The people at Cracked aren't what I'd call reviewers

Anyhow, I love Farscape, but I'm willing to admit that the first 8 or so episodes were really, really not good.

Anyhow, I love Farscape, but I'm willing to admit that the first 8 or so episodes were really, really not good.

Oh, I'm sure. There are definitely sucky episodes of SPN (and Buffy, and Angel, and X-Files, etc.). But the culture of meanness sort of escapes me. Too many people who think it's awesome to be as snarky as possible for laughs. It just got old for me a long time ago.

Plus, fandom is my happy place. It's sort of like, I can say when my husband is being an asshat or my kids are being pains in the ass, but no one else better say it, you know?

Well, you know what I keep claiming: after about 6 rewatches, you start to enjoy it.

You keep saying it. I keep saying that the wall has more chemistry with Dean than the actress playing Cassie. Oh. You meant the racist truck stuff? Yeah, that does.

Here's an E!Online piece about fanvids that mentions the JJs. Oh, and Twilight, too.

Um. Sorry about the abrupt lack of segue. Skipped to post, and then backread. Bad me.

I'm with Amy, Matt. Any viewer is welcome to his or her own opinion about any episode, run of episodes, season, or series as a whole, to post and discuss those opinions. I'll join in. But like Aims says, a reviewer just seems mean, since there's usually no discussion involved. And I'm a little defensive, too. Holdover from when nobody but fans apparently thought much of the show.

Even Cassie as acted grows on you! But her mother's confession remains camp comedy gold.

Guess I just don't agree that reviewers should remain silent if their opinion of a show/movie/whatever isn't positive, or that positive opinions are more valid or proprietary than negative ones among general viewers.

Guess I just don't agree that reviewers should remain silent if their opinion of a show/movie/whatever isn't positive, or that positive opinions are more valid or proprietary than negative ones among general viewers.

Oh, I don't think they should remain silent at all, and I didn't mean to imply that.

I just think a sort of culture of nastiness sprang up in the last few years, where it became sport to be as mean as possible in reviews or commentary, or on forums like TWoP.

But a decent review, pointing out the good and the bad together? I'm always game to read that.

I want to add, too, that I IN NO WAY think this show is perfect. No show is. But it is one of my happy places, and while I'm perfectly able to discuss places where they go wrong, I just don't seek out the snarky stuff posted for what seems to be more about the writer proving how pointedly, mean-spiritedly "funny" s/he can be than true discussion.

I understand what you're saying, Matt. And I actually do agree with you. A critic's job is to watch and criticise in public so the prospective audience can make a decision to watch or not partly based on that decision and whatever reasons the critic gives. Some critics naturally have, or they cultivate, a sarcastic you-can't-please-me style and a reputation for expressing it. Ordinarily I disregard a critic's opinion, because few of them have a similar viewer's perspective to mine. Honestly, y'all are my best source of honest criticsm, be it tv, movies, books, or recipes.

So I do think this reviewer was doing his job. His tone hits me wrong, and I know that's my defensiveness and not any sort of objectivity. I still don't like what he said, or the way he said it. But I can't argue with his voicing his opinion.

Or, you know, what Amy said.

Again. It is Cracked. Home of things like The Ten Most Unintentionally Homoerotic Country and Western Ballads and Five Movie Sex Scenes That Will Make You Take a Purity Vow.

I hesitate to call a Cracked description of a show a review. It's like a review's 12 year old little brother doing stand up.

Now, of course, one could certainly argue that Cracked is part of the culture of oversnark.

Though for an oversnark site, it isn't nearly as cutting as some.

And, ahahaha, I am getting all defensive about ... Cracked.

The circle is complete!