"Despite what you all may think, I'm not Superman."
Or, Why I'm a Rodney McKay Stan (and Briefly Touching On Why I Love Dean Winchester).
Since my internet died today, I went on a bit of an SGA binge. Watched some early eps, then some s4 eps. And I've come to the conclusion that, apart from the super-intelligence factor, the reason I heart Rodney has more to do with me and less than I thought to do with David Hewlett. Don't get me wrong, David Hewlett is spectacular and a fantastic actor, but, I identify more than I'd like with his character. As I said in an earlier post, I'm not brave. I don't think I'm a coward, but I would not be in Gryffindor; it's a toss-up whether I'd be in Ravenclaw (as I've always wanted to be) or Hufflepuff (which is severely underloved). I'm good with people, but I would not be a hero in another galaxy. And really, when we get down to it, I'm not going to do something big and marvelous and spectacular with my life. I'm just going to try to live my life and be happy. All he has is his intelligence; all I have is my love and happiness, really. And my people skills. So the fact that, while he's an arrogant asshole with no life except science, he would do anything and everything necessary for the people he cares about--I relate to. Very much so.
My dad doesn't like the character. Understandable. It's the same reason he didn't like House when I watched the show (when it was still good). He deals enough with arrogant, pigheaded douchebags in real life, he doesn't need them in his fiction.* And I suspect he plays it up because he knows how attached I am to my fictional characters. But he does it so often, and he's so vocal about it, that I usually end up turning to him in exasperation about once an episode to explain. And I don't think he gets that I am not only attached to my fictional characters, but I identify with them.
Not to mention the fact that David Hewlett has quite a, um, *cough* package. Hot damn, why don't they show that off more? (O hai, Miller's Crossing, and everyone in attractive clothing.) What, you thought that because this was about me, I wasn't going to be shallow?
Related to this is what I call the White Knight Syndrome. I have more to say about this when I do my write-up on Appointment in Samarra (which I just watched today and can't believe I missed because it felt like old SPN) and my dearest Deano, but this applies to not only Dean. Rodney and John both have it. And, really, don't we all, to some degree? Something we hold near and dear and up on a pedestal as the pinnacle of humanity is sacrificing ourselves for someone we care about. Putting our very physical existence in jeopardy because they are more important than we are.
It's something I know I'll be brave enough to do when the time comes. Which is the aspect of the character I identify with and, since I believe it's one of his best attributes, one I'm very keen to put forth.
* What I find funny is that he doesn't like Rodney but likes Nikola. Mostly, I suspect, because Nikola is more entertaining and oozes charisma. But while Rodney just thinks everyone is dumb, Nikola lives to manipulate people. Or at least, the vibe I get from him is that he loves it. Showing off his smarts is a benefit. He's interested in getting people to do things, while Rodney is interested in getting people to not talk.
/thinking too much about fictional characters
Since my internet died today, I went on a bit of an SGA binge. Watched some early eps, then some s4 eps. And I've come to the conclusion that, apart from the super-intelligence factor, the reason I heart Rodney has more to do with me and less than I thought to do with David Hewlett. Don't get me wrong, David Hewlett is spectacular and a fantastic actor, but, I identify more than I'd like with his character. As I said in an earlier post, I'm not brave. I don't think I'm a coward, but I would not be in Gryffindor; it's a toss-up whether I'd be in Ravenclaw (as I've always wanted to be) or Hufflepuff (which is severely underloved). I'm good with people, but I would not be a hero in another galaxy. And really, when we get down to it, I'm not going to do something big and marvelous and spectacular with my life. I'm just going to try to live my life and be happy. All he has is his intelligence; all I have is my love and happiness, really. And my people skills. So the fact that, while he's an arrogant asshole with no life except science, he would do anything and everything necessary for the people he cares about--I relate to. Very much so.
My dad doesn't like the character. Understandable. It's the same reason he didn't like House when I watched the show (when it was still good). He deals enough with arrogant, pigheaded douchebags in real life, he doesn't need them in his fiction.* And I suspect he plays it up because he knows how attached I am to my fictional characters. But he does it so often, and he's so vocal about it, that I usually end up turning to him in exasperation about once an episode to explain. And I don't think he gets that I am not only attached to my fictional characters, but I identify with them.
Not to mention the fact that David Hewlett has quite a, um, *cough* package. Hot damn, why don't they show that off more? (O hai, Miller's Crossing, and everyone in attractive clothing.) What, you thought that because this was about me, I wasn't going to be shallow?
Related to this is what I call the White Knight Syndrome. I have more to say about this when I do my write-up on Appointment in Samarra (which I just watched today and can't believe I missed because it felt like old SPN) and my dearest Deano, but this applies to not only Dean. Rodney and John both have it. And, really, don't we all, to some degree? Something we hold near and dear and up on a pedestal as the pinnacle of humanity is sacrificing ourselves for someone we care about. Putting our very physical existence in jeopardy because they are more important than we are.
It's something I know I'll be brave enough to do when the time comes. Which is the aspect of the character I identify with and, since I believe it's one of his best attributes, one I'm very keen to put forth.
* What I find funny is that he doesn't like Rodney but likes Nikola. Mostly, I suspect, because Nikola is more entertaining and oozes charisma. But while Rodney just thinks everyone is dumb, Nikola lives to manipulate people. Or at least, the vibe I get from him is that he loves it. Showing off his smarts is a benefit. He's interested in getting people to do things, while Rodney is interested in getting people to not talk.
/thinking too much about fictional characters