the joy of subtext

[xparrot]

I've been on an old skool kick of late, and have just for the first time discovered the joys* of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

The thing about some of these old fan shows, they ran on subtext. Not the nudge-nudge wink-winking of Merlin, but the less deliberate stuff - and not just slash or UST, either. Most character elements are more inferred than stated. There are no clear backstories, just miscellaneous hints, supplied to move an episode along and forgotten afterward. Relationships - not only romance, but friendships or rivalries, or anything else - are strictly professional, because we never see the private relationships, or private sides of professional relationships - the characters are their jobs, and we almost never see them on downtime, never see them not working. Most character development is incidental, often accidental, an inadvertent byproduct of a plot twist or clever line.

It can be frustrating; it makes the characters less convincingly real people, more silver screen idols, icons rather than human beings. It's also fantastically fun, for a fangirl, because it allows for the subtext game, the careful close watching, gleaning for hints, ferreting out the little clues that describe these characters' true selves, describe what they really mean to one another.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't love the obvious, now and again. Starsky & Hutch, Supernatural, handing the devotion to you on a silver platter - I eat it up and beg for more. (Seriously, why isn't there more? There has never, to my knowledge, been another show with the amount of physical h/c found in S&H. Oh, the holding! The "me and thee"! That show invented several staple h/c tropes...)

But there's something so rewarding about the Search for Subtext, the shows that have enormous potential for h/c (or slash, or what-have-you) that is rarely actualized. The little moments mean so much more when they're hard to come by, when they're prized. If Napoleon and Illya snark at each other 99% of the time, that 1% percent where the genuine caring shows through shines all the brighter. (And the other 99% is pretty awesome in its own right. Illya, upon discovering that he had been brainwashed to kill Napoleon and almost succeeded before being snapped out of it: "I didn't...? I did? Wow!")

(I suspect this is one of the reasons SGA and the John/Rodney is fangirl-satisfying, because the, hmm, clumsiness of the SGA writers meant they inadvertently hearkened back to this style; at least for the first few seasons, the vast majority of character (and world) development happened off-screen.)

Fanning on one of the high-subtext/low-actualization shows, one becomes highly sensitized, reading great meaning into small gestures, one touch, a single phrase of dialogue. (It's somehow even more fun, I've discovered, with an older show; I can almost feel the generations of fangirls before me, squeefully reaching the same epiphanies: Eee, Napoleon didn't say anything in this scene! He must be really, really worried!) Viewing with a fannish eye - slash goggles on, smarm sensors at full power - that rarefied state of experiencing TV that maybe only a fan knows (raise your hand if there's some shows that you will only watch alone, or only with your closest fan friends, because the presence of non-believers impedes the experience...)

Oddly, I wonder if one of the reasons modern shows have become more character focused, more giving instead of hinting, is that TV writers now were fans before. You hear RTD talk about the new Who and it's clear that he was reading the subtext of the Doctor-Companion relationships when he watched the old shows (not only romantic, but also friendships and partnerships and more complex aspects of human-Gallifreyan interactions) - and now is writing them as text. Though the crime procedurals that are a staple of contemporary TV are more plot than character focused (technically, anyway, though NCIS's popularity is almost definitely due to its characters) so there's still a place for the more impersonal dramas. And much as I love arc shows and strong character development, much as I enjoy seeing slash go canon and h/c played out (mm, h/c) - for the sake of my fanning, long live subtext!


* To wit, Illya Kuryakin. He is l'essence de fangirl bait in a tiny blond package of snark. He is fangirl bait before it was common knowledge that fangirls could be baited; he is perhaps the proto-bait, or one of the first. Spock, Daniel Jackson, Dean Winchester - they all have a bit of Illya in them. Rumor has it that David McCallum** received more fanmail than any other MGM actor, and watching four decades later, I have no question why.

