In Defence Of Season 5

[so_bambiesque]

Yeah, I'm doing a thing right now. I intended to come on and basically freak out about the Brothers and Sisters finale, but in my world, this takes precedence. I was flisting and flisting my flist's flists (lol, yes stalker) and I saw at least 4 posts and comments in which people diss season 5. And I am so sick and tired of it. Apart from a couple

Comments

[skywaterblue]

It's true. Season Five is my favorite of the Wells seasons, even if the canon implosion of Leo's character totally makes it a massively close call. I mean, so much suckage in that, but compared to the wildly OOC who the fuck cares they all get separated and boring ass new characters of Season 6 & 7? Yeah.

[so_bambiesque]

But see, I don't think it was wildly OOC. Maybe they went too far with it, but Leo had a lot to deal with, so he would get darker and harder on the staff. When I was bumming around on random sites there was one quote that said that it gave him more credibility, because the fluffy father figure just wasn't realistic.

[skywaterblue]

There's a certain amount of truth to that, esp. as they set up the 'weak and flaily' Bartlet thing which continues all season until Bartlet gets proven right at Camp David. The part where it breaks down is that it doesn't jive with previous WW stories where when one of the staff is in personal trouble, someone pitches in to help rescue them.

That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[skywaterblue]

Also, seperate thread:

Nope, it's the scene when Josh tells Donna about Blind Willie Johnson, and her, "That got me" at the end.

I actually think this is one of the more psychologically disturbing scenes in the series.

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[so_bambiesque]

I know, right? I mean, The West Wing had it's dark moments, but boy...

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[skywaterblue]

Eesh, yes. It's the creepiest thing Josh ever says in the series. Creepier than 'Citizen soldiers trying to keep their sisters from getting blown up on the bus'.

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[so_bambiesque]

Although I think the whole "swapping neighbours" thing was pretty upsetting...

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[skywaterblue]

This thread is making me wish we could get to s4 and s5 on ww_renaissance faster. s4 is my favorite.

"swapping neighbors" is disturbing because that happens in real life. The Blind Willie Johnson thing is disturbing for what it implies about Josh. Two different sorts of disturbing.

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[laurenba]

The Blind Willie Johnson thing is disturbing for what it implies about Josh.

Well, I agree that the Blind Willie Johnson story is disturbing in and of itself, but I don't really see what telling it implies about Josh...

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[skywaterblue]

The subtextual interpretation I've always taken is that it's a replay of the Schubert scene in "Crackpots and These Women."

Josh says, "Schubert was crazy, you know. Think you have to be crazy to do something beautiful?" (I'm quoting of the top of my head here.) In that scene he's not really asking CJ about Schubert, he's asking her if she thinks it's okay he's a little batty.

In the scene Josh is reading off a bunch of facts about the Voyager space program, and as an example of the songs on the record we sent with it, he picks out Blind Willie Johnson. (Now, there's a bunch of other music on the record, including three pieces by Bach...) The key to why this is disturbing to me is that Brad Whitford shifts his tone on or right about when Josh is describing how Blind Willie Johnson died penniless in the ruins of his burnt out house.

But it's okay, because his music just left the solar system. ('Do you have to be crazy to do something meaningful'?)

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[laurenba]

Hmmmm...
I think that I see what you mean, but I don't look at it so darkly. The point that Josh is making is that even though Johnson had a tragic life, the beauty that he created is transcending that. Not only here on earth, but possibly in the cosmos. Also, Johnson's genius may not have been appreciated in his lifetime, look at how it is being appreciated now...being sent into the universe in such company as Bach.

Yeah, sure Josh has a dark side, but I don't see him calling out Johnson as evidence that he's psychologically disturbed. Just my opinion, obviously.

Now I have to go watch s5!

Re: That Blind Willie Johnson thing:

[so_bambiesque]

Now I have to go watch s5!
*Claims victory* HUZZAH!