Elayna's ramblings

I love figure skating and watched a lot of the recent Olympics and the Worlds competition. I've never been athletic or even very competitive, so it's hard for me to imagine what it must be like, to be such a powerhouse athlete, competing in front of the entire world, and especially when whoop! One popped jump and your chance for a spot on the podium is totally blown. That must be so devastating. But also so incredibly validating and overwhelming when you do power thru and claim one of those top spots.

It made me think about fandom characters, because what else is what we do in life except a reason to think about fandom? And how Daniel and Rodney are both brilliant scientists, doing cutting edge work in their respective fields, and yet, their views on competition vary so radically. Movie!Daniel especially, is so very excited at what's he's uncovering, and delighted to share, and somewhat confused at why people aren't responsive. He's thrilled to go live on an alien planet so he can keep researching and is not at all concerned about his discoveries being recognized by his peers.

OTOH, Rodney keeps working on top secret projects but absolutely wants that recognition, even if he knows he'll have to wait another decade or two. He craves acknowledgement, especially in the form of medals and prizes. He's brilliant and he deserves it, goddamnit.

O'Neil-O'Neill and Sheppard are both in non-competitive mindsets when their shows start. Movie!Jack is of course traumatized by the death of his son and accepts a suicide mission. Sheppard has been slapped down by the brass for trying to rescue friends and is quite content with his banishment. (Though also rattles off all the vehicles he can fly to a general, I feel the case could be made that he's not as mellow as he appears.)

Sheppard is delighted when he gets his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. He might be focused on defeating the Wraith, but yeah, he'll beam with that extra recognition. I don't remember how O'Neill reacted to being promoted to General, I think he was more cranky about it? 'Ugh, more administration, I guess I gotta do this' attitude?

I would see O'Neill and Sheppard as fairly similar growing up, kids that liked sports and being athletic and were overall good at most, but also indoctrinated into being good sportsmen. I wouldn't expect either to cheat or sulk (much) if they lost.

Sam Carter really ought to be one of the most competitive characters on the show. Being a successful woman in two different fields is still an achievement that isn't handed to anyone. There's a little bit at the beginning, she's assertive about being on the team, but then mostly it feels like it gets dropped in favor of her being a supportive, loyal sidekick character.

Growing up in an agrarian society, being competition in terms of craving promotions or special recognition is not something Teyla would necessarily even imagine. Possibly her role as the leader of the village is an inherited position, but she is good at it. Her competitive nature is directed at taking care of her people, it's more maternal than cutthroat, but clearly she's up for challenges.

Teal'c also is a leader among his peers, though he's grown up in a closed society dictated by the ruler. Like Teyla, he's going to do what he perceives as best for his people, though it's definitely in a warrior way.

Poor Ford. He gets so little screen time. I know very little about the military but I assume he's gotta be somewhat competitive to be a lieutenant. Certainly he does his duty and does it well, generally gets along with people (though not always with the scientists) but I cannot think of a single moment where we learn anything about his future dreams.

Well, that's probably enough rambling about characters' competitive natures. My memory is mediocre, I can absolutely be contradicted if someone remembers moments that shed a different view on these characters. It was fun to think about. Fandom makes life better IMO.

So... Imdb lists Nathan Fillion as playing Guy Gardner in all 8 episodes of this series, but he's not in this trailer at all. Gardner's look in the Superman movie seems wildly discordant with the feel of this series. Also, Hal Jordan states no other Lanterns are human. I wouldn't be surprised if Imdb is wrong but if it's not, I'm definitely intrigued!

(Though the adversarial relationship between trainer and trainee is a bit *sigh* to me. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the kind of warm relationship I'd prefer is not generally what TPTB assume appeals to the teenage boys and young men who are their desired demographic.)

Anyway, we shall see! Or I will, I don't know who else is interested. I feel Kyle Chandler has a significant following? Not coming until August, boo.

I don't anticipate getting fannish about either of these shows, but I enjoyed both. They are similar, in that both are mysteries, with a complicated plot that lasts the entire 6-8 episode season, tying together seemingly disparate threads. Tonally so so different.

Dark Winds: I've only watched the first two seasons, taking a little break before seasons 3 and 4. Set on a reservation in the 1970s, Dark Winds focuses on the local police force, led by Joe Leaphorn, and his two deputies, Bernadette Manuelito and Jim Chee. The clothes, furnishings, etc. were amusing to revisit, as I'm old enough to remember those styles, and the Native American culture interesting. Overall very serious, both because of the hard life on the reservation and the personal trauma suffered by Leaphorn.