** And yes, since you asked, as an NCIS fan, it is fantastically brainbreaking to be fanning on a much-younger Ducky. Not that I didn't love Ducky all along, but there's loving the cute little old ME, and then there's Illya. My fangirl heart, she twists and flails. Especially since David McCallum retains much of Illya's mannerisms and pretty much the exact same voice (once he dropped the light faux-Russian accent of season 1.***)

*** Whyyyy~ did he drop the accent? It was adorable!!

Comments

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

One of my biggest current bugbears is that I cannot get The Man From UNCLE in R1 DVD. I've got the movies, but it's not quite the same, and none of my *ahem* sources have more than a few episodes.

My love for UNCLE cannot be textually rendered - it was being repeated when I was about 12, and Illya was my first TV crush. It got me into fanfic (File 40 remains one of the best archives anywhere) and so, by extension, online fandom.

It is *definitely* one of my 'watch alone' shows, because other people look at it and raise an eyebrow. No, it hasn't always dated well and okay, some of the episodes are sillier than silly, but. But. That subtext gets me, every damn time, and the joy of it is that there's therefore enough room for everyone to play in the sandbox.

Have you read the 'St Crispin's Day' stories? They are incredible friendship stories, really, really brilliant, where the subtext is just as present as it is in the show.

I was having a terrible, no good morning. This has cheered me up immensely, thanks :D

(Incidentally, this is one reason I struggle with NCIS - I watched 'Sapphire and Steel' purely for David McCallum, but seeing him in NCIS? He's the wrong age and I just can't get past his being Illya. To me, he'll always be Illya. *sigh*)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

If I'd seen this show at 12 Illya would've been one of my first crushes, too. As it is, he's my latest darling (what is it with me and Davids? Duchovny, Tennant, Hewlett, and now McCallum! It's some weird syndrome...)

For all its foibles, the show is *fun*! Actually, ironically, I think the 1st season dates the best - at least for me, being in b&w, I think of it more like old movies (I was raised on Cary Grant) so it has a certain innate class. Also the s1 writing is quite clever. (but the later seasons have more h/c-ish stuff, even if they are incredibly corny! ^^)

And ee, recs! I've seen File40 but haven't read anything on it because I didn't know where to start - I found a page of slash recs, but it isn't quite doing it for me (I actually can see the chemistry in the show, but right now it's the friendship I'm pinging on, so I'm reading slashfic for the stories and skipping the sex ^^;) - I really need some good friendship h/c. "St Crispin's Day" is worth checking out?

Oh, yes, I can entirely understand how jarring NCIS must be...it's tweaking me out now - double, because I'm also a fan of BBC's Hustle. Actually that was one of the main reasons I wanted to see MUNCLE, for young Ducky and young Albie. I didn't actually expect I was going to fall this hard for Illya, but...fangirl bait! There should be a warning on all the eps: Watch with care: extended exposure to Illya Kuryakin may cause heart palpitations, rapid breathing, high-pitched squeaking, and other symptoms of squee.

(as for sources, check your private messages! ;)

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

The St Crispin's Day Society Stories are a fantastic place to start. Like you, I can understand why people go the slash route, but for me, it's all about the friendship. My favourites are The Devil's Attic Affair, The Uncertainty Principle and Just A Nice, Private Affair, although you should probably read the first one too, to get an idea of the ficverse. It also references The Girl From UNCLE, but don't worry about not having seen it. The Gen on File40 is normally pretty good, so I'd recommend dipping into that once you're hooked ;)

I agree about S1 - they got sillier as they went on, but S1 is quite sharp. Like you, I was raised on 40s B&W films (The Philadelphia Story - Best Ever) so it definitely resonates with me.

Hee - I like Hustle as well, although I oddly find that easier. Robert Vaughan looks SO different now. He's still got it, but I find it easier than suspending disbelief for Ducky. Any TV shows with either of them in should carry that warning. They have that old school class that is just so rare nowadays.

