On Benny
It is unbelievably weird trying to catch up on 5 different fandoms in 3 different languages. Unbelievably weird.
Anyway, point of the post, Benny.
I think it's safe to say that Fraser is not the most brilliant person when it comes to interpersonal relationships, especially of those that concern himself. What was it that was said? He can track a man through miles of snow but doesn't know what to do with a woman on his arms? Yeah, that.
Benny's kind of romantically retarded. He falls in love with a homicidal convict and has a thing for a bounty hunter, not to mention (pseudo) chemistry with his superior officer. For all of Benton Fraser's brilliance as a police officer and insight into the human psyche, he's not particularly gifted in the department of emotional connections. He just can't make that connection, and whether it's because he lacks the gene or his brain is just wired differently, he doesn't do well when thrown into a relationship. (Then again, what he has with his three romantic interests hardly constitutes a relationship, so I could be jumping the gun a bit there.)
So. It's weird to see something in Benny POV when it's analytical about his relationship or lack there of with someone else. And this happens not a little in fanfic. Now if Ray were the one to spot that he was lacking chemistry with a certain person while have good chemistry with another, this I would find believable. But with Benny, I don't think something like this even crosses his mind. In fact, I'm fairly certain that until pushed, Benny doesn't really examine his feelings and sort of goes with the flow. Like with Victoria. Oh he's certainly convinced he's in love with her, but never once has he been able to tell anyone why other than her having a beautiful voice. Now, this may just be me, but a beautiful voice doesn't really strike me as something one risks life and limb for, and Benny, being the logical person that he is, should be able to realize that you can't build a relationship on a beautiful voice or that love requires something more than a beautiful voice. (Hinthint, RAY.)
Thus, what Benny's irrational reactions to Victoria seems to say to me, is that he's not particularly sane when it comes to his own emotions. He's so good at sublimation and suppression that he probably doesn't know how to deal with them in an emotionally healthy way, much less being capable of analyzing his own relationships.
In short, Benny + emotional self analysis = much suckage.
However, that is not to say I don't think he can be developed to a point of being capable of analyzing his own emotions. Quite the opposite, I think that makes for a great fanfic, to watch Fraser develop some emotional maturity. But I do not think he's capable of doing it off the bat with the materials that canon has provided.
Anyway, point of the post, Benny.
I think it's safe to say that Fraser is not the most brilliant person when it comes to interpersonal relationships, especially of those that concern himself. What was it that was said? He can track a man through miles of snow but doesn't know what to do with a woman on his arms? Yeah, that.
Benny's kind of romantically retarded. He falls in love with a homicidal convict and has a thing for a bounty hunter, not to mention (pseudo) chemistry with his superior officer. For all of Benton Fraser's brilliance as a police officer and insight into the human psyche, he's not particularly gifted in the department of emotional connections. He just can't make that connection, and whether it's because he lacks the gene or his brain is just wired differently, he doesn't do well when thrown into a relationship. (Then again, what he has with his three romantic interests hardly constitutes a relationship, so I could be jumping the gun a bit there.)
So. It's weird to see something in Benny POV when it's analytical about his relationship or lack there of with someone else. And this happens not a little in fanfic. Now if Ray were the one to spot that he was lacking chemistry with a certain person while have good chemistry with another, this I would find believable. But with Benny, I don't think something like this even crosses his mind. In fact, I'm fairly certain that until pushed, Benny doesn't really examine his feelings and sort of goes with the flow. Like with Victoria. Oh he's certainly convinced he's in love with her, but never once has he been able to tell anyone why other than her having a beautiful voice. Now, this may just be me, but a beautiful voice doesn't really strike me as something one risks life and limb for, and Benny, being the logical person that he is, should be able to realize that you can't build a relationship on a beautiful voice or that love requires something more than a beautiful voice. (Hinthint, RAY.)
Thus, what Benny's irrational reactions to Victoria seems to say to me, is that he's not particularly sane when it comes to his own emotions. He's so good at sublimation and suppression that he probably doesn't know how to deal with them in an emotionally healthy way, much less being capable of analyzing his own relationships.
In short, Benny + emotional self analysis = much suckage.
However, that is not to say I don't think he can be developed to a point of being capable of analyzing his own emotions. Quite the opposite, I think that makes for a great fanfic, to watch Fraser develop some emotional maturity. But I do not think he's capable of doing it off the bat with the materials that canon has provided.