Currently on Netflix/AMC. I don't usually binge shows, but I do like coming late to this show so that I can watch an episode a day. I'd have trouble keeping everything straight if I had to wait a week between each episode. Dark Winds is based on a book series by Tony Hillerman. I haven't read any of them, so can't speak to the faithfulness to the source material.

Deadloch: I've only watched the first season, as the second doesn't stream until March 20. Set in Australia in current days, Deadloch also focuses on the local police force, led by the lesbian Dulcie Collins, whose partner is the local veterinarian. A man is found murdered on the local beach, and Collins clashes with the detective sent to investigate, another woman. So many women in this series, almost all of the main characters, it's just delightful. The mayor, the rich matriarch, one of the deputies, the two young native women who find the first body, etc. Also, the victims are all male, which is a pleasing change.

Deadloch has lots of humor, which I admit I struggled with a bit, especially from the visiting detective, whose personality is really broad and makes lots of extravagant complaints. I had to consciously accept that she was supposed to be funny, and then she was hysterical. Occasionally I was a little confused by the cultural differences and a few of the accents were difficult for me, but overall well worth the adjustment.

On Prime, though hopefully will circulate to other channels for those who don't have it.

(Random scattered and significant spoilers for both the movie and musical (stage) versions, I'm assuming anyone reading has watched at least one.)

I think everyone in the TPM fandom loved Moulin Rouge! when it came out. Ewan was so young and gorgeous, the music so fun, the costumes and dancing dazzling, the heartbreaking loss of love so tragic. If anyone didn't adore the movie, they kept that quiet.

(I remain surprised that there wasn't a whole slew of AUs where Quinn found Christian's book and then sought him out. Fandom, you let me down!)

I finally got to see Moulin Rouge! The Musical last weekend. I've been wanting to see it since I saw it announced, and a touring company finally came to town.

It's often interesting to see different versions of a show you love. I've managed to accept it's not going to be the same, and to enjoy it for what it is. (Unless it's totally messed up and violates the heart of the original, of course.)

The stage version keeps what I'd consider the main songs, such as Lady Marmalade, Come What May, and Your Song. Many of the others are replaced by newer songs that fill the same basic plot points. I liked the original songs, but I found the replacements all very appropriate (and good songs).

There are a variety of other changes. Christian is American, with more of an 'aw shucks' vibe than Ewan's portrayal, the show within a show is now about a gangster, jettisoning the Indian setting, the Argentinian no longer has narcolepsy, etc. It feels less Christian's story, as it introduces the Moulin Rouge, Zidler, and the Duke before him, and it wasn't clear to me from Christian's comments about love if the audience would realize that Satine's death was inevitable. It's made very clear that Satine and the Duke have a sexual relationship, which now seems rather puritanical that she manages to avoid one in the movie.

The thing that really struck me though was that Satine in the musical never mentions wanting to be an actress. Even knowing that she's dying, she wants to save the Moulin Rouge for the benefit of the others, the people who are her 'family.' And then it wasn't really clear to me that she succeeded in that goal. I found that a little jarring. I mean, yes, in the movie, we know she's not going to be 'an actress' for very long, because we know she's going to die. But she does get her opening night! She achieves her dream for herself! And in the musical, she doesn't have her own goal for herself, it's all about taking care of others. *sigh*

I was relieved in later years that the movie had come out in 2001, before I was aware of the fannish discussions about the role of women in so many shows, and how often women die for man pain. Because yes, Satine does essentially die for Christian's man pain, that's the main plot point. But the movie was so tragic and heartbreaking and sometimes we just need that kind of story. The angst of losing love, *swoon.*

These days I'm much more likely to have an instinctive 'ugh' recoil at yet another show featuring woman death/man pain. Fannish discussion has made me aware of that theme and also female agency (or more often, lack thereof).

Anyway, if you loved the movie, I do recommend seeing the musical if you get a chance. I don't know that I could love any new version of Moulin Rouge as much as I love the original, but the musical was enjoyable and fabulous to watch.

Is that Domhnall Gleeson in the newest Taylor Swift music video? Good for him! Also, I'm not into Kylux, but I hope it is inspirational to fandom. I haven't watched the whole thing, just noticed that he was in bed with a cactus, and that certainly seemed potentially relevant. Appropriate for Kylo, yes?

I got a spam comment on a fic. It says things that seem nice but make no sense, and that make no actual references to the characters or anything that truly shows the commenter read my story. It then encourages me to check out the commenter's instagram/discord name. I guess it's preferable that it's a nice one rather than a critical, nasty one, as I've seen some people get?

