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

[ladyoflisquill.livejournal.com]

So Caldwell Skinner is actually in the movie then... is it bad that I now want to watch it more?

Seriously, if I can handle the SGA writing skillz I can handle XFiles randomness, right?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's Skinner, I totally understand! Though I must warn he's got little more than a glorified cameo, maybe 3 scenes total right at the end...(really, if you were a hard-core X-phile, it's worth seeing for the 10 minutes or so that are actually any good. The rest is...impressively forgettable, though.)

[wneleh.livejournal.com]

I'm moderating a panel on Rodney and his relationships (of all sorts) at EMC next month, so it was interesting to read your thoughts.

My take has been that the writers seem to want him, above all others on SGA, to have relationships, and have them grow. I like your reasons for why, esp. w/ Keller as played by someone very young, there may not be any chemistry to be had. But I've seen actors in community theatre manifest sexual chemistry where there isn't any IRL, so I don't know.

Gotta go, but I'll be tracking comments.

[(Anonymous)]

does anyone see sexual chemistry there?

[starts wank]Putting aside my other feelings as well: nope. I like UST, don't get me wrong, House and , because it doesn't add anything to the story.

[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]

I don't think the lack of chemistry can be blamed entirely on the actors - both DH and JS are quite talented at their craft. A lot of it is at least as much the fault of the direction - they could be directed to have more contact. In "The Last Man" he could've touched her face or kissed her goodbye or something. I'm not asking for soft-core porn, just a sign that these are two people who can enjoy, or at least take some comfort in a physical connection. (Or else an explanation for why they are so deeply uncomfortable with the physical, because it's pretty unnatural to have adults this awkward...)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Ack! No wank here! *hastily cleans up with tissues*

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of UST myself (never seen House, actually) but there's not even UST here, really...

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you here. The writers just don't know how to write romance.

I mean, for example, Ronon has a bigger crush on John than on Jennifer, IMHO. Maybe it's the way Jason plays the part, but Ronon is always following Sheppard around and not just physically but with his eyes too, always watching him, leaning over etc. With Jennifer, we got one almost kiss but Ronon's sparring session were much more charged with sexuality than this.

[attaccabottoni.livejournal.com]

Oh you crazy kids and your spooky pillow-talk! ♥♥♥

\o/ That comment was made of win.

My shipper heart really drowned out my brain's complaints with all the "AAAAAAAWWWWW..."-ing it did. I just rejoiced in their adorably weird old-married-couple-ness. :D

[sp23.livejournal.com]

Since I'm not Scully/Mulder shipper, (I'm fine with them being together, but it's not my primary reason for watching the X-Files)I was pretty disappointed in the last X-Files movie. The DVD certainly won't be joining my X-Files collection.

I really don't understand what the writers think of Rodney and sex. Frankly, they seem to want to infantilize him, make his het relationships more a fantasy than a reality. However, I thought he and Jewel were fine in The Last Man. In fact, I thought they looked very comfortable together in the scene where they were walking in the park right before her nose started bleeding. Otherwise? It's as if the writers are terrified to allow anyone to touch each other on that show.

[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...!)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Agreed that Ronon comes across as crushing on John; all the sparring sessions are charged with physicality, and yes, he watches John, too. And then John comes across as crushing on Rodney by the way he watches Rodney so intently (especially when Mikita directs.)

...in conclusion, OT4, all the way (Teyla can come too, just 'cuz she's hot XP)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I know, most of the movie I was WTF HUH??? but afterwards I just felt warm & fuzzy - long live the weird old-married-couple-ness! I actually don't think I could've asked for a better place for Mulder & Scully to end up ^___^

[deadlychameleon.livejournal.com]

SGA always had a weird asexual vibe to me, it wasn't bad, but I guess it was a little strange now that you mention it. I get the general impression that the writers (and maybe the actors) don't know how to do scientist + sexual. It's not something you see in the movies too often, it's either unrealistic hot scientist in a tank top, or socially awkward unkempt scientist.

But I echo the opinion. Some heartfelt hugging and eyegazing between couples would have been nice.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Ahahah yes...I admit, X-files and I had a messy breakup, we weren't on speaking terms for a while. Now it's been long enough that a little of the love's come back, but really only for Mulder & Scully; the rest of the arcs got so frustrating and incoherent that I try to forget they ever happened. So I enjoyed the bits of the movie with the MSR (and Skinner), but the rest was utterly forgettable.

they seem to want to infantilize him, make his het relationships more a fantasy than a reality.

Yes...that's pretty much just it. He's not even like a teenager; he's like a 10 year old who thinks that first base is holding hands and kissing is the home run. Except that doesn't jive with the times he has drooled over women, or watched their asses, or the way he talks to Carter...but then the show either plays it for laughs, or as a dirty habit; he never once checked out Katie Brown that I recall, nor Keller (except for a little foot-in-mouth in "Trio", but then "Trio" is the closest the show has come to implying any kind of sexual tension between Rodney and Jennifer.)

However, I thought he and Jewel were fine in The Last Man. In fact, I thought they looked very comfortable together in the scene where they were walking in the park right before her nose started bleeding.

