mrsronweasley (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mrsronweasley) wrote2006-11-03 08:47 am
mrsronweasley) wrote2006-11-03 08:47 am
now I know my OTPs...
Ahhh, I'm trying to catch up on comments, I am! I'm failing a bit? *flails*
But I wanted to throw this out there, since it's been brewing in my head for a while.
OTPs.
In fandom, I've had two big OTPs, and I think I've been spoiled by them, especially when it comes to Ray/Fraser. Watching SGA has been interesting, because I expected something that I haven't quite gotten (yet), in terms of pairings. More than anything, this show is very gen. Even when they're trying to sex it up a bit, it's still gen. Sheppard/Weir is a non-pairing, because there's no chemistry. In fact, as somebody pointed out, there's more chemistry between Sheppard and that mannequin he was (gayly) leaning on, than there is between Sheppard/anybody. (Although, Ronon has enough chemistry to make up for the entire show. I'm pretty sure he IS the SGA sex drive. He's like the id with dreads, or something.) So it's an interesting exercise in how much you see vs. how much you interpret.
Up until a certain point, I was monofannish to the nth degree. Harry Potter, for years and years. Now, I've become open to a lot more fandoms, but I'm still monofannish in a way where I care only about maybe two at most. So, I'm used to a certain kind of dynamic, a certain...willingness of canon to play up to my sick and twisted fantasies.
Remus and Sirius:
Okay. They were easy. They were almost as easy as Ray and Fraser. Nothing but them made any sense to me. I read fics where they were paired up with original female characters, and as much as I loved both R and S, I didn't feel anything in those fics at all. Not until I stumbled on "Boys' Own Camping Adventure" and my head went, ding ding ding! THERE. THAT is what makes sense. THAT is what this is all about. Remus and Sirius. Together.
So, for years, I was immersed in this pairing, knowing that my hopes would most likely be dashed when the fifth book came out. But the pairing made so much sense, and then the fifth book came out, and through the whole thing, it was them, holy shit, it was them. And then, well, there was one. Which...I guess I lived with, until book six and Tonks tugging on Remus's robes like a 12-year-old and I was so disappointed, I'm still kind of bitter. Because it was a hell of a lot more interesting when Tonks was a baby dyke (come on, you know it) and Remus had lost his best friend and lover.
Hey, there are all sorts of arguments: it's a kid's book, there won't be any gay! Or, it isn't necessary! But this is something else entirely, and I'll argue it all till the cows come home, so I'll just leave it here and now. I still think that Remus/Sirius was the best pairing in the whole damn book, the most promising, compelling, and (up through book 4) the most satisfying. I still have such love for them, I can't even tell you. They are my first OTP and hey, you never forget your first OTP. *g*
Ray and Fraser:
The OTP that spoils you for every other OTP out there. Now, this pairing is nearly canon. Sometimes, there is no other way to see this show. I mean, even non-fandom people watch it, look at you, and go: "...um? Really?" There is no other way to interpret it, not scenes like the hospital in CotW. Throughout seasons 3 and 4, we get the growth of their relationship, we watch their friendship evolve, we watch them grow attached and worried, we watch them pretty much fall in love. Paul Gross knew about slash, he knew about due South slash, and so this can't really be a coincidence. Not entirely.
Ray? Ray is in love with Fraser definitely by the middle of season 4. At the latest. He may not even realize it yet, but he is, and the audience knows it. The parallels between MotB and CotW, with Fraser asking Ray in MotB "so, are we still?.." and Ray nodding, "I think so," and then Ray finally finding that word in CoTW, "so are we still partners, then?" and Fraser saying, "if you'll have me." I mean. Just. *flails*
And the ending? Is the ultimate OTP ending of any show, ever. Come on. A slash fangirl's dream.
Two men, one dog sled, a sunrise, and "...we'll let you know."
THAT'S THE ENDING. They ride off together, on an adventure, leaving everything they've had before behind. Fraser's coming home, and Ray is coming with him. Sure, Ray could very well have gone back home after the adventure, and they may have had manly talks by the fire and no tent sex of any kind at all, but the point is, if ever we wanted a happy slash ending, they are it, because there is nothing stopping us from believing it, no further canon to distract and scare and whatnot. It's fantastic.
So, can you see where this is headed?
John and Rodney:
See, this is where I get to the problem, because, unlike people who've been in numerous fandoms where a slash pairing is...maybe not hard to find, but hard to exrapolate or work around, I've only been involved with fandoms where the OTP is nearly canon. For many people,the opposite is totally fine: people may not care about the canon so much. Which is totally, totally valid.
I guess what it is, for me personally, it's that I really have been spoiled, because I want to believe in McShep! I do! I like it, I love the idea of it (The Geek and the Flyboy). But I wish that we'd get more in canon. I'm looking forward to seeing the second half of season 2, and my computer's working on a torrent of season 3 already, but. But. This is a bit harder. This is where fanfiction comes in, entirely, because not only does it fill those holes, it provides a more interesting point of view. It's a gen show in that way where, every now and then, John will make out with an alien space babe, and then leave them. He kisses Teyla when under the influence. Rodney kisses Carson when posessed with a second conscience. (But hey, canonical boy!kissing! Yay!) Every once in a while, John and Elizabeth will look deeply into each other's eyes, but you can tell even the actors aren't buying it, so that fizzles out before it begins.
