If I Had a Shrink Ray...

[thedeadlyhook]

A long update, because I've been away for awhile. Just busy. Well, and okay, not feeling very well. But that's all a bit TMI. Maybe I'll get into that later.

I've signed up for Writercon. I couldn't, ultimately, resist. I've made no travel plans as of yet, no hotel reservations, but I'll have to soon. Anybody still need a roommate?

Tonight's Smallville: Quoth Clark, "my _____ is greater than all my other powers put together. Answer under the cut. (Hint: sadly, not the answer it really should be.)

"Power to hurt Lana." That's right - Clark actually says this to Chloe, after he breaks up with Lana (make that breaks up again - jeebus, doesn't anyone maintain a concordance on this show? They already broke up!). "My power to hurt Lana is greater than all my other powers put together." toysdream, with a laugh, remarks: "I might've filled in that answer a little differently."

This is really an episode in which you have to make your own fun. Toys and I spent most of it comparing notes on how, in the DC Comics universe, Brainiac is the shit because he has a shrink ray, with which he shrunk the bottle city of Kandor, and Superman never once in his career (that we're aware of) managed to reverse this. In the Marvel Comics universe, shrinking tech is small beans - every two-bit bank robber, it seems, has one - but in DC, no matter how ultra-powerful Superman is, he can't reverse Brainiac's shrink ray. Which begs the question of why Smallville doesn't roll out an Incredible Shrinking Clark episode - now that would be cool.

Digression: Remind me sometime to tell you about the plot bunny I'd had for an Incredible Shrinking Buffy episode for Season 6. It would essentially replace "As You Were." Remember all that stuff about Buffy being made to feel all rotten about herself, and with the stinky job, and oh-so-inadequate next to perfect Sam and perfect Riley? Yeah. Like that. Only with the literal shrinking.

Ahem. Back to the Smallville plot.

A few amusing Professor Fine moments. Intriguing, if a bit gruesome, opening scene with plague corpses and The Marsters doing T1000 impalement tricks and heat vision. But then the plot wanders off into the weeds. Lex tracks Fine to the rain forest, puts forth his theory that Fine is a - wait for it! - Federal agent, investigating UFOs. Yes, this is Smallville ripping off The X-Files. Unfortunately, badly. Sorry - the college prof. thing was way more fun. And this just makes Lex look stupid. Or infatuated with JM's fetching wavy hair, which is by far the more fun interpretation. Oh, if only the slash possibilities were ever followed up on in this show, sigh...

Meanwhile, back in Smallville, a whole other plot is going down. A frighteningly boring one, completely filler freak-of-the-week fare in which a hypnotist girl puts the whammy on Clark to turn him into her boyslut. On Lex's orders, we find out later, to break up Clark and Lana. (Who are, hello, once again, already broken up! Agh! The continuity on this show sucks meteor rocks.) Cue shirtless Welling, against the wall thrustiness, guest star girl's scanty panties, and horrified reactions from everyone from Lois to Chloe and then, sob, Lana. Boo fucking hoo, and dirtybadwrong, and yeah yeah yeah, eyeroll.

And of course, this is all to set up a Lana/Lex possiblity. Dun dun DUNNN!! End on dramatic shot of Lex. How sinister. (finger down throat barfing sound)

Okay, now let's run down the really stupid stuff, shall we?

1) Ma Kent, after hearing of the breakup, gives Clark a speech about how maybe Clark lied to Lana and let their relationship die because he knew, deep down, that "she wasn't the one." Uh huh. Because this is how moms talk. Really.

2) Lex worked a blackmail scheme on hypnotic chick and didn't expect her to turn on him. So Lex is totally stupid now? Thanks, just checking.

3) Even hypnotized, Clark did not do the bumpy with hypno-chick. Just like in that whole Red Kryptonite phase where he went to live in Metropolis for months and was evil, he never got it on. Oh, and that thing where he got married in Vegas, and yet still didn't do it. Because Clark is just that pure, dammit, even mind-controlled. Say it with me: SUPER LAME.

I'm really starting to think this show opearates most on the world's biggest slush pile of spec scripts. The hypno-chick plot could've run at any time, in any season. I half wonder if they don't even film this stuff in random order, and splice it all together later.

