Fandom Rants (Not too Ranty): Metalocalypse
I apologize in advance to anyone not watching Metalocalypse, because that's pretty much all I'm writing right now. Anyhow, as I'm stuck in the middle of one of my fics (it's going sloooowly, and I'm annoyed as hell,) I offer up these 'points about the characters' that summarize a bunch of problems I have with the way other people tend to write (and sometimes draw) them.
Out of Characterness bugs me. To whit, Dethklok problems I see:
1. Nathan's an idiot, and he can bash things mightily. He doesn't necessarily do this out of the kind of thin, bloody, pointy rage some of the others may be prone to. He's more of a broken/contusion sort of guy. Some things get smashed just because they're there and he's just a raging force. But I don't really see him going berzerk the way some of the others might. Rage!Nathan never seems quite right. And while he's going to hold the band together, he isn't fluffy about it. He'll insult you while he does it. On the other hand, he'll care in the end. Why? He's actually the most dominant person in the group. Everyone defers to him, naturally. He doesn't need to posture it like Skwisgaar.
2. Pickles is, I think, not necessarily out of character but he is ignored. He's not fucking Canadian, though; I saw that in a fic once and I was all 'wtf?'
3. Murderface. Also on the ignored list of many people, but slightly more interesting because he's a brat. Here's another thing, though - I think he's actually relatively smart, despite his inability to spell. As a historian myself, I'm kind of amused that he has collections of Americana (admittedly not kept in the best shape, but it's honestly about on par with the historical society I work for.) He's got some book learnin' behind him that he's retained.
4. Oh, Skwisgaar. You're a bossy, posturing bastard and I admire that, but really, you're a dick. I think a lot of the boredom comes from being jaded. While Murderface lashes out in general, you lash out at specific people. You don't know where you stand - you're at the top but not quite there. Being #2 sucks, doesn't it? Now go fuck something different, if you can find it. You just need change you can keep on top of, is that it? But you can't fucking handle being really on top - you couldn't be Nathan, and you know it. And that pisses you off.
5. Toki, the not-so-innocent. No, he's not. He obviously had a fucked-up childhood, but he escaped it somehow. Did you beat the shit out of the old priest? Did you run away and hang out on the streets of Oslo until you were discovered? You are so out of character so often. You know more than people realize. Eg, in Performance Klok, you were the one who heard the therapist talk about killing his old band. You notice things - probably because you're not quite as self-indulgent as Skwisgaar and Nathan, and possibly also because your command of English is the worst, which keeps you on your toes. He's not the fucking pussy that some fics put him out to be. I don't think anyone could really fuck with him, if they tried. I thought this before, and the last episode where it shows that he's built reinforces it - Skwisgaar can bitch him out all he wants, but he's just going to roll his eyes and ignore it. He knows he can take it; he lets them abuse him verbally, and it just rolls off his back, maybe because he heard it all his life until then. As for his hobbies, it reminds me of something Dr LaVey would talk about - when you're a god, you can do whatever the fuck you want. You want to go and get an ice-cream? Have the fuck at it, and don't let anyone tell you you're being childish. Enjoyment comes in whatever form you desire. And for some people, this is model-making.
An interesting coincidence, though - my most musically talented friend - legitimately talented, I'm not just saying this; he owns half a small recording studio - does indeed paint model airplanes.
Canon in general: I wonder how much people are actually paying attention to the eyes thing, and how powerful they're really becoming. Maybe at the end of the latest episode people have realized that they've been ignoring it. I return again to my previous analysis that they are coming into their god-forms via blood sacrifice. Seriously, how is the cabal going to stop them? What on earth can they do? It has the makings of real tragedy if the cabal can manage to get a plan off the ground.
Out of Characterness bugs me. To whit, Dethklok problems I see:
1. Nathan's an idiot, and he can bash things mightily. He doesn't necessarily do this out of the kind of thin, bloody, pointy rage some of the others may be prone to. He's more of a broken/contusion sort of guy. Some things get smashed just because they're there and he's just a raging force. But I don't really see him going berzerk the way some of the others might. Rage!Nathan never seems quite right. And while he's going to hold the band together, he isn't fluffy about it. He'll insult you while he does it. On the other hand, he'll care in the end. Why? He's actually the most dominant person in the group. Everyone defers to him, naturally. He doesn't need to posture it like Skwisgaar.
2. Pickles is, I think, not necessarily out of character but he is ignored. He's not fucking Canadian, though; I saw that in a fic once and I was all 'wtf?'
3. Murderface. Also on the ignored list of many people, but slightly more interesting because he's a brat. Here's another thing, though - I think he's actually relatively smart, despite his inability to spell. As a historian myself, I'm kind of amused that he has collections of Americana (admittedly not kept in the best shape, but it's honestly about on par with the historical society I work for.) He's got some book learnin' behind him that he's retained.
4. Oh, Skwisgaar. You're a bossy, posturing bastard and I admire that, but really, you're a dick. I think a lot of the boredom comes from being jaded. While Murderface lashes out in general, you lash out at specific people. You don't know where you stand - you're at the top but not quite there. Being #2 sucks, doesn't it? Now go fuck something different, if you can find it. You just need change you can keep on top of, is that it? But you can't fucking handle being really on top - you couldn't be Nathan, and you know it. And that pisses you off.
5. Toki, the not-so-innocent. No, he's not. He obviously had a fucked-up childhood, but he escaped it somehow. Did you beat the shit out of the old priest? Did you run away and hang out on the streets of Oslo until you were discovered? You are so out of character so often. You know more than people realize. Eg, in Performance Klok, you were the one who heard the therapist talk about killing his old band. You notice things - probably because you're not quite as self-indulgent as Skwisgaar and Nathan, and possibly also because your command of English is the worst, which keeps you on your toes. He's not the fucking pussy that some fics put him out to be. I don't think anyone could really fuck with him, if they tried. I thought this before, and the last episode where it shows that he's built reinforces it - Skwisgaar can bitch him out all he wants, but he's just going to roll his eyes and ignore it. He knows he can take it; he lets them abuse him verbally, and it just rolls off his back, maybe because he heard it all his life until then. As for his hobbies, it reminds me of something Dr LaVey would talk about - when you're a god, you can do whatever the fuck you want. You want to go and get an ice-cream? Have the fuck at it, and don't let anyone tell you you're being childish. Enjoyment comes in whatever form you desire. And for some people, this is model-making.
An interesting coincidence, though - my most musically talented friend - legitimately talented, I'm not just saying this; he owns half a small recording studio - does indeed paint model airplanes.
Canon in general: I wonder how much people are actually paying attention to the eyes thing, and how powerful they're really becoming. Maybe at the end of the latest episode people have realized that they've been ignoring it. I return again to my previous analysis that they are coming into their god-forms via blood sacrifice. Seriously, how is the cabal going to stop them? What on earth can they do? It has the makings of real tragedy if the cabal can manage to get a plan off the ground.