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25 March 2007 @ 09:16 pm

Smallville...again

*Sigh*

Dear Smallville,

We've been friends for some time now. In fact, I've been with you since day one. Week in and week out, I've stuck by your side. Even when my comic book friends berated you for your inaccuracies, I stood by your side. Even when you've pissed me off, I stayed there.

When Pete left, I stuck around. When Lana had her third stalker by the third episode, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. When a someone claiming to be Lois Lane showed up, I was willing to let it slide.

When Jason Teague became Lana's boyfriend... well, I didn't complain because... you know, JENSEN! (Damn, I've crushed on him since Days, how could I NOT love that he was on Smallville?) But, when did horrible, pointless things to his character, I didn't stop watching.

When AQUAMAN showed up, I thought it was kind of cute. Cheesy, but cute.

When "the gang" graduated from high school, I thought...well, surely Lana will learn Clark's secret NOW and we can get over it. Surely! No? Hmm... Well, SOON! Yes? No.

I've put up with quite a bit from you, Smallville. I thought you had learned your lesson this year. I thought bringing on the Green Arrow and assembling the Justice League would make you realize that you have COMIC BOOK origins in which Superman is NOT an ass. Clark Kent is the ultimate nice guy!

I was wrong. Oh, was I ever wrong.

Good job on getting Lex and Lana married, that was nice (many thought you would chicken out, but you didn't). But the reveal of Clark's SECRET? Kind of a letdown...and was that really worth putting off for six seasons? But, why did you have to make Lana a martyr, yet again? I mean, I know Lex is the villain, but can't Lana marry him because she wants to (or at least because of the baby) and NOT because it's ALL ABOUT CLARK? That episode made me dislike Superman. In fact, it caused me to dislike everyone except for Lex (sad when you consider that Lex thought he killed a guy).

WtF?

And for the love of all this is good, WHY was there fog in the basement? Why?

I admit, the wedding was a big deal, so one can expect crazy things from that kind of episode, Smallville. I was willing to forgive you, like I always do. (I could make some lame battered girlfriend joke here, but I don't have the energy.)

You had me excited for this week. KANE was a special guest. KANE! My Favorite Wrestler, Kane*!!!

(*Kane was my favorite wrestler until he took his mask off. Now? Not so much. If a random person on the street were to ask, I'd say my favorite wrestler is The Rock...who doesn't actually wrestler anymore and hasn't for years. Kind of like how I haven't actually watched wrestling for years, and I really shouldn't be admitting to watching it all.)

I had high hopes, but the episode was just MEH. That's right. Meh. This, Smallville, makes me sad. I don't want our relationship to be like this! I don't want to end each Thursday with nothing but complaints about how much YOU SUCK. Please, get better. I know you can. "Justice" kicked three hundred different kinds of ass.

Don't make me hate you like SOME shows I know (*cough* Lost *cough*).

I'm just saying this because I'm your friend, and I care. :)

Love,
Me

Tags: smallville

Current Location: school

Current Mood:

annoyed

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19 January 2007 @ 04:41 pm

This level of analysis is probably unnecessary...

Here’s the background: I had my original thoughts on the episode – I liked some and was a little disappointed in the looseness of the writing, but overall it was awesomely scary. Then, I visited some forums and was forced think a little more about the apparently high level of “Wincest” that was present. That caused me to respond to a response to my post. Then, I wondered whether I was a hypocrite. Read on…

Without having rewatched last night’s Supernatural with a critical eye, I’m wondering if I articulated myself clearly enough about my *issues.* Honestly, my own reaction is bothering me. Damn_you_kripke was able to laugh off and truly enjoy the episode with the subtext and all, but I really wasn’t. Now, it wasn’t that the entire episode bothered me, in fact, I rather enjoyed this one. However, there was a moment somewhere in there – I think it was with drunk!Sammy where I thought – where suddenly the show wasn’t quite the show. It sort of caught my eye, then it was amplified to exponential levels on the Internet.

