Home schooling? You know, it's not just for scary religious people anymore.

Buffy ,'Beneath You'


Boxed Set, Vol. II: "It's a Cookbook...A Cookbook!!"  

A topic for the discussion of Farscape, Smallville, and Due South. Beware possible invasions of Stargate, Highlander, or pretty much any other "genre" show that captures our fancy. Expect Adult Content and discussion of the Big Gay Sex.

Whitefont all unaired in the U.S. ep discussion, identifying it as such, and including the show and ep title in blackfont.

Blackfont is allowed after the show has aired on the east coast.

This is NOT a general TV discussion thread.


§ ita § - May 09, 2006 7:26:53 am PDT #8576 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Deep down inside, he was still Jack. You can't stop the Jack. You can only hope to obscure it for a while.

And, yeah, I figure one of them will bite it by the end. Two would make me laugh hysterically.

Ah, well. I'd just make sure I'd had many happy years with O'Neill first.

eta:

your Indian name from now on will be Shoots Without Panties On.

It could have been worse, I suppose.


Nutty - May 09, 2006 7:30:04 am PDT #8577 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."

Jack Bauer: too busy for foreplay.

It's an uncomplicated grim, since they don't follow through on the potential complications.

"Uncomplicated grim" is kind of exactly what I mean by "grim-lite" -- it's like Diet Coke or sugar-free Jello or beef-flavored tofu. There are a lot of scenarios that they could develop to be So Much Worse, and they're like "Oh, but we wouldn't go there. Moving right along --"

No, I don't believe in reduced-fat Oreos. Just eat a frelling Oreo, or don't, and quit teasing me about it!


§ ita § - May 09, 2006 7:36:04 am PDT #8578 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

"Uncomplicated grim" is kind of exactly what I mean by "grim-lite" -- it's like Diet Coke or sugar-free Jello or beef-flavored tofu. There are a lot of scenarios that they could develop to be So Much Worse, and they're like "Oh, but we wouldn't go there. Moving right along --"

The way I'd describe "uncomplicated grim" doesn't match how you're describing "grim-lite". Or perhaps it's because I don't have any reaction along the lines of "It could be worse! Why isn't it worse?"

They torture their characters, and give them very little time in the light. Any bit of hope they may get is often quashed fifteen minutes later in the episode. Happy things don't happen. People die, make choices that lay on the guilt, kill, are captured, lied to, beaten, raped, sacrifice their lives, etc.

That's not lite to me.


Strega - May 09, 2006 7:40:50 am PDT #8579 of 10001

I've almost certainly said this before, but I still view Galactica as at least 50% black comedy. So the darker it is, the funnier it is.

I suppose it's also because I don't particularly empathize with the characters, though. If I was concerned about them as individuals it'd probably be depressing to watch them suffer. As it is, it's extremely amusing.


Theodosia - May 09, 2006 7:41:12 am PDT #8580 of 10001
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

Maybe by Nutty's standards there are too many main characters still alive by the end of each episode?


§ ita § - May 09, 2006 7:44:52 am PDT #8581 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

The baby farm episode nade me react with "Christ, not this again" and jerked me out of properly empathising. Instead, I'm watching people with a quandary have crap happen to them. Crap crap and then a sprinkling of poo. But I'm not all in there with them.


tommyrot - May 09, 2006 7:45:12 am PDT #8582 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

I often find Baltar's situation to be both funny and cringe-worthy.

I empathize with Kara a little, but it took a while for that empathy to develope.


Nutty - May 09, 2006 7:46:55 am PDT #8583 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."

I guess I call it lite because people lay on the guilt and then get over it instantly. There's a certain amount of "Well, this all sucks, but give them all the sexy, quick-cure kind of PTSD, okay? And nobody gets to have a psychotic break unless the plot calls for it."

When visual imagery trumps psychological realism, I feel justified in calling "lite." I know not every TV show can be Homicide, but, it's all about what plot twist can happen next, and not so much about the outcomes of the plot twist that just happened.


§ ita § - May 09, 2006 7:50:00 am PDT #8584 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

They all seem pretty beaten down to me.


Matt the Bruins fan - May 09, 2006 7:58:13 am PDT #8585 of 10001
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

Roslin's really the only one I empathize with when I watch. (Well, and now Caprica Six...) The others are just kind of there for me to enjoy the fucked-upness. And the occasional towel scene.