Dani257's Xanga

Criminal Minds - What's With the Crossover Fics?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:00:37 GMT

There's been a number of CM/Higher Ground crossovers, because AJ Cook played in both shows. And, in every single one, JJ is actually a new identity, and she used to be the character on HG. An interesting concept, I suppose. But, I can't help the feeling it's because people are more comfortable writing about HG (and maybe feel they know that character better?) so if they say JJ is a new personality put on, they can spend most of their time writing about Shelby (I think, I've only seen one episode of HG, and only heard about it after CM had been on for awhile).

And, I really hope that someone's review of a fic saying that they liked a story for going deeper into Prentiss' emotions, even though they weren't like the ones on tv actually meant that the reviewer felt that the story is what Prentiss on tv would actually be like if the tv show explored those areas. In character, but in character under different experiences. But, when I read things like that, I can't help wondering if they mean that they like that someone wrote Prentiss as a completely different (but more acceptable, to them) character. That they're "fixing" the character (although the author did say they were exploring something they saw on the show - fair enough). Still, "different from the show" makes me uneasy.

Criminal Minds - Hotch rant

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:12:28 GMT

I think the writers have done a good job of writing Hotch believably all series long. They've made a point of showing that his extra seriousness isn't just slapped on him, but is a result of a divorce that still bothers him (and is also still recent). I haven't lost any of my interest or affection for Hotch in season 3. But, at the same time, I kind of wish they hadn't written the divorce or hadn't written him realistically being affected by it (well, that second part is only a silly wish - at the end of it all, I'd much rather he be realistic than placating the fans). Because people don't look at circumstances. They don't see Hotch as a serious guy made more serious by a painful divorce. They see him as someone who never was anything but serious. Someone said that Garcia doesn't flirt with Morgan now because Hotch probably told her not to. What? Garcia and Morgan have openly flirted with each other for two seasons, with Hotch's knowledge. Wouldn't it make Hotch pretty slow on the trigger to voice an objection late in season 3? This person (who actually likes Hotch - why are so many Hotch fans so completely off?) even reasoned that Hotch was annoyed in Children of the Dark when Garcia couldn't resist a sexual comment, even when she was on speaker. I pointed out that they never showed Hotch being annoyed by it. They only showed the reactions of Morgan and the local cop. The person reasoned that the cop told Hotch afterwards. Total and inaccurate fanwank. Because Hotch was there when it happened. If Hotch was bothered enough that he's responsible for Garcia's change in speaking with Morgan, they would have implied that on screen. No, the only evidence for Hotch putting a stop to Garcia flirting is a narrow minded view of the character of Hotch. People seem to have totally forgotten this is the guy who checked to see if Garcia could hear him by saying "Garcia, I love you." And, the guy who enjoyed pretending to be the hard boss when he saw Reid's physics magic.

And, while it's great that the team hasn't been barred from advancing in their careers, I kind of hate that as well, since people see it as proof that Strauss doesn't have a say in anything. Maybe also in telling Rossi that he's a subordinate?

Criminal Minds/other shows - Asperger's

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:29:10 GMT

This is going to be long.

Okay, people were comparing Reid to someone on Bones (Zach? I'm not a regular viewer) and saying they were the same. Someone else gave a pretty good point by point look at how they really are different, despite being in the same grouping of socially awkward geeks. One of those was that Zach very likely has Asperger's, and Reid doesn't. And, this is where we get to the main point. Because the actor who plays Reid says that Reid is mildly autistic, people accept that as fact. How can you argue with the guy who plays him? But, without formally being categorized with it by the writers, I'd say even the actor can be mistaken. People seem to be too willing to label people, and if you don't fit into what seems to be an increasingly narrow definition of normal, you must have some disorder. And, yay, finally found someone who has a relative with Asperger's and doesn't believe that every socially awkward person should automatically be assumed to have it as well.

And, I believe it exists and people have it, but I also think it's possible to not have a medical disorder and still be absentminded and have a tendency to ramble on about things and maybe even not notice that others aren't interested. It seems almost like the only people who aren't "normal" in a stereotypical boring way - the tv image of the popular kids- must have some disorder. And, it might be encouraging for those who have it - "you're not a freak. You're just more interesting than "normal" people." But, I think it's a shame that it seems that disorders are taking over the idea that there are many personality types out there. And, one thing about characters like Reid and social awkwardness - there are obvious explanations in his environment that explain it just as well as Asperger's does. He spent most of his time with people older than him - and probably more time with adults, since the older kids teased him. I'd say that's a pretty good reason to not be comfortable talking to people your own age even without a disorder. But, aside from rambling sometimes and not noticing Morgan being bored, Reid is very good at reading and understanding social cues. He notices when something is off with people. Within his circle of friends (the team) he can pick up nuances and understands teasing and can reciprocate and interacts. He doesn't just talk at people. And, someone made a good point - could someone with Asperger's really have managed to handle Tobias Hankel? Reid had to pick up the different cues of not just one guy, but one guy with three distinct personalities. While it may have been obvious to most people when Tobias switched to Charles or Raphael, I think an aspie (as some call themselves) wouldn't have been able to do it - and Reid did. He could tell which one he was talking to and that he had to interact with them differently.