(EEE! Thanks :) Also, I saw you were asking about Sapphire and Steel below? DO IT! It was created by the guy who wrote the Torchwood episode 'Small Worlds' and 'Out of the Rain' and has that same kind of surreal feeling. I adore those kinds of things, as though they're in a world that looks sideways on our own, somehow. To get hooked, start with 'Adventure 2', then go back to #1, skip 3, watch 4 and 6, then go back to 5 and 3. It's an absolute crime that they never made more, and you've just reminded me that I wanted to get the audio-adventures. *pootles off to find them*)

(Also: Hi! I appear to be chatty this morning ;))

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the fic links, I'll be sure to check them out! (I probably will end up turning to slash sooner or later - the eternal problem with gen is that it's more likely to follow canon, and I get all broken-hearted by my favorite partnerships breaking up. I want them to stay BFF forever - but lovers is easier to find in fic, generally ^^;)

I haven't watched Hustle since I started watching MUNCLE, so don't know how I'll take it...but then, I like Napoleon, but not the way I do Illya, so it probably wouldn't be as bad regardless. (The funny thing is that it's rather easy to picture Napoleon becoming Albie; the chars are rather more similar than Illya and Ducky...)

Sapphire and Steel sounds intriguing (and I am always up for following actors!) Is there any specific reason you suggest the out-of-order viewing? If a series isn't actually chronological I don't mind (I've been watching MUNCLE eps all out of order, have seen a good chunk of all 4 seasons now) but I'm curious what makes that order ideal!

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

*g* In MUNCLE, there's lots of gen too, and it's a regular Yuletide fandom (shameless link) and as it goes back years, you could probably read good Gen for a couple of years. One of the things I like about the Crispin day fics in particular is that they *do* show Napoleon and Illya going their own ways, but the friendship remains. *shrugs* That floats my boat, but YMMV ;)

I hadn't thought of the Napoleon/Albie thing but yes, they are definitely closer together. On the other hand, I think Robert Vaughan has been playing the same character for 50 years. If it ain't broke...

Sapphire and Steel is...patchy. A bit like Torchwood, you need to love it to get through the bad. TBH, you could probably watch 1&2 in the right order, but 3&5 are not great. 2 and 4 are the ones that made me really jump, and 6 is surreal in the extreme. 1 does introduce the characters, but I started with 2 and was instantly addicted. There is a rough chronological sequence (a character shows up in 3 who is mentioned later) but the whole series is so trippy, that you can pretty much take them as you want :)

Just don't do what I did and watch #2 in the dark in the early hours of the morning when you're alone in the house, 'kay?

[edited to insert *actual* Shameless link ;)]

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Eee, thank you for the shameless link! That is just what I'm looking for - not too angsty, not too sweet, but close. Awww! (You wouldn't happen to know of any good gen h/c authors, would you? Good h/c is so hard to find, especially when you're like me and like it pushed *right* to the edge of OOC, but not quite over the edge... ^^;)

Sapphire & Steel sounds like fun, I definitely will check it out! (it's available on our mutual source, it appears ^^)

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

*grin* Thanks!

*thinks* It's been *years* since I read in MUCNLE fandom. I didn't even know fandom *existed* at that point - I used to print the stories out and read them between essays when I was a student.

Having skimmed the Gen page at File40, I would *definitely* start there. Most of those seem to be h/c - it's pretty much standard for the fandom, I think. Personally, I mostly read the ones on the Crispin's day society page - they're h/c with plot, which is my favourite sort. I have a vague memory that Chajka's stories are pretty good - try the Horus one or Danse Manchac.

Have fun!

[caersmane.livejournal.com]

You know, for a very young Ducky, you can also check out Sapphire and Steel :D (Will try and comment more on the rest later, just on my way out the door)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I just heard of Sapphire & Steel - it was about ten-fifteen years after MUNCLE, would be a good transition show - worth watching, you think? ^^

[trystings.livejournal.com]

Absolutely worth watching. I loved it, even though I was far too young at the time (it's a pretty creepy series, I watched half of it while peeking between my fingers). Some of the episodes have been uploaded on youtube.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Definitely will have to check it out, thanks! ^^

[shayera.livejournal.com]

I agree, actually. It's a bit similar to what I was talking about here (about the joy of older RPG video games). There's something special when you don't get stuff stated outright, and you have to use your imagination and deductive abilities to gain a fuller picture. In the best case scenario, you feel much more like a part of the text and not just a spectator.