Now, I don’t actively seek out RPS or anything, but I don’t question the amazing chemistry that Jared and Jensen have with one another. I am actually entertained by the creative pursuits out there that touch on this. You can’t really deny it, AND? So cute together! Heck, maybe I will seek it out, just to see what all the fuss is about.

On the other hand, there’s the slash stuff involving the characters of Dean and Sam. I can’t really get myself all that excited for it. Why? Well, the characters are BROTHERS for one. One of the things that I love about the show is the dynamic of family. The way that the brothers interact and truly love each other really gets to me. Their relationship with their father is intensely complicated and the writers have done amazing job in fleshing that out over the past year and half. When you add that other element? I just can’t get into it.

Now, this is complicated to understand. It has been bothering me quite a bit since last night. Why can’t I get giggly about J2 in the show? I want to see a hug, but I don’t want to see them making out… or more. Am I homophobic in that regards? I certainly don’t think that I am. In fact, one show that I do watch has even more homoerotic subtext to it, and I crave more – it’s just another aspect of that show. (That show is the preceding one: Smallville. The REAL relationship isn’t between Clark and Lana, but between Clark and Lex. It’s amazing considering that show is the number one CW show among the target male demographic. )

So, what gives? My analytical English major background tells me that I should consider the close correlation between sexual relationships and sibling relationships. What is it that the text is trying to say? Could I draw a different analogy that relates to something beyond Supernatural and the Winchesters as brothers? Perhaps the archetypes that the brothers represent need closer examination. Is Kripke really making some commentary on masculinity and male relationships – perhaps that all male relationships carry a homoerotic element and by presenting that relationship in the form of brothers, he’s forcing us to the very edge of that assertion? (Why not take it to the extreme limit and see if that assertion holds true there?) Are we, as viewers (therefore readers of the text), supposed to forget that they are brothers and look at it as a merely being about the complexities of a male relationship. I can see that type of analysis in their relationship—were they only friends and not brothers.

I rather enjoy analyzing the show. But, I also enjoy “squeeing” over the show. I am satisfied with taking the brotherly relationship at face value—that they are brothers and nothing more. If anything, you could deduce that a familial relationship, particularly a sibling relationship, carries more weight than a sexual one. You will never be closer to anyone than to you own family. I like to look at how their status as brothers comes into play with every other aspect of their lives. All relationships are complicated; this show happens to focus on the family one.

Then there’s the other part that actually makes me a hypocrite. I enjoy PWT. The homoerotic subtext makes me laugh. It’s a running joke that adds to what makes that text what it is. However, that show contains a decidedly innocent aspect that naively asks, “Why are you laughing? We’re just brothers.” I think it’s brilliant and the creator does a fine job of never crossing over into that area – just teasing us and teasing the show for what subtext had appeared last season. Those characters are brothers. Yet, I am not bothered.

Of course, PWT has evolved into something all its own. It is no longer the Dean and Sam of Supernatural, but the Dean and Sam of PWT. These characters had different personalities and different type of relationship. I guess there’s something to be said for the fact that the show is the primary text whereas PWT is a secondary, interpretive text.

So, what’s the difference between the J2 stuff, PWT, and the actual show?

Last night felt like a shout-out to the fans. It was as if the writer snatched up every idea on every fan wish list on the Internet. The incorporated fanfic clichés, fans wishes, and played up running gags from previous episodes. It was one big love letter to those dedicated fans.

As a dedicated fan, of course I giggled and enjoyed it. However, it felt off. I’ll be able to articulate this more clearly after I’ve watched the episode again with a more critical (and less scared) eye.

I love the fact that the writers respect the fans; however, I do not want the fans to control the direction of the show. That could get old and clichéd very, very quickly. I wonder if someone who wasn’t a part of that particular fan community could have enjoyed this episode as much. I believe so, because the creepy factor was at level 10. The boys looked good, and there were some interesting moments regard the Big Secret about super-special Sammy. (I’ll touch on the actual plot in a different post.) Plus? SoakingWet!Sam. Woohoo indeed.

