13.10...thoughts, hopes, etc...

[zara_zee]

Firstly, I just have to say that ...[Spoiler (click to open)]... Dean roasting a lizard over a campfire made me a very, very happy fangirl for the simple reason that I have a scene in Too long in the wasteland where Dean is roasting a lizard over a campfire and I love it when I see snippets of scenes from my stories come to life on the screen! :D

Comments

[borgmama1of5]

So it wasn't perfect but I want it to succeed so I'm going to watch it! And I don't get all the Claire hate :(

And I do think there's something to be said for people being less forgiving of certain character traits in women than in men.

And that is an excellent point!

[zara_zee]

I don't get it either. Does the character need fine tuning? Absolutely. Could Kathryn Newton bring more depth to the character? You betcha! And I hope such will happen if the spin-off gets the green light

[borgmama1of5]

One thing that does make me nervous is that mainstream projects with women leads really have to be almost perfect to be considered good enough.

You are very right and that is so very wrong! I am really bothered by how many 'fans' are saying they can't stand Claire!!!

[amberdreams]

I've never liked her character - I really can't stand that whole sulky teenager thing. I'm not sure if it's Kathryn's acting or the fact that the writers aren't doing her character justice or what, but to me she comes across as self centred, obtuse, and just downright annoying. It's not that she's a flawed hero because I've seen very little about her that comes across as heroic or sympathetic. And it's not that I don't like women leads - or even young women leads. I liked Buffy and Willow, for instance.

Maybe if they get the go ahead they will start writing her in a way that makes her more bearable. I hope so! I mean it's not that they can't do it - for instance Kaia was much more likeable from the start (but of course they bumped her off - sigh).

[zara_zee]

My read of the character is that she's hurt and she's angry (with good cause) and she's acting out. She doesn't internalise her anger and hurt, she takes it out on those around her. Her behaviour is more stereotypically male than female. In my observation people are more forgiving and understanding of these behaviours in boys than in girls. But, of course, people have different tastes and enjoy/are annoyed by different things. A lot of people would find this character annoying if she were male. But I suspect that there are also a lot of people would give the character more sympathy and understanding if she were male.

Either way, the character has just appeared here and there so far. I'm hoping that if the series gets picked up the characterisation will become more complex, the performances more nuanced and perhaps then we might get to see the depths of character that will make Claire more widely appealing.

[amberdreams]

Honestly I don't think it makes any difference whether this character is male or female - I find this kind of behaviour unacceptable regardless. And I think also that the show has failed to show us Claire's just cause for 'acting out'. They themselves seem to have forgotten her background, and for me, the actress doesn't seem to convey any real sympathy for Claire's past trauma either.

But I'm told that Kathryn does seem to have some acting ability in other shows she's in, so hopefully, like you say, both the writing and acting will improve in time!

[zara_zee]

That I agree with. We need a lot more from the writers to solidify the characterisations. As a Supernatural fan, I know all the crap that has happened to Claire. And in between the streets and juvie, I can only imagine some of the horrible things she's been through. But Supernatural doesn't dwell on any of that, because she's a minor character.
I also hear that Kathryn has been great in other shows, so, like you, I'm hoping that both the writing and the acting will improve if the spin-off is picked up.