fannish5: Top Five Canonical Friendships

[selenak]

This one was tough, as I have considerable more than five friendships I love in the various fandoms I've fallen for. But here's a selection:

1) Londo Mollari and Vir Cotto in Babylon 5. Oh, let me count the ways in which I adore this relationship. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it grows over the course from the series (as do the characters), and it illustrates beautifully one of the trickiest things about friendship, fictional o otherwise: loyalty doesn't have to be blind. Vir's unlimited affection for Londo never blinds him to what is glaringly wrong about the things Londo does, and during the period of Londo's fall, he never stops doing something about this. Conversely, Vir goes from being the assistant Londo gets stuck with at the start of the show to Londo's reason to live (as evidenced in The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari in season 5).

2) Sydney Bristow and Marcus Dixon in Alias. It's that rarity, a strong m/f friendship without the slightest bit of UST, and thankfully the writers never were tempted to change that. (*glares in the direction of Joss & Co. for the disaster that was Angel/Cordelia which ruined another of my favourite friendships.*) Dixon and Sydney trust and respect each other; the plot-caused lie between them during the first one and a half seasons makes for a terrific resolution once Sydney decides to risk all on her knowledge of Dixon and tells him the truth. I always loved their scenes together, and frankly preferred Dixon as Sydney's partner during her missions to any other. (Well, okay, save Marshall, because that was made of win.)

3) Thelma and Louise in Thelma and Louise. There have been (not nearly enough) takes on f/f buddy movies and shows since, but none touched me as deeply. Everything comes together here; I love that Thelma and Louise are two adult women, not teenagers or in their early 20s but both well over 30, that while Thelma starts out as the vulnerable "girly" one and Louise as the calm sensible one they keep changing caretaker positions and are true equals in the end; I love that they're played by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis at their best, that their friendship was written by a female scriptwriter, and oh, I love all the gorgeous images in this film. (Scott at his best.) Of all the many entries in the road movie genre, this is my favourite, and it is so because of the friendship between Thelma and Louise.

4) Mal and Zoe in Firefly. Nobody uses the word "Sir" as inventively as Zoe does. Whether she wants to point out to Mal he's being a crazy ass again or just tell him she has his back, the way she says "Sir" shows us and him exactly what she means. Mal and Zoe went to hell and came back together; they're comrades (and, like Sydney and Dixon, without the slightest sexual interest in each other), friends, and the way they're able to use emotional shorthands is never more heartbreakingly conveyed than near the end of the Big Damm Movie, when they talk about Serenity the ship; but what Mal is really asking about is Zoe, and she replies for both.

5) a) Hiro and Ando in Heroes. Their storyline through the first season is a road movie on its own, and an adorable one; and by the time the season ends, they have both become heroes in every sense of the word. There so many Hiro 'n Ando moments to choose from, but my favourite illustraton of this fact is perhaps Ando saving the day in Parasite and what it enables Hiro to do.
b) Hiro and Nathan in Heroes Four on screen encounters do probably not a friendship make, which is why I had to relegate this to an addendum, but in my heart of hearts, I must confess that the... whatever you want to call it... between Hiro Nakamura and Nathan Petrelli makes me even mushier than the one between Hiro and Ando. Because it was so unexpected, because they're such complete opposites in every sense and yet hit it off, because most people in the Heroes-verse bond via shared danger, but Nathan and Hiro after Hiro's initial approach due to the flying just do so because they like each other. Which is why this moment caused me more angst than most other things in the final eps and makes me hope fervently Hiro will find out that Nathan did save New York in s2.

Comments

[leviathanmuse.livejournal.com]

It's that rarity, a strong m/f friendship without the slightest bit of UST, and thankfully the writers never were tempted to change that.

Yay! I'm not the only one sick, sick, sick of the damned ships. I love strong m/f relationships that don't get UST or bitchy. I loved the first couple seasons of "X-Files" for that very reason. Mulder and Scully lived their own lives outside the Bureau. You definitely picked 2 of the best.

