.596 -- Leverage, True Blood and Books I Need To Read.
You know, the double standards in fandom really do annoy me. I've seen numerous comments scattered across the internet regarding Christian Kane's physique in the latest episode of Leverage and dear God, people. When did a six-pack become the default? It's laughable how many fangirls have slated the poor guy simply because he's not chiselled to within an inch of his life. The best comment I read was that Kane should know better, train better and work better, because he's friends with Jensen Ackles, who is fitness personified. What? Even I, who knows very little about Kane outside of the roles he plays, can tell you he works his ass off on that show. He does his own stunts, people. He is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a slouch. He is also not Jensen Ackles.
But... that's not the point of me bringing this up. The whole point is, if this had been said about a female character or actor, there would be outrage. As women in fandom, I've found we often celebrate the females on our TV screens and in our books who do not fit the "conventional" mold of what a woman should look like. And amen to that. But when did it become okay to place these body restrictions on the men in our fandoms? How is expecting a six-pack and well-defined muscles from men any different from expecting a flat stomach and big breasts from women?
It irritates me because body issues are not a gender thing. They're a people thing. And this image of the perfect form isn't to be blamed soley on men. It's not just their problem. It's not just their responsibility to work on tearing that image down. It's ours. We do this to ourselves and to each other.
I'm not going to say more than that, because I think I've pretty much said what I needed to. It's just... gah. It's not the first time I've seen this and it riles me sometimes.
Speaking of Leverage, I'm now caught up. And I also have my brother hooked. It's so cracky! And fun! And now I'm reading a lot of gen fic. Because I love the team and I think I could watch them work a con all day, every day.
It's weird, though, because I'm totally a raging 'shipper and there are always pairings I want to see or pairings I love to watch on-screen etc. But the 'shipper fics just aren't working for me. I don't know. Maybe because I'm totally confused. Because, erm, Hardison/Parker all the way, baby, but at the same time I would watch Hardision, Eliot and Parker bantering all day. I would say they're my OT3 but I'm not sure that's true. In theory, it's perfect. In reality I don't see Eliot/Parker working. But at the same time I do. Just not on-screen. And off-screen it has to be done just right and the few fics I've read where this is so has been team!fic or Hardison/Eliot/Parker, because they're too awesome for words.
So, yes, my fannish love is just that logical. Recommend me team!fic if you know of any, please.
Wow. Ball is really sticking close to the book in some regards. Maybe I'll get that Eric-in-pink-lycra scene after all.
I'm sorry, but I hope to God Ball was trying to be funny with the Chicago flashbacks. I mean really. And I'm not sure what purpose they were meant to serve except to show us that Bill and Lorena were very, er, close back in the day. Which, okay. But I don't remember Harris ever indicating that Bill was that kind of vampire. He's a little bit Angel/Angelus without the soul issue factoring into it. Then again, I found Bill very bland and uninteresting compared to the other characters in the book, so Harris may have indicated this and I simply didn't notice. After listening to their godawful accents, however, I'm really not all that inclined to re-visit Bill's past.
All of Eric's/Alex Skarsgard's scenes were epic. The look of sheer boredom on his face while he's feeding. Just the way you can see him clearly going through the motions and hating every minute of it. Awesome.
I'm really getting the impression from his scenes that the whole Sookie thing isn't about liking her yet. I think he still very much sees her as an invaluable tool (one he respects, but a tool nonetheless) and is working to simultaneously build up his pile of bargaining chips and tear hers down. There are certain factors he can manipulate (Lafayette, and he's already proved useful) and those that he can't (Bill can only be collared so far because Sookie uses him as her bargaining chip). What do you do with the factors you can't manipulate? Reduce their value as bargaining chips (throw every possible obstacle at their relationship until Sookie walks away).
Pam! Where have you been? I feel like you don't get enough screentime. You should have more.
Oh, Lafayette. And Terry being Terry. Crazy/beautiful. The tricks we use to fool ourselves. Sigh.