But I'm just... what is the point of this? Okay, well, to drive engagement to an insta account. I guess you set those bots going and they go and go and so maybe you get several new people checking out your insta? IDK, I just don't relate to the whole 'click' culture. It just seems lies and deception, and we don't need more of that in this world.

It is a registered user, which surprises me, but every time I've seen warnings about AO3 being scraped by bots, there's always the suggestion to lock all your fic to registered users, and I've thought, can't a person just log in the bot as a registered user? And then let it go scraping away? I don't really understand much about how these things work (and admittedly don't really want to).

Anyway, off to figure out how to report a comment as spam, a new task! Yay?

I'm always amused when a fannish love/connection changes my perspective on something.

I watched Sabrina when I was a kid, so omg 40-50 years ago. I remember it as okay. Humphrey Bogart's character was a work obsessed fuddy-duddy, not his more typical macho heroic cynic, and the age difference between him and Audrey Hepburn seemed excessive. (30 years, yikes.)

I rewatched it this week and couldn't help but think: wow, this could work as a Qui/Obi AU.

Sabrina (Hepburn) is the daughter of a rich family's chauffeur. She has grown up adoring the younger brother (William Holden), who pays her no attention. Her father sends her to France for a two year cooking course, and she returns elegant and sophisticated. The younger brother is a playboy who takes notice, except the older brother (Bogart), is determined that his sibling should marry an heiress to grease a merger between the two families' companies. Recognizing the danger Sabrina poses, he steps in to woo her himself, and falls in love. Of course, she does too, and they sail off on a cruise, as the younger brother steps up and takes responsibility.

I don't know which character to plug in as the younger brother would be the main hang-up, I can't think of anyone appropriate as an irresponsible playboy who gets his act together. Obi-Wan (Benjamin) obviously as Sabrina, perhaps with a mother as the cook instead of the chauffeur-father to add a female character into the mix. Qui-Gon (Quinn) as the business-obsessed, driven brother, determined to always be the best and keep the company expanding. Maybe more actual angst about the age difference? And Quinn falling faster in love but also trying to resist Ben's infectious smile? IDK, I didn't get really very far in how it would actually go, it just amuses me that I always appreciate things more when I can view through a fannish lens!

I went to the Stargate movie with minimal expectations. It premiered in October IIRC, which is not a time for a movie expected to be a blockbuster. But it starred Kurt Russell, who had been a favorite since his The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes days, and James Spader instantly captivated me as Daniel Jackson, and it was a solid fun action film.

Again, I had little expectations for the series. Richard Dean Anderson was just some guy who starred in a show I didn't watch. But it was on HBO IIRC, which I had at the time, and I'll give most sci-fi series a try. Michael Shanks did well as Daniel, Samantha and Teal'c were good characters, and I really enjoyed it until 5th or 6th season or so, and the constant mucking about with the cast members.

I was a little burned out on Stargate SG1 by the time SGA was announced, and seriously contemplated not watching it. But I'd been really amused by David Hewlett as Rodney McKay in his SG1 appearances and decided I'd give it a try. I wasn't immediately grabbed, it was The Storm/The Eye that really made me fall in love with the show and McShep.

Though again, cast changes, and bringing in Jewel Staite as Keller and having her scold Rodney a lot, ugh. But I still loved my McShep and was highly annoyed when SGA's cancellation was announced in favor of SGU. I did watch the trailers for SGU but it seemed dark and depressing and none of the actors convinced me to give it a try. I watched Rodney's one appearance and found the plot stupid, pleased that I hadn't bothered.

The first time I saw an announcement for the reboot, it was either Dean Devlin or Roland Emmerich, TPTB for the movie, who was going to be the showrunner, and they were returning to immediately after the movie, wiping out all the TV history. I still like O'Neill and Jackson as characters, and I can appreciate why someone might like a new start, but this didn't excite me.

The newest announcement is that Martin Gero will be the showrunner. He was involved with the TV show, so perhaps he'd be less inclined to wipe out all that history, but who knows? Anyone might want a clean slate.

So... I feel pretty ambivalent, actually. If a new show brings interest to the previous ones, and new rewatches, residuals for the actors, maybe a new infusion into the fandom, etc., that is excellent, truly excellent. But I'm not banking on General Sheppard making guest appearances, so that diminishes my excitement.

When I have loved Stargate, I have loved it. I rewatch the movie occasionally, those first four seasons of SG1 were consistently excellent, I adore so many of the SGA eps. But it's also definitely had some jaded/yeah whatever, I'll see how it goes reactions from me. I hope the new show happens! I hope I love it! I hope it doesn't wipe out the TV history and we see cameos from many of the previous characters! Fingers crossed!

But, well, we'll see.