Mentally ambling

[kriadydragon]

Supernatural has begun. I have SGA season three on DVD to watch at my leisure. Danny Messer on CSI:NY is still hot if not hotter. The circle of television life is complete *Contented sigh*

Some SGA pondering. Don't read if you're tired of me talking about it.

I've figured that it is mostly fanfiction's fault that I get annoyed with McKay sometimes. I love him on the show but the way he tends to be handled in fanfic, sometimes, grates on my nerves. It's not a constant thing. It's just that a lot of writers tend to handle his character in ways that make him, for me, rather unlikeable, but not because that's their intent. For one, they make him "too much" of an answer man if that makes sense. The guy who is supposedly somewhat socially inept on the show suddenly has all the answers when it comes to emotional dilemmas, mostly for Sheppard. For another, I know he likes to insult, but when it comes to him insulting Sheppard, John doesn't smile and put up with it. He sticks up for himself. And I have yet to hear McKay call John idiot or moron (though I am only one episode in to season three). I'm pretty sure that Rodney calling John an idiot to his face would earn him a slap upside the head.

And I can't begin to tell you how much I hate the majority of stories revolving around Trinity. The whole "John is such a jerk for not forgiving Rodney and trusting him again" thing. Trust isn't something you hand out like candy, and forgiving a person isn't the same as automatically trusting them again. You can stop being angry with someone easily enough, but if it involves broken trust then reearning trust is going to take some time. John didn't strike me as being angry with Rodney for the matter, and I felt Sheppard in the right for giving Rodney the chance to earn his trust back. But too many writers use that episode as fodder for "Poor hurt and helpless McKay stories" where everyone is made into a jerk (Sheppard especially) just so we feel sorry for Rodney.

Yeah, I like Rodney up until I read fanfic. Thankfully the actual show makes the dislike very short-lived. He's a really good character, but fanfic does have this rather nasty habit of skewing characterization.

Comments

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

I've never loved McKay, but fanfic writers of Him, and after TRINITY, that's when I seriously SERIOUSLY loathed McKay and it was a loooong time before I got over it. Even with Adrift. There have been a few McKay fans going, John was such a meanie to poor woobie Wodney. Such a mean/awful/terrible ass! I mean...WTH? What show are they watching?

And I've read some horrific fic that made Rodney into a saint and John into something evil. And the worst are the ones where the writers take all the canon storylines/traits and events that belong to John and give them to Rodney.

So, yeah. For me it's the same. Fanfic has made me loathe Mckay at times. Season 4, so far, is making me actually like him. A bit.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

And the worst are the ones where the writers take all the canon storylines/traits and events that belong to John and give them to Rodney.

Oh my word how I hate that. I hate it when some major McKay fan does a tag for an episode that should have inspired shep-whump tags and made it into Rodney whump. That's why I've been looking for whumpy Irresistable tags, because someone did a tag for that show and, not only made it McKay whump, but made Sheppard a bit of a jerk.

Although that's not saying that Shep-whumpers also aren't guilty of such things. Since I don't read a lot of McKay-centered fic it's usually no big deal, but that one bugged me since, again, Rodney was made the poor baby and Sheppard the jerk.

It could be that my opinion is tainted by me being a Shep-fan, but it always feels like many of the hard-core McKay fans really like to bury John. Which, in truth, doesn't do McKay's character any favors. Because while they're making John a jerk, they're also making Rodney a wuss. Yes, Rodney is big on self-preservation but he knows how to stand up for himself and he is self-less when he needs to be.

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what happens. When they turn John into a jerk, they turn Rodney into a wuss. Rodney is strong. To be honest, I think he's actually stronger...emotionally...than Shep. Rodney isn't afraid of his emotions, of tapping into them and facing things. I think Shep is. And I think Rodney being strong that way over Shep is a cool thing.


And yeah...I read a few Irresistible tags that made me want to scream. What Rodney did was wrong. Period. How can you turn that around on Shep? I just don't get it.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Rodney isn't afraid of his emotions, of tapping into them and facing things. I think Shep is. And I think Rodney being strong that way over Shep is a cool thing.

I see that as their "thing" (for severe lack of a better word). Rodney going from someone who doesn't care to someone who does. John already caring, trying not to, then gradually letting himself. They're both opening up as the show progresses, but in different ways.

[padawan-aneiki.livejournal.com]

*nods* Hey, I *like* Rodney...and I adore the snark factor between him and John. But I know what you mean when people take characters out of context in fanfic. Sadly, like anything else, you have good fanfic writers and bad ones, and sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince, so to speak.

Which is why I try my best to find the characters' "voices" when I write. If it doesn't sound right to me, I edit and tweak until it does.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of writers tend to exaggerate certain character traits. Rodney's snark or intelligence, Sheppard's laid-back attitude or flirting, etc. I think we all kind of do that, but some writers have a way of taking it way too far. Then there are those writers who are interjecting traits and seeing things that just aren't there no matter how much they argue it (McKay the psycho, self-centered mad scientist and Sheppard the will-do-it-with-anything-that-breathes man-whore). It gets really, really ridiculous sometimes. Even worse when people start agreeing with it.

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine Rodney ever really calling John an idiot or a moron. I think Rodney finds John too irritatingly intelligent for that.