So... yeah. WhatEVA. Next week looks like Lana the Druggie episode. I'm nostalgic for the days of Kryp-Tuck.

More to come shortly: finally saw V for Vendetta, about which I had a number of thoughts; I feel like I can explain now both why the Wachowski Brothers are successful filmmakers and why the end of the Matrix trilogy dropped the ball. Relation to the original comic? Peripheral, although the visual set was well reproduced, but what was changed was interesting. And Hugo Weaving ratchets up in my estimate for going through the whole movie in the mask. I'm becoming quite the fangirl for that guy.

... and I've finished Herself's book. (sniff) More on this to come.

Farscape thoughts: Ultimately, the more of this series I watch, even in order, the more convinced I am that it has not several points to make, but one major point - that John Crichton is a new kind of explorer, of a generation who knows what to expect from space travel from watching sci-fi. All his in-jokes and references make sense in this context - Crichton, by being able to efficiently "map" the aliens he meets into recognizable character patterns, can understand other cultures and creatures the way his companions can't. (Do any of the races in Farscape even understand the idea of drama, or narrative? Do they have a tradition of theater, entertainment?) Crichton's seeming frivolity is really a bitchin' survival skill. He manages to cope with things that would drive others mad - Brain Scorpius, for example, is internalized as "Harvey," his own personal companion rabbit. Somewhere between The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Buckaroo Banzai, and yes... Star Trek... there you are.

Comments

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

*smile* I can't wait to hear your deconstruction of V for Vendetta.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

There's a lot I'm still trying to figure out how to sum up, exactly. The major points of the story I do believe come across... but they're also diffeerent points. And V and Evey are essentially new characters. And so's Guy Fawkes (snort). Which was probably my biggest floating question mark over the whole film - did the filmmakers actually know anything about Guy Fawkes, who he was, or did they just guess from reading V for Vendetta? History's hall of mirrors at work...

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

Hard to say. I mean, let's face it -- scholars are still debating the actual identity of Shakespeare, however preposterous that might be, and Fawkes is best known for being hoisted for his act of petard-ism. (Is that even a word? *grin*)

I agree, though, it differs substantially from the initial graphic novel. But for all that... it's still a damned good story. In both renditions.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

True, especially on the Shakespeare thing, although I've read up a bit on that - there's a really fascinating history of classism at work, conspiracy theorists who get into the whole Shakespeare-is-Francis-Bacon, no, Shakespeare-is-fill-in-the-blank thing usually from a predjudical point of view, something along the lines of, "well, some hick from Stratford couldn't have possibly written like that." And based on the evidence, maybe, they may be right. But it's interesting why they try to prove it, the way the narrative of Shakespeare's history must, in their eyes, be rewritten, because the current version doesn't fit the pattern they want it to fit.

But I should clarifiy; I liked the movie. It's just coming at the subject - actually, even a different subject, in some ways - from a different angle. Not so much with the English cultural background on Guy Fawkes, his status as national boogeyman.

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

But I should clarifiy; I liked the movie.

I picked that up from your initial post. : ) *sigh* Of course, now I just want to go see it again... *g*

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Farscape thoughts: Ultimately, the more of this series I watch, even in order, the more convinced I am that it has not several points to make, but one major point - that John Chricton is a new kind of explorer, of a generation who knows what to expect from space travel from watching sci-fi. All his in-jokes and references make sense in this context - Chricton, by being able to efficiently "map" the aliens he meets into recognizable character patterns, can understand other cultures and creatures the way his companions can't. (Do any of the races in Farscape even understand the idea of drama, or narrative? Do they have a tradition of theater, entertainment?) Chricton's seeming frivolity is really a bitchin' survival skill. He manages to cope with things that would drive others mad - Brain Scorpius, for example, is internalized as "Harvey," his own personal companion rabbit. Somewhere between The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Buckaroo Banzai, and yes... Star Trek... and there you are.

