Groovy 'shipping
I caught up with all aired episodes of season 8 of That 70s Show today.
Man, was it ever bizarre to see Bruce Willis and Ashton Kushner in a scene together. Not that I think that it's so weird that they can be friendly despite the circumstances, but I still expect a level of awkward that was missing entirely.
And speaking of Kelso, I don't really miss his presence, he was never more than filler on the show. I do, however, feel Eric's absence. Or maybe it's just that the entire show has sucked for the past couple of years and people leaving in droves makes you notice stuff like that.
So, new person... Does anyone else get the feeling that Randy is gay? I'd been suspecting something was up for a few episodes, but that "I read Vogue" comment really sealed the deal for me. And I can't imagine them setting him and Donna up as a couple because it just doesn't fit with the characterization of Randy as basically the perfect guy. In fact, it's starting to seem to me as if they're setting up Donna and Hyde as a couple, which I'm not really interested in seeing.
The reason I'm thinking so is that it feels very much like they're bringing Jackie back to her early season persona: ditzy, totally shallow, only interested in having a boyfriend and nothing else. When she and Hyde broke up I figured it was to develop her character seperately from his because she's never really had any individual development, but it seems they're going the opposite route and removing any progress she's made.
The reason I'm thinking they're setting up Hyde and Donna is Jackie's lack of development combined with the scene in Donna's bedroom after they all find out that Eric dumped her. I've always wondered why Donna and Hyde just don't work for me. I think it's because I like characters that clash externally, but are really very similar on the inside. And they must challenge each other. This does not fit Donna/Hyde at all. They're totally similar on the outside (and on the inside, probably. I've never really pondered their inner workings) and they don't challenge each other at all. Theirs would be a comfortable relationship, which is totally not my thing.
All this made me start to think about my obsession with TV shows and why I get more invested in some than in others, and the answer is unequivocally "'shipping". When I 'ship I get emotionally invested on a whole different level. I love plenty of shows where I don't have any overwhelming OTPs, like Wonderfalls, Arrested Development, My Name is Earl, Doctor Who, Dead Like Me, etc. I make icons and I discuss the shows, but the level of emotional involvement is definitely not the same.
If my 'ship doesn't go anywhere on the show, or, rather, if it's killed off, I usually don't start disliking the show. However, my emotional investment wavers and I usually drift away. This happened with X-Files (though I caught up after the show ended) and Gilmore Girls is definitely heading in that direction (even though the 'ship seems to be alive and well, I don't really like season 6 so far, so the 'ship is dying by degrees for me, and with it my emotional investment).
I don't really know what I wanted to say with this, only that it's the reason I'm never ashamed to call myself a 'shipper even though some people seem to feel that a 'shipper is somehow lesser than a fan who doesn't 'ship. I don't know why that is, except it seems that 'shippers are generally considered to be too focused on their 'ship's characters and their relationship to each other to fully appreciate the show as a whole. I don't think that's true, but then again, it might not be what anti-'shippers think at all and only what I've come up with in my own twisted 'shippery little head. =)
Also, did anyone notice how this entry on 'shipping totally disregarded the existence of Hyde's wife? I didn't until just now. Meh, whatever, she's nothing more than a plot device anyway.
Man, was it ever bizarre to see Bruce Willis and Ashton Kushner in a scene together. Not that I think that it's so weird that they can be friendly despite the circumstances, but I still expect a level of awkward that was missing entirely.
And speaking of Kelso, I don't really miss his presence, he was never more than filler on the show. I do, however, feel Eric's absence. Or maybe it's just that the entire show has sucked for the past couple of years and people leaving in droves makes you notice stuff like that.
So, new person... Does anyone else get the feeling that Randy is gay? I'd been suspecting something was up for a few episodes, but that "I read Vogue" comment really sealed the deal for me. And I can't imagine them setting him and Donna up as a couple because it just doesn't fit with the characterization of Randy as basically the perfect guy. In fact, it's starting to seem to me as if they're setting up Donna and Hyde as a couple, which I'm not really interested in seeing.
The reason I'm thinking so is that it feels very much like they're bringing Jackie back to her early season persona: ditzy, totally shallow, only interested in having a boyfriend and nothing else. When she and Hyde broke up I figured it was to develop her character seperately from his because she's never really had any individual development, but it seems they're going the opposite route and removing any progress she's made.
The reason I'm thinking they're setting up Hyde and Donna is Jackie's lack of development combined with the scene in Donna's bedroom after they all find out that Eric dumped her. I've always wondered why Donna and Hyde just don't work for me. I think it's because I like characters that clash externally, but are really very similar on the inside. And they must challenge each other. This does not fit Donna/Hyde at all. They're totally similar on the outside (and on the inside, probably. I've never really pondered their inner workings) and they don't challenge each other at all. Theirs would be a comfortable relationship, which is totally not my thing.
All this made me start to think about my obsession with TV shows and why I get more invested in some than in others, and the answer is unequivocally "'shipping". When I 'ship I get emotionally invested on a whole different level. I love plenty of shows where I don't have any overwhelming OTPs, like Wonderfalls, Arrested Development, My Name is Earl, Doctor Who, Dead Like Me, etc. I make icons and I discuss the shows, but the level of emotional involvement is definitely not the same.
If my 'ship doesn't go anywhere on the show, or, rather, if it's killed off, I usually don't start disliking the show. However, my emotional investment wavers and I usually drift away. This happened with X-Files (though I caught up after the show ended) and Gilmore Girls is definitely heading in that direction (even though the 'ship seems to be alive and well, I don't really like season 6 so far, so the 'ship is dying by degrees for me, and with it my emotional investment).
I don't really know what I wanted to say with this, only that it's the reason I'm never ashamed to call myself a 'shipper even though some people seem to feel that a 'shipper is somehow lesser than a fan who doesn't 'ship. I don't know why that is, except it seems that 'shippers are generally considered to be too focused on their 'ship's characters and their relationship to each other to fully appreciate the show as a whole. I don't think that's true, but then again, it might not be what anti-'shippers think at all and only what I've come up with in my own twisted 'shippery little head. =)
Also, did anyone notice how this entry on 'shipping totally disregarded the existence of Hyde's wife? I didn't until just now. Meh, whatever, she's nothing more than a plot device anyway.