I'm everyone, paint your label on me

[dolorosa_12]

This has been a somewhat disappointing and frustrating week, so aside from mentioning that the snow is finally starting to melt so I can finally run outside again, I'm not going to talk about life stuff that makes me unhappy and instead talk about fandom stuff that makes me very happy indeed.


Once Upon a Time remains a somewhat patchy show. To a certain extent, I blame the way I got into it. I had no intention of watching it, then I heard Jane Espenson was involved, idly Tumblr-surfed the relevant tags, and realised that Rumplestiltskin/Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) was a thing. It's a terrible thing to admit, but I just love watching that kind of relationship unfold (which is hilarious, because I'm always one of those people quick to criticise things like Twilight for romanticising abuse). But the point is this: I find the vast majority of the characters on OUAT massively one-note and boring. I liked the Snow/Charming stuff in Fairytale Land in season one, but find them tedious in Storybrooke, and have pretty much zero interest in most of the other characters (Ruby and Mulan being the rare exceptions). So when the episode isn't Rumplestiltskin/Belle-focused, I lose interest, start thinking I should drop the show, only to be pulled in again when the focus swings back to my favourite messed-up couple.

There's been some justified criticism for R/B, to the tone of the fact that for all Belle keeps saying she 'sees good in Rumplestiltskin|Gold', he really hasn't done anything to warrant such belief. Rather than romanticising their relationship, I actually think the show is subtly critiquing the whole kind-hearted woman and her beloved monster trope. Dare I hope that a mainstream show is actually attempting to explore the dynamics behind relationships with massive power imbalances? relationships where the woman is more than a little masochistic? I suspect I'm reading too much into things, but as long as the pair are onscreen, I can't look away.


Pretty Little Liars remains the best thing currently airing on TV. Honestly, it's a show whose driving themes are the power of female relationships and the absolute horror suburban, middle-class America has of teenage female sexuality and the honest expression thereof. Even though the characters are cartoonish in some ways and even though their struggles and dramas('someone's manipulating us - and apparently everyone else in our town - through abusive text messages! They know all our secrets!') are ridiculously unrealistic, their relationships and interactions with each other have a reality and resonance that transcends the circumstances of the plot.

I think it's fairly obvious at this point that there are two Alisons. (Please, no book spoilers. I don't want to know what happens in the books.) What I'm unclear on is when exactly Alison's twin showed up, whether Alison is the evil one, whether she's the one who is dead, and at what point both of them were interacting with the Liars before 'Alison's' murder. It seems clear to me that on the night of the murder, we are dealing with two separate girls in the various flashbacks - which in my book means that none of the vindications we've seen of the characters so far hold up. (This will probably make sense to precisely three people reading.) I'm also uncertain as to whether 'A' actually killed 'Alison' or not. What I think more likely is that the circumstances surrounding Alison's death make a lot of people think they know who killed her, and also make those same people think that they might be blamed (Hello, Byron Montgomery, you horrible human being). This has allowed 'A' to gather a massive gang of minions to do his/her bidding, because all these paranoid people have something to hide. But I'm not sure whether one of those people actually committed the murder, or whether 'A' did.


I've been rewatching this series with Matthias, and the more I see, the more angry I am that the show wasn't renewed. It's so rich and interesting, and its actors are so good at the roles they play, and I wish we could have had at least three more seasons. I miss having that cast on my screen. At the time of the cancellation, the rhetoric floating around online was that Fox made a decision to axe either T:TSCC or Dollhouse, and Dollhouse was saved. Whatever the truth of that matter, back then I was happy because OMG Joss Whedon Is God and all that. But looking at it objectively, T:TSCC was actually a better and more interesting show. Eliza Dushku wasn't a good enough actress to carry a show, the quality of the writing and overall story was patchy, and T:TSCC answered the questions Dollhouse asked ('What is identity?' 'What is humanity and consciousness?' 'Do we have any control over our fate') much better. So yeah, I'm retrospectively bitter.