The problem with diagnosing characters on tv is, that unless the writers specifically set out to create a character with a disorder, they probably are merely giving the characters traits that make them interesting.And, those traits are likely a mixture of things that might fit a myriad of disorders and cancel out the same ones. Like, Reid may be socially awkward (but, again, there's a good explanation for that) and sometimes rambles without noticing that people are bored. But, Reid is also in tune to people and picks up non verbal clues.

I think people might even say I have it. That will be a mystery for the ages. Actually, it seems you could make a case for everyone having Asperger's. Certainly more people fit the symptoms than don't - but, fitting the symptoms isn't definitive proof of the disorder.

Criminal Minds - Wrote More Fanfic and Plea to Stop Mary Sueing Reid

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:01:13 GMT

I wrote another short fanfic. Again, Hotch centric and again, gen. And, contrary person that I am, the three reviews (one more than my last story) with nothing but praise make me nervous. What if these people are ones that review every story they read, but wouldn't say anything negative under pain of death? Maybe I should accept that they do actually feel that I wrote Hotch in character, since I specified that concern, and they aren't just trying to placate me. Although I probably am going to tweak some sentences to read better. Otherwise, I'm glad to bring up the tally of Hotch centric gen stories.

Now, on to Reid. I love Reid because he's a genius, he's a geek, and he's not a Mary Sue. So, why do fans seem to want to continue to put him in the Mary Sue role? I mean in the sense that every error is excused. I'm getting tired of hearing that Reid is socially awkward. It's used as a one stop excuse and explanation for everything. I don't think he's nearly as socially awkward as people make him out to be. Not to the extent that he's incapable of grasping when he's being a brat - which he sometimes is, and which I like. Not because I think he isn't wrong, but because it makes him much more interesting than if he was all sweetness and light. Also, they act like his social awkwardness is an inherent trait and an incurable one at that. I'm not saying Reid will ever be the life of the party and comfortable in every situation. But, again, allow the guy the growth he's had. He's become a lot more comfortable and self assured at least in work related situations. The guy is 26 or 27 and is constantly interacting with people. He would neither be as smart as he appears or a good profiler if he could constantly use "social awkwardness" as a crutch for everything. Not that he does, but some people do. Maybe it comes from a narrow view of people? Sensitive genius geeks prone to getting a little too emotional and who care a lot for people just can't also be snippy and stubborn and reckless and sometimes act like spoiled brats? Plus, people seem to be subscribing to the Max Collins school of the show. The one where Reid and Prentiss were like enemy cats from when she first came. Their problems lasted two episodes. He was twitchy and unprofessional in Distress. She called him on it (what, was she supposed to keep silent when something was clearly wrong and he had scared a lady, simply because she was new?) and he got bratty. Then, in Jones, he was still cold and flaked out on an assignment. Before that? They got along fine in No Way Out, Lessons Learned (and that was the first time they saw each other, and no awkwardness on his part) and Profiler Profiled. They're both geeks and enjoy geeking out together. About the only tension, if you could even call it that was Prentiss suggesting that he stay with Morgan's family while she went to follow up on Carl Buford. And, I'm sorry, Reid's not a puddle of jello that anyone should feel the need to shelter from the slightest uncomfortable situation, which is what it might have been at worst.

Yay! Not that I don't appreciate every review, and it's mostly my own insecurity in writing in a new universe (for me, as far as fiction) and a difficult character that makes me skeptical of praise. (I realize that's a fragment, but better that than a run-on) But, someone who comments in one of the most intelligent (not that I agree with everything there) blogs about the show said she liked it and felt that I got both Hotch and Strauss right. Makes me feel even better.

And, whee! My physics magic missing scene has turned into my third most reviewed story. 5 reviews (which isn't a huge amount, but it is a simple one shot). Okay, I did post a link to my fanfiction.net page on another forum, which feels strangely like secretly begging for reviews (I'm a mess of insecurities here, aren't I?) but logic tells me that there's no point in writing fanfiction and posting it if no one sees, and since I didn't beg, just said that they existed, the reviews were got by honest methods. And again, whee!

