Stingray...

[fajrdrako]

Once upon a time, probably in 1988 or so, the TV show Stingray became one of my favourites. It was created and produced by Stephen J. Cannell; it starred Nick Mancuso; I've talked about it here before, and it just came out on DVD. So I bought it. And I watched the first episode today for the first time in years. This episode is, boringly, called Pilot Part 1.

I remembered it as not being as good as later episodes - maybe all later episodes - of first season. But now, almost twenty years later (really?), when I'm sitting around with a broken ankle, it's a treat to see it, I tell you.

Perhaps part of my disenchantment with the pilot was that Ray himself isn't in it as much as in some - the story is all from the point of view of the girl who hires Ray, Assistant D.A. Daphne Delgado - and doesn't that sound like a name right out of the romance novels? I was amused to see this time, after all my thinking about my own stories and how to get people into bed together, that this question doesn't bother the authors at all. One moment Ray is talking to Daphne about the case, the next they're naked in bed having a post-coital chat. Hmm. That's the easy way out, but it sort of misses the point.... What happened? Did Ray just say, "I don't want to answer questions about the case, why don't we just have sex instead?" and she said, "Okay!" - ? Or was it a little more gracious than that? I'd like to think so. And I suspect she made the first move. And if I think any more about this it will be turning into fanfic. (And don't let me even begin to consider a Stingray/Torchwood crossover.)

This episode emphasized the things I loved about the show, including the way Ray 'takes money out of the equation'; he can't be bought. In an early scene, Daphne gives Ray $3,000 to take her case, and he leaves it at a table in the bar they met in, as a tip for the waitress.

Comments

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

You wanna know what's fun?... I nearly bought this for you about ten days ago. Then I stopped myself, to wait until I could ask you if you'd actually want it. (I guess you would've wanted it!)

No wonder you loved that character, if he did things like leaving $3000 cash on a bar table as a tip for the waitress. Way cool.

Maybe I'll get Stingray for myself, come to think of it. Not a problem to share your enthusiasm (from afar) for yet another great series.
[10:47 PM]

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I forgot to log in again as fajrdrako after posting as torchwoodgwen. I always find that hard to remember.

I nearly bought this for you about ten days ago. Then I stopped
myself, to wait until I could ask you if you'd actually want it.

I guess you know know the answer!

No wonder you loved that character, if he did things like leaving
$3000 cash on a bar table as a tip for the waitress. Way cool.

He is wonderfully cool in many, many ways. It doesn't show as much in the
pilot maybe as in other episodes. Funny, I'd remembered Daphne as being
vaguely annoying - she keeps bugging him to tell her more about himself
(echoes of Gwen and Captain Jack!) and he remains mysterious. Now I think
that if I came in on this show fresh I'd think he was being cold or
manipulative, and I feel more sympathy for her than I used to.

But he is still incredibly cool.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was you? I got the re-direct, but it wouldn't let me reply as the post had been deleted. (Ah, so you have a secret persona, do you.)

I think I need to watch this, now, just to see if I do find him cold, and her too nosey. I have a great source: DeepDiscount.com, which not only offers DVDs and CDs and even books and posters at very good prices, but ships for free in the US, and uses the USPS. Actually, it's much too good a site, and right now I have to stay away from it [g].

Well. After this, when I stop myself to wonder if you'd actually like something I'm just about to buy, I'll know that it is probably my intuition telling me that you have already bought it. Because this has happened other times, too. Hee.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

so you have a secret persona, do you.

Not secret, just separate. I post for theatrical_muse as torchwoodgwen and I was posting this evening. You're supposed to post regularly and I almost got myself booted off last month for not posting enough, so I was trying to be... conscientious. It was fun, too. I like writing as Gwen, or about Gwen. It isn't as easy as writing about Jack, but that's okay. Especially when most of my regular Torchwood fic isn't about Gwen. (Though I'm working on a Jack/Gwen/Rhys threesome story that's taking me eons to finish. Maybe I can work on it tomorrow.)

Actually, it's much too good a site, and right now I have to stay away from it [g].

So very sad! I have a few sites like that, that it's better to avoid. But nice to know it's there, and I can get what I want or need.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

How interesting: posting in character. I went there on the link of your screen name, and enjoyed the list of enemies. When I have time, I will go back and read more.

Speaking of needing to post or getting booted off -- I have not posted in my own LJ for so very long. Oops! Put it on my list, yes.

I was fantasizing today, during a highly boring task at work (putting empty trays into the racks of four of our seven machines... sigh, so tedious but so necessary), about the next purchases I'll make from DeepDiscount: season one of The Mod Squad, which was one of the formative elements of my childhood, is now out in two boxed sets, and have it I must (although I hesitate, too, because what if I see it differently than I did at age seven and eight? tragedy!); and I just found the entire series of China Beach, which aired during the late 80s and early 90s in a very dark and lonely period of my life, and which has wonderful writing, great characters, and incredible acting -- Robert Picardo is in it, but also Dana Delaney and Marg Helgenberger, whose scenes together always magnified both their acting. And it was hot, too. I'd write McMurphy/K.C. femslash, but it kinda seems unnecessary!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

How interesting: posting in character.

Some people always post in character. I do sometimes, other times not. I like to vary it. The list-making community is always fun.

They won't boot you off your LJ for not posting, so you don't need to worry about it, but - it would be fun to see you post.

I remember talking about China Beach with you back when I first got to know you. I remember loving Dana Delaney (even though I never saw the show) because she was so gorgeous - but then saw her last year on Desperate Housewives and it totally turned me off her because I hated the show. Ah well.

I'd write McMurphy/K.C. femslash, but it kinda seems unnecessary!

Fanfic is never unnecessary, in my opinion!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I remember talking about China Beach with you back when I first got to know you.

Nice memories.

I'd love to watch Dana Delaney on Desperate Housewives, but I know I'd hate the show, and I can't take the thought of not liking her in something!

[I'd write McMurphy/K.C. femslash, but it kinda seems unnecessary!]
Fanfic is never unnecessary, in my opinion!

So true! I'll probably maybe work on it, when I've gotten my DVDs. Ahh... lovely thoughts again.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd love to watch Dana Delaney on Desperate Housewives, but I know I'd hate the show,

Yes, it was really awful. I cringed. I was watching it for the sake of Nathan Fillion, who was only it for about two minutes at the end. Bad idea!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I don't think that aired over here - though its apparent contemporary The Equalizer did :D

Torchwood or more precisely Jack will cross with *anything* you should know that *pokes you* and if you regret it later you've got plausible deniability what with the drugs and all ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't think that aired over here - though its apparent contemporary The Equalizer did :D

Yes - I'd really like to see The Equalizer. It's on my list for future viewing.

Torchwood or more precisely Jack will cross with *anything* you should know that

Mmm. Yes. I'd like to see Jack owing Ray a favour...!

if you regret it later you've got plausible deniability what with the drugs and all ;-)

It's true. Right now I have an excuse for anything.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

So do it!

You *know* you want to ;-)