Personally, I don't think the fact that there are so few moments between Hiro and Nathan in any way detracts from their having a friendship. Every time that Nathan sees him, he's so very happy to see him, even if he does have to keep reminding him not to yell out "Flying Man!" in public. And Nathan's heart is just as broken as Hiro's when he pulls away from him in that particular scene. He knows he's hurting Hiro, but he's still in the "it's all for the best" mode of thinking at that point. Of course, I'm hoping that Nathan's not dead so he can have a reconciliation with Hiro next season. Sometimes people just click, whether or not they see each other often.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I love strong m/f relationships that don't get UST or bitchy.

Oh, me too. And so agreed on the early X-Files.

And Nathan's heart is just as broken as Hiro's when he pulls away from him in that particular scene. He knows he's hurting Hiro, but he's still in the "it's all for the best" mode of thinking at that point.

Absolutely, and I wrote at length about it in my review and meta back then. Body-language wise, it's also telling that Nathan treats Hiro like he treats members of his family in that scene, leaning in as he does; it's, as Masi commented in the podcast, it's a very intimate scene. (Compare Nathan in the scene with Mohinder in Godsend when Mohinder puts an arm on his shoulder and Nathan immediately moves away, and of course he shakes off the Doctor in Six Months Ago.) Here's hoping for another encounter in s2, indeed.

[leviathanmuse.livejournal.com]

Yes, I love the interaction of Hiro and Nathan. There is very little physical space between them in the scenes they're in (except maybe the first, but my brain isn't kicking in and telling me whether or not I'm wrong there). And they're always whispering like conspirators when they're together, which I think is so cute.

As far as Mohinder goes, I think Nathan unconsciously realizes that much as Mohinder may be cute, getting near him is hazardous to one's health.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Nathan and Mohinder: andrastewhite has explained it all (http://andrastewhite.livejournal.com/370681.html#cutid1). *g* That same reason also explains why Peter loses all interest in Mohinder after the first five episodes...

[leviathanmuse.livejournal.com]

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

The sandwich bit kills me, too! Don't refuse mom's sandwiches, evol brain-killer!

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

Which is why this moment caused me more angst than most other things in the final eps and makes me hope fervently Hiro will find out that Nathan did save New York in s2.

Seriously, Hiro not knowing that Nathan isn't a birran after all was more devastating for me than the entire "probably dying in an explosion caused by brother" business (I also want a scene between those two a lot more desperately than one between Nathan and either Peter or Claire.). And I agree with leviathanmuse I'd definitely count their relationship as a real friendship. It just developed in a very contained temporal space.

I heartily agree on Sydney and Dixon's friendship working wonderfully, and Dixon being the best mission partner she had. (Amusingly enough, the fact that they swapped him for both Vaughn and Sark for a lengthier time can probably account for the dislike I occasionally feel against these characters. Otherwise I probably wouldn't be bothered with Vaughn, and Sark amuses me in small doses. But alas, I saw both of them as intruders. :) )

Alas, if I ever finish my own list of this, it will partly be a cross between your choices and yahtzee63's, but I guess that only proves the point that these are engaging friendships! :)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I also want a scene between those two a lot more desperately than one between Nathan and either Peter or Claire.

Same here. With Peter, I'm content to wait till the sweeps, especially since it's hard to top the finale anyway; I do want one with Claire sooner than that, because that relationship really demands some more fleshing out; but most and foremost and as soon as possible, gimme Hiro and Nathan follow-up!

Amusingly enough, the fact that they swapped him for both Vaughn and Sark for a lengthier time can probably account for the dislike I occasionally feel against these characters.

Same here, though my period of most intense Vaughn and Sark dislike was season 3 where it had other reasons as well, for both characters. I thought: go away, I want Syd paired up with Dixon again!