I haven't seen The Man From U.N.C.L.E, but I have seen a bit of a few old 60s series, most recently old Who. Although it's nice and very gratifying to get the h/c and interpersonal relationships spelled out, it's also nice, in another way, to have to dig such things out.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hmm, yes, I think it is a lot like the evolution of games - and for similar reasons; TV writers are writing what they wanted to watch; a lot of what game makers do now, is what they wished they could've done before, but didn't have the tech for. The stories are still good, but they're different, they involve you in a different way...

I'm really enjoying MUNCLE, but on the other hand - it can be annoying to have nothing spelled out! There's been a couple eps that have *zero* resolution to some pretty major trauma, which is just - ahhh, gimme at least a little!

I think there are a few shows now that have a pretty good balance of hinting vs spelling stuff out...NCIS doesn't ever do major h/c, which can get frustrating, but at the same time, yes, leaves that room...

[nenya85.livejournal.com]

OMG!!!! I think I was about 10 during the last season, and Ilya Kuryaken was my first crush – along with all my friends, their older sisters and possibly their mothers (although no one talked about that, back then.) I can remember arguing with my parents to let me stay up late to watch it, or rather to let me watch it at all, because they thought it was too “adult” which usually meant too sexy – which of course only added to the appeal.

LOL… you know I actually though David McCallum was Russian?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Illya is irresistible! When we mentioned the show to our mom, she remembered him as well, as did our friend's mother...and really, I entirely understand why. ^^

(his Russian accent is so adorable! Though McCallum is not exactly a typical Russian name XD)

[sp23.livejournal.com]

Being of the right age, I watched The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and adored Illya with all my pre-teen/early teen heart. I never forgave David McCallum's wife, Jill Ireland, for divorcing him and marrying Charles Bronson. I just couldn't imagine anyone divorcing Illya.

To say I was thrilled when I saw that DM was going to be on NCIS doesn't even come close. I adore Ducky. But I still lust after Illya. ;-)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I am fantastically amused to be fangirling in the footsteps of millions of fangirls before! (it also amuses me that everyone else fell in love with Illya when they were little, while I'm actually the age DM was when he started the show...)

...I've always adored Ducky but I have a feeling I'm going to be more fond of him than ever, now!

[luthorienne.livejournal.com]

I was ten or twelve when UNCLE was on, and Illya was my first true love. I still adore Ducky -- and I loved that, when Gibbs was asked what Ducky was like as a young man, he replied, "Illya Kuryakin."

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, yup, I remember that ep! ^^

[katheli.livejournal.com]

I don´t know, shows where there´s not much character development or deeper relationships between the characters bore me.
That sadly goes for most shows before 1995-or-something and even some today.
CSI? Totally boring, I never watch that.
Merlin? Veeery big on the characters and I like it. Not LOVE it, because I´ve never actually really seen an episode (it´s a British TV show so the chances of it ever going to be on ORF is like zero. Even though Torchwood is coming now in German Television *squeee*. I even saw the trailers and stuff - Gwen´s voice sounds kinda odd.0_0)

NCIS would be crap without the characters, too. But I´m just like that, I suppose.^^ I know lots of people who don´t seem to care if there´s no character development at all.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Well, the older shows did have relationships...they were just more subtle about them. And the characters are what I fan on, in any show; their psychologies are not as thoroughly explored, but they're likable and interesting, and as a fan, I like to search for the subtle character development sometimes. But, yeah, it's a YMMV thing!

[topaz-kat.livejournal.com]

My folks are/were huge fans of "The Man From UNCLE" and all but squealed about seeing David McCallum as Ducky. I once commented that you definitely had the impression that Ducky had a mysterious, dangerous edge to his background, my mom thought that might be him channeling Illya.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, yes - I have a feeling some of the NCIS writers are MUNCLE fans, because Ducky's darkside moments are most definitely channeling Illya! ^^

[jx-walker.livejournal.com]

I think Illya was my first love, fortunately my sister liked Napoleon. Lady Ra has some very good MUNCLE slash stories, I've re-read them a few times already. A Wild Wild West xover story and sequel, as well as a Star Wars/UNCLE xover. I love her stuff.