So, is the difference with PWT and J2 and the show about pushing it too far to the edge? I like the hinting that plays with the obvious chemistry between the actors… but when the actors make me believe that these characters are real people? That’s something different. I forget that Dean and Sam are really Jensen and Jared in the moment of the show. I buy into their relationship as brothers. While the show didn’t actually REALLY have the let’s get it on moment, the fact that so many fans could deduce that put it into my head.

Am I overreacting? I think so. In fact, it wasn’t all that big of a deal to me during the episode. What really caused it was reading some comments that highlighted those sexual moments during the show that I was willing to accept – maybe a shout-out to fans, maybe not. MAYBE, it’s really my fear that the writers took so much from the fandom, that it wouldn’t be a stretch to * go there.*

I love the brotherly love. Damn you OtherFans for causing me to overthink it and get all worked up.

Tags: dean winchester, homoerotic subtext, playthings, sam winchester, smallville, superatural fans, supernatural

Current Mood:

contemplative

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19 January 2007 @ 06:45 am

Playthings

Ahhhh... waiting all week for tonight! Thursday is not only my busiest day of school/work, but it's also the one day of the week that I watch TV.

So, there was the boyfriend geeking out over "Smallville" all night, followed by the creepiest episode of "Supernatural" that I have ever seen (and they do do--heehee--creepy very well).

Tonight's "Smallville" included an action-packed visit from the Justice League, or something similar. There was no Batman, so it's not quite as cool as the actual Justice League. I've only missed one episode of "Smallville" during its entire run, and that happened to be the previous Flash episode from season 4. It's odd that I missed an episode from that season since it was packed with Jensen Ackles goodness. Anyway, the Flash returned along with Cyborg, Aquaman, and Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) in what can only be described as a fanboy orgasm. It's only slightly less dirty than it sounds. So, there was a lot of squeeing on his end of the couch, but in a totally manly way (he says). Lex Luthor was all bad-ass and whatnot (and looked COMPLETELY awesome doing so), so I find that I am actually looking forward to the rest of the season. This is quite a change from last week when I told the boyfriend that the Lana-Clark storyline was "so played out."

To go off on that rant: I was highly disappointed that Clark never told Lana his secret while they were in high school. I mean, what the hell? All of my Superman knowledge tells me that Lana was Clark's high school girlfriend who knew his secret. In high school, they dated (actually dated) for about an episode and half. Then, drama.... neverending drama about Clark not telling Lana the truth and their non-existent "relationship." In college, they *sort of* dated. I guess. Now, I find myself looking forward to Lex and Lana getting married and having a baby. Not because I'm a Lana fan, but that Clark ship sailed. Plus, Lex is the reason I watch this show. I'd like to see Lana turn evil. THAT would be entertaining.

All the comic book goodness was followed by a scary episode of "Supernatural." I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it's "Supernatural," so I loved it. On the other, the writing wasn't all that tight, and it felt like a season one episode. But, I did love season one -- just not quite the level of quality I've come to expect from season two. When you have Sam and Dean, there's also good stuff -- plus, they're just nice to look at. *Grin*

The bad: the writing wasn't quite right, it seemed a little off. It's like Kripke started reading fanfiction and gave those fans a present. A few jokes were very "what the hell?" Plus, the subtext went to a fangirl extreme. I mean, yay, fun... but, I have my limits. I'm not into Dean/Sam. Dude...brothers! And? No hugs. I was totally faked out, what with all the fangirly moments.

The good: did I mention creepy? It was scary, scary, scary. I'll need to watch this again with the lights on, in the middle of the day. There were some nice fan moments -- Dean calling John an ass, drunk!Sammy, Sam collecting dolls, and Dean seemed normal. Like I said, it was like a big present all wrapped up. Also good? Sam. Sam looked GOOD.

I'll have a final verdict after I watch it again tomorrow.

Tags: smallville, supernatural

Current Mood:

hyper

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