In case anyone (who cares) missed it, yesterday I finally posted "Eschatos", the BSG fic I've been working on for the past month and a half or so
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If it's retcon--and maybe it's not--I think I'm still more or less okay with it. Frankly, though, I think I actually kind of preferred Delenn when she was more of a cypher. I likened her in season 1 to Prospero, and I'm not sure that was quite the right comparison, but I loved the sense that she knew so much more than she was saying, that she was really the one controlling the show behind the scenes, and that this person behind the cypher was going to be so very cool. Delenn was probably my favorite part of season 1, actually.
As the show has gone on, of course, she's become less of a cypher. We know more what she knows and doesn't, what she's been controlling and what's controlled her, where her motivations and loyalties lie. The story has humanized her, literally and figuratively, and while I very much like who she's turned out to be, she's never quite lived up to the expectations I've had of her (except for the moment in "Severed Dreams" when she jumps in and saves John and the station--that's the Delenn I believed in). Overly emotional Delenn is not a character choice I would have made, I think; it wasn't something I imagined from her when I was still imagining her rather than analyzing her, and I suppose that's why I have some trouble with it.
Unfortunately, I don't actually have season 1. I'd like to rewatch in light of what I know now about her (or really I should wait until I've finished the series entirely) to see how much of Delenn herself was there behind the cypher.
And labels, yes. *grumble* They're frustrating, inadequate, yet also quite necessary in any fandom I'm familiar with, with the notable exception of Farscape. cofax7 (I think--though possibly it was someone else) once advocated a new label for a story with pairings that was fundamentally gen, and proposed we label such stories "Bob." I rather like that idea! Unfortunately it does not seem to have fallen into general use.
I will be interested to see what you think of Delenn for the rest of season four (and, very differently) for season five. I don't want to say much, but I think that the rest of this season has a fairly big impact on her journey as a character--as a leader, as a woman, as someone who has to make grand gestures. Though "Severed Dreams" is a favorite, I think her best--and strongest and most difficult--moments are yet to come.
As for how our imaginings of and hopes for our characters impacts our viewing, I think that goes back to our discussion of Sam Carter right after I'd watched "Grace." Because when we don't know much about a character, we have the opportunity to create lives and histories and worlds around them, only to find later that, in Delenn's case perhaps, the canon contradicts those imaginings. That in itself is disappointing, even if the result we see on screen is perfectly lovely.
And if you want to rewatch season 1, or at least parts of it, I own it. So you and it will be sharing space in the not-so-distant (very near!) future, should that appeal. :)
...advocated a new label for a story with pairings that was fundamentally gen, and proposed we label such stories "Bob."
I love this. Because there are stories that are fundamentally gen, but in which the pairings are in the background, or stories that can be read one way or another depending on whether you're wearing ship-colored glasses, or where . . . yeah. Bob!
(Also, this made me grin, which makes me happy, because it has been yet another day.)
I think her best--and strongest and most difficult--moments are yet to come.
This makes me all smiley and hopeful-like! Not that I haven't been enjoying Delenn all along--I definitely have--but "best...strongest...[and] difficult" is always for the win!
(Also, this made me grin, which makes me happy, because it has been yet another day.)
A pox on days, and yay for grinning. It's been a "let's nap in the carrel" kind of day for me. I have consumed so much caffeine in an effort to keep my eyes open and it has had no effect whatsoever. I've gotten almost no productive work done (certainly not of the sort that requires actual brain cells), and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to bail on a friend's show tonight. (I thought he was opening the show at 10:00, and that seemed bad enough, but now it turns out he's the main act at more like 11:00, and I cannot conceive actually being awake and away from home at that hour, given the state of my brain and body right now. Argh! So sad, too, because he is awesome, and I always enjoy hearing him play.) So maybe not a day, but still not quite the happy Thursday one might wish for. Perhaps a somewhat moderate jog on the elliptical will get the blood pumping but not finish me off.
I think the other thing that's worth noting about Delenn is that the audience and Lennier now know a great deal about her--where she comes from, what she knows, how she handles that knowledge--but that no one else does. There is a great deal she doesn't share, and continues not to share, despite her obvious attachment to John. It's an interesting thing; she's more of a cypher to the other characters than she is to us, but she remains cypher nonetheless. You should continue to be on the lookout for things she neglects to share . . .
And yes: best, strongest, and difficult are absolutely awesome.
