Joss in this regard: Don't give the fans what they want, and now I'd deviate and add: Give them what the story needs to be brilliant.

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[info]wee_warrior
2008-01-29 09:39 pm UTC (link)
It's probably a bit early to ask that, given the show is quite new, but how would you read the relationship between Dani Reese and Lt. Davis on Life, specifically from the LT's side? Does she feel like a mentor towards Dani, or is it more that she is interested in her/wants to help her because she is the daughter of her former partner?

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[info]monanotlisa
2008-01-30 04:36 pm UTC (link)
As you imply, I feel it's both, but I think Lt. David feels superior on several levels and in a way that's somewhat incompatible with a true mentor--more than once she...not quite threatened Dani but very clearly reminded her of the tenuous position Dani's in, back in the force but still under close scrutiny. The very set-up pleases this old X-Phile, true, but I think the fact she's essentially an watch-dog watched-in-turn doesn't speak highly of Lt. Davis's wish to give her a true chance on the job.

Yes, Crewes turned out to be a sharp investigator, and the duo is smart and unconventional enough to solve the cases shoved at them, but this seems less a result of Davis's supervision than a development in spite of it.

That said, she obviously does feel a sense of if not duty then obligation towards Dani, and she has shown an increasing willingness to be swayed by facts and the determination Dani has demonstrated both regarding cases and her partner Crewes.

But all in all, I think it's more of the latter (although the show may joss me there very soon; I hope it will).

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[info]siriaeve
2008-01-29 09:40 pm UTC (link)
Hallo, Mona! *goes back to hiding in blanket fort* :D

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[info]honeymink
2008-01-29 09:46 pm UTC (link)
What type of guy do you think Jool would go for? (Choose from 'Farscape' or any other fandom.) And then, would that guy go for her?

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[info]monanotlisa
2008-01-30 07:35 pm UTC (link)
For all the affection/lust she felt for D'Argo, I always felt that Jool would only ever fully and truly allow herself to be with someone of high standing and immediately apparent brilliance--at the same time, I think she'd be too offended by someone like Greg House or Rodney McKay (but then, few wouldn't). Since a lot of her reluctant D'Argo love seemed based on his strength and courage, not so much about external and conventional attractiveness--I'm thinking she'd go for Jed Bartlett. *g*

Which answers the second question quite clearly and negatively.

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[info]honeymink
2008-01-30 07:57 pm UTC (link)
I'm thinking she'd go for Jed Bartlett.

Which is an excellent choice. (Leo would totally agree.)

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[info]solvent90
2008-01-29 10:01 pm UTC (link)
Oh, BtVS - I'm watching my season 4 DVDs at the moment and becoming curious about Riley. What do you think of him? Both as a character and in terms of his function in the show.

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[info]monanotlisa
2008-01-30 07:55 pm UTC (link)

Ohh, I thought Riley in Season Four served his function marvelously--he was the nice one, the normal one, too-good-to-be true yet ultimately neither of these. [whited-out in case this is your first time viewing BtVS] I came to dislike his storyline in Season Six, admittedly, when the writers seemed to go back on what had been obvious in Season Five: That Riley, for all his sweet disposition and courage, held basic assumptions about relationships and gender dynamic roles that were incompatible with Buffy and her life-slash-destiny. I think I would have dealt with the obviously intentional contrast better if his relationship with Sam had been portrayed as more fraught--balanced but tenuously so, aware of their differences and difficulties, thus being just as devastating a mirror for Buffy without going back on earlier characterisation achievements.

Riley as a character made me smile a lot--his entry is adorable, I think, and I would have let him carry my books any time, you know? Plus, he's got the right mix of cool guy and dorky, puns his way through the minefield of first conversations; what's not to like? Except for the soldier bit; that I think was problematic (and meant to be that way). Even as a foil to Angel on a more individualised level, I didn't take offence--for one, I never shipped Buffy and Angel, and it was obvious especially from this my distance that he was not The One, not Buffy's Only True Love but doomed, doomed, doomed from the start: See the title of the episode they get together.

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[info]yahtzee63
2008-01-29 10:09 pm UTC (link)
Say that, through the use of a Rambaldi device, you will be able to change S4 of Alias so that Jack/Nadia becomes canon. Go ahead and do so, as this is only a theoretical. How would you go about it? What would've been the best way to do it on the show?

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[info]monanotlisa
2008-02-01 05:06 pm UTC (link)
Oh, I had to think about this one because clearly, I'd want to do it perfectly right so everyone gets it.

I'd look at this from a fannish, a characterisation, and a plot perspective:

First, I'd increase, gradually yet fairly quickly, their level of interaction. Lots of conversations, as much banter as they can reasonably have, but nothing too smooth--instead a level of awkwardness and realism coupled with seriously good lines. Works every time. & ;-)

Second, I'd deepen their personal histories with each other--play up the WrongBad, if you will, including flashbacks and moments of mistaking Nadia for Irina, which I wouldn't make explicit but use shadows, half-light, silhouettes and a situation that evokes old memories. At the same time, I'd of course bring the whole Arvin and Syd dynamic to the forefront, all compare and contrast and shudder. Obviously, one pairing fares better here, without quite losing its taboo. *eg*

Third, I'd just use the fantastic possibilities Alias gives us (and that you have given us): Pretend to be married! The opposite; pretend not to know each other during an infiltration on several levels! Have action-packed, tense, and very dangerous adventures together, perhaps a few cool clichés like being caught in sub-zero temperatures, close quarters, or somewhere too hot to keep clothes on!

...yes. That.

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