Criminal Minds - Too Lazy to Think of Subtitle

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:15:47 GMT

That part up there literally means that I'm too lazy to think of one. I have a topic, I just didn't want to think of a neat title to illustrate it. Anyway, why do people keep talking about how the show is supposed to be about profiling, as if it no longer is? When has there ever been an episode that didn't contain profiling in various forms and degrees? Someone pointed out the team in danger episodes. First, they're not new. Early in the first season, Reid and Hotch were held hostage. And, Elle and later Reid were held hostage in another episode. Second, this is a matter of opinion, but I don't find them excessive. Once a week or every other week would be too much (mainly because it would make you wonder why these people can't stay out of danger at least for a little while). Not a couple of times a season. That still means the majority of the episodes don't have the team in any physical danger. Third, and to the point, every episode with someone in some danger still has had profiling. Garcia gets shot? They profiled her shooter in order to find him and catch him. Morgan's suspected of murder? They profile him. And, profiling people suspected of crimes is also a part of what they do and part of the show as well as profiling the actual criminal, so that fits. And, I don't see where it takes away from the show that the person suspected was a main character. I've never seen anyone say that Sex, Birth, Death was doing it wrong because they spent so much time on Nathan Harris, who turned out not to be the actual unsub. But, there's a strange belief among some people that, depending on the genre, your main characters are always supposed to be a distant second to everything else on a show.

I also think people have much too rigid a concept of what tv shows are meant to be about - especially when it comes to what are known as procedurals. I'm not saying shows should go wildly off the mark until they have no connection to where they started. But, most shows, the concept is a starting point, a framework, where there's a lot of aspects that can fit within it. It's not the be all and end all. So, Criminal Minds is about profiling. Largely about that. But, who profiles? The profilers. Who are there week after week, who have established (and still developing) personalities and relationships with each other (non romantic) and emotional triggers and weak points and just everything that makes people -people. So, with all that, the idea that the show isn't supposed to be about them as much as what they do is a foreign concept to me. Ed Bernero says all dramas are about families, just the families are in different environments - medical shows, crime dramas, sci-fi dramas. I'm a big fan of the BAU team as family, but I think even more, all dramas are about characters. At the very least, half of what a show is about is exploring the characters in the environment the show is set.

And, I suppose that makes me a lucky tv viewer. So many people complain about shows going away from their concept and from why they started watching, because the shows actually start paying attention to the characters, and don't just have them playing second fiddle to the plot. Again, I don't say scrap the plot, just that the characters and exploring them are of at least equal weight. So, plot oriented people get very unsatisfied, and feel they don't get what they signed up for. I look and feel that the plot is still there, but I get the character stuff that really makes a show worth watching for. On the flip side, it's why I also have a different view from people who won't watch procedurals because they find them monotonous. But, I look at it as the procedural stuff comes on the one hand, but you get to explore and not be so rigid in what happens when it comes to the character stuff.

Criminal Minds Fanfic Rant - So Close

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:52:51 GMT

Before I get to that, I am much amused by the fact that the single Emmy nomination the show gets is for stunt coordination for Tabula Rasa. While I think people are too free and easy in what they categorize as a tackle, (and I include this episode) just the fact that someone said the nomination came because Morgan "tackled" a building is grounds for glee. You can't deny the power of the tackle - even fake tackles.

Now, I'm just slightly sad by a fanfic. The author was so close. Well, not really. It wasn't a fic I could read straight through. I skipped around chapters, because it was mainly just finding horrific things for the team to go through, sort of like really macabre Russian Roulette. But, despite the lack of real plot that I could see, I felt she was fairly accurate with the character of Hotch, given the circumstances. But, then, she had to turn him into a drunk and constantly call to try and get Haley back. My view that Hotch would not try to win Haley back is likely influenced by another Hotch fan, who pointed out that not once did he try to do that on the show. While I disagree that doing that is about self entitlement and ego (it could be, but it's not the only interpretation of everyone who tries for a second chance) it is true that Hotch didn't. And, I think he wouldn't, mainly because the job is who he is, and if she can't accept that and it bothers her so much, she wouldn't be happy being with him. I also got the feeling that the author mainly decided that if the whole team goes through a series of tragedies that leaves them all with some wounds -emotional for some, physical for most- that one person has to be the fall guy to break completely. And, it just felt tacked on that it was Hotch. And, she topped it off with him committing suicide. While Hotch dying is never on my list of great reading experiences, I think I could find it well written possibly if done by someone else's hand, in the line of duty or something. But, I just don't see Hotch killing himself, no matter what happened. I don't see this, either, I just see it more easily than suicide - murder. I mean, Hotch committing murder. I've always felt that if Hotch ever went bad and pigs flew and demons had snow ball fights in Hell, that he would kill someone else and then turn himself in. But, suicide is too cowardly for Hotch. And, then, it just ended so abruptly with them finding the body - the end. If you kill a main character, there should be some real ending. A slight epilogue (even a paragraph's worth) giving some idea of how it affects the others, or how they carried on despite him, or something. Not just "dead man - bye!"