Perhaps a somewhat moderate jog on the elliptical will get the blood pumping but not finish me off
Indeed. I am soon off to spinning, despite a raging and probably dangerous snowstorm, because I am thisclose to just screaming. Nothing particular went wrong--at least not like yesterday--but between a whole host of computer problems, potentially-canceled plans, working all day but accomplishing nothing, and projects put on hold, I'm a little less sanguine than usual. So, I shall go to spinning and channel my energy into something more productive than screaming. :)
I am sorry your Thursday was not what it should have been and that you won't get to see your friend. Here's to better days--and earlier concerts!
It's an interesting thing; she's more of a cypher to the other characters than she is to us, but she remains cypher nonetheless. You should continue to be on the lookout for things she neglects to share
Color me intrigued! In fact, this sounds like potentially the most interesting aspect of Delenn's character.
I hope your spinning class was a success (and a good alternative to screaming!), and be safe in the snow. It's supposed to hit here overnight and tomorrow, but so far no (new) snow yet.
As the show has gone on, of course, she's become less of a cypher. We know more what she knows and doesn't, what she's been controlling and what's controlled her, where her motivations and loyalties lie. The story has humanized her, literally and figuratively, and while I very much like who she's turned out to be, she's never quite lived up to the expectations I've had of her (except for the moment in "Severed Dreams" when she jumps in and saves John and the station--that's the Delenn I believed in). Overly emotional Delenn is not a character choice I would have made, I think; it wasn't something I imagined from her when I was still imagining her rather than analyzing her, and I suppose that's why I have some trouble with it.
Unfortunately, I don't actually have season 1. I'd like to rewatch in light of what I know now about her (or really I should wait until I've finished the series entirely) to see how much of Delenn herself was there behind the cypher.
And labels, yes. *grumble* They're frustrating, inadequate, yet also quite necessary in any fandom I'm familiar with, with the notable exception of Farscape. cofax7 (I think--though possibly it was someone else) once advocated a new label for a story with pairings that was fundamentally gen, and proposed we label such stories "Bob." I rather like that idea! Unfortunately it does not seem to have fallen into general use.
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As for how our imaginings of and hopes for our characters impacts our viewing, I think that goes back to our discussion of Sam Carter right after I'd watched "Grace." Because when we don't know much about a character, we have the opportunity to create lives and histories and worlds around them, only to find later that, in Delenn's case perhaps, the canon contradicts those imaginings. That in itself is disappointing, even if the result we see on screen is perfectly lovely.
And if you want to rewatch season 1, or at least parts of it, I own it. So you and it will be sharing space in the not-so-distant (very near!) future, should that appeal. :)
...advocated a new label for a story with pairings that was fundamentally gen, and proposed we label such stories "Bob."
I love this. Because there are stories that are fundamentally gen, but in which the pairings are in the background, or stories that can be read one way or another depending on whether you're wearing ship-colored glasses, or where . . . yeah. Bob!
(Also, this made me grin, which makes me happy, because it has been yet another day.)
Reply
This makes me all smiley and hopeful-like! Not that I haven't been enjoying Delenn all along--I definitely have--but "best...strongest...[and] difficult" is always for the win!
(Also, this made me grin, which makes me happy, because it has been yet another day.)
A pox on days, and yay for grinning. It's been a "let's nap in the carrel" kind of day for me. I have consumed so much caffeine in an effort to keep my eyes open and it has had no effect whatsoever. I've gotten almost no productive work done (certainly not of the sort that requires actual brain cells), and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to bail on a friend's show tonight. (I thought he was opening the show at 10:00, and that seemed bad enough, but now it turns out he's the main act at more like 11:00, and I cannot conceive actually being awake and away from home at that hour, given the state of my brain and body right now. Argh! So sad, too, because he is awesome, and I always enjoy hearing him play.) So maybe not a day, but still not quite the happy Thursday one might wish for. Perhaps a somewhat moderate jog on the elliptical will get the blood pumping but not finish me off.
Reply
And yes: best, strongest, and difficult are absolutely awesome.
Perhaps a somewhat moderate jog on the elliptical will get the blood pumping but not finish me off
Indeed. I am soon off to spinning, despite a raging and probably dangerous snowstorm, because I am thisclose to just screaming. Nothing particular went wrong--at least not like yesterday--but between a whole host of computer problems, potentially-canceled plans, working all day but accomplishing nothing, and projects put on hold, I'm a little less sanguine than usual. So, I shall go to spinning and channel my energy into something more productive than screaming. :)
I am sorry your Thursday was not what it should have been and that you won't get to see your friend. Here's to better days--and earlier concerts!
Reply
Color me intrigued! In fact, this sounds like potentially the most interesting aspect of Delenn's character.
I hope your spinning class was a success (and a good alternative to screaming!), and be safe in the snow. It's supposed to hit here overnight and tomorrow, but so far no (new) snow yet.
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