Rolling with it...

[lagilman]

Originally posted on Tumbler


Discussing fandom and spoilers/speculation in the workroom today (because nothing gets writers to talking like avoiding deadlines). And I mentioned that the advantage to having been in (US) fandom for a long time is that if you scrape away the debris coating my battered, bitter heart, you will find 4 words carved in it: ”Trust Joss. Joss Lies.”

(also: “Oh, screw you, Chris Carter.” But that’s another pain for another time)

Some of you are laughing (and wincing) right about now. For the rest of you, this means: it’s a roller coaster. An evil bastard of a roller coaster. While you’re standing in line, enjoy the fic, enjoy the meta, enjoy the fandom what-iffery. Then let it all go: just strap yourself in, drop the safety bar, and prepare to scream. Because whatever happens, it’s gonna happen ugly, and they’re probably going to make you LIKE it.

We knew that when we bought the damn ticket. And then got back in line again.


[I am told that, for those of you a few years older, Blake’s 7 served this purpose. Y/N?]

Comments

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

Yes (to all - I have vague memories of B7 and most of it on video though I haven't yet rewatched it) But yes. That seems to be the road.

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

Yes. This!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

B7 was The Traumatic. The writers, they had no hearts...

[signeh.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Blake's 7 is still the Masterwork of Trauma. I was working at my first job in the PBS system and convinced the program manager to buy it. It was very popular with the viewers - until the last 5 minutes of the last episode. The morning after it aired, the program manager's secretary came running into my office. Her: "You know about that Blake's 7, don't you?" Me: "Yeah, I do. Do you have a question?" Her: Was that REALLY the end?" Me: "Afraid so. Why?" Her: Shit! I've got nine calls about it to return this morning!"

[lagilman]

I suspect Supernatural may eclipse B7 in sheer terms of WTFWHYWHAT? from fans, but I have a little more confidence in their ability to tie things up better....

(XF just wandered off into whocares with a sigh and a shuffle, alas)

[signeh.livejournal.com]

Yes, it did, didn't it? Still, I spent most of that summer alternating between "Curse you Chris Carter" and "There's a door at the back of the boxcar".

[chaoticgoodnik.livejournal.com]

And yet I still care about the X-Files. I agree that later parts weren't handled well. But some crazy part of me hopes that they find a way to make that third movie before Duchovny and Anderson age out of the roles. Or, alternately, that it gets rebooted. >.

[camille-is-here.livejournal.com]

Every time I decide to quit on Supernatural (usually after they've killed another favorite girl-character) they manage to suck me back in again.

I have never been quite sure how much Chris Carter had to do with how good xfiles was in the good years. They had a fabulous band of brilliant writers and the show lost its luster when those writers went away.

[lagilman]

XF was Carter's baby, no matter who else had their fingers in it. Love him or hate him but give him that much, at least.


One of the reasons I love Person of Interest is that there are kickass female characters who LIVE.

[camille-is-here.livejournal.com]

XF was definitely Chris Carter's baby--but when I think of actual episodes, my favorites were mostly written by other people.

I will have to look at Person of Interest. I didn't know it had any women characters (except the case of the week).

[lagilman]

Yeah, but the writers work under direction...

and oh hell yes - Joss Carter is awesome, even when I want to yell at her (like last night), and Root (a repeating villain) is terrifyingly perfect, and there's wossername (sorry, pre-coffee) who turned down the opportunity to become an Asset, and....

Is it parity? Nope. But the women who come through are strong and interesting and generally DON'T DIE.

[camille-is-here.livejournal.com]

Don't die is key. I am looking forward to White Collar coming back. It is has a light touch, and a number of women characters who are strong in different ways.

[msdori.livejournal.com]

Man, I don't think it's actually possible to get much more WTFWHYWHAT? than B7. Unless we're talking Forever Knight--that one was pretty much WTFSRSLYWAT??? Although they at least left an out, wispy though it might be.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

XF pretty much put paid to my wanting to follow a TV series for any significant period. I don't think I've followed any other series since then--granted, I also went back to grad school and got really involved in long commutes, complex day jobs, and writing, but still...."Curse you, Chris Carter."

[mtlawson.livejournal.com]

I've seen some of Blake's 7, including the ending.

After having seen it, oh yeah, I can see what you're talking about.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Blake's 7 not only has a nihilistic ending, it had the cosmic Fuck You of airing said ending on a holiday, which just digs the knife deeper.

On a side note, I'm enjoying the fact that I'm reading this while I'm watching Big Bang Theory wherein Sheldon is flailing about the sudden cancellation of his show and Leonard is trying to hook Penny on Buffy. And people say this show doesn't reflect actual fans' lives!

[natf.livejournal.com]

Wait, are you calling me and my fandom OLD?! ;-p

[natf.livejournal.com]

Oh, wait. I am.