Fannish Soulsearching: Types
Apr. 19th, 2005 02:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakTrying to suss out whether I have recognizable types whom I burden with my fannish affection, I came up with the following. "Types" meaning here those guys and gals whom I love foremost, not the only ones I love. For example, I do adore the Vilas (B7), Virs(B5) and Kaylees (Firefly) of the multiverse, but for some reason, they never are my primary favourites. Often they come close, and I do like writing about them; they just never make it to the top spot with me. Don't know why.
So, let's see who does. In no particular order:
1) Broken Heroes. Those types who start out innocent and cheerful, get messed up by life, often emotionally shut down and/or become obsessive but still continue. Examples would be John Crichton, Frodo Baggins and Buffy Summers. (This is why it took the later seasons for me to have Buffy as my favourite BTVS character; in the early ones, it was someone else.)
2) Talkative Rogues. NOT Han Solo (not a Han fangirl); I mean folk like Quark (DS9) or Rygel (Farscape). They're genuinenly selfish and quite capable of selling you out at times, but they're also clever and have their own kind of bravery. And as opposed to the afore mentioned gentleman of Star Wars, they're not good looking, athletic and guaranteed to get the girl. (Though actually Quark got the girl more often than the other regulars did, but that's neither here nor there.)
3) Underdogs. By which I don't mean characters who are underdogs within the story but the heroes from the audience's pov, I mean underdogs in terms of fannish affection. Those guys a majority of the audience dislikes. Say, Wesley in season 3 of BtVS and in his early Angel episodes before he became fashionable, or Andrew, or hey, in a way Buffy herself. Also Connor and Darla of AtS, but they fit even more in other categories.
4) Smart Manipulators. Mostly to be found in the "villains" or at the very least "ambiguous character" category. Hence my fascination with Servalan (B7), Kai Winn (DS9), Scorpius (Farscape), Garak (also DS9) and Arvin Sloane (Alias). Also Darla. (Oh yeah, and an oldie but goodie, Methos in Highlander.) Right now, the only non-villain in this category which I love best in her show is Laura Roslin.
5) Messed-Up Boys. I'm being gender and age specific here because of the three examples that came to mind; if I find a messed-up girl later, all the better. Also, this category is not to be confused with "broken heroes", though a transition from one category to the other may be possible at a later stage. This would be the tag for Connor (AtS - rewatching the fourth season was followed by the hunt for Connor fanfic and the sad realization there isn't much new out here since last year), Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars - is it May 19th already?) and, as of OotP, Harry Potter. (I liked Harry well enough in the earlier novels, but lo and behold, in book 5 he pushed Snape aside as the character I was most interested in. Yep, angry, lashing out Harry did it for me.)
6) Fallen Angels. I'd blame Milton except for not having read him until long after this fixation came to be. Villains who used to be good guys are often so intriguing, and have the advantage of carrying intriguing history with them to boot. Examples would be Anakin as Darth Vader, Magneto, or Derek Sagan (of Margeret Weis' SW-derivative Star of the Guardians series). I suppose you could file Boromir in this category, too, except that the fall-and-redemption happens so quickly, and err, final.
I'm somewhat at a loss as to where to put Londo Mollari, because he is so many things in the course of his story. Except a Messed-Up Boy. (Though undoubtedly Timov would disagree.)
Now, due to overwhelming pressure from Certain Invidiuals I started watching Lost which German tv has now gotten around to broadcast. So far so entertaining. After three episodes, I haven't a favourite character yet (that often takes more time - characters I fall for almost on sight, like Laura Roslin or Londo Mollari, are rare), but after last night, I'm eyeing Locke with a certain glint. We'll see.
Anyway, it occured to me that there are also types which in theory I should fall for but don't. Or rather, types I like, just not as a primary favourite. Such as:
1) Women Warriors. I like Kira, I like Ivanova, I like Starbuck and Aeryn and Eowyn and enjoy watching them and reading about them. But I never obsess about them. (Buffy is an exception here, see above.)
2) Cuddly Geeks With Golden Hearts. Marshall, early Willow, Kaylee, Billy (in BSG) - like them all in varying degrees, some I even love, but again, not best of all.
3) Most Loyal Friends. Vir, Sam (of LotR, not Stargate), Will (of Alias) - you evoke an immediate urge to hug and admire. If I loved you best, I would probably be better of, as you tend to get well-deserved happy endings. But no. Alas.
So, let's see who does. In no particular order:
1) Broken Heroes. Those types who start out innocent and cheerful, get messed up by life, often emotionally shut down and/or become obsessive but still continue. Examples would be John Crichton, Frodo Baggins and Buffy Summers. (This is why it took the later seasons for me to have Buffy as my favourite BTVS character; in the early ones, it was someone else.)
2) Talkative Rogues. NOT Han Solo (not a Han fangirl); I mean folk like Quark (DS9) or Rygel (Farscape). They're genuinenly selfish and quite capable of selling you out at times, but they're also clever and have their own kind of bravery. And as opposed to the afore mentioned gentleman of Star Wars, they're not good looking, athletic and guaranteed to get the girl. (Though actually Quark got the girl more often than the other regulars did, but that's neither here nor there.)
3) Underdogs. By which I don't mean characters who are underdogs within the story but the heroes from the audience's pov, I mean underdogs in terms of fannish affection. Those guys a majority of the audience dislikes. Say, Wesley in season 3 of BtVS and in his early Angel episodes before he became fashionable, or Andrew, or hey, in a way Buffy herself. Also Connor and Darla of AtS, but they fit even more in other categories.
