My Top Ten Fannish Highlights From 2007

[selenak]

In order of watching/reading, not in order of precedence:



1) The Prestige. Awesome, awesome movie. I loved it so very much, still do. (Sidenote: last night I had dinner with a friend of mine, an editor, and it cracks us up how we invariably pick up a different focus on something we both like; he referred to The Prestige as "the film with Hugh Jackman", I referred to it as "the one with Christian Bale". But really, it's not about either of them, though they're both excellent; it's about the whole late Victorian magic and obsessiveness and clever narrative.)


2) "Conspiracy requires intent". Gaius Baltar: This Is Your Life. In episode 3.13 of Battlestar Galactica, he goes from a suicide attempt (which, given that Baltar is the ultimate survivor, tells you something about the state he's in) to being tortured interrogated by the show's heroes to being almost killed by a man who used to hero-worship him to finally admitting to himself that no, he's not a Cylon, that's not the way out, he's entirely and completely human. What he can't admit, however, is what Roslin & Co. want him to, that he's guilty. BSG is not always in top form, but in this particular episode, James Callis gives a fantastic performance and shows just why Baltar, who is neither a traditional villain (you won't see him plot anyone's destruction any time soon) nor an anti-hero (when pressed enough into a corner, he can come up with some great feats, but generally speaking, he invariably takes the easy way out) and definitely not a hero is nonetheless such a compelling character.

3) The Son Also Rises, Crossroads I + II : after a season and a half of being saddled with some of the worst storylines ever (notably, but not exclusively the quadrangle of doom), Lee Adama becomes a really compelling character again as the writers remember that he works best when faced with an ethical dilemma. Making him part of Gaius Baltar's defense team was inspired; making him confront Roslin in court was genius. The resurrection of the Lee/ethics OTP is cemented by nt one but two terrific courtroom scenes, the second of which sums up the show to date. In addition, we get one of the best new characters in the form of Romo Lampkin, Baltar's main lawyer, and a great illustration of life's ironies as Gaeta out of hate born from disappointed belief lies and accuses Baltar of the one thing Baltar is genuinenly innocent of/has a true excuse for.

4) Lost: the truly fascinating triangle of the season, Locke/Island/Ben, gets into high gear with The Man from Tallahasee, wherein Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson act everyone's socks off every second they're on screen together (well, apart, too, but we knew that) and culminates in The Man Behind The Curtain, aka the Ben Background Story. Definitely the highlight of season 3 to me, and I was glued to the screen.

5) Discovering Heroes during its last season 1 hiatus. I basically rushed through the first eighteen episodes and from that point onwards saw the show in real time. As mentioned before, the scene that made me go from "okay, nice, maybe I'll keep watching and maybe I won't" from "wow! didn't expect that! must see more!" in the pilot was the very last one with its great twist, and of course the relationship between the Petrellis was and is at the core of the show for me, but I really fell in love with the entire Heroes universe, from Hiro's beaming smile to Angela Petrelli's regal ruthlessness to Mr. Bennet's moral greyness to Matt Parkman trying to remain a decent man despite increasing temptation to the opposite, from Claire's walking through literal and metaphorical fire to Charlie's delight about 1000 cranes surrounding her to Candice sharing comics with Micah to Monica's joy when exploring her powers for the first time to Elle's, bad pun intended, sparkling presence and mixture of glee and brokenness. I fell in love back between winter and spring, and have remained in love ever since.

6) Dr. Who: Gridlock. Sure, Blink is the outstanding brilliant individual episode of the season. Sure, Human Nature/The Family of Blood is the acting tour the force for both leads, and immensely moving. And I'm listing something about the last three episodes seperately. But I just love Gridlock beyond reason. For the Gallifrey descriptions at the start and finish. For the best single scene between Martha and the Doctor. For Martha being so brave and inspired on her own, and using submarine movies to her advantage. For the Doctor being, as another character puts it, "crazy, and a bit magnificent", hopping from one flying car to the next. For the whole eternal traffic jam with its passengers, not just the adorable kittens but also their great Mum and Dad, for the old ladies, for Novice Hame and her redemption. "I had no other choice." "Yes, you did," spoken with such respect and admiration. For the Face of Boe giving it a final all, and that message. Oh, Gridlock. You may not get any Hugos, but you are one of my favourite episodes of all Who, full stop.