As John's frustrated grumble in Return 2 reminds us and Echoes very clearly demonstrates, he's often the one that 'figures something out' and then expects Rodney to expand on it, or sometimes simply to make it work. They're a great team, and I think whether he says it aloud or not, Rodney's quite aware of it.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

As John's frustrated grumble in Return 2 reminds us and Echoes very clearly demonstrates, he's often the one that 'figures something out' and then expects Rodney to expand on it, or sometimes simply to make it work.

Exactly! I think that's why it frustrates me when a writer has Rodney going on and on about Sheppard having a lack of any real intelligence. Rodney knows the guy is smart and clever, and I have yet to actually hear Rodney put John down for not being on the same intellectual level as himself.

[reen212000.livejournal.com]

As you may gather, McKay is my favorite character. Love Sheppard, but McKay is closer to my heart in personality. However, I'm not a fan of McKay-centric stories. I especially love his snarkiness. Who doesn't? Sometimes, a story doesn't come together for me until I see it from Rodney's point of view. (Gosh, I hope I write him okay!)

I do like a little whumping, but writers tend to make him into a bitch, or a big baby. And the whining! Kids, fellow writers, readers... lend me your pens! Yes McKay has a tendancy to whine about certain things, and I really must hand it to The Hewlett. He's a great actor, and keeps McKay in check.

I get very particular about the McKay in fan fic. Really good Trinity fic is hard to find, especially if you want general angst. There are a couple that I found that pushed my angsty addiction button. I'd share, but ff.net search is offline. Again.

The reason the McKay/Sheppard friendship works is because John can hold his own. It's no fun debating an issue if your fellow banterer capitulates. My favorite line in Adrift? Sheppard: "Dumb this down any further, you're gonna get hit." Love it.

I don't know if anyone's read Seven Days in Atlantis (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3403185/1/), but there's a chapter where Cam Mitchell finds out Sheppard is a mathmatical genius, and of course McKay has to tease. The fic is one of my favorite outsider's POV. Cam sees the relationships and interactions of the Atlantis crew. Well done characterizations. Check it out if you haven't.

Okay, I'm done. Seriously.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Seven Days in Atlantis was a good fic but I didn't like how the writer handled Sheppard; basing him more on fanon cliches than his actual character - and the cliches I normally have a problem with (him being self-sacrificing with no consideration for his well being, and being berated for almost dying from doing his job. I never like it when a writer has Sheppard chewed out for saving others as it just seems so ungrateful.)

Though Sheppard can be a hard character to grasp, his personality is more my type. McKay's a very interesting character, but he's very chatty and people that chatty - in real life - tend to make me uncomfortable. But I feel Rodney does great angst. I love Rodney angst as, to me, it shows a lot of developement for him. I like Sheppard angst, too, but pure Sheppard angst without him being whumped, too, doesn't cut it for me. To me, it's just a given that Sheppard would be worried. We already knows he cares. Rodney, on the other hand, is more multi-faceted emotionally creating for much broader angst.But that's just my opinion.

[reen212000.livejournal.com]

Seven Days in Atlantis was a good fic but I didn't like how the writer handled Sheppard; basing him more on fanon cliches than his actual character...

I do agree there were quite a few cliches in this one. I think what I liked most about it was there wasn't too much dwelliing. Maybe. I dunno. I was probably needing something simple and a bit light at the time. Makes me insecure in writing though. Damn cliches! And the one thing that draws me to this fandom is Sheppard's chameleon-like character.

McKay's a very interesting character, but he's very chatty and people that chatty - in real life - tend to make me uncomfortable.

Yeah, I don't like those chatty people. I'm not that talkative, mostly because apparently no one can hear me. LOL I come from the land of soft-talkers. Years of customer service, and working with the outside world has left me cynical and sarcastic.

I love Rodney angst as, to me, it shows a lot of developement for him. I like Sheppard angst, too, but pure Sheppard angst without him being whumped, too, doesn't cut it for me.

Angsty!Rodney is always good when handled properly. Emotional h/c grabs me quicker than the physical, and Sheppard's got a lot of both in fan fic, but not much in canon. Now if I could just get both with a lot angst without them tumbling into bed half the time, it would be awesome!

I should so be working... But it's Friday! I always like your observations and intermissions and have to comment.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I always like your observations and intermissions and have to comment.

Thanks. I'm always nervous whenever I put up a new discussion, worrying people will think "Oh, great, what she complaining about now?" But I feel that there's something to be learned from these kinds of observations, whether it'll help in writing better fanfic or help in writing original fic (Ex. Since discovering that it is possible to have a Mary Sue in original fic, I've been paying closer attention to how I develope my characters.)

Plus it's just a nice way to vent.

[drufan.livejournal.com]

I think they have a yin and yang thing going. In Adrift, you see how they rely on one another professionally and personally. They are willing to take their friendship to the edge and yet Rodney backs down first. And Sheppard accepts his apology. They respect one another. It's a beautiful thing!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

And many Fanfic writers tend to ruin that for the sake of a pity-party. John berates Rodney and the McKay fans are up in arms, using the moment as fuel for some woobie McKay fics, thus ruining what is a really awesome dynamic.

And by McKay fans I mean the hard-core Rodney fans/Shep-haters. Most McKay fans are descent and considerate to the other characters, going by what the show is doing and not by their desires for a particular fic.