watching X-files with the lights on; and organic chemistry

[xparrot]

Saw the new X-files movie last night. gnine told me it was random about two dozen times. This was not enough to convince me of how random it really was. If you're wondering how random was it? Just so you know, it was RANDOM.

The plot - plots - plot and a half - what the heck did Scully's storyline have to do with the price of fish, or two-headed dogs, as it were? - they weren't even X-files, hardly. Stem cell research, modern Frankenstein - ummm, not really, no. Sorry.

But who cares?

Battle!Scully and her mad surgical skillz! CKR as a crazy gay Russian! Caldwell Skinner snuggling drugged!Mulder to keep him warm! Sunflower seeds and pencils in the ceiling! And most importantly, Mulder and Scully curled up together in a big bed calling each other by their last names and discussing icky pseudoscience! Oh you crazy kids and your spooky pillow-talk! ♥♥♥

Sometimes, it's really, really nice to have a het OTP.


And speaking of het...


In SGA - this came up in the comments on my post on "Tracker", but it's a thought I've had before, concerning Rodney, and Rodney/Keller, and romance in SGA in general. Putting aside my other feelings on the McKeller pairing - does anyone see sexual chemistry there? Because I don't. And I've kind of got a problem with that.

I had the same problem with Rodney/Katie Brown - more so, really, because they were both adults, pushing middle age, who supposedly had been dating on and off for a couple years. Yet they seemed awkward even holding hands; they were oddly adverse to touching even in private, and the only kiss we saw between them was when Cadman was in control, and was totally camp besides. Likewise, in "The Last Man," the McKeller kiss is sweet, but terribly chaste, and when Jennifer is on her deathbed they only hold hands.

It's not like Rodney doesn't have a sex drive - there's him and Sam, obviously; also he's openly attracted to the Wraith in "Aurora" and the scientist in "Inferno." And it's not that DH can't do sexual chemistry - he and Amanda Tapping are pretty crackling in "Grace Under Pressure" (not to mention various other performances; he heats it up underwater in Boa vs Python, about the only convincing thing in that entire movie; and he's pretty damn hot with the gay making out in Century Hotel) And Jewel Staite had no problems being both cute and sexual in Firefly. But together I don't get a sense of physical attraction. (It's almost to the point that I wonder if David and Jewel are uncomfortable playing it for some reason, perhaps the age difference? Or else it's the directors' choices.)

Especially with Rodney, it annoys me because (and I admit I might be oversensitive here, but) I get the impression the writers have a difficult time conceiving of Rodney as being sexually desirable. Both him being attracted to women, and women being attracted to him physically, are played more for laughs than anything else; while he's allowed awkward flirting and occasional obnoxiously sexist drooling, his actual sex life is purely theoretical and a matter of cheap jokes. The writers seem able to understand Keller liking Rodney's vulnerable woobie side, but struggle to imagine her or any woman actually wanting him physically. (In spite of much evidence to the contrary out here in the real world!) (Rodney's one of the few adult characters on TV who I could see as being a virgin; I don't think he's intended to be seen that way, but it's not that difficult to so interpret his inexperience and juvenile confusion with relationships.)

I'd be more offended on Rodney/DH's behalf if it weren't that the writers/directors have trouble portraying sexual chemistry, period. While Rodney gets it the worst (he's never actually kissed anyone in this timeline while in his right mind), no one's got much of an active or believable sex life. The weirdly uncomfortable hesitancy with most of Sheppard's hook-ups is partly how JFlan plays them, but partly the writing. With Ronon they've neatly skirted the issue (though his flashbacks of Melena are about the most explicitly sexual scene in the show), and for all Teyla's belly and cleavage shots, she managed to get pregnant entirely off-screen. Carson's had the most active love-life, but that's been mostly off-screen as well.

This wasn't an issue for me before (as I've said many times, I am quite happy with sex staying totally behind the scenes in SGA; it's not what I'm watching for) but now, when they're trying to write "romance," it's all confessions of love and statements of intentions, bizarrely separate from sexual desire, like they're all living in a Rogers & Hammerstein musical.

It also causes confusion when there is more of a physical (if platonic) connection between, say, John and Rodney (in "The Shrine") or the sparring between John, Teyla, and Ronon (any combination has quite sexually charged matches.) The romance comes across as less believable and meaningful
than the other relationships when it's missing the physical component that is essential to any adult romantic relationship.

Comments

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...aren't writers supposed to write what they know? Maybe the SGA writers are all virgins, or um...inexperienced...or maybe even repressed?

