Fandoms I Have Loved 8: Oz

[thefourthvine]

I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to Oz, I know nothing. But when has that ever stopped me before? Roll on with the FIHL, and if I get it wrong, hey, just tell me so.

Oz is a TV show. About a maximum-security prison. That did its damnedest to show prison life the way it really is. And it was written by Tom Fontana. This is all

Comments

[rowanfairchild]

From what I've heard of Oz, rape seems to be an almost weekly occurence, which is the main reason why I will likely never watch it or, if I do watch, will cause my eventual mental breakdown.

Hey, just to poke my head into your convo here for a sec (I'm a buttinski that way *g*) -- actually, no, there really weren't that many rapes *shown* on the show. More like one a season. (Not that that isn't plenty, but...)

Deaths? Heh. Now that's another story...

Yes, the guy Keller has his arm around is Schillinger. The actor JK Simmons lost a quite a bit of weight after the first two seasons, which might account for some of the confusion.

And you know, one thing I haven't seen mentioned here at all in this discussion is that the show isn't *all* violence and despair. It's really really funny sometimes. And human, and sometimes downright touching. I hope I don't sound prickly for saying this, but some of this discussion is making it sound like anyone who actually watches this show must be some sort of depraved ghoul. It's really not like that. This show was, for the most part wonderfully written, had one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled, and wasn't afraid to tackle real issues about race and social justice in America.

[danibennett]

actually, no, there really weren't that many rapes *shown* on the show. More like one a season. (Not that that isn't plenty, but...)

Well, that's not so bad I guess (and how wrong do I feel for saying that?) I think that just by reading episode guides, maybe it seemed like there were a lot more rapes than actually existed per square inch. Condensing the plot makes it sound a lot more batshit than it actually is, I'm guessing.

Deaths? Heh. Now that's another story...

See, that I think I could handle more, because of the morbid sense of humour thing I have going on.

Yes, the guy Keller has his arm around is Schillinger. The actor JK Simmons lost a quite a bit of weight after the first two seasons, which might account for some of the confusion.

Aha. Thank you very much. thefourthvine and I were going back and forth, so it's nice to have confirmation from someone who's actually seen the show. Can I just say for the record that he is SO SCARY?

And you know, one thing I haven't seen mentioned here at all in this discussion is that the show isn't *all* violence and despair. It's really really funny sometimes. And human, and sometimes downright touching.

Well, I figured it had to be more than doom and despair, or else who would watch it, right? I'm just speaking out of a) ignorance and b) a real fear of getting into this show and then having to invest in psychiatric therapy. Because personally, (and I ended up going into this a little on my LJ) I get way too concerned with what happens to fictional characters -- it's embarrassing, but it's true. And I have a feeling that I could probably very easily get into this show, but I'm trying to stop before I start. The easiest way to do this is to remind myself of all the worst things that happen on the show. Kind of a screwed-up attempt at self-preservation.

I hope I don't sound prickly for saying this, but some of this discussion is making it sound like anyone who actually watches this show must be some sort of depraved ghoul. It's really not like that. This show was, for the most part wonderfully written, had one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled, and wasn't afraid to tackle real issues about race and social justice in America.

You don't sound prickly! And I'm really sure that no one intended it to sound like that at all. If anything, I was getting a huge sense of admiration for the fangirls who braved six seasons of the show, without the luxury of knowing what was going to happen beforehand. Honestly, I salute you girls. I couldn't have done it.

I think perhaps the fact that the show was so well-written is another reason people might be reluctant to get involved with it? I mean, people usually form an attachment to well-written characters, and maybe I'm generalizing again, but it sounds like OZ is not a fandom in which you want to get too attached to anyone. It looks amazing, and touching, and very real.

But...like I said before, I don't really consider myself strong enough to watch it all the way through alone without going a wee bit insane.

[rowanfairchild]

Because personally, (and I ended up going into this a little on my LJ) I get way too concerned with what happens to fictional characters -- it's embarrassing, but it's true.

