Falling in love with Canada. (Caution: Rambling ahead.)
Yeah, it's not like you haven't been at least peripherally aware of my recent due South obsession. That's definitely part of it. I just finished watching the complete series, and then watched two dS documentaries which can be found on youtube ("Ride Forever" and "Southbound") as well as the 10-minute blooper reel. Which is pretty amazing.
Surprisingly, I liked the writing in the first half of the series (with RayV) more than the second half (with RayK). There were a few things that just didn't work as well for me, in the second half. In an interview, Paul Haggis (creator of the series) indicated that he'd written Fraser with darker undertones than was shown/explored after he left. This is part of why Fraser is such a big draw for me - I loved his loneliness and angst hidden underneath that calm and chipper exterior. The second half of the series just didn't explore that enough. I loved all the funny and the weirdness of the second half, but little of the depth that was hinted at in the first half was explored in the second.
Another thing that was kind of disappointing was that -- Vecchio and Fraser had such an amazing dynamic. I really, really got them. The dynamic, the timing, the exchanges -- so dry, so perfect. And they had so much screen time. Every episode was really about the two of them. The supporting characters were there, but had minor roles.
This is what I tend to like in a show. Give me just a few main characters and give me lots and lots of depth. By the time RayK was in the picture, Paul Gross had taken over the writing, and it turned into more of an ensemble show. I wasn't really all that interested in Inspector Thatcher, or Frannie, or the Duck Boys, or even Constable Turnbull (although I did love him). Don't get me wrong, I also really like the dynamic between RayK and Fraser, but I had to sit through all the other distraction rather than the development of their partnership. And considering that RayK was only around for 26 episodes, that was a great disappointment.
(Side note: Of course, this leaves me in absolute awe of Speranza's amazing ability to capture RayK's voice and work in all those show references, based on such reduced screen-time.)
That all was probably not as coherent as it could have been. And despite my select disappointments, I absolutely love the characters of Fraser, RayV and RayK, and am really pleased that there is such depth to work with, and to ponder.
So, I've also been reading Theo Fleury's "tell-all", Playing with Fire. It's sad (re the Graham James scandal, plus Fleury's substance abuse) but also exciting and a really fascinating glimpse into life in the NHL.
Liz and I were lucky enough to see Fleury in practice once when he was with the Rangers -- I vividly remember -- even in practice, the guy was just full of energy and stood out on the ice.
Despite Fleury's comment about Avery being a "classless bum", I can't help but associate them in my mind. Seeing Avery play when he was first traded to the Rangers was like seeing that compressed energy return.
If anyone is interested in borrowing Fleury's book (once I'm done with it), just let me know. =D
Surprisingly, I liked the writing in the first half of the series (with RayV) more than the second half (with RayK). There were a few things that just didn't work as well for me, in the second half. In an interview, Paul Haggis (creator of the series) indicated that he'd written Fraser with darker undertones than was shown/explored after he left. This is part of why Fraser is such a big draw for me - I loved his loneliness and angst hidden underneath that calm and chipper exterior. The second half of the series just didn't explore that enough. I loved all the funny and the weirdness of the second half, but little of the depth that was hinted at in the first half was explored in the second.
Another thing that was kind of disappointing was that -- Vecchio and Fraser had such an amazing dynamic. I really, really got them. The dynamic, the timing, the exchanges -- so dry, so perfect. And they had so much screen time. Every episode was really about the two of them. The supporting characters were there, but had minor roles.
This is what I tend to like in a show. Give me just a few main characters and give me lots and lots of depth. By the time RayK was in the picture, Paul Gross had taken over the writing, and it turned into more of an ensemble show. I wasn't really all that interested in Inspector Thatcher, or Frannie, or the Duck Boys, or even Constable Turnbull (although I did love him). Don't get me wrong, I also really like the dynamic between RayK and Fraser, but I had to sit through all the other distraction rather than the development of their partnership. And considering that RayK was only around for 26 episodes, that was a great disappointment.
(Side note: Of course, this leaves me in absolute awe of Speranza's amazing ability to capture RayK's voice and work in all those show references, based on such reduced screen-time.)
That all was probably not as coherent as it could have been. And despite my select disappointments, I absolutely love the characters of Fraser, RayV and RayK, and am really pleased that there is such depth to work with, and to ponder.
So, I've also been reading Theo Fleury's "tell-all", Playing with Fire. It's sad (re the Graham James scandal, plus Fleury's substance abuse) but also exciting and a really fascinating glimpse into life in the NHL.
Liz and I were lucky enough to see Fleury in practice once when he was with the Rangers -- I vividly remember -- even in practice, the guy was just full of energy and stood out on the ice.
Despite Fleury's comment about Avery being a "classless bum", I can't help but associate them in my mind. Seeing Avery play when he was first traded to the Rangers was like seeing that compressed energy return.
If anyone is interested in borrowing Fleury's book (once I'm done with it), just let me know. =D