Alias question, LotR-connected recs, and a DS9 review

[selenak]

Okay, a question to all Alias fans, of which there seem to be quite a lot: I've been reading intriguing comments on this show in the lj world for more than a year now. Here are the somewhat conflicting impressions I got: Buffy with spies instead of vampires; La Femme Nikita, only better/worse; owes something to Run Lola Run; the most intriguing characters are people nicknamed Spy Mommy and Spy Daddy, a KGB agent and CIA agent respectively who somehow spawned the heroine of the show. Correct or misled?

Also: since I'm now curious enough, is it possible to get a season or two of this show on DVD in Europe?


Here is a cool discussion of the scene in RotK (the film) where Frodo sends Sam away, how this scene was interpreted by fandom; of the characters (Frodo, Sam and Gollum) in general, and how a slash-only reading (i.e. a reading that does not see slash as an interpretation but as the only interpretation) can be detrimental to the overall impression of the story. Choice excerpt:

So I guess I'm beginning to feel like F/S can be too focused on, elevated in ways it shouldn't be. It's sad, but the story states pretty clearly that their friendship is not any ultimate solution. Maybe this is another reason Sam seems like the more accessible character. Not only are his deeds easier to understand, but his needs are too. Why can't Frodo just return Sam's adoration? But the thing is he can't and he shouldn't. He loves Sam but he's focused in the other direction. (...) Here I'm not talking about elevating one character over another, but I think this quote is related to the elevation of F/S above the real quest. Sam is the easier character for slash and fanfic purposes, but he's not the ideal to which all characters in the story should aspire. His devotion to Frodo is a very special role that's essential to the quest, but it isn't the quest in itself.

Two terrific interviews of the actors, one with Sean Astin, and a corresponding interview with Elijah Wood. butterfly, Sean Astin is as irritated with the "true hero" thing as we are.

I've learned the Gone With The Wind story I've recced some days ago was written by bonibaru, she who creates beautiful vids. She also started a most amazing thing, a Gone With The Wind/Harry Potter crossover that actually works!

Lastly, one of my christmas presents was the DS9 anthology Prophecy and Change, which is basically printed fanfiction. I reviewed it here.

Comments

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

Buffy with spies instead of vampires; La Femme Nikita, only better/worse; owes something to Run Lola Run; the most intriguing characters are people nicknamed Spy Mommy and Spy Daddy, a KGB agent and CIA agent respectively who somehow spawned the heroine of the show. Correct or misled?

Also: since I'm now curious enough, is it possible to get a season or two of this show on DVD in Europe?


Well, I like both Alias and Buffy/Angel quite a bit, but for different reasons. Alias is far more plot-driven and conspiracy-driven than Buffy ever was. Alias has an emotional tenor closer to early X-Files; I care about the characters, but they are secondary to the cliffhangers, unveilings, and double-crosses. Alias exists more-or-less in our world, though it does have a lot of James-Bond-style whatever technology (TM TWOP). There is a tiny bit of the flavor of prophecy that permeates Angel, but that takes a while to unfold.

I've never watched La Femme Nikita, but I am under the impression that Nikita worked in relative isolation. Spy Barbie (TM TWOP) is surrounded by regular and recurring characters who make up the plot and emotional landscape of the show.

It's got a bit of a feel of Run Lola Run in the pilot episode particularly, but there is no "go back and change time and run a lot" feel to it. You want that, you gotta watch Tru Calling (to which I can only say - Eliza, honey, you should have done Faith the Vampire Slayer instead).

I can't spoil you on Spy Momsky and Spy Daddy - you need to watch to get the backstory on that.

A quick glance at amazon.co.uk shows a region 2 release of the first season (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AVB6Y/qid=1073148801/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/202-1588963-9092651). Don't know when the second would be available. But the first season is quite good and stands well enough on its own that I can recommend it wholeheartedly.

[asta77.livejournal.com]

Alias is far more plot-driven and conspiracy-driven than Buffy ever was. Alias has an emotional tenor closer to early X-Files; I care about the characters, but they are secondary to the cliffhangers, unveilings, and double-crosses. Alias exists more-or-less in our world, though it does have a lot of James-Bond-style whatever technology (TM TWOP). There is a tiny bit of the flavor of prophecy that permeates Angel, but that takes a while to unfold.

Well, I think this superbly sums up Alias in comparison to the other shows and I agree completely. Buffy I watched primarily for the characters; Alias I got hooked on because of the stories being told. It's a brilliantly twisty show. And one that JJ Abrams has 'reinvented' twice already in it's relatively brief life.

I do believe you could start watching the show with season 3 and understand the basics of it. Yet, you'd miss out on the significance of the little things and the incresingly rich emotional history of the show (I think you would be fascinated by Jack and Irina's complicated relationship). Therefore, I'd recommend watching from the beginning.

Now, I tried repeatedly to get into LFM, but failed. The show just left me cold. I can't enjoy a show devoid of emotion no matter how many neat plot twists they may throw in. I need to care about the fate of the characters and it boggles my mind why anyone cared whether Nikita, Michael, etc lived or died.

While I'm not as emotionally invested in Alias as I was with Buffy, I do give a damn as to what happens to these characters. Without spoiling you, Sydney Bristow's life can be just as heartbreaking as Buffy's.