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Fringe: season two finale
So, here's the thing about Fringe. While I enjoy the show, I don't... think it's the best thing ever.
The finale was sort of by-the-numbers? I was really hoping for something new and different, and what was there, well, really wasn't. It was kind of predictable, right down to whatsisface dying to get them across and Fauxlivia going with them (I think that was my second guess, right after the "there's a third universe" one?).
I really could care less about Peter and his Family Stuff, so most of that (from the previous episode, too) was just like, "*yawn*"
So, dude, I ship Olivia/Peter, but... The show is sort of shit at doing them. Like, it did ok a few times (and when they're just being Partners or whatever, it's fine): the almost-kiss, and her Seeing him for what he was were excellent. Olivia's stilted and trite "You belong with me." ? Not so much. (seriously, that was awful dialog, I COULD WRITE IT BETTER). It isn't helped by the kiss which is sort of wooden and, um, it's really obvious either one or both of the actors in that scene doesn't want their characters together (I'm seeing shades of Dee/Lee in that, Olivia sells it, but Peter just stands there like a block of wood).
Then again, I want the fucked-up, screwy, "I am having sex with you because I like danger/I'm broken" kinda relationship, which isn't where they're going with it anyway.
Also, way to keep the UST going, show. Though in a less douchey way than Castle, at least?
As others have said, the Astrid/Peter scene had more chemistry (though I still ship Astrid/Olivia way more, and now sort of want Astrid/Fauxlivia in screwy ways, man, my id is out to play tonight).
THIS IS NOT TO SAY I DID NOT ENJOY IT. Or wince when Liv had to hang out with Charlie (*SNIFFLES* but at least she didn't have to kill him this time). There was not, however, enough Astrid (also, the "Astrid bakes pies" thing is cute but a bit, um, annoying).
Hokay. Now for the thing that, um. Pisses me off.
Ok.
I don't like it when women spend their time locked up.
There. I said it.
I fucking hated it when it happened to Kara, I had trepidation (BORN OUT BY THE FUCKING SHITTASTIC SEASON OPENER) about ZIVA being locked up, and I fucking hate it now. It is not New, Different or Edgy. It's just stupid.
My faith in TV executives to not have gender-faily bullshit goes as far as I can throw a tractor trailer.
My faith in fandom leads me to expect the worst: Olivia will be raped, impregnated, tortured and generally abused until rescued by Peter where his magickal healing penis will solve all her woes. And maybe he'll shoot her in the stomach to abort her unborn child.
(the last sentence inspired by a Kara/Lee fic where that was, indeed, the plot. Damn you, Leoben, and your rapey-in-fic-dom ways)
Things that would have improved the finale:
1. Peter is EVIL and turns Liv in, then starts helping destroy the other universe, stranding Walter and Liv on the Red Side and forcing the Other Side to, like, um, send Astrid and Broyles and Nina over.
2. Nina on the Red Side being a peacenik hippy who 'followed the spirits' to Liv and saved her when she got blown up so she wasn't captured.
3. Alt!Astrid is Our!Astrid undercover.
4. Fauxlivia fatally shoots Walter. (I like Walter, but I'd rather have the show do something interesting)
5. a third universe is orchestrating all of this (it's already ridiculously over-the-top, why not give it even more eye-rollyness?)
6. Fauxlivia refuses her assignment, tells Liv, and the two concoct a two-second plan to trade places and infiltrate. This ends with Liv out and free and Fauxlivia telling Astrid The Truth.
7. Actually ending on some sort of "THE UNIVERSE IS IMPLODING" cliff-hanger. I like those.
The finale was sort of by-the-numbers? I was really hoping for something new and different, and what was there, well, really wasn't. It was kind of predictable, right down to whatsisface dying to get them across and Fauxlivia going with them (I think that was my second guess, right after the "there's a third universe" one?).