Brava. This is probably the best and most concise description of the series I've ever read. It's also completely illuminating -- you're so right about Crichton! He spins everything into a pop culture reference in pure self-defense. Ah, I love him. Thanks for putting him in his proper place (I hadn't thought about Buckaroo Banzai, but of course you're spot on with this) in the fantasy/scifi continuum.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

It just really started to dawn on me, watching, that Crichton habitually does this, tags people around him with guesses about what their role probably is, based on what they seem like from previously seen sci-fi models. He's like the guy in a horror movie who's seen horror movies, constantly improvising, adjusting. The dream sequence are another big one - so many of those episodes tell you explicitly about what Crichton thinks of his relationships to Moya's crew (D'Argo = brother seems to show up a lot, for example).

[shapinglight]

I actually can't wait to see that episode of Smallville after reading your review. It sounds so bad it must be good.

I love the idea of Clark getting shrunk, if just so JM can tower over him for a change.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

It sounds so bad it must be good.

Oh, if only... (sigh) We talked through most of it. And reached a consensus that Agent Fine isn't anywhere near as fun as Professor Fine. Although there's definitely a little visual bit at the end that's to be enjoyed. You'll know which one when you see it. : )

I love the idea of Clark getting shrunk, if just so JM can tower over him for a change,

Hee. Actually, what was catching my eye this time was the sizzlin' eye contact between Fine and Lex. Lex had this total worship look going on. At least in the fun version of the episode in my head.

[shapinglight]

I could get into Fine/Lex. At least both actors have charisma (which is sadly lacking elsewhere in this show). Actually, I could even get into Lex/Lana I think, because it's only when she's with him that I'm not overcome by a terrible urge to slap her (and even then it's a near thing sometimes).

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy Writercon. There are quite a few from my f-list going now and I can't wait to hear all your reactions and tales!
Sorry for the not feeling well, I hope you feel better soon ::hugs::

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I didn't make it to the first one, so it's gonna be a whole new thing for me. I've met so few people on my flist in person, and there they were gonna be, so many of them, in one room. Ultimately, I just couldn't pass it up. Schedule conflicts be damned!

I am feeling better today, thanks. Hugs are always a big help. (squeezes you back)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I feel miles better this morning. Here's to hoping it continues for the day.

I'm really feeling excited about the Writercon thing. I've been to a lot of conventions, but not so much the ones where you get to talk to other attendees... or where, actually, that's the whole point. It'll be this whole new experience.

I'm really coming to appreciate the way Crichton is both our filter and our lens for understanding the entire Farscape universe. He "gets" the other characters in a way they often can't get him, and he ends up being their almost de facto leader because of it. They all start turning to him for advice. And I'm extra appreciating now the extra layers of the pop culture parody aspects of items like "Look at the Princess" - here's a guy who gets that he's being made into a copy of frozen Han Solo, and deals with it on those terms.

[st_salieri.livejournal.com]

Whee, Writercon! Yay!! (P.S. I reserved a single room at the hotel, but I got two beds in case someone was in need of a room.)

JM looked unbearably pretty during the opening part of the episode, when he was doing the whole fire-from-the-eyeballs thing with his lovely hair. Later? Still pretty, but he's definitely showing his age these days.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Cool! I've yet to go through my finances and see if I can afford my own room, but I may take you up on that extra space. Thanks!

I really enjoyed the heat ray thing. Fun effect! And I don't have a problem with JM showing his age - if anything, I have this perverse urge to see him in tatty facial hair. Maybe it's the influence of those Farscape episodes where Ben Browder has a full beard, hee!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I decided that in some ways it does JM no favors to be with a tall cast and shot from overhead so often (it makes his forehead look bigger and his jaw smaller). He really does photograph better from below.

But, yeah, older but STILL PRETTY. :)

[herself_nyc]

I like your ideas there about Farscape. VERY interesting.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I am full of the Farscape thoughts right now. It's taken me awhile to register that it's not so much doing that gradual buildup thing, where we learn the characters bit by bit, so much as flinging us fully developed archtypes that we, and Crichton, learn more nuances about. It's got more in common with Star Trek than I'd realized... and even that's part of the point. Crichton interprets this universe from the POV of someone who's seen Trek. Which I just love.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

And Buffy. Don't forget he wonders one time how many times he has to kill Scorpious (and laments that by the time he makes it back to earth, BtVS will probably be over. That last one always cracked my shit up).