I'm currently reading a non-fiction book about the Wars of the Roses. It's a popular history rather than a proper academic work (as demonstrated by its lack of footnotes and tendency to quote sources in Modern English translation instead of in the original), but it's reminding me just how fascinating I find that period of history. I've always found myself profoundly uninterested in the Tudors - indeed, Hilary Mantel aside, I find Henry VIII and those around him utterly repellant. Give me Plantagenets any day. But this reminded me that the Bell Shakespeare Company is apparently doing Henry IV this year, with John Bell playing Falstaff and directing. It's one of those moments that I'm bitterly disappointed not to be living in Australia any more. I love the Bell, and John Bell in particular. My family saw every show they ever put on in the years between 1994 and 2008. I'm not sure how many more opportunities I'll have to see John Bell act. And although I've seen him in the role three times, I'd love it if his final time onstage was as Prospero in The Tempest, and if I could be there. It would just be so fitting and appropriate.

In other news, I simply cannot stop listening to this playlist:

Comments

[goodbyebird]

I'll always be bitter about the cancellation of TSCC :/ SHOW OF MY HEART. There'll be an upcoming vid exchange at tightpresent for the show, if that's your thing at all.

[dolorosa_12]

What I'm really looking for are recs for future fic - in particular, long, plotty fics that explain what might have happened in season 3 of the show. I've had a bit of a poke around on ao3 and on Tumblr, but any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the link to tightpresent. I don't make vids myself, but I love looking at them, so I'd be interested to check out what people make, if they're going to be posted publicly.

[goodbyebird]

Only long fic I know of is by lithiumdoll, so might want to check her stuff out. And yes, vids will be public :)

[dolorosa_12]

I just read her fic. It's breathtakingly good, so thanks for the rec. And I look forward to seeing the vids when they're posted.

[tsukiori]

I both adore Belle/Gold and shudder at it, too. They do have a sweet relationship when you look at it a certain way...and forget that Gold totally killed his ex-wife for leaving him >_> I know they are painting Hook as the villain, but he actually has very good points and very good reasons for trying to take Gold out. It makes me nervous about how the writers are going to play the relationship out because I think Gold (and even Regina) aren't capable of total redemption and if they get it at series end, it's going to feel like a cop out.

[dolorosa_12]

The thing about the whole Hook-Gold vendetta that doesn't seem to get conveyed very well is this: Hook didn't steal Gold's wife. She went with him because she didn't love Gold, and wanted a new life. You can't steal someone who wants to go with you freely.

To be perfectly honest, I'm much more interested in Belle's reasons for sticking with Gold, rather than Gold's redemption. I want to know why she is the way she is, and loves the ways she does. His motivations are actually a lot clearer and more explicable.

[catpuccino.livejournal.com]

I love Once Upon a time. I agree that it is a patchy kind of show, with some episodes, or even moments in episodes, being significantly better than others. I have found the villains of the show to be the best, because I think Rumple and Regina are the BEST actors on the show (plus Hook is super hot). I think they pull off the evil with a tinge of goodness so well (sorry bad sentence but I'm tired about to go to bed but had to comment on this). I agree that many characters are a bit one-dimensional, but I think this is unavoidable with such a large cast. Also, for whatever reason, I don't find Emma to be a particularly likeable or interesting character. Which is a bit of a pity as she's in everything!!!

I also dislike Mulan, she just comes across as so unpleasant. Also she's a bit of a tragic, hanging around Aurora even though she was completely in love with Philip herself? That just seems like emotionally self destructive behaviour.

And I disagree about the Rumple/Belle relationship, just in the sense that I do want to look away when I see it. I didn't particularly like the actor who plays Belle when she was in Lost and I don't like her here. It's partly that her Australian accent is a little bit jarring (although Rumple has some sort of accent too, I haven't picked out what it is, English? But a particular part yes?) as I just don't think Belle should be Australian (just seems weird). And partly because she's just a little too sweet and accepting of Rumple. And there's too much of that powerful older unattractive man with the young beautiful girl thing going on there. While it appeals to you, I think I just find it disturbing.

And overall, I love the concept of this show. Fairy tale characters (plus now with the addition of the hat and other worlds, the ability to bring in other works of literature? AH-MAZING!) lost in our world??? The ability to take viewers between the fairy tale world and their interactions within our own??? While I do hope that they iron out some of the wrinkles, I accept that all shows need a bit of work to get into their groove. And even Buffy had some real clanger episodes!!!

[dolorosa-12.livejournal.com]

You're definitely right about Gold and Regina's actors being the best on the show (although I can't agree with you about Hook because the way fans have reacted to him amounts to them ignoring or explaining away his awful behaviour because he's hot). I agree with you about Emma, although mainly I simply find her really, really boring.