I really could care less about Peter and his Family Stuff, so most of that (from the previous episode, too) was just like, "*yawn*"
So, dude, I ship Olivia/Peter, but... The show is sort of shit at doing them. Like, it did ok a few times (and when they're just being Partners or whatever, it's fine): the almost-kiss, and her Seeing him for what he was were excellent. Olivia's stilted and trite "You belong with me." ? Not so much. (seriously, that was awful dialog, I COULD WRITE IT BETTER). It isn't helped by the kiss which is sort of wooden and, um, it's really obvious either one or both of the actors in that scene doesn't want their characters together (I'm seeing shades of Dee/Lee in that, Olivia sells it, but Peter just stands there like a block of wood).
Then again, I want the fucked-up, screwy, "I am having sex with you because I like danger/I'm broken" kinda relationship, which isn't where they're going with it anyway.
Also, way to keep the UST going, show. Though in a less douchey way than Castle, at least?
As others have said, the Astrid/Peter scene had more chemistry (though I still ship Astrid/Olivia way more, and now sort of want Astrid/Fauxlivia in screwy ways, man, my id is out to play tonight).
THIS IS NOT TO SAY I DID NOT ENJOY IT. Or wince when Liv had to hang out with Charlie (*SNIFFLES* but at least she didn't have to kill him this time). There was not, however, enough Astrid (also, the "Astrid bakes pies" thing is cute but a bit, um, annoying).
Hokay. Now for the thing that, um. Pisses me off.
Ok.
I don't like it when women spend their time locked up.
There. I said it.
I fucking hated it when it happened to Kara, I had trepidation (BORN OUT BY THE FUCKING SHITTASTIC SEASON OPENER) about ZIVA being locked up, and I fucking hate it now. It is not New, Different or Edgy. It's just stupid.
My faith in TV executives to not have gender-faily bullshit goes as far as I can throw a tractor trailer.
My faith in fandom leads me to expect the worst: Olivia will be raped, impregnated, tortured and generally abused until rescued by Peter where his magickal healing penis will solve all her woes. And maybe he'll shoot her in the stomach to abort her unborn child.
(the last sentence inspired by a Kara/Lee fic where that was, indeed, the plot. Damn you, Leoben, and your rapey-in-fic-dom ways)
Things that would have improved the finale:
1. Peter is EVIL and turns Liv in, then starts helping destroy the other universe, stranding Walter and Liv on the Red Side and forcing the Other Side to, like, um, send Astrid and Broyles and Nina over.
2. Nina on the Red Side being a peacenik hippy who 'followed the spirits' to Liv and saved her when she got blown up so she wasn't captured.
3. Alt!Astrid is Our!Astrid undercover.
4. Fauxlivia fatally shoots Walter. (I like Walter, but I'd rather have the show do something interesting)
5. a third universe is orchestrating all of this (it's already ridiculously over-the-top, why not give it even more eye-rollyness?)
6. Fauxlivia refuses her assignment, tells Liv, and the two concoct a two-second plan to trade places and infiltrate. This ends with Liv out and free and Fauxlivia telling Astrid The Truth.
7. Actually ending on some sort of "THE UNIVERSE IS IMPLODING" cliff-hanger. I like those.
no subject
And while the show has done ok with the not-demeaning/sexualizing her being tied up, there's still that bit with the dude in the first season who was convicted of sexual harassment and then given power over his accuser.
I think there's also a big difference between "locked in an open-plan warehouse with people who think they're trying to help" and "locked in a tiny cell in an underground bunker with only one window and no control over the electricity with an insane madman outside".
no subject
That never stops being hilariously awful. XD
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It does help that the writers have tried to go out of their way not to sexualize/demean Olivia any time she's been tied/locked/etc (except for that whole sub-plot in the first season with the guy who was convicted of sexual harassment being given power over her).
no subject
AND THEN THERE WAS THE BEST DEATH EVER. Because evil!dude was helping experiments on the twin girls, and one of them was still alive and LIV HELPED HER BURN HIM ALIVE.
I should possibly not be gleeful about that.
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There was not, however, enough Astrid (also, the "Astrid bakes pies" thing is cute but a bit, um, annoying).
Yup, exactly that.