I think I may be developing a girl!crush on Jessica. I just love how she started out this plain, daudy, frightened creature and became this awesome, beautiful, frightened creature, afraid for all different kinds of reasons. And one of them is Hoyt! Who I must admit gave me tingles in this episode. The way he just does not give a shit that people know his girlfriend is a vampire.
I love that their storyline isn't a whole big angst fest about interracial dating at a young age, because these two are too hilarious and hot and epic together for that. We get to explore those issues with Sookie and Bill (and we'll probably get to witness the darker -- well, even darker -- aspects of it with Isabelle's and Hugh's minor storyline). But I just love that Hoyt recognises how crazy perfect Jess is that he's willing to stand up to his mama. And it was hot. I think Hoyt is like my perfect guy. Genuine and decent and a comic book nerd who knows when to fight his battles. He drove to Dallas, people, because he didn't want Jess to think he was ignoring her. He breaks me into pieces.
I find myself becoming less invested in Jason's storyline every week. I guess I just hate seeing that boy getting used and abused all the time. It would be cool if Ball gave him the storylines that Harris did in the books. I could watch that, and I think it'd be an interesting way to develop his character past his unhealthy obsession with vampires. But I'm sure with Sookie's arrival at the church things will pick up in that area.
I do love this show. Probably more than the books.
grrlnoir! I would just like you know to know that I've been working on your Chloe/Peter piece! Yes, I know, I'm months overdue, but there just wasn't a storyline there. And now I think I maybe able scratch one out. I'm hoping to get it to you soon, darling. And I shall be writing your letter shortly!
I have many books I need to catch up. I'm currently reading the new Kim Harrison book, White Witch, Black Curse. After that I need to re-read the last Karen Chance book so I can finally get to Curse the Dawn, which I've had on my shelf since March. I really need to re-read Karen Marie Moning's Faefever series, too, because I'm hazy on some of the details and the next installment is out next month. And then there's Vicki Petterson's next book, City of Souls, coming out tomorrow, and the continuation of Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series (Storm Born was one of my favourite reads of last year) coming out in a few weeks.
And all the while I'm jonsing to re-read The Black Jewels Trilogy. I've yet to tackle Tangled Webs and I want the stories and the characters to be fresh in my mind.
A little lower down on my to-read list is Charlaine Harris' new Sookie Stackhouse novel and Melissa Marr's Fragile Eternity. So, hmmm... yup, that should keep me going for a few weeks at least.
But... that's not the point of me bringing this up. The whole point is, if this had been said about a female character or actor, there would be outrage. As women in fandom, I've found we often celebrate the females on our TV screens and in our books who do not fit the "conventional" mold of what a woman should look like. And amen to that. But when did it become okay to place these body restrictions on the men in our fandoms? How is expecting a six-pack and well-defined muscles from men any different from expecting a flat stomach and big breasts from women?
It irritates me because body issues are not a gender thing. They're a people thing. And this image of the perfect form isn't to be blamed soley on men. It's not just their problem. It's not just their responsibility to work on tearing that image down. It's ours. We do this to ourselves and to each other.
I'm not going to say more than that, because I think I've pretty much said what I needed to. It's just... gah. It's not the first time I've seen this and it riles me sometimes.
Speaking of Leverage, I'm now caught up. And I also have my brother hooked. It's so cracky! And fun! And now I'm reading a lot of gen fic. Because I love the team and I think I could watch them work a con all day, every day.
It's weird, though, because I'm totally a raging 'shipper and there are always pairings I want to see or pairings I love to watch on-screen etc. But the 'shipper fics just aren't working for me. I don't know. Maybe because I'm totally confused. Because, erm, Hardison/Parker all the way, baby, but at the same time I would watch Hardision, Eliot and Parker bantering all day. I would say they're my OT3 but I'm not sure that's true. In theory, it's perfect. In reality I don't see Eliot/Parker working. But at the same time I do. Just not on-screen. And off-screen it has to be done just right and the few fics I've read where this is so has been team!fic or Hardison/Eliot/Parker, because they're too awesome for words.
So, yes, my fannish love is just that logical. Recommend me team!fic if you know of any, please.