(Now when she was on missions with Nadia, I did not mind at all, because that was lovely to watch as well, her two or three outings with Sloane fed my own brand of bad wrongness, but during each and every Vaughn mission, I wished him away, and Sark really works best in small doses...)

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

With Peter, I'm content to wait till the sweeps, especially since it's hard to top the finale anyway; I do want one with Claire sooner than that, because that relationship really demands some more fleshing out; but most and foremost and as soon as possible, gimme Hiro and Nathan follow-up!

I think it's also very unlikely that a Peter and Nathan reunion is not going to happen, and, given that TPTB do know their fans and like to exploit their feelings, that won't be before sweeps.
I'm also pretty sure the situation between Claire and Nathan will develop further eventually, but I have no idea when that's going to be. It is one of the relationships that has fallen a little by the wayside, if believably enough, considering where the plot was going at that point. But there should be enough there for them to pick it up again at any time.

As for Nathan and Hiro... they couldn't just have send Nathan into the past with Hiro, could they? :) Would have made things so much easier.

my period of most intense Vaughn and Sark dislike was season 3 where it had other reasons as well, for both characters. I thought: go away, I want Syd paired up with Dixon again!

I agree. S 3 in general had so many problems for me, with both Vaughn and Sark being at least structurally at the heart of them among others, that I usually try to ignore it altogether except for a handful of episodes. But my reaction was the same, to a t. :)

(Now when she was on missions with Nadia, I did not mind at all, because that was lovely to watch as well, her two or three outings with Sloane fed my own brand of bad wrongness...

Oh, yes. I loved her with Marshall as well, and the missions with Will were gold (but that might just be me, as I have a huge soft spot for Will, to the point of naming one of my cats after him). I also dig the ensemble missions they had in Season 5.

Best mission combination for me would be Marshall and Jack, though. Incidentally, during the whole situation with the spork (in S4?) Michael Vartan does some of his funniest and best (non-verbal) acting throughout the whole series, which made it one of the few points I actually liked Vaughn after S1.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

As for Nathan and Hiro... they couldn't just have send Nathan into the past with Hiro, could they? :) Would have made things so much easier.

I know! I weep for lost opportunities. Nathan could have been in the reverse position to Hiro in season 1, not speaking the language of the country except for a few expressions, and being dependent on his companion who does. We could have had feudal Japan road adventures! Adrian Pasdar could have looked hot wearing kimonos! *wails*

Spork (and Marshall introducing himself as Bristow, Jack Bristow) was in season 4, yes, in the episode Tuesday, which was written by Joss Whedon scribe Drew Goddard, aka Ultimate Drew. Which I know by heart because season 4 is my favourite season, yes, even over season 2.

My season 3 attitude: it's basically the Jack and Sloane show for me. Their scenes are fabulous. Sydney is great when with either or both, also when with Dixon and Marshall. Inexplicably loses intelligence and is reduced to bad fanfic self when with Vaughn. (Writers, letting her use the term "soulmate" was unforgivable.) Vaughn obnoxious throughout. Sark overused and superfluous, and really not believable as supervillain sans boss. Poor Lauren's valiant attempt at characterisation during the first half sacrificed to bad writing and bad mascara in the second so Syd/Vaughn 'shippers can be happy. Isabella Rosellini is great fun. I love Nadia.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

We could have had feudal Japan road adventures! Adrian Pasdar could have looked hot wearing kimonos! *wails*

*is devastated at the very thought of missing this out*

And what do we get instead? The Beard That Captured Texas. Sigh. (I mean, of course I would also watch the man read a phone book while disguised as a vorlon, so I'm bound to be entertained either way, but still.)

Which I know by heart because season 4 is my favourite season, yes, even over season 2.

*g* I'm very fond of Season 4, though I like Season 1 better, all things considered. But I really enjoyed all of Alias, except for certain parts of Season 3.