Okay, just kidding. But I do agree - I think the most sexual chemistry I've seen is with John and Larrin (sp?), and even that didn't ring quite true. Oh, wait - there were a couple of Ronon/Elizabeth moments. And Ronon/Keller. But the writers, I think, are very careful not to tie the lead characters into permanent relationships because then they couldn't have any fun with the guest star of the week, could they?

As far as how Rodney's romances have been portrayed, I agree - the producers might have a hard time coming to terms with him being attractive to women...they certainly don't seem comfortable showing a woman being attracted to him (except in the Brotherhood, maybe?) and yet, Rodney seems to be the one to want to 'settle down'. right until it comes up to the actual commitment part.

I think, really, that the writers have a sense of Rodney (and John as well) of being old-fashioned. Maybe it's their age. But the characters do seem to have a certain innate sense of chivalry and honor about them, don't they?

Hmmmm...I like posts that make me think! :)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Most of the SGA writers are married, as far as I know, so they must know something of sex, but...yeah. They're not very good at writing it.

Even the guest-star relationships are pretty distant and stilted, as these things go. John/Larrin does have some chemistry, especially in the writing, but I don't know if I buy it (I admit to bias; I like Larrin on paper but the actor doesn't work for me, not sure why. And JFlan is always weird; with Larrin he seems downright frightened of her sexuality.) I think there were some Ronon/Teyla moments early on, but they decided to go totally platonic there.

I think, really, that the writers have a sense of Rodney (and John as well) of being old-fashioned. Maybe it's their age.

Rodney especially does come across as "old-fashioned" but he's only 40 - it's weird that he'd be that repressed. And chivalry's one thing, but when you're already in a long-term relationship with someone (as with him and Katie Brown, or Keller in "The Last Man") you'd think there'd be more contact than holding hands (we see Katie and Rodney alone a couple times and they're still at arms' length. After two years? That's weird to the point of dysfunctional...!)

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

You know...I agree with that. I wonder why they *didn't* show Rodney and Katie in a more intimate way, at least once, maybe? It wouldn't have taken much to do that...someone could have called Rodney on the radio and he could have been in Katie's bed rather than his own. Hmmmm. I would agree that the writers have yet to develop any of the characters in a sexual/romantic way (and now, of course, there's no time left - very sad). Which is our loss, and one reason that I find the fan fiction so much more satisfying, at times, than actual canon.

Or maybe we're all right, and Rodney just couldn't take it that far on account of how much that would have hurt John. I think VelocityGrass did a whole dissertation here lately on Rodney/Keller that I found fascinating...how Rodney thinks he *should* pursue the happily ever after, marriage and kids future, but his heart really lies elsewhere, so it's a struggle for him. I do find it hard to believe he 'loves' Jennifer, based on what little canon has provided as evidence - particularly in view of The Shrine, and who he really wanted/needed/loved.

Of course, I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to live in a different galaxy under constant threat of death...but wouldn't you think you might lose a few of your inhibitions in those circumstances?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to live in a different galaxy under constant threat of death...but wouldn't you think you might lose a few of your inhibitions in those circumstances?

That's a really good point. From what I know, in real life, an isolated group of people in tough circumstances tend to boink like bunnies. So especially in season 1, I expect everyone was hooking up with everyone. We just didn't get to see it because SGA doesn't (didn't) show such relations. Likewise, when Katie Brown was an occasionally mentioned name, we could believe that Rodney was in a casual relationship with another scientist - but when we finally saw them together, it looked weird and unbelievable. We're expected to believe that Rodney knows practically nothing of sex - that he never hooked up, that no one ever came onto him, in that desperate year when he saved all their lives on multiple occasions - and I have a ard time buying it!

[valoryhope.livejournal.com]

Rodney seems to be the one to want to 'settle down'. right until it comes up to the actual commitment part.

I think that because Rodney is so awkward at flirting/dating--and at social interactions in general, when they ARE social, and not professional--he wants to be in a committed relationship simply so that he'll no longer have to deal with dating et al. Once he's past the courtship stage with someone, he can get laid, get emotional comfort, have an audience for his stories and ranting, etc., but still concentrate primarily on his work. This is one reason why he seems to plunge so impulsively into relationships, making premature declarations of love. Although when the possibility of real commitment looms, he often backs away (as with Katie), perhaps because, deep down, he knows that it isn't the real thing.

And maybe his feelings for John are still close enough to the surface to hold him back from the conventional pairing in which he's grown up believing.

[(Anonymous)]

Oooh, excellent point! That makes so much sense!

re:anonymous comment

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

One of these days I will learn to log in before I check e-mails. That day was not today, though.

but I love that explanation of Rodney's reasons for wanting to be in a committed relationship. I guess it's up to John to save him from himself, isn't it?