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

[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.]