And, while I'm ranting, I find it icky to have Hotch described as a "poor sweet baby" I get feeling compassion if something horrible happens to him, but the "sweet baby" seems more accurate to a pitiful character, not someone as awesome as Hotch.

Criminal Minds Fanfic Rant - So Close

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:28:05 GMT

Posters - Don't post if you don't want a response

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:07:09 GMT

First, seems I was right and the person on the imdb boards wasn't a troll. They haven't changed their views about the show, but they have acknowledged what other people might see in it.

Now, on to the rant. There are some forums where it's clear who's welcome in a thread. Like the Gilmore Girls forum (sorry, people! The obsession turned). There are clear anti and pro threads, where a certain pov is off topic for those places. You can also find it in a certain Stargate forum. But, barring trolls, for the most part, when you start a post on a forum, you've given an open invitation for any on topic response - even if that response is in disagreement with what you say. And, to get defensive that someone answered is silly.

Oh, and something that happened awhile back, but I just found when doing a search for more Criminal Minds stuff. Got into a little kerfluffle when someone said that Hotch would blow up because he hates his job. Taking out the whole issue that I don't believe Hotch does hate his job, life doesn't work like that. You hate a situation in life, and through no action of your own, you end up hurt so that you no longer have to be in that situation. I said if Hotch hated his job so much, it would make the decision to leave on his own, rather than a twist of fate and a bomb from someone who doesn't know about the alleged hate. Well, how dare I disagree with the person! She got totally snippy. Then, I go back recently and find that I missed a response. Hotch wouldn't be leaving. The actor would be going. Woah! Dizzy! I'm not a fly on the wall of the show, but the last thing TG publicly said about the show gave the impression that he likes his job. So, this person is saying that an actor will quit a job he likes because the character he plays doesn't (supposedly) like the fictional job on the fictional show? Isn't that taking method acting a little far? Or, she's saying that the writers created the alleged dislike of the job and to top it off are punishing him with an explosion? If the reason Hotch leaves (since people persist in believing that the person is being taken off the show) has to do with his own views of the job, wouldn't it make more sense for the character to actively decide to go?

Criminal Minds - Being hit with the "Why do you watch" twice in a week?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:41:25 GMT

So, twice people have come to the imdb board for the show and asked why people watch shows like this. One person clearly just wanted to spout out why they think the show sucks (always wonder why they want to spout off in a place where you assume the fans are - well, aside from just sheer jerkiness) and wanted others to back them up. Not at all interested in the question of why others watch. A second person, I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that they really did wonder and wanted to hear why people like a show that they didn't find any value in. Maybe I'm taking "I'm not a troll" too much at face value. Although I did point out that saying the fans "must be aware that the show is rubbish" is condescending.

Anyway, I answered. Well, a partial answer, rebutting the idea that the characters are one dimensional. He (one day I'll figure out why I assume some posters are male and others are female without any proof) went after Hotch!

But, my main point of this is to say I see a common denominator between the two. They look at shows as types. The first, clearly troll person, has a thing about network shows. They're no good, to him. I looked at some of his other posts on other boards, and the term "network show" is always used sneeringly. Other shows are better than network shows or how can people watch network shows? I get the impression that if The Shield or the Sopranos (shows he used as examples of good shows) had come on the networks, his opinion wouldn't be so high of them either. As for the other person, it's purely speculation on my part, but I get the feeling that they see a big gulf between people who watch things like Battlestar Gallactica and people who watch Criminal Minds. You watch the former, you're into intelligent original stuff (ignoring that BG is a remake) and the latter is for people into mass marketed crime shows.

Some Fanfic Guidelines

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:08:19 GMT

1. How you write for a school paper and how you write fanfic are different. You don't use contractions in a formal paper, but in dialogue? If you're writing a modern day English speaking person (I don't have any knowledge of the language patterns of other languages), yes. Unless that particular character has been shown to not use contractions.

2. It sounds weird, but first person probably doesn't dig as deep into the thoughts as third person. I mean when the third person is still following a particular character. (I forget the exact term for it) The thing is, I doubt most people think in great detail about their feelings or motivations. They may think that they're furious, but they're not going to literally go into detail about how their face turned red and they shook with rage and it was like a thundercloud was over their head. Some omniscient narrator might (only in a better written way than that). Lots of things that sound right in third just sound wrong and overdoing it in first.

3. On a more specific note, House is never going to pour out his entire heart in great detail to Wilson - or anyone. He might, if push comes to shove, give you the gist of something, but actually saying everything he said at the end of Wilson's Heart to Wilson? No. Repeating the dialogue in fanfic? Not working, because the only reason he said that was because he wasn't talking to anyone but his own subconscious in the form of a dead woman. The guy is only 100% candid about those icky feeling things when he's talking to an hallucination.