4) Smart Manipulators. Mostly to be found in the "villains" or at the very least "ambiguous character" category. Hence my fascination with Servalan (B7), Kai Winn (DS9), Scorpius (Farscape), Garak (also DS9) and Arvin Sloane (Alias). Also Darla. (Oh yeah, and an oldie but goodie, Methos in Highlander.) Right now, the only non-villain in this category which I love best in her show is Laura Roslin.
5) Messed-Up Boys. I'm being gender and age specific here because of the three examples that came to mind; if I find a messed-up girl later, all the better. Also, this category is not to be confused with "broken heroes", though a transition from one category to the other may be possible at a later stage. This would be the tag for Connor (AtS - rewatching the fourth season was followed by the hunt for Connor fanfic and the sad realization there isn't much new out here since last year), Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars - is it May 19th already?) and, as of OotP, Harry Potter. (I liked Harry well enough in the earlier novels, but lo and behold, in book 5 he pushed Snape aside as the character I was most interested in. Yep, angry, lashing out Harry did it for me.)
6) Fallen Angels. I'd blame Milton except for not having read him until long after this fixation came to be. Villains who used to be good guys are often so intriguing, and have the advantage of carrying intriguing history with them to boot. Examples would be Anakin as Darth Vader, Magneto, or Derek Sagan (of Margeret Weis' SW-derivative Star of the Guardians series). I suppose you could file Boromir in this category, too, except that the fall-and-redemption happens so quickly, and err, final.
I'm somewhat at a loss as to where to put Londo Mollari, because he is so many things in the course of his story. Except a Messed-Up Boy. (Though undoubtedly Timov would disagree.)
Now, due to overwhelming pressure from Certain Invidiuals I started watching Lost which German tv has now gotten around to broadcast. So far so entertaining. After three episodes, I haven't a favourite character yet (that often takes more time - characters I fall for almost on sight, like Laura Roslin or Londo Mollari, are rare), but after last night, I'm eyeing Locke with a certain glint. We'll see.
Anyway, it occured to me that there are also types which in theory I should fall for but don't. Or rather, types I like, just not as a primary favourite. Such as:
1) Women Warriors. I like Kira, I like Ivanova, I like Starbuck and Aeryn and Eowyn and enjoy watching them and reading about them. But I never obsess about them. (Buffy is an exception here, see above.)
2) Cuddly Geeks With Golden Hearts. Marshall, early Willow, Kaylee, Billy (in BSG) - like them all in varying degrees, some I even love, but again, not best of all.
3) Most Loyal Friends. Vir, Sam (of LotR, not Stargate), Will (of Alias) - you evoke an immediate urge to hug and admire. If I loved you best, I would probably be better of, as you tend to get well-deserved happy endings. But no. Alas.
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no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 01:02 pm (UTC)I'm nine episodes in and still don't have a favourite - although I'm really enjoying the show - but it's a lot of fun to see Terry O'Quinn actually act instead of being tasked with the thankless job of giving the Agents Bristow orders so they can refuse to follow them. I guess J.J. liked him and thought he deserved better in his next production *g*.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 01:55 pm (UTC)That would be my guess as well.*g* Also? I do have a favourite pin-up of course, but that's not the same thing. Hooray for Naveen Andrews, I say.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 10:36 am (UTC)He's certainly earned J.J.'s faith in the episodes I've seen.
Also? I do have a favourite pin-up of course, but that's not the same thing. Hooray for Naveen Andrews, I say.
Isn't he beautiful? I think I already said on my own lj that I tuned into the show initially because it looked as if there was going to be a lot of Naveen Andrews in a tank top *g*. And lo, I have not been disappointed on that score. I think Sayid is going to be one of those Characters I Really Like - along with people like Cyclops and Lyta Alexander - rather than an object of passionate character love, but he certainly is easy on the eyes, and interesting into the bargain.
Incidentally, Mira Furlan turned up as a guest star last week and endeared herself to me greatly. Three guesses what she does to Sayid when she meets him ...
no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 10:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 01:08 pm (UTC)I like the Broken Heroes, but in a brotherly kind of way.
I like the Talkative Rogues, but in a "it's nice to have a brother in law who knows where to get you a new hubcab absolutely totally free" kind of way. I'm sort of neutral on the underdogs. *shrug*
I'm dubious about the Smart Manipulators. "Better you than me" is my heartfelt reaction to anybody/Garak. (Not that I don't like him, but....)
Messed Up Boys have their charm, but having dated one in real life, no thank you, no more. Less drama, please.
But, oh, the Fallen Angels! Alas, I fear I'm not really interesting enough for them. I'd watch you be all mysterious and stuff and be really supportive and all because in real life they'd find me shallow, I think.
I love, however, the Women Warriors, the Cuddly Geeks, and the Most Loyal Friends. Along with some others I expect you're less enthusiastic about!
no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 01:58 pm (UTC)Messed Up Boys have their charm, but having dated one in real life, no thank you, no more. Less drama, please.
Oh, I don't intend to date them, don't worry.*g* Just to have fun writing and watching...
no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 04:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 01:46 pm (UTC)It's a post-NFA series, so it's not Season 4-level messed-up Connor, but I am trying to deal with the unacknowledged complexities of Connor's situation after he gets his memories back in Season 5. There's lots of other Angel and Buffy cameos, and Faith is a regular.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 01:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 12:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 05:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 03:47 am (UTC)'scuse me, but I must SQUEEEE!
I, too, loved Wes before he became fashionable (and DUDE. I love that description!) Ditto Alex Krycek.
And I've made no secret of my Riley Finn love. You lost me on the Buffy, though. <G>
This is a really cool thing you've got here. I must think on't.
you're contagious. in a good way
Date: 2005-04-22 06:20 pm (UTC)