Sapphire and Steel is wonderful. I will forever be wary of moving spots of light. Grin. I second everyone else's recommandations.

I started watching NCIS because DM was in it. I loved the episode about his mother. Gibbs makes a comment in that episode that winks at MUNCLE.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Illya is so many fangirl's first loves - I'm disappointed it took me this long to get to him! ^^

Ah, Lady Ra MUNCLE'd? I do enjoy her stuff, will have to check it out!

Illya

[jx-walker.livejournal.com]

She indicated on her website that she wasn't going to write more, but what she's done is wonderful. I love her writing. She shows a great love for her characters and keeps them in character no matter what situation she puts them in. I love when she puts Jack/Daniel on Atlantis with John/Rodney.

[silentcs.livejournal.com]

I saw the first episode (I think?) on AOL video ages ago, but could never figure out how to watch more episodes or if they even had them. But now I have figured out why Ducky looks familiar, so thanks! I'll have to make more efforts at finding this show, though since I'm currently on an older-show kick (Hulu is to blame for a lot of that), it will have to go into my queue.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

It's totally worth watching, if you can find it! Even if the Ducky thing is brain-breaking (I started watching partly because I knew it had "young Ducky" - I just hadn't realized just how dang irresistible Illya is! Now I get distracted whenever Ducky's on NCIS...)

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

Hello xparrot. *waves* I believe a number of dissertations (with plenty of squeey pictures attached) are needed to explain the effect of the stubborn and russian one. I happened to stumble upon Illya Kuryakin last year (via DmC in sapphire and steel recommended by a fellow doctor who fan) and my first thought was "my god why did my mother never tell me! Why did no one ever tell me!" I am now doing my hardest to make up for lost time :)

If youre looking for none slash videos- might I shamelessly recommend my sisters videos. The first two can be viewed as non slash, the last one...er...can't

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NiIHtbvpLM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es4SwdJklDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKLMFfyG0O8&feature=channel_page


Isnt nepotism a wonderful thing!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

(heee to your icon, I've wanted to make one with that shot myself! I mean, there's bondage, and then there's that...)

Yes, I know, all fangirls should be taught about Illya early in their careers, it should be required education! I do rather feel like I've missed out. And definitely am planning some squee-picspams, yes...

Your sister's vids are fun! (and yay for nepotism - I've been pushing my own little sis gnine to vid for MUNCLE myself! the siblings who fan together, stay together...or at least torture poor innocent Russians...)

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

yes siblings can be irritating sometimes but they do have their fandoming uses :)

That icon is probably my favourite, it's one of a whole range of 'Illya Therapy' icons that fellow lj'er georgiesmith made for me....

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

oooo

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

yummy

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

mmmmmmmmm

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

violent

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

squee

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

....wrong on a number of rather warped levels.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Eeee, I love them (...he looks way too good with a knife stuck under his chin...)

So is Illya therapy when you need a bit of gorgeousness in your life, or those moments which Illya will need therapy for? (or are they one & the same? for certainly bad things happening to my beloveds cheer me up! ^^)

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

yes rather worrying Illya Therapy is when life is being so annoying stupid the blond russian one just has to suffer. It's not really fair I know but he does pain so beautifully and makes it so much squeey fun.
Our last major session in the Illya Therapy dugeon was in January
http://bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com/2701.html
...the poor boy.
I invented 'Illya Therapy' last April and have since been widely promoting its uses as alternative treatment to get through breakups/breakdowns/exams/winter/life in general. I must say the results have been very promising so far- cheers everybody up no end! (except Illya of course, but then he was made to suffer)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

!!!! I <3 your icons so hard! poor wee Illya...

Your linked Illya therapy post was most enlightening. Also hysterical. And, yes, I can imagine that would be a most successful therapy plan! I especially liked the tangent concerning torturing Napoleon, because it is so true he smirks his way through it, but then to hurt Napoleon is to hurt Illya...(and vice versa, for the only times Napoleon truly looks disturbed is when people have kidnapped his partner...)