I went to check this out, but it must be a locked entry. :-(

Anyway, no I totally hear you -- and believe me, OZ isn't the show for everyone. It is intense, and graphic, and it will put you on an emotional rollercoaster if you get attached to the characters. I'd say go ahead and rent the first season, give it a shot and see what you think. If it's too intense, you'll know after an episode or two, heh, but I doubt that would be enough to send you out for psychiatric care. :-)

[danibennett]

Whoops! All right, I've unlocked it, so if you wanted to take a look at the inner neuroses of me, please, go right ahead. You'd probably be helpful in clearing up misconceptions that I may have about the show. :-D

I think another part of the reason I'm reluctant [read: scared] to start watching is that, well...not unlike Beecher, I have a bit of an addictive personality. Only instead of drugs, I do fandoms. Multiple fandoms. For some reason, it is all too easy for me to get really really into a new fandom, and generally it doesn't work if I try to do it halfway.

So even if I do rent the first season, watch a couple of episodes, and then decided it's too much, I will in all likelihood, spend altogether too much time still thinking about it. "I wonder if so and so dies." "I wonder how many episodes I'd have to watch before Beecher goes nuts."

And so on. Before I knew it, I'd be howling and throwing things at the TV, but completely unable to tear myself away.

Also, my flist is completely barren of Ozfans, and there is no way I want to experience all this stuff without the benefits of cathartic whining.

[The sad thing is, I'm pretty much considering renting it now. Nooooooo.]

[thefourthvine]

I hope I don't sound prickly for saying this, but some of this discussion is making it sound like anyone who actually watches this show must be some sort of depraved ghoul.

My apologies; that wasn't what I intended to convey, or what I actually think. I just think you guys are braver and tougher than I am. I mean, I pitch a major wobbler when there's even one death in my favorite canons (Sirius, whose death really undermined my love for the whole HP series, being one example), and I tend to get squealy and scared and totally little-girly if there's the slightest hint of badness in TV shows. (Seriously. Cannot watch the second season of Sports Night without making this horrible noise, just because there's some drama happening there.) That does not make me not ghoulish, because I am. It just makes me really irritating to be around.

And I know the acting (on Oz, which is actually the subject at hand no matter how much I like to turn the conversation back to me me me) was incredible, and the show itself was amazing and ground-breaking. I even know there was humor in it, because I've read a few of the transcripts, and if something makes me smile in a transcript, I know it must've been profoundly funny in the actual show. And, truly, I've flirted with the idea of watching the show, because it sounds so damn amazing. I just know I couldn't handle it - because, you know, see above about squeamishness. In other words: the problem is me, not the show.

But, you know, lessien and I weren't just joking about being horrified by Ozfic (because, for one thing, I like warnings) but unable to look away. There's a reason why so many people get sucked into this fandom against their will ('cause, let's face it, if you're the type who wants schmoop and happy endings and fuzzy-wuzzies, this is not the fandom for you) - it's because the incredible characters and the intense realness of the show (and the humor and the good moments and the bad moments) come through in the fic. So those of us who got into this fandom through the back door love it, too; we just can't believe that we love it. Hence the moaning.

And thanks for verifying the presence of Schillinger, who is one scary-looking man. I remember watching that vid, which actually got me started on Oz fic, and thinking - ooo, this can't be good. He's all huggy. With Satan.

[rowanfairchild]

Eh, I was having a thin-skinned morning anyway (funeral to attend, etc.) so I'm sorry if I came off sounding cranky. It's just that I know a lot of people read your journal and use it as an introduction to fandoms, and obviously, I care a great deal about this *particular* fandom and I don't want all these new folks coming away thinking: Oh that's great, for sickos! You know? Because for me the thing that's really compelling about OZ, and Beecher/Keller in particular, is the raw intensity -- what happens to people when all the trappings and bullshit are stripped away and they're down to nothing but who they are. And I was just getting the sense that the tone of the comments here were concentrating way more on the sensational stuff and it wasn't really giving a balanced portrayal of the show.

Anyway, I'm sorry again for sounding cranky. I just get tired of feeling defensive about my fandom (You like WHAT??? Ohmigod, WHY???) and I guess my buttons are a little too easily pushed. :-(