7) Dr. Who: the entire "Return of the Master" arc. Firstly, it was brilliant not to just let him show up as the Master but use the gimmick from Human Nature by introducing us to kind Professor Yana. (And yes, awesome casting coup.) The way he and the Doctor immediately hit it off is especially heartbreaking in retrospect (they even get a hand-holding scene, and I remain convinced the Doctor would have asked Yana to come with him if events hadn't, err, gone otherwise). Derek Jacobi proving he needs no black contact lenses or make-up to convey character transformation and menace when Yana goes the way of John Smith and the Master takes over. John Simm then becoming the first Master since Roger Delgado who truly is a direct mirror of the Doctor he's paired up with, in a fantastic performance of charisma, viciousness, wit and the odd moment of vulnerability. "Say my name" competing with The Phonecall for slashiest Who scene ever. And then the Master, after having been defeated for the nth time in the show's history, finding the one devastating way to finally win over the Doctor.

8) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Potterdämmerung! And a great end to the saga it was (in addition to being a bloodbath; from the moment Rowling killed Hedwig in the opening sequence, you knew no one was safe). Dumbledore's backstory turned out to be one of the most fascinating things in the novels, Snape, as most of fandom had speculated, proved that you can be brave and heroic while still spectacularly unpleasant and screwed up, Neville was awesome, so was Molly, and the trio completed their growing up process. I'm not a 'shipper, but Hermione kissing Ron for the first time after he pointed out the houseelves should have a choice about the whole joining the battle thing was a wonderful moment. Harry's realisation that Dumbledore had basically groomed him to die and his going to his death with the ghosts of his past: just about killed me. And as opposed to most of fandom, I even like the much reviled epilogue, capped with the revelation that Harry called one of his kids "Albus Severus" and tells him the Slytherin he was named after was the bravest man Harry ever knew. Oh, and I'm still grinning about the certainty that Ron jinxed himself by telling Rose not to date Scorpius Malfoy.

9) Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End: and what started out intended as a single popcorn summer movie which happened to be written with some truly inventive twists ends up as a truly satisfying trilogy, giving me one of my favourite female characters on screen with Elizabeth Swann (yes, yes, I know, Jack is fab, I think so, too, but it was Elizabeth who made the movies for me) and surprising the hell out of me with ending on a mythic note. Some of my favourite AWE moments: Barbossa and Jack with the dead Kraken - which truly conveys a sense of an age passing - , Will realizing what Elizabeth had done to Jack and her response (this made Will and Elizabeth as a couple to me, because from this point onwards, you can't accuse them of seeing each other on pedestals anymore), Elizabeth discovering her father among the dead, Elizabeth's two scenes with Norrington and what they conveyed, Calypso/Tia Dalma and Davy Jones (they really pulled off the mythic dimension there, while also making the parallels/contrasts to Our Heroes believable), Jack's moment of decision, Elizabeth Swann, Pirate King, giving her version of the Armada speech. And in conclusion, hoist the colours!

