(no subject)
Hello? (*tap, tap*) Is this thing on?
I've just finished watching the series in its entirety and I wrote a quick review and put it in my LJ. That post is locked, but in the interest of generating a little discussion (or something) I'll repost it here (with some editing):
Man, by the last episode, I was *loving* this show. Jim's motives were turning out to be really perverted and strange and yummy. You start off thinking you know what he's after, that it's just a power play, then he turns into someone far more complex.
For starters, he's more attached to people than you think he is. He seems genuinely attached to Gail and wants to see her promoted (also, the little pat-pat-PAT he does on his desk when he gets Gail to lie over the phone, and he says, "you're really getting good at this!" So fucking gorgeous!). He gives Nora a closure (or an object lesson, I haven't decided which. Maybe both?) he didn't have to, and he seems to have some kind of 'relationship' with Bobby - which seemed a matter of convenience at first, but then he seems *very* concerned about her drug use and the danger she's putting herself in, and that very last scene! That was so HOT! And WRONG! And OMG!!!! Oh, the deliciousness...
Profit's attachments are really intersting, because you have to question how much selflessness he puts into them (if any). We're lead to believe he's a sociopath (Joanne says 'pscyhopath' - dictionary definitions don't seem to separate the two so potato/ potahto etc) and certainly he exhibits anti-social behaviour and has no remorse, no sympathy etc. But does he care? Who knows? He reminds me of Keller, a little, because Keller was a sociopath who genuinely cared in his very twisted fashion. Keller he pushed the boundaries of what we know to be 'caring' and 'attachment' as does Profit.
Mind you, whereas Keller is screaming, "I LOVE YOU, TOBY!!" to the rafters, Profit is far more contained with how he feels, perhaps knowing how easily he can be compromised if he gives the game away. Sure, Keller was calculating and he schemed and plotted, but his power was in his charm. Keller was sort of, okay, I'm screwing with you, but aren't you *loving* it? Profit: less charming (and he *was* charming. Keller is just melt in your mouth charming that defies all explanation), but WAY more calculating and at least seven steps ahead in the game than everyone else. You had to feel for poor Jessica Tuck who seemed to think she could match wits with him. You spend the whole episode thinking, oh lady, he is *so* going to put you to bed.
The other thing that reminds me of Keller is the cracks in the facade - the moments when you see signs that it's all going to break apart, any second now. And then it doesn't. Notably, when Gail asks Profit about his parents in the hospital. There was just the slightest hesitation. *Extremely* well acted by the Pasdar, actually, and wow, now I'm thinking Keller and Profit in the same room would be smoking.
Incidentally, favourite Pasdar moment: asking the girl scout what the secret to her success is. She says, "I never take no for an answer," and he says, "You'll go a long way." And he is so unbearably cute in that scene, I am kind of looking forward to when Nathan meets Claire (Heroes), because the Pasdar plays that sort of caring and delight *so* well.
But let's move on to the other characters: I love Gail. Her thing about cars, the way she improvised on the whole Dr Batewll thing, and the way she seems to like Profit. She's a girl who does what she has to; she survives. What's not to like? "Chinese Box" was my favourite ep, actually. Not just for Gail, nor Gail and Profit together but the sad, sad symbolism of the Chinese box at the end - because on the one had you want Gail to be on Profit's side and to lock every protest or sense of wrong in the box, but on the other hand you know that's really too much to want of someone, and it's a lot to give up.
I like all the supporting cast actually. Chaz, Bobby, Joanne, Sykes, even Pete and Nora (who are kind of dull, but at least they aren't insipid). It's sad the show didn't survive long enough to see these characters develop. There were certainly layers in characters like Joanne that would have been awesome to explore. And Chaz and Bobby - what a crazy, crazy match. That's a relationship I would like to see in five years time. Hoo boy. We know where Jim came from, but don't you just wonder where Bobby came from?
Bring on the fic-a-thon!
I've just finished watching the series in its entirety and I wrote a quick review and put it in my LJ. That post is locked, but in the interest of generating a little discussion (or something) I'll repost it here (with some editing):
Man, by the last episode, I was *loving* this show. Jim's motives were turning out to be really perverted and strange and yummy. You start off thinking you know what he's after, that it's just a power play, then he turns into someone far more complex.
For starters, he's more attached to people than you think he is. He seems genuinely attached to Gail and wants to see her promoted (also, the little pat-pat-PAT he does on his desk when he gets Gail to lie over the phone, and he says, "you're really getting good at this!" So fucking gorgeous!). He gives Nora a closure (or an object lesson, I haven't decided which. Maybe both?) he didn't have to, and he seems to have some kind of 'relationship' with Bobby - which seemed a matter of convenience at first, but then he seems *very* concerned about her drug use and the danger she's putting herself in, and that very last scene! That was so HOT! And WRONG! And OMG!!!! Oh, the deliciousness...
Profit's attachments are really intersting, because you have to question how much selflessness he puts into them (if any). We're lead to believe he's a sociopath (Joanne says 'pscyhopath' - dictionary definitions don't seem to separate the two so potato/ potahto etc) and certainly he exhibits anti-social behaviour and has no remorse, no sympathy etc. But does he care? Who knows? He reminds me of Keller, a little, because Keller was a sociopath who genuinely cared in his very twisted fashion. Keller he pushed the boundaries of what we know to be 'caring' and 'attachment' as does Profit.
Mind you, whereas Keller is screaming, "I LOVE YOU, TOBY!!" to the rafters, Profit is far more contained with how he feels, perhaps knowing how easily he can be compromised if he gives the game away. Sure, Keller was calculating and he schemed and plotted, but his power was in his charm. Keller was sort of, okay, I'm screwing with you, but aren't you *loving* it? Profit: less charming (and he *was* charming. Keller is just melt in your mouth charming that defies all explanation), but WAY more calculating and at least seven steps ahead in the game than everyone else. You had to feel for poor Jessica Tuck who seemed to think she could match wits with him. You spend the whole episode thinking, oh lady, he is *so* going to put you to bed.
The other thing that reminds me of Keller is the cracks in the facade - the moments when you see signs that it's all going to break apart, any second now. And then it doesn't. Notably, when Gail asks Profit about his parents in the hospital. There was just the slightest hesitation. *Extremely* well acted by the Pasdar, actually, and wow, now I'm thinking Keller and Profit in the same room would be smoking.
Incidentally, favourite Pasdar moment: asking the girl scout what the secret to her success is. She says, "I never take no for an answer," and he says, "You'll go a long way." And he is so unbearably cute in that scene, I am kind of looking forward to when Nathan meets Claire (Heroes), because the Pasdar plays that sort of caring and delight *so* well.
But let's move on to the other characters: I love Gail. Her thing about cars, the way she improvised on the whole Dr Batewll thing, and the way she seems to like Profit. She's a girl who does what she has to; she survives. What's not to like? "Chinese Box" was my favourite ep, actually. Not just for Gail, nor Gail and Profit together but the sad, sad symbolism of the Chinese box at the end - because on the one had you want Gail to be on Profit's side and to lock every protest or sense of wrong in the box, but on the other hand you know that's really too much to want of someone, and it's a lot to give up.
I like all the supporting cast actually. Chaz, Bobby, Joanne, Sykes, even Pete and Nora (who are kind of dull, but at least they aren't insipid). It's sad the show didn't survive long enough to see these characters develop. There were certainly layers in characters like Joanne that would have been awesome to explore. And Chaz and Bobby - what a crazy, crazy match. That's a relationship I would like to see in five years time. Hoo boy. We know where Jim came from, but don't you just wonder where Bobby came from?
Bring on the fic-a-thon!