About Smallville...

[fajrdrako]

My friend Pat has been a comics fan for decades - he's a DC fan, and a Green Arrow fan, and he likes Superman. So when Smallville started he and his wife Sandi watched it, but they didn't like it much and soon stopped watching. I, on the other hand, adored the show, and glommed onto it, and made it my primary fandom for - what, four years? I loved it for the Luthor Family Soap Opera, which was precisely why Sandi and Pat didn't like it. Besides, they aren't into slash and didn't even see the delightful sexiness of it all.

Now that various things on the show have quelled my passion for it, suddenly Pat and Sandi are into it and enthusiastic about it again. They love it that it has superheroes in it now. They recognize it as something more like the world of DC comics that they want, and they're watching happily. I'm watching... somewhat belatedly... with a combination of hope and cringing. I still haven't seen the past two episodes.

Funny how things change.

Pat and Sandi don't like Heroes. They love Eureka, which leaves me cold. Lucky thing they both love Doctor Who, or I'd think we had no tastes in common!

Comments

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Eureka left me kinda "eh" until one late night when I happened to catch just the right angle on ep 9 or so.

Now it leaves me squeeing. And ficcing. And getting some other people to fic as well, without even meaning to, because I refuse to admit love, just yet. I do not love. I just.. uh... like a lot? Wanna go out with Eureka and see how it goes.

The main problem I'm having with it is the cringing over next season. They can go and be wonderful, or they can go and be utter crap. They're at a fork thing. We shall see.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well - if you like Eureka that makes me feel I should give it another try, since I usually like the same style of things you like. Could you be a little more specific about what got to you? A character, a situation? My impression was that it was a little simpler and more transparent than you and I usually like.

The 'fork thing' sounds intriguing. Well, I'll no doubt see more of the show, because Sandi is planning a "Eureka" video-party and I will certainly attend.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Simple and transparent is sometimes nice and comfy. Also, there are a lot of things that are very different about our tastes :)
That being said:
Why do I like Eureka:

I saw the pilot. I thought, it's not bad. Which in today's televisionary climate, means it's a rare treat. Still it wasn't good enough to, you know, pay attention every week and make sure to be awake and watch it. I saw some bits and pieces, but no real love.

Then one not-stormy night - apparently nine weeks later - this exchange caught my eye [ep: Primal]:

(They're talking about how Stark's dreams/subconscious affect a huge bunch of clones)

Carter: What was the overall theme of your last dream?
Stark: *adorable facial expression, no reply*
Carter: Oh come on Stark, it’s no time to be bashful.
Stark: Well, there was some... wish fulfillment fantasies in there...
Carter: ...Like?
Stark: Ally. And, some other stuff.
Carter: I need specifics.
Stark: *exasperated* The usual. Power, success, control... over... everything.
Carter: *shocked and half-disbelieving* You dream about world domination?
Stark: *coy and cute* Not all the time.


The rest of the ep was also adorable, don't get me wrong. They have good lines there, good exchanges. Good scenes. Not "OMG this is GREATNESS like JOSS", of course, but good. And funny, and cute. And here's the thing - they're people. So far (that's a part of what I fear for next season). But they're nice, normal, relatively grown-up people, who act more or less like people. And not all that much like annoying characters. I miss that in television.

Also, the "main love triangle", which is m/f/m. You know how in so many shows, the het seems forced? The hero and heroine don't have any tingles between them, but we're meant to believe it's true love? They don't have that in Eureka. They have two grown-ups flirting, who may or may not have something in the future, and the jealous ex (who does have his immature moments, but in general is also a sane adult about everything). And he does the cutest woobie-face. Don't mock. Woobie-faces can be a big hook.

Also there's geeks everywhere and scifi and plotcakes, whatever. They're good plotcakes, very edible. I'm just saying, people like me are rarely in it for the plot. Of course, having said that I must state that I'm writing a long (!) gen (!!) plotty (!!!) fic at the moment. Action-based. Don't look at me like that, I don't get it either.

But I got other people to watch. It's only one season, 12 eps, what have you got to lose.

[quotespam available per request]

More: they don't go the mega-angst-drama way, nor the ha-ha comedy way. They're not taking themselves too seriously but they do drama. Even when things are simplistic and painted in bright colours, they're still fun and watchable, not too shallow but not too deep.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You certainly make it sound like an intelligent show, which isn't the impresion I got from pilot. When I have a chance, I'll certainly give it another try. I like the passage you quote about dreams.

they're nice, normal, relatively grown-up people, who act more or less like people. And not all that much like annoying characters. I miss that in television.

That's so rare!

Don't mock. Woobie-faces can be a big hook.

It worked for me with Fox Mulder.

I must state that I'm writing a long (!) gen (!!) plotty (!!!) fic at the moment. Action-based. Don't look at me like that, I don't get it either.

Picture my jaw dropping in amazement and admiration and wonder.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

first of all, not sure about "intelligent", but is fun.

second, the pilot is *very* different in vibe, acting and characterisation than the rest. some time ago i watched it again after having pimped it, and was shocked at how different it was from later eps. funny thing. but you know how pilots are. they picked a good direction; still worried about next season. also they brought in a new character what i liked muchly. a regular boy. the one with the woobie face and world dominatey issues. you know my type.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the pilot is *very* different in vibe, acting and characterisation than the rest

Oh. So I shouldn't have let it put me off. O-kay. That sometimes happens.

a regular boy. the one with the woobie face and world dominatey issues. you know my type.

Yeah, I like the type too. Usually.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I can tell you that in some eps he cries for a gen crossover with the Luthors.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sounds promising! Crossing over with Luthors would be a good thing. Really.

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to add a second opinion so to speak. Basically, what adam said, really, over his several comments, except with enthusiasm dialed a notch lower.

It's pleasant and watchable and the sci-fi stuff is done without taking themselves too seriously (which i'm allergic to), and while the people on the margins are meant to be on the abstract oddball side, the characters focused on are fairly natural behaving. That's one of the things that was very much dialed down from the pilot, the degree of bizarre in the background. And what there is simply threads into the whole thing naturally, which is nice.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is good to know... I like "natural behaving" characters. And while I like seriousness and don't like comedy, I don't like shows that don't have a good sense of humour.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I want you to tell me what you thought about Eureka, I want you to tell me what you thought about Eureka....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched it again since that initial time, when I didn't much like it. I have a friend who has promised to have me come over for a Eureka party - in fact, she's giving a presentation on it at our next OSFS meeting, when I'm doing a presentation on Torchwood. (If I get my act together and prepare it.)

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Well, I hope that at some point you'll post about it. I'll wait :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll let you know.