10) Heroes again: after declaring my love for the entire universe and listing the "falling in love" process, I must name the show again for That Beloved Dysfunctional Family. Whenever you have more than one Petrelli in the same room at the same time, the scene in question just gets another special kick for me. This is true for any and all Nathan and Peter scenes, for any and all Angela and either of her sons scenes, and for any and all Claire and any of the three Petrellis scenes. Reigning myself in, just a few examples: "You're getting the benefit of my experience." "Whether I want it or not." (Angela and Claire). "Just because you've shaved doesn't mean you're sober" (Angela and Nathan at the hospital; it's a tough competition, but Angela and Nathan probably get the prize for most dysfunctional relationship among the dysfunctional Petrellis, only able to express their concern for each other when one of them is in severe distress and otherwise resenting the hell out of that part of themselves they see in each other). Angela makes Peter remember herself in "Out of Time" (Angela and Peter, by contrast, have a downright relaxed relationship in comparison, except for the part where he hasn't dealt yet with the fact she both loves him and has no problems using him for her ends). "I know why you're doing this." (Phonecall phonecall phonecall - it was cruel not to give us more Nathan and Claire scenes in volume 2, but I'm still glad we got this one and love it to bits.) "Life gets better after high school" (sometimes I feel like the only person in fandom who doesn't 'ship Peter and Claire in the romantic sense and still likes their relationship, and this scene from "Homecoming" is pretty much why). And - taking a deep breath - for Nathan and Peter: "I can fly, Nathan. So can you", aka The Manipulative Argument Example (from "Nothing to Hide"), "This is not your fault", aka The Hurt/Comfort example (from "Six Months Ago", the hospital scene), "I don't know who I'd be without you", aka The Confession of Co-dependence example (".07%", of course), "I just... really missed you", aka The Reunion That Kills Me example. Oh, yeah, and That Other Flying Scene. Some people have flaming hands, others have stabbed through the heart and sent to hell couple moments to save the world. The Petrellis do it flying.

Comments

[bimo.livejournal.com]

Gridlock is one fine DW episode, I think, and also quite crucial for defining/highlighting Martha's outstanding ability for taking matters into her hand.

I must admit though, that my main reason for loving the episode as much as I do is unspeakably geeky. Remember the elderly couple which gets killed off right at the beginning? Definitely a homage to Grant Wood's American Gothic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Americangothic.jpg).

[selenak.livejournal.com]

That had to be pointed out to me as I wasn't familiar with the painting before. (Pus I associate American Gothic with a certain tv show first and foremost.*g*)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, and thrice yes on 'Gridlock'. I have a long piece of half-baked meta about it somewhere on my hard drive, which I very much need to finish.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, I'd love to read Gridlock meta from you.

*anticipates*

[trascendenza]

I feel like the only person in fandom who doesn't 'ship Peter and Claire in the romantic sense and still likes their relationship, and this scene from "Homecoming" is pretty much why.
I feel much the same way! I really like their dynamic but, as much as fandom has eradicated most of my squickmeter (and how), these two just don't ping 'shippy for me. I like how things are a little sad and a little kindred between them all at once.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It's not the uncle/niece part that keeps me from seeing them as a romantic couple, you know; even if Claire weren't related to the Petrellis, I wouldn't 'ship them. They do make great friends, though, and "a little sad, a little kindred" is the perfect description for what I see their scenes conferring!

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

1) I loved this movie! Very, very well done, and it works as an actual magical trick - the very first image tells you what's going on, yet when you don't know the solution you don't get it until later. And, oh, the scene with the bird! So horrifying in retrospect. It's also one of the few films where I'd honestly say it not only lives up to the novel, but surpasses it in depth, meaning and characterization.

2)I agree. I don't know when Baltar became one of my favourite characters, but this episode is definitely an illustration why he is.

3)Agreed again. Lee used to be one of my favourite characters, but between the Pegasus trilogy and this three parter they treated him so horribly, I really started to resent him. Now I'm looking forward to him again! (Is it March yet?)

4)Forgive the pun, but since I don't watch the show, this is totally lost on me.

5)Oh Heroes. I love a lot of the things you name, but right now, the show is on notice with me. I'll give them about three episodes upon their return to draw me back in - provided, of course, that Nathan is still on the show, which is the only acceptable situation - because right now I feel what mostly keeps me is talking to you guys about it. (And selected fanfic, admittedly)

6)*shifts feet* I, er, didn't like Gridlock. I mean, I did like the elements you mentioned, but in the end I found RTD got a little too sentimental with the singing and the light . Just not my thing.