Wow. Ball is really sticking close to the book in some regards. Maybe I'll get that Eric-in-pink-lycra scene after all.
I'm sorry, but I hope to God Ball was trying to be funny with the Chicago flashbacks. I mean really. And I'm not sure what purpose they were meant to serve except to show us that Bill and Lorena were very, er, close back in the day. Which, okay. But I don't remember Harris ever indicating that Bill was that kind of vampire. He's a little bit Angel/Angelus without the soul issue factoring into it. Then again, I found Bill very bland and uninteresting compared to the other characters in the book, so Harris may have indicated this and I simply didn't notice. After listening to their godawful accents, however, I'm really not all that inclined to re-visit Bill's past.
All of Eric's/Alex Skarsgard's scenes were epic. The look of sheer boredom on his face while he's feeding. Just the way you can see him clearly going through the motions and hating every minute of it. Awesome.
I'm really getting the impression from his scenes that the whole Sookie thing isn't about liking her yet. I think he still very much sees her as an invaluable tool (one he respects, but a tool nonetheless) and is working to simultaneously build up his pile of bargaining chips and tear hers down. There are certain factors he can manipulate (Lafayette, and he's already proved useful) and those that he can't (Bill can only be collared so far because Sookie uses him as her bargaining chip). What do you do with the factors you can't manipulate? Reduce their value as bargaining chips (throw every possible obstacle at their relationship until Sookie walks away).
Pam! Where have you been? I feel like you don't get enough screentime. You should have more.
Oh, Lafayette. And Terry being Terry. Crazy/beautiful. The tricks we use to fool ourselves. Sigh.
I think I may be developing a girl!crush on Jessica. I just love how she started out this plain, daudy, frightened creature and became this awesome, beautiful, frightened creature, afraid for all different kinds of reasons. And one of them is Hoyt! Who I must admit gave me tingles in this episode. The way he just does not give a shit that people know his girlfriend is a vampire.
I love that their storyline isn't a whole big angst fest about interracial dating at a young age, because these two are too hilarious and hot and epic together for that. We get to explore those issues with Sookie and Bill (and we'll probably get to witness the darker -- well, even darker -- aspects of it with Isabelle's and Hugh's minor storyline). But I just love that Hoyt recognises how crazy perfect Jess is that he's willing to stand up to his mama. And it was hot. I think Hoyt is like my perfect guy. Genuine and decent and a comic book nerd who knows when to fight his battles. He drove to Dallas, people, because he didn't want Jess to think he was ignoring her. He breaks me into pieces.
I find myself becoming less invested in Jason's storyline every week. I guess I just hate seeing that boy getting used and abused all the time. It would be cool if Ball gave him the storylines that Harris did in the books. I could watch that, and I think it'd be an interesting way to develop his character past his unhealthy obsession with vampires. But I'm sure with Sookie's arrival at the church things will pick up in that area.
I do love this show. Probably more than the books.
grrlnoir! I would just like you know to know that I've been working on your Chloe/Peter piece! Yes, I know, I'm months overdue, but there just wasn't a storyline there. And now I think I maybe able scratch one out. I'm hoping to get it to you soon, darling. And I shall be writing your letter shortly!
I have many books I need to catch up. I'm currently reading the new Kim Harrison book, White Witch, Black Curse. After that I need to re-read the last Karen Chance book so I can finally get to Curse the Dawn, which I've had on my shelf since March. I really need to re-read Karen Marie Moning's Faefever series, too, because I'm hazy on some of the details and the next installment is out next month. And then there's Vicki Petterson's next book, City of Souls, coming out tomorrow, and the continuation of Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series (Storm Born was one of my favourite reads of last year) coming out in a few weeks.
And all the while I'm jonsing to re-read The Black Jewels Trilogy. I've yet to tackle Tangled Webs and I want the stories and the characters to be fresh in my mind.
A little lower down on my to-read list is Charlaine Harris' new Sookie Stackhouse novel and Melissa Marr's Fragile Eternity. So, hmmm... yup, that should keep me going for a few weeks at least.