I like Mulan because she's so cold and closed off, and I want to know why she is the way she is. That seems to be the way I react to most characters - I want to understand them, and if something about them doesn't make sense, I need to know why. That's probably why I find Belle/Rumple so interesting - he makes sense, but she doesn't. His 'love' (or whatever you want to call it) for her makes sense, but hers doesn't. I find their relationship as disturbing as you, but also weirdly compelling, because it's a relationship that has been playing out in literature since the beginning of time (think Hades and Persephone, think the actual story of Beauty and the Beast, think Twilight), but never before have I seen it presented so starkly, without adornment or justification (or, like, explaining the guy's shitty behaviour away because, 'hey, he's hot!'). It's all those other relationships, with the prettiness taken away. Does that make sense at all?

While I do hope that they iron out some of the wrinkles, I accept that all shows need a bit of work to get into their groove. And even Buffy had some real clanger episodes!!!

I totally agree with all of this.

[catpuccino.livejournal.com]

I suppose the liking Hook despite or perhaps because of his behaviour (in addition to his general hotness and seriously, he is UBER HOT) doesn't show particularly good judgment on my (or all those other fan's) behalf. But isn't that just the reality of life, that things don't have to be rational or smart to be true? And horrible cliche that it is, so many women just really love a bad boy? Especially when it comes with smouldering good looks like Hook (sorry I'm drooling :P)? And it's not just that he's gorgeous, but he's kind of funny and he has that arrogant charm which (sad to say) I'm quite partial to. And there's that redemptive quality about him, the feeling that just maybe you could be the one to make him good. Not for everyone and I can see why you don't agree, but I think the show is better with him. MUCH better.

And I think that's maybe why Belle loves Rumple? A little of that wanting to save him deal? Wanting him to desperately to be a better man? You're right that they don't really sugar coat it. Nor have they skipped to the end of Beauty and the Beast where he is a changed man. He's not, he's still the dark one. I know what you mean when you say the relationship itself is fraught with interest (not exactly how you said it, but my interpretation!), but I guess my problem is that I'm not quite sure the actress playing Belle is quite up to playing opposite Rumple/Gold.

Don't think we'll be able to see eye to eye on Mulan just yet. I find the character a bit blah. Maybe it's the actress, maybe it's because they just haven't fleshed her out properly. Although I am rooting for a lesbian relationship for her and Aurora or even maybe a polyamorous one between them and Philip when they eventually find him. I don't think they'll actually DO that on the show, but I certainly think they could.

I am also not a huge fan of Snow/Charming. The I will always find you shtick gets a bit much. And I'm not sure that Happy Families makes for particularly good TV... that story line was better in the first season.

Characters I want to reappear: Amy Acker/Nova the fairy (just because I love Amy Acker, she was great in Dollhouse and the little bit of Angel that I watched - one of the good recurring actresses that Joss Whedon loves - I've never really understood why he would cast Eliza Dushku in the lead, because besides being smokin' hot - and I think that was the drawcard really - I think there would have been actresses that could have handled Echo better) and Jefferson the mad hatter (great character and I love Alice in Wonderland).

All in all, want more seasons of this show!!! It's a good supplement to my iview watching!

[dolorosa-12.livejournal.com]

I relate so much to what you're saying in the first paragraph, because it reminds me of when I watched Buffy as a teenager, and what I thought of Spike, so yeah, I get it. It's just that after so many years of being a literature student and reviewer, I tend to be a bit more analytical about my reactions to characters and stuff (not that there's anything wrong with not being analytical - I don't want you to think I'm being judgey). And of course you're spot on in your interpretation of Belle, although I feel it speaks quite badly of her that she brushes aside so much of his appalling behaviour.

I am rooting for a lesbian relationship for her and Aurora or even maybe a polyamorous one between them and Philip when they eventually find him. I don't think they'll actually DO that on the show, but I certainly think they could.

Hell yes! Although I agree with you - I don't think the writers will take that route, especially considering the emphasis the series places on having One True Love™. I want more Amy Acker too. I guess she's got scheduling issues? I think Joss cast Eliza because they're friends. He's got a whole bunch of actors that he's friends with (indeed, Amy Acker is one of them) with whom he always works, but I think he picked the wrong one for Dollhouse. Eliza Dushku has a really limited range - she's great as Faith, where she brought a great humanity and vulnerability to the role, but she couldn't play the huge number of characters that the role of Echo required.

Sorry for the late reply. I'm in lecture-writing hell!