So, I am totally enjoying the fic (where it isn't just aliens making them do it), and loving canon (fun romp! things blowing up! Ronon's sex appeal! John's various woobie faces and crotch! Rodney's maniacal energy and utter dorkiness! The friendships! - all of these things are wonderful and they're total escapism for me that I really need right now), but I want that thread that connects the fanon and canon together more. But I am totally willing to suspend disbelief, because it's more fun that way.
And then, there are moments where you can't interpret it any other way. At this point, I am actually willing to believe that Rodney has a definite thing for John. I mean, his face whenever he thinks John might be dead or in some SERIOUS trouble. The things he's willing to do for him, the lengths he'll go to to save him - they make my little heart melt. (They've gotten into the habit of saying each other lives, and now it's Rodney's turn. Rodney actually said that. How adorable??)
But John is harder. John is a lot more unreadable, in any situation, and I am totally willing to believe the fics where they're fucking, but so deep in the closet, nobody ever even suspects. That works, and it doesn't jar with canon all that much, either. But it's still...I've been spoiled. But I'm working on that. *g*
(Also, they've just started calling each other by first name in canon, and have been doing it for a few episodes, and that's cute. But there's also the John/Ronon thing? Which is just hot. I hope Vonnie forgives me straying. 'Cause. HOT.)
In conclusion, I want more gay on TV? I need to be more flexible?
Hmmm!
(On a totally unrelated note, this morning I was listening to "Million $ Moment" and made a whole SGA vid to it in my head. *claws at brain* Make it stoooooop!)
None of this is meant to offend anyone's fandoms/otp's/anything at all! It's just my rambling on a Friday morning.
ETA: Hey, check out![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
soupytwist being really smart!
And, okay. Rodney has never called John "John." *awaits*
Another ETA.
Also, wanted to say that this is all just talk of a new person, and I realize that it may come off sounding like I'm all, "my fandom's better than yours" which is not at ALL what I meant to say, at all. I was just thinking out loud. So, um. Keep that in mind. I think SGA is awesome and fun. *slinks off*
But I wanted to throw this out there, since it's been brewing in my head for a while.
OTPs.
In fandom, I've had two big OTPs, and I think I've been spoiled by them, especially when it comes to Ray/Fraser. Watching SGA has been interesting, because I expected something that I haven't quite gotten (yet), in terms of pairings. More than anything, this show is very gen. Even when they're trying to sex it up a bit, it's still gen. Sheppard/Weir is a non-pairing, because there's no chemistry. In fact, as somebody pointed out, there's more chemistry between Sheppard and that mannequin he was (gayly) leaning on, than there is between Sheppard/anybody. (Although, Ronon has enough chemistry to make up for the entire show. I'm pretty sure he IS the SGA sex drive. He's like the id with dreads, or something.) So it's an interesting exercise in how much you see vs. how much you interpret.
Up until a certain point, I was monofannish to the nth degree. Harry Potter, for years and years. Now, I've become open to a lot more fandoms, but I'm still monofannish in a way where I care only about maybe two at most. So, I'm used to a certain kind of dynamic, a certain...willingness of canon to play up to my sick and twisted fantasies.
Remus and Sirius:
Okay. They were easy. They were almost as easy as Ray and Fraser. Nothing but them made any sense to me. I read fics where they were paired up with original female characters, and as much as I loved both R and S, I didn't feel anything in those fics at all. Not until I stumbled on "Boys' Own Camping Adventure" and my head went, ding ding ding! THERE. THAT is what makes sense. THAT is what this is all about. Remus and Sirius. Together.
So, for years, I was immersed in this pairing, knowing that my hopes would most likely be dashed when the fifth book came out. But the pairing made so much sense, and then the fifth book came out, and through the whole thing, it was them, holy shit, it was them. And then, well, there was one. Which...I guess I lived with, until book six and Tonks tugging on Remus's robes like a 12-year-old and I was so disappointed, I'm still kind of bitter. Because it was a hell of a lot more interesting when Tonks was a baby dyke (come on, you know it) and Remus had lost his best friend and lover.
Hey, there are all sorts of arguments: it's a kid's book, there won't be any gay! Or, it isn't necessary! But this is something else entirely, and I'll argue it all till the cows come home, so I'll just leave it here and now. I still think that Remus/Sirius was the best pairing in the whole damn book, the most promising, compelling, and (up through book 4) the most satisfying. I still have such love for them, I can't even tell you. They are my first OTP and hey, you never forget your first OTP. *g*
Ray and Fraser:
The OTP that spoils you for every other OTP out there. Now, this pairing is nearly canon. Sometimes, there is no other way to see this show. I mean, even non-fandom people watch it, look at you, and go: "...um? Really?" There is no other way to interpret it, not scenes like the hospital in CotW. Throughout seasons 3 and 4, we get the growth of their relationship, we watch their friendship evolve, we watch them grow attached and worried, we watch them pretty much fall in love. Paul Gross knew about slash, he knew about due South slash, and so this can't really be a coincidence. Not entirely.
