This is so utterly fantastic. I was entirely tickled reading it. I may have even squeed. I think you get the Ben-Chris friendship, or at least how it is in my headcanon. I refuse to believe Chris is an idiot or that Ben would work with someone who was for so long when he probably would have had numerous opportunities to stop doing so if he wanted. I think of Chris as generally a little misguided, but not cruel and not entirely clueless (And his rule about coworkers not dating is hardly unique!). It is generally my take on the Ann/Chris relationship that no one was wrong, per se, but that Ann was not being herself, and that was not a relationship worthy of moving to Indianapolis. It is my hope that if the show does decide to revive their relationship, that gets addressed.
That's not to say that the writers of the show have necessarily shown any of this. But I think (with the full season order and a little more room for storytelling) that we are going to see a more interesting side of Chris next season, and he will look closer to what you have written than how has generally been shown.
I agree, I hope we see a more consistent, more likable take on Chris next season. At times in season 3, he seemed like the one character they were willing to sell out for laughs, doing whatever was funniest for the plot instead of what made sense for his character development. I don't know. I don't actually ship Chris/Ann at all but I thought as long as I was inside Chris Traeger's head, I might as well have him tell (what I guessed to be) his side of the story. :)
Thank you for reading and reviewing! It's actually so interesting to read these reviews and hear everyone's views on Chris.
Yes, I think you hit the nail on the head. He has been really inconsistent. I think part of that was that no one was sure if Rob Lowe was going to be a guest star or a member of the cast; it couldn't have helped the writers create a character that made sense.
I think I want to like him more than I do like him, if that makes sense. Chris is the one pre-Pawnee thing we have of Ben; he liked Ben enough to ask him to work with him again. And he chose to live in Pawnee, so that must speak to something good in his character. I think the show is generally so positive that there must be something good in the souls of anyone who chooses to stay there. And if Ben does hate Chris, or if Chris is awful, I am not sure what that says about Ben. Hmmm.
As for Chris and Ann, I don't necessarily want them to get back together unless it is a compelling story line, but I am not necessarily against it, either, if they can both become the kind of people who should be in a relationship together (something that I think your fic illustrated could be interesting). They can't just jump in as the same people we left at the end of season 3, however. I am talking change and emotional growth first.
Having said all this, I am not a particular fan of Rob Lowe. I feel entirely neutral about him. Actually, I am not sure I have ever seen anything he has been in besides this show (I looked it up; I haven't, but I really want to see The Drew Peterson Story because OMG). I feel like some of the Chris hate is because people dislike RL, which is not necessarily invalid. I have no idea if the cast likes him, but I am not sure it really matters (I don't like all of my coworkers either).
Which is all my very long way of saying I like your version of Chris. I agree that I don't think he is in on the B/L thing, but the spirit of him here, that is what I think he is (or could be).
That's not to say that the writers of the show have necessarily shown any of this. But I think (with the full season order and a little more room for storytelling) that we are going to see a more interesting side of Chris next season, and he will look closer to what you have written than how has generally been shown.
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Thank you for reading and reviewing! It's actually so interesting to read these reviews and hear everyone's views on Chris.
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I think I want to like him more than I do like him, if that makes sense. Chris is the one pre-Pawnee thing we have of Ben; he liked Ben enough to ask him to work with him again. And he chose to live in Pawnee, so that must speak to something good in his character. I think the show is generally so positive that there must be something good in the souls of anyone who chooses to stay there. And if Ben does hate Chris, or if Chris is awful, I am not sure what that says about Ben. Hmmm.
As for Chris and Ann, I don't necessarily want them to get back together unless it is a compelling story line, but I am not necessarily against it, either, if they can both become the kind of people who should be in a relationship together (something that I think your fic illustrated could be interesting). They can't just jump in as the same people we left at the end of season 3, however. I am talking change and emotional growth first.
Having said all this, I am not a particular fan of Rob Lowe. I feel entirely neutral about him. Actually, I am not sure I have ever seen anything he has been in besides this show (I looked it up; I haven't, but I really want to see The Drew Peterson Story because OMG). I feel like some of the Chris hate is because people dislike RL, which is not necessarily invalid. I have no idea if the cast likes him, but I am not sure it really matters (I don't like all of my coworkers either).
Which is all my very long way of saying I like your version of Chris. I agree that I don't think he is in on the B/L thing, but the spirit of him here, that is what I think he is (or could be).
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