7)*squee*

8)I was never that deeply obsessed with HP, so I was fine with the ending. The epilogue was twee, but seriously, the whole genre is quite sentimental, and just because JKR employed fantasy and satirical humour as key elements doesn't mean that it isn't still a Boarding School Novel.

9)I was largely okay with AWE. *nods*

10)I suspect I might like that family a little, too, yes. (Although Claire & Peter together don't really do it for me. Maybe once they are in an actual family situation.)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Very, very well done, and it works as an actual magical trick - the very first image tells you what's going on, yet when you don't know the solution you don't get it until later.

I was awed upon rewatching when I noticed this. Birds: "But where is his brother?" Ouch, ouch, triple ouch. Awesome.

Gridlock: don't worry, I'm aware my squee isn't universal. *g*

Re 8) and the genre - quite. I mean, I did read Enid Blyton as a girl, not to mention Else Ury, so really, JKR is downright hard-boiled in comparison.*g*

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I was awed upon rewatching when I noticed this. Birds: "But where is his brother?" Ouch, ouch, triple ouch. Awesome.

On a very mundane level I was shocked, because before I never thought the trick through and imagined what would happen to the bird...

so really, JKR is downright hard-boiled in comparison.*g*

She is. Aaand now I have this weird cross-over idea for a Harry Potter-like Hanni und Nanni, completely with carnage in the end. Must be some leftover childhood issues...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Hanni und Nanni and its midnight parties clearly traumatized us all.*g*

I had never wondered about the birds before, either, and now I can't watch a bird trick without remembering The Prestige! (Though I'm pretty sure they're not allowed to do that today anymore.)

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Oh, but the singing and the light were largely ironic, right? Er, maybe?

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. It seemed genuine to me.

[andraste]

Agreed on everything I'm in a position to comment on - not caught up on BSG and Lost just yet - but especially on Gridlock. It's my favourite of the season, and my favourite RTD-penned episode ever. I blame the BASKET OF TINY KITTENS.

Incidentally, am now just over half way through BSG Season Two, and Great Maker, did that ever go downhill fast! But I shall persevere, as I know that things do improve after the slump.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

A yes, the usual mid-season slump. The episode which changes it all is Downloaded (2.18), which also happens to be one of my most favourites ever. It just goes to show that BSG is the one show which actually benefits from a British-style 13 episodes per season limit, because that would mean for both s2 and s3 to cut out all the slump episodes and keep only the good stuff.

Gridlock is love. And yes, my favourite RTD episode as well. I mean, I love Utopia and Sound of Drums very much, too, but.... KITTENS!

[andraste]

It just goes to show that BSG is the one show which actually benefits from a British-style 13 episodes per season limit, because that would mean for both s2 and s3 to cut out all the slump episodes and keep only the good stuff.

I watched Black Market last night, and if Lee doesn't want to live, at this point I would be more than happy to help him out of the airlock ...

Gridlock is love. And yes, my favourite RTD episode as well. I mean, I love Utopia and Sound of Drums very much, too, but.... KITTENS!

I have a theory that any episode of Doctor Who could be improved by adding kittens. Although I'm not sure they would be relevant to The Curse of Fenric.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Black Market is probably the worst of s2. You know, I do feel sorry for Jamie Bamber and Lee fans, because starting with Resurrection Ship II, and right until, but not including, s3 Maelstrom, his characterisation was godawful and the character as a result insufferable. Then, by some miracle, the writers remembered that Lee works best the way he was used in Bastille Day or the early part of s2 when, and gave him four outstanding episodes in a row, so that my affection for the character had a major resurrection.

...I don't see how kittens would have fit into Fenric, either?

[andraste]

Black Market is probably the worst of s2.

Thank goodness for that! There were things about Epiphanies that annoyed me, but at least I did not actually want to turn the TV off or throw anyone out the airlock.

You know, I do feel sorry for Jamie Bamber and Lee fans, because starting with Resurrection Ship II, and right until, but not including, s3 Maelstrom, his characterisation was godawful and the character as a result insufferable.

