kriadydragon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kriadydragon) wrote2009-09-22 08:22 pm
kriadydragon) wrote2009-09-22 08:22 pm
Entry tags:
Fanfic Does it Again
It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine when a writer twists canon just enough in order to make their favorite character more interesting and another character less interesting.
For example, in one story I came across, Rodney was an expert skate-boarder. Okay, whatever - if that's what the writer wants to do then so be it. What annoys me, though, is when they twist canon again in order to make another character a little less. For another example, Atlantis loves Rodney because he fixes things, but only grudgingly loves Sheppard - except when he's being mean to poor Rodney.
To have Atlantis love both Rodney and John is all fine and dandy, it gives Rodney a little extra something without taking away from any of the other characters. To have Atlantis love Rodney more and Sheppard less... I mean, is that really necessary? And this is what I mean by subtle character bashing, because there's really no need to take anything away from any of the characters just to give your favorite a little extra something to boost their personality and interest. And I'm not just playing favorites myself, either, when I say this. Were I to read a story it which Sheppard turned out was, secretly, a better piano player than McKay, it would make me squirm, because the piano is McKay's thing, just like skateboarding is Sheppard's thing. We know this for a fact, canon has confirmed it for us.
So it tends to bug me when a writer pretty much takes away what is one character's trait to give to another (well, unless that's the actual plot of the story). Because that means, in order for your favorite character to be a little more intersting and unique, someone else's favorite character has to be a little less interesting and unique. And, really, there's no reason for it.
For example, in one story I came across, Rodney was an expert skate-boarder. Okay, whatever - if that's what the writer wants to do then so be it. What annoys me, though, is when they twist canon again in order to make another character a little less. For another example, Atlantis loves Rodney because he fixes things, but only grudgingly loves Sheppard - except when he's being mean to poor Rodney.
To have Atlantis love both Rodney and John is all fine and dandy, it gives Rodney a little extra something without taking away from any of the other characters. To have Atlantis love Rodney more and Sheppard less... I mean, is that really necessary? And this is what I mean by subtle character bashing, because there's really no need to take anything away from any of the characters just to give your favorite a little extra something to boost their personality and interest. And I'm not just playing favorites myself, either, when I say this. Were I to read a story it which Sheppard turned out was, secretly, a better piano player than McKay, it would make me squirm, because the piano is McKay's thing, just like skateboarding is Sheppard's thing. We know this for a fact, canon has confirmed it for us.
So it tends to bug me when a writer pretty much takes away what is one character's trait to give to another (well, unless that's the actual plot of the story). Because that means, in order for your favorite character to be a little more intersting and unique, someone else's favorite character has to be a little less interesting and unique. And, really, there's no reason for it.