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

The cultural references really do seem to be there for more than just jokes, though - I think it was Brain Scorpius showing up, and the way he slots into Crichton's subconscious in a variety of forms that finally clicked for me. When he disappears for a long time, and then comes back, like Nosferatu rising from his tomb... Crichton's reflexive mind fills this stuff in, creates the context. And there are just so many dream episodes, metaphor episodes, parody-of-film-or-whatever episodes that seem to be all about putting all this into context... and where Crichton is the new sort of adventurer is the way he's always trying to fit himself into this picture too, not viewing it as an outsider, with them as aliens. This is his life. He's part of it too. He am an alien too, to his own planet, pretty much as soon as he leaves Earth. He's Dorothy, but he goes to Oz and stays.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Yay! Can't wait to see you at WriterCon. :)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I don't know what I'm gonna do, meeting everybody at once. Hide in terror, probably. But it'll be nice to see you again!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Heh. I always loved Crichton's: "Ah, screw it. I'm not Kirk, Spock, Luke, Buck, Flash or Arthur frelling Dent. I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas."

::hugs Crichton::

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

God, yes. That he even knows to self-asses his position in comparison to all those might-have-beens - in another story, he might have been any one of them - and realize that no, he's Dorothy really kind of proves it to me. He's got context on all this, based on all those examples.

[danceswithwords.livejournal.com]

toysdream, with a laugh, remarks: "I might've filled in that answer a little differently."

I guessed "stupidity," myself.

Yay Writercon!

Ultimately, the more of this series I watch, even in order, the more convinced I am that it has not several points to make, but one major point - that John Crichton is a new kind of explorer, of a generation who knows what to expect from space travel from watching sci-fi.

One of the things that's very charming about him, and that makes him such an accessible viewpoint character, is the way he's constantly trying to fit his experiences into a narrative he understands, one that's shaped by popular culture we all share. But I would argue that the fit is often poor, and he gets tripped up in his expectations as often as he's able to make the patterns fit, and that's one of the ways the show is extremely clever in playing off viewer expectation--it's a double layer of expectation, filtered first through Crichton, and then through our own shared knowledge.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I guessed "stupidity," myself.

Toys's answer was a little, um, dirtier. But then that's just wishful thinking, because Clark is never dirty. Sigh. The path not taken...

But I would argue that the fit is often poor, and he gets tripped up in his expectations as often as he's able to make the patterns fit

Agreed that this is where the show gets to really get brilliant with it, by throwing our expectations and twisting the results, either to align with the model or not to. Even "Look at the Princess" had that triple layer of Crichton realizing he was being carbonite-frozen like Han Solo, and trying to make the most of it, strike a cool pose... and then being frozen in an expression of agony anyway, just like Han Solo. Heh!

t's a double layer of expectation, filtered first through Crichton, and then through our own shared knowledge.

Yes! He's the perfect gateway character, a lot like that kid in Scream who explains the rules of horror movies to the audience. Even if the results don't match his expectations, we're at least all starting from the same page.

[kristin1228.livejournal.com]

Hello,

As a fellow FK fan, I thought you would be interested in this announcement. The first 2 seasons are now on DVD and can be found at amazon.com, best buy, and many other stores. We’re trying to make sure all fans are aware of this, so we can get the final season on dvd.

I’d also like to invite you all to visit my Forever Knight fansite: Knight Vision. It features a wide array of multimedia, including original music videos, wallpapers, graphics, 1000’s of images, and much more. I also run a large forum for the show if you’d like to join.

Knight Vision:
http://www.avenuepotter.com/~kristin/Forever_Knight/

FK Forum:
http://knightvision.proboards40.com/

Hope to meet some new fans of this beloved vampire series!
Kristin

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads-up!

[kassto.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so sorry I won't be at this Writercon to meet you. I went to '04 in Las Vegas but that was a one-off. I'll come back to the States when I find a new man, who can afford to take me. Because I can't!

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Aww.... well, it's too bad you won't be there, but I guess that gives Toys and I one more excuse than we probably needed to make a trip there to see you on some occasion when our own finances are better. You're living in the far more picturesque destination spot anyway, I should think!

[kassto.livejournal.com]

WELL, you know how welcome you'd be! Wellington is all hilly and harboury so you'd feel right at home.