Season 3: Loved Jack and Sloane's scenes as well, loved most of Syd's scenes outside of anything triangle related. Had somehow suppressed the knowledge of her using the s-word and cringe at the thought (seriously, what is she, fifteen?). Found Vaughn parts annoying, and parts annoyingly acted; this season started my suspicion that not only the writers were deadly bored by the character, but also Vartan himself. Absolutely agree on Sark.

Lauren is an issue that makes me rather angry, since I tried to keep open-minded about her despite the fandom backlash, only to be rewarded with a completely nonsensical characterization u-turn and a subsequent overabundance of the Eyeliner of Evil and suspicious behaviour at the workplace that would make any 24 character blush - not to mention that her characterization was still all over the place. I really felt for the poor actress.

As for Katya and Nadia, I adore both of them; I especially love that Katya isn't evil as opposed to rather mischievous, and that Isabella Rossellini, someone I admire greatly, really seemed to dig the role. I mean, she is such a serious, established actress, and something like this character must be very playful to her.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I'm currently watching the BBC2 run of Heroes, as I missed some of the early episodes when it was on a cable channel, so finally caught up with the first meeting of Hiro and Nathan. I'd been puzzled by how matey they seemed on a chance encounter later in the story, but suddenly it made sense; it was the first time, maybe the only time, I'd seen Nathan actually enjoying his power, presumably because he thought no one else was watching, and of course Hiro would respond to that pleasure, as well as meeting another person-with-powers (for the first time, I think?) I was less clear what was in it for Nathan, though I could see that he'd be relieved to find that, though there was a witness, he didn't speak much English and wasn't exactly the sort of person who'd be taken seriously if he did tell... but perhaps he just enjoyed being able to share the secret with someone who was so cheerful about it and unlikely to pose any threat. Or maybe Hiro's real superpower is making everyone who spends more than a few minutes in his presence like him.

PS

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

"Save Marshall", not "safe".

[selenak.livejournal.com]

it was the first time, maybe the only time, I'd seen Nathan actually enjoying his power, presumably because he thought no one else was watching,

He has a wistful moment one episode earlier when Niki catches him looking out of a window and he asks her whether she ever wondered what it was like to fly, which is as close as Nathan gets to admitting there is something about the superpower he has he enjoys, and of course he does it to a person he assumes he'll never see again, and in a way that makes sure she won't suspect what he means. But with Hiro, it's a different situation. I've written an essay on Hiros (http://selenak.livejournal.com/296107.html), the episode in question, where I go into some detail as to why the lucky coincidence of their meeting makes for a very different relationship than it would have been if, say, Hiro had encountered Nathan at the casino or on the street.

and of course Hiro would respond to that pleasure, as well as meeting another person-with-powers (for the first time, I think?)

Yes, Nathan was the first. He later meets DL and Micah on the road, but doesn't befriend them the way he does Nathan. As for what is in for Nathan with this relationship, well, I make my argument in fictional form here: Lunch Break (http://selenak.livejournal.com/294938.html)

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Ah, it's a break from being Nathan Petrelli! I see.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

That's my guess.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

It's that rarity, a strong m/f friendship without the slightest bit of UST, and thankfully the writers never were tempted to change that.

I'd worry that the reason for that might be the obvious and discreditable one.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

You mean because he's black and she's white? Granted, I might be a bit slow to suspect racism, but I really don't think so. Aside from the complete lack of UST, Dixon is married during the first two years of the show, which is important to his characterisation from the pilot (where he discusses whether or not to tell significant others their true profession with Sydney) onwards, and by the time he's a widower, the Sydney/Vaughn relationship has reached exclusive pair of destiny status on the show, for better or worse. Even widowed, he and his two children are that rarity in the Aliasverse, a completely functional family (as opposed to the one Sydney has, glaringly so), and he's not asexual as a widower, he has a relationship with Angela Basset's character. He and Sydney just aren't into each other in a romantic fashion, and as I said - I really am relieved about that.