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

[thefourthvine]

OK, see, you don't get to call Fontana an asshole. Because it's your fault I read anything in any Fontana fandom; you got me started on Homicide: the Only Fandom Where Gen Is My Primary Reading Interest. You *made* me read it. You made me love it. All because you loved it first.

Oh, wait. So I guess that gives you even more right than me to call Fontana an asshole. Especially since you, you know, watched the show, and worse, did it as it was being broadcast, meaning that you couldn't decide to stop watching just before everything fell apart. Carry on, then; the scheduled Fontana flamefest begins every hour on the hour and lasts for one hour precisely.

And, yeah, "Outsmarting Them" is fabulous. Scary, but fabulous. I just thought my friends would feel more comfortable in the Oz millieu if gay sex was involved.

[thefourthvine]

You do have power. And you use it for evil. But then, frankly, that's what we all do in fandom.

(Well, except when I tried to convert you to yoga; I was honestly trying to good then. I'm better at the evil, though.)

Adena, 1950 is so good. Have you read the book on which the show was based? I'm wondering how similar the case in the book is to what they did in the show.

[fanofall]

Okay, I'll read it, because you told me to, but in order to do that, I have to know: which one is Beecher, and which one is Keller?

[fictionbya]

Lookit icon... the one in front is Beecher and the one in the back is Keller.

[fanofall]

*drools*

Okay, I'm reading the crack_van summary right this very moment, and, you know, the relationship's not what I would call "Supportive" or "loving" or even "non-lethal". But but but.

CHRISTOPHER MELONI IS TEH HAWT.

[fictionbya]

CHRISTOPHER MELONI IS TEH HAWT.

Word. Keller as a character may be a liar, serial killer, sexual predator, and just all around bad human being, but he's definitely none too hard on the eyes.

Pervin' on Meloni is a quality past time.

[fictionbya]

Came here by way of seeing that I had been friended...

I hear you on the Fontana pain. Watching season 6 Oz is like watching season 7 Homicide... a big OMGWTFBBQ. But still glad to be in Oz fandom and work in a fucked up, claustraphobic, dangerous fictional world. I think it is the darkest show I've ever seen, but also the most compelling.

Anyway, cool to get rec'd. Thank ye :)

[thefourthvine]

I'm finding I just don't have the icons to deal with commenting about this fandom. But I'm forging ahead.

And, eeeeyeah. Fontana is one of those men who would be so, so much better and happier with massive doses of sedative-hypnotics and neuroleptics. I, myself, do not acknowledge Oz Season 6 (or Homicide Season 7, and I've only got a limited willingness to acknowledge anything that actually happened during BtVS Season 6 OR 7 - which leads me to wonder if there's some serious mojo on shows that make it past their fifth season, but that's all another story). Canon-free fandom allows me to make these choices. In my world, Oz ended at Season 5. It makes me feel much, much happier, let me tell you.

So my sincere sympathies to you on actually having to watch the freaking thing. Reading a summary of it was bad enough. And my sincere accolades and plaudits to you for having the bravery to a) write in such a dark and dangerous world b) watch a show written by Tom "Character Fucker" Fontana and c) face all of Season 6. Eeeeeeee

[fictionbya]

which leads me to wonder if there's some serious mojo on shows that make it past their fifth season

I think so. *thinks of Highlander season 6* *weeps*

Oz season 6 was tough to face. Rowan said I could only watch it if I didn't run screaming from the fandom. I think having seen season 7 Homicide, I was more prepared to deal with the awfulitude of Oz season 6.

Whee! You visited the web site. I feel all stupidly proud for finally doing something about it (even if some stuff is still missing, heh).

[thefourthvine]

Now *there's* an icon my icons won't feel threatened by, even if, as I fear, those are Miss Sally's puppets.

I've never seen any of the real Seasons of Shame: Homicide 7, Oz 6, Buffy 6 and 7, and, apparently, Highlander 6. Guess we should all be grateful Angel went down when it did, huh?

But you get the Fangirl Bravery Award, for walking in where so many fear to tread. (I.e., right into the middle of Fontana's "I sure don't wanna be writing THIS anymore, so let me squash it flat, unroll it, jump up and down on it, and then destroy everyone's favorite characters.) Ozfen are tough.

[fanofall]

Okay, um, I have more questions. And, really, these are posted to the floor for anyone to answer.

Is Law&Order:SVU just, like, the retirement home for people who used to be on Oz but aren't anymore?

Actually, now that I think about it, the rest of my questions are plot-related and thefourthvine will just have to put up with my asking them via e-mail so I don't spoil those of you who, like me, are Not Familiar With Oz. Although, apparently we should be. :-D

[thefourthvine]

Woman, you know I love you. So it is with love that I am asking: have you lost your freaking mind? You're going to ask plot questions of me, the original clueless slut

[fanofall]

But also JF Skinner, who plays some crazy evil white supremacist (?), and plays the recurring role of Dr. Emil Skoda on L&O:SVU, as well as the other L&O franchises. Additionally, several of the Third MedTech On The Lefts appear to have been on Oz, as well.

But I digress. You must help me. Keller...dies?

[thefourthvine]

OK

[rowanfairchild]

Wow, you've got a nice little operation going here! Hello, and thanks muchly for the rec. Always nice to see others take the long slide into OZ. *g*

And, can I just tell you how much I adore your description of OZ fanfic writers as "the disadvantaged youths of the fannish world"? LOL. Though I have to say for my own part, I find the constrictions of OZ canon to be curiously liberating.

Anyway, thanks again, and I'm enjoying reading your commentary.

:-)

[thefourthvine]

And, can I just tell you how much I adore your description of OZ fanfic writers as "the disadvantaged youths of the fannish world"?

Thank you. It's from the heart; sometimes I feel that we ought to go LJ-to-LJ collecting cliches and plot devices for those poor, disadvantaged Ozfen. And then I go back to the fic, and I think, well, they're doing pretty well on their own. And I decide to save the charitable efforts for the tiny, tiny fandoms.

Always nice to see others take the long slide into OZ.

I'm not! I'm not! It's just a short visit, really, and I can leave any time I want to. I'm not actually in the Oz fandom, just admiring it from the edges. Not! Not! Not!