It's bewildering, and completely not Jamie Bamber's fault. I cannot imagine what the writers were thinking!

...I don't see how kittens would have fit into Fenric, either?

"Kittens! Kittens from the dawn of time!"

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the quality of Pirates of the Caribbean. I really do feel that a lot of the hostility to the second and third films from non-fan critics is somekind of bemusement and outrage that a spectacular action film should also require its audience to be paying attention to the plot (since the plots of the PotC films seemed much more coherent to me than most critics). Compare the largely worshipful reviews given to the low-budget and anti-spectacle film Primer, a hard-SF piece about time travel which I found utterly impenetrable on first viewing and too devoid of character interest to make me want to rewatch it in the hope of puzzling it out.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I really do feel that a lot of the hostility to the second and third films from non-fan critics is somekind of bemusement and outrage that a spectacular action film should also require its audience to be paying attention to the plot (since the plots of the PotC films seemed much more coherent to me than most critics).

That would be my explanation as well. They're probably also not used to action flick trilogies developing their characters as opposed to keeping them static. Plus, you know - I remember one critic complaining about the plot and then proving himself an utter dunderhead by revealing that he couldn't tell Norrington and Becket apart. (He complained about Elizabeth's "villanous ex-fiance" sometimes giving orders and sometimes reveiving them and dying and then getting resurrected. Head. Desk.)

Haven't seen "Primer", so I couldn't say. I did see "Sunshine", which left me with mixed feelings, but not because of the comprehensibility of the plot (no problems there).

[futuresoon.livejournal.com]

I agree with basically everything (don't know BSG, haven't seen AWE) and of course I agree with everything Heroes-related and, yeah, I think I'm a secret Gridlock fan too (it was the first episode of the season to make me cry). When it comes to The Prestige, though...yes, it was a good movie with lots of brilliant bits, but, er, I was one of those people who read the book before they saw the movie and I am now incapable of being thoroughly squeeful about the movie because the book completely bowled me over and nothing can quite compare, no matter how well-done and pretty it is. It really is quite an amazing book, and if you loved the movie, I bet you'd love the book too. At the very least, it's got some interesting differences.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

See, I was shying away from the book because of the differences I found alluded to elsewhere, but if you recommend it...

[futuresoon.livejournal.com]

Oh, I recommend it very much. One of the best books I've ever read, and trust me, that's saying a lot.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Great list!

Wholeheartedly agree with Gridlock and the Petrelli love.

I loved S3 of Lost. I thought it was phenomenal, and the OT3 you mentioned was a big reason why. Also: Juliet.

HP was quite enjoyable, and I didn't mind the epilogue. Sure, it was twee, but I was worn out from the huge battle scene and could deal with a little sweetness at that point.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

And Gaius WAS amazing to watch last year. He is a fascinating character, for all the reasons you mentioned. (Even though I never found him the least bit convincing as a scientist, but that's hardly here or there.)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

TV science is not like our science.*g*

(Mohinder Suresh, Gaius Baltar, and Milo Rambaldi walk into a room...)

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Hee! A HOT room. Well, except for maybe Milo.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

We have no idea how Milo looked like, though they faked us out in s5 with Rose Guy for a while. So in my mind, he looks like Ian McKellen!

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

OK then-- I'm in! :D

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Juliet was definitely another reason to love s3, but I was limiting myself to a Top Ten for the entire year in all my fandoms.

Epilogue: yes, it was the comfort after the hurt.

And another Gridlock lover - yay!

[12-12-12.livejournal.com]

You know how wholeheartedly I agree re: 10. I love all the moments you listed. I would also add: "All this time, I thought I was alone. Now there's you." :D :D :D

"Life gets better after high school" (sometimes I feel like the only person in fandom who doesn't 'ship Peter and Claire in the romantic sense and still likes their relationship, and this scene from "Homecoming" is pretty much why).

You're not the only one. *G* Though I will admit that before I knew they were related the crazy-insane chemistry pushed me into shipping them for a while.