Ray? Ray is in love with Fraser definitely by the middle of season 4. At the latest. He may not even realize it yet, but he is, and the audience knows it. The parallels between MotB and CotW, with Fraser asking Ray in MotB "so, are we still?.." and Ray nodding, "I think so," and then Ray finally finding that word in CoTW, "so are we still partners, then?" and Fraser saying, "if you'll have me." I mean. Just. *flails*
And the ending? Is the ultimate OTP ending of any show, ever. Come on. A slash fangirl's dream.
Two men, one dog sled, a sunrise, and "...we'll let you know."
THAT'S THE ENDING. They ride off together, on an adventure, leaving everything they've had before behind. Fraser's coming home, and Ray is coming with him. Sure, Ray could very well have gone back home after the adventure, and they may have had manly talks by the fire and no tent sex of any kind at all, but the point is, if ever we wanted a happy slash ending, they are it, because there is nothing stopping us from believing it, no further canon to distract and scare and whatnot. It's fantastic.
So, can you see where this is headed?
John and Rodney:
See, this is where I get to the problem, because, unlike people who've been in numerous fandoms where a slash pairing is...maybe not hard to find, but hard to exrapolate or work around, I've only been involved with fandoms where the OTP is nearly canon. For many people,the opposite is totally fine: people may not care about the canon so much. Which is totally, totally valid.
I guess what it is, for me personally, it's that I really have been spoiled, because I want to believe in McShep! I do! I like it, I love the idea of it (The Geek and the Flyboy). But I wish that we'd get more in canon. I'm looking forward to seeing the second half of season 2, and my computer's working on a torrent of season 3 already, but. But. This is a bit harder. This is where fanfiction comes in, entirely, because not only does it fill those holes, it provides a more interesting point of view. It's a gen show in that way where, every now and then, John will make out with an alien space babe, and then leave them. He kisses Teyla when under the influence. Rodney kisses Carson when posessed with a second conscience. (But hey, canonical boy!kissing! Yay!) Every once in a while, John and Elizabeth will look deeply into each other's eyes, but you can tell even the actors aren't buying it, so that fizzles out before it begins.
So, I am totally enjoying the fic (where it isn't just aliens making them do it), and loving canon (fun romp! things blowing up! Ronon's sex appeal! John's various woobie faces and crotch! Rodney's maniacal energy and utter dorkiness! The friendships! - all of these things are wonderful and they're total escapism for me that I really need right now), but I want that thread that connects the fanon and canon together more. But I am totally willing to suspend disbelief, because it's more fun that way.
And then, there are moments where you can't interpret it any other way. At this point, I am actually willing to believe that Rodney has a definite thing for John. I mean, his face whenever he thinks John might be dead or in some SERIOUS trouble. The things he's willing to do for him, the lengths he'll go to to save him - they make my little heart melt. (They've gotten into the habit of saying each other lives, and now it's Rodney's turn. Rodney actually said that. How adorable??)
But John is harder. John is a lot more unreadable, in any situation, and I am totally willing to believe the fics where they're fucking, but so deep in the closet, nobody ever even suspects. That works, and it doesn't jar with canon all that much, either. But it's still...I've been spoiled. But I'm working on that. *g*
(Also, they've just started calling each other by first name in canon, and have been doing it for a few episodes, and that's cute. But there's also the John/Ronon thing? Which is just hot. I hope Vonnie forgives me straying. 'Cause. HOT.)
In conclusion, I want more gay on TV? I need to be more flexible?
Hmmm!
(On a totally unrelated note, this morning I was listening to "Million $ Moment" and made a whole SGA vid to it in my head. *claws at brain* Make it stoooooop!)
None of this is meant to offend anyone's fandoms/otp's/anything at all! It's just my rambling on a Friday morning.
ETA: Hey, check out
soupytwist being really smart!And, okay. Rodney has never called John "John." *awaits*
Another ETA.
Also, wanted to say that this is all just talk of a new person, and I realize that it may come off sounding like I'm all, "my fandom's better than yours" which is not at ALL what I meant to say, at all. I was just thinking out loud. So, um. Keep that in mind. I think SGA is awesome and fun. *slinks off*
no subject
And, post is interesting, a nd I don't really have anything much coherent to say, other than: after U2 and dS? Yeah, having to work for it in SGA was kinda weird, but it sort of sneaks up and ambushes you, I've found. And, uh, my tendency to see everything through fic-stained glasses tends to help out there. :D
And, uh, I too can totally stray into John/Ronon when given compelling stories with which to do so, so, uh, you wouldn't be the only one who Vonnie makes sad-face at? :D Like, for instance, Lalejandra's publishing AU (which makes me gleeful and squishy all over).