The the park arm-in-arm is beautifully shot, but it feels like an old married couple out for a stroll - she looks like his niece, more than his lover of less than a year. Which I really liked, because it gave their relationship a melancholy feel, like neither of them had the emotional strength for passion anymore. (I'll disclaim - I love the McKeller of "The Last Man," but I see it entirely as a tragic romance, shipwreck survivors clinging to each other for warmth, not a real or lasting relationship.) What disturbed me more was when Jennifer's dying at the SGC, and she pleads with him with big sad eyes but doesn't so much as reach for him - any gesture would've done, she could have cupped his cheek and he could've kissed her hand. Anything to show these are two people who enjoy each other's touch.

But, yeah, they're terrified of touch on SGA (platonically, too, for the most part, which is why "The Shrine" felt so incredibly intimate...)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I never minded SGA's asexuality before (I'm not that interested in sex, it's not what I watch TV for) but now that they're going more for romance, their inability/discomfort depicting it is showing, and it's really not helping sell a romance I'm not interested in to begin with. (It's getting underscored for me because I've been watching Traders, which is semi-soap opera, and has much more realistic and believable sexual relationships between a variety of people, and not just the pretty young ones.)

[argosy.livejournal.com]

I see sexual chemistry, I do! Although I will definitely grant you that the writers aren't doing them too many favors. I don't think we've really seen them in a situation yet that would bring the sexual chemistry to the forefront. I saw it in "The Last Man," and in "Trio" (which had clueless!Rodney, but that was the right way to go for that situation, imo). We're not going to see them ready to jump each other in the infirmary. I'm happy the show has kept it dialed-down so far--I love the idea of them as a couple, but I don't want to see it taking over.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I admit that some of this is my own bias - I'm not really looking for the chemistry, so... And I don't want to see them all over each other or anything - they're not teenagers, I'm not expecting raging hormones. But it did get me in "The Last Man" that she was dying and they don't even kiss. They come across as more platonic than romantic (which I liked, but it doesn't make me believe in the pairing.)

ETA: I also admit bias that if Rodney & Keller actually got it on, then hell, at least I'd have DH being sexy! That'd make up for a lot for me XP

[argosy.livejournal.com]

DH being sexy, mmm... After "The Shrine" I toyed with the idea of a support group for McSheppers Who Love McKeller. I even had some takers. Maybe I should start that up. We're kind of a lonely bunch...

[argosy.livejournal.com]

she looks like his niece, more than his lover of less than a year. Which I really liked, because it gave their relationship a melancholy feel, like neither of them had the emotional strength for passion anymore. (I'll disclaim - I love the McKeller of "The Last Man," but I see it entirely as a tragic romance, shipwreck survivors clinging to each other for warmth, not a real or lasting relationship.)

Which is an absolutely valid interpretation of their relationship, yes! (But now I think you're stretching a bit to accommodate your own interpretations--kind of like we do when we want to see the slash.) They could have been directed better in the hospital scene, I suppose, and Lord knows the SGA writers have all kinds of trouble with women (which is where I think the problem stems from in the first place.)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I think you're stretching a bit to accommodate your own interpretations

Heh - absolutely true; McKeller gets me sulky and depressed and puts me in danger of stopping liking the show (yes, I am really sensitive ^^;) so I try to put the spin on it that's most satisfying for me. I am biased - and I'm honestly not trying to change anyone's mind, just trying to work things out for myself. (And yes, I admit that agreement from people similarly biased as myself makes me feel better! In all honesty, I'm jealous of all of you who really are enjoying the McKeller - I wish I could just switch myself over to it, but I can't...)

the SGA writers have all kinds of trouble with women (which is where I think the problem stems from in the first place.)

Oh, totally, I agree. The specific problems with writing/showing sexuality I fear might also be low-level homophobia - I've met guys before who cannot understand what women see in men, who refuse to acknowledge that men can be physically attractive. It's got to be difficult to write relationships from that perspective.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Awww - I don't think you're that lonely, a lot of my flist likes the McKeller! (it's one of the reasons I'm especially antsy about it; a lot of my closer fan friends are into it for various reasons, so I'm feeling all abandoned XP)

[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!

[argosy.livejournal.com]

puts me in danger of stopping liking the show

I've seen that from a bunch of people, and even have a few on my flist that pretty much did quit, which really makes me sad. I think they've kept the ship really restrained so far, and they built up Ronon/Keller a bit in the last ep (which makes me go wha?--Quarantine notwithstanding). I guess I understand. If they'd wanted to put John with someone else I might very well be like--no he belongs to Rodney! But, still, I'm sad to see this dividing us a bit. :-( I'm a McShepper through and through, but they're just so cute. And it's so far in the bg, I doubt it's ever going to take center stage too much (thank goodness).

ETA: I guess what I'm trying to say (badly) is that I think maybe people are worried about what's *going* to happen on the show, rather than what actually has (which is really only Rodney declaring heterosexual interest in a woman). And I doubt much really *is* going to happen, so I think we'll all be okay in the end. *hopeful*