All Hail the Tiny People Living in My TV
Apr. 22nd, 2004 12:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
itsallovernowThe TV gods have been good this week.
They gave me decent Alias, with nary a tear in sight.
They gave me a most hysterical Farscape chat.
And then, instead of stopping there, and they'd have been within their rights to do so, they gave me Angel of such goodness that it rivals some of Season 2 for my favorite Angel ever.
I watched Buffy and Angel from the beginning, and one of the things that kept me with the shows was the richness of the sense of family, of the subtleties and connections that played out when this was done well.
The Connor arc left me wanting, not so much because I dislike the possibilites, but because I felt like so much of the secondary action was handled poorly.
But this was beautiful on so many levels. And Illyria beatin' on Spike, that was just a perfect counterbalance. Well played too, her effortless physical prowess, and then Connor's struggles later. Illyria lazily fighting Spike because they're testing her, and Connor fighting Sahjahn because that's a test of an entirely differnt matter.
I have many thoughts on the Jossverse vision of women. Because while it's often complimentary, it's also kind of odd. And intelligence is equally odd. However, I'm so much more fond of Illyria than I was of Fred. Crazy Fred writing on the walls, that I loved, but too skinny, Fred as genius, not so much, largely because she was more representational than real. The crazy girl felt real. And Illyria feels real, and I'm not sure why a blue haired bodysuit sporting former universe ruler should play as more real than a skinny, dorky, sweet scientist, but I'm pleased to see the actress thriving in this new role.
I also loved Wesley's defiance. Because they do blindly follow Angel, and I don't know why. For me, he's never proved to be a leader of distinction. He's made poor choices. and honestly, a broody vampire trying to redeem himself isn't much of a role model. I think Wes had every right to break the window, to get his memories back, and I was touched most of all by the understanding, that the false memories are there to make the real ones bearable.
And yet, I still think Angel had no right to sign that deal on everyone's behalf. You live with the consequences of your mistakes, whatever they are.
But Connor, teenagey and sweet and smart. And finally, finally there at the end, holding his own choices in his hands, choosing to live the life Angel gave him, and giving some closure to Angel.
It was so deftly handled and I was just thrilled to see that. Family is choice has always been a theme in these 'verses, and they came full circle with that theme here.
And plus, such a sucker for parent/child stuff, fathers and sons, in whatever guise.
They gave me decent Alias, with nary a tear in sight.
They gave me a most hysterical Farscape chat.
And then, instead of stopping there, and they'd have been within their rights to do so, they gave me Angel of such goodness that it rivals some of Season 2 for my favorite Angel ever.
I watched Buffy and Angel from the beginning, and one of the things that kept me with the shows was the richness of the sense of family, of the subtleties and connections that played out when this was done well.
The Connor arc left me wanting, not so much because I dislike the possibilites, but because I felt like so much of the secondary action was handled poorly.
But this was beautiful on so many levels. And Illyria beatin' on Spike, that was just a perfect counterbalance. Well played too, her effortless physical prowess, and then Connor's struggles later. Illyria lazily fighting Spike because they're testing her, and Connor fighting Sahjahn because that's a test of an entirely differnt matter.
I have many thoughts on the Jossverse vision of women. Because while it's often complimentary, it's also kind of odd. And intelligence is equally odd. However, I'm so much more fond of Illyria than I was of Fred. Crazy Fred writing on the walls, that I loved, but too skinny, Fred as genius, not so much, largely because she was more representational than real. The crazy girl felt real. And Illyria feels real, and I'm not sure why a blue haired bodysuit sporting former universe ruler should play as more real than a skinny, dorky, sweet scientist, but I'm pleased to see the actress thriving in this new role.
I also loved Wesley's defiance. Because they do blindly follow Angel, and I don't know why. For me, he's never proved to be a leader of distinction. He's made poor choices. and honestly, a broody vampire trying to redeem himself isn't much of a role model. I think Wes had every right to break the window, to get his memories back, and I was touched most of all by the understanding, that the false memories are there to make the real ones bearable.
And yet, I still think Angel had no right to sign that deal on everyone's behalf. You live with the consequences of your mistakes, whatever they are.
But Connor, teenagey and sweet and smart. And finally, finally there at the end, holding his own choices in his hands, choosing to live the life Angel gave him, and giving some closure to Angel.
It was so deftly handled and I was just thrilled to see that. Family is choice has always been a theme in these 'verses, and they came full circle with that theme here.
And plus, such a sucker for parent/child stuff, fathers and sons, in whatever guise.
