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.
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!
"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.
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.
Maybe by Nutty's standards there are too many main characters still alive by the end of each episode?
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.
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.
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.
They all seem pretty beaten down to me.
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.
For me, the question isn't whether it's lite or not, it's... well, it's whether I start seeing the sadistic hand of the creator, you know? I want to believe the universe really works this way, rather than seeing the author rubbing their hands together and thinking of another awful thing that can be done to the characters.
BSG has people in a pretty extreme situation, so you can go pretty far, but they've flirted with my personal line a few times. I could totally go for another nice French farce episode, or something.
