Brought To You By the Letter "B" Meme
Apr. 10th, 2012 09:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elrhiarhodanGanked from the lovely and creative ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
attackfish.
To participate:
1. Leave a comment to this post, specifically saying that you would like a letter.
2. I will give you a letter.
3. Post the names of five fictional characters whose names begin with that letter, and your thoughts on each. The characters can be from books, movies, or TV shows.
I got B.
"B" for first names was difficult, if not impossible - so all five of my characters have their last names start with "B".
1 - Diana Berrigan (or Barrigan): Kick ass lesbian FBI agent. I loved her from the opening scenes in Pilot. She clearly adores her boss, but it's not that kind of relationship - the sadly typical one where the female subordinate has a desperately unrequited thing for her boss (married or otherwise). It helps that Diana (as introduced in Pilot) is an agent at the end of her probationary period (more than a trainee, but not yet ready for her own caseload). She does handle certain administrative functions - like preparing reports and requisitions - but at least in Pilot you get the feeling that the role could have been filled by a male actor (if the show creator hadn't wanted to make the character a lesbian).
I love how the show introduces and handles her sexuality. In Pilot, Neal clearly admires Diana ("Um, she digs the hat."), and Peter, in a very offhand riposte comments that "she'd rather be wearing that hat." Neal pauses, blinks, and comprehends. Nothing is overtly declared. A few scenes, after observing Diana flirt with a female customs agent, he comments - "I thought the FBI had a policy..." Peter's reply is perhaps the finest pronouncment of an attitude: "That's the military. We don't ask. We don't care."
The actress who plays Diana (Marsha Thomason) was not available during most of the first season, but when she did return (in the final episode), her sexuality was still an intrinic part of her character. Peter and Diana meet in a park and Peter asks about her significant other, and we immediately know that Christie is a "she."
Diana's sexuality is part of her character - but it doesn't define her or limit her.
2 - Senneth Brassenthwaite: The lead character in Sharon Shinn's Mystic and Rider, the first book of The Twelve Houses series - and a major character in the other four novels. Senneth is a mystic, someone who can use an innate form of magic to manipulate elements. She's an extraordinarily powerful mystic, and her chief power is over fire, though she can heal and manage minor shapeshifting. Senneth could so easily have been a Mary Sue of a character - her "mystic" gifts are nearly limitless, and she is initially presented as all-powerful, all-knowing and the one who the band of travelers look to. But as the story (and the series) progresses, we learn that she's not omnipotent, she makes mistakes, she's shockingly vulnerable and her magic isn't the answer to every problem.
By the time the series concludes, Senneth has mellowed into something incalculable human - she's cranky, she's frustrated at times and she definitely doesn't have all the answers.
3 - Olivia Benson: The female lead detective in Law & Order: SVU. When we were first introduced to Benson, back in 1999 (::blinkblinkblink::) we quickly learn that she was a child of a rape, and over the course of the early years of the series, it's revealed that her mother was a physically abusive alcoholic. And yet, despite the horrors of her childhood, Benson is both empathetic and tough. She gets involved with her cases - sometimes too involved - but rarely is our credulity stretched to the breaking point (as it has been - for me - at times by her partner, Elliot Stabler). She's a powerful female voice in a difficult role.
4 - Bond, James Bond: I have to admit to something of a love/hate relationship with this character (the movie role, not the literary figure). He's misogynistic, a child of class privilege, he smokes and drinks too much, he's careless with his life and the lives of others. As played by Sean Connery and Roger Moore, he's something of a lout and certainly a lothario - embodying all that was wrong with the 1960s and the 1970s. I adored Timothy Dalton's first movie - "The Living Daylights." It was refreshing to see a "real actor" in the role, and I remember the reviews noting that James Bond had been taken over by Hamlet. Dalton gave the character a dramatic intensity that Connery and Moore never could, and it helped that he was far less of a roue than his predecessors. Sadly, "License to Kill" was simply awful and the less said, the better.
Of the four Pierce Brosnan movies, probably the only one I liked was "GoldenEye." More for the villain than for Bond, to be honest (I love and adore Sean Bean).
But for me, the ultimate Bond will be Daniel Craig (a/k/a James Blond). As originally conceived by Ian Fleming, James Bond was supposed to be a blunt instrument - something that was never apparent in the studied elegance of Connery, Moore, Dalton and Brosnan. Craig's Bond is a sledgehammer, a bareknuckle brawler. I loved Casino Royale for many reasons, but the opening scenes - where he earns his 00 ranking - are the best moments in the entire series of movies. There is no doubt in my mind that this man is fully capable of killing with his bare hands.
5 - Anita Blake: Could I pick a more controversial character than Laurell K. Hamilton's vampire slayer and animator of the dead? As originally presented, Anita loathed vampires and had well-earned her nickname, The Executioner. At some point; though, the character just seemed to collapse on herself, becoming little more than an excuse for extended (and by extended, I mean EXTENDED) sex scenes. Anita Blake embodies the ultimate polyamorous relationship, having strong emotional connections to many (but not all) of her sex partners. The problem I have is that the character has become paralyzed by choice - unable to accept her needs and the damage she causes to others by her denial.
I no longer read the Anita Blake series. It's hard to continue to follow a character that refuses to grow.
Don't forget to ask me for your very own letter!
attackfish.To participate:
1. Leave a comment to this post, specifically saying that you would like a letter.
2. I will give you a letter.
3. Post the names of five fictional characters whose names begin with that letter, and your thoughts on each. The characters can be from books, movies, or TV shows.
I got B.
"B" for first names was difficult, if not impossible - so all five of my characters have their last names start with "B".
1 - Diana Berrigan (or Barrigan): Kick ass lesbian FBI agent. I loved her from the opening scenes in Pilot. She clearly adores her boss, but it's not that kind of relationship - the sadly typical one where the female subordinate has a desperately unrequited thing for her boss (married or otherwise). It helps that Diana (as introduced in Pilot) is an agent at the end of her probationary period (more than a trainee, but not yet ready for her own caseload). She does handle certain administrative functions - like preparing reports and requisitions - but at least in Pilot you get the feeling that the role could have been filled by a male actor (if the show creator hadn't wanted to make the character a lesbian).
I love how the show introduces and handles her sexuality. In Pilot, Neal clearly admires Diana ("Um, she digs the hat."), and Peter, in a very offhand riposte comments that "she'd rather be wearing that hat." Neal pauses, blinks, and comprehends. Nothing is overtly declared. A few scenes, after observing Diana flirt with a female customs agent, he comments - "I thought the FBI had a policy..." Peter's reply is perhaps the finest pronouncment of an attitude: "That's the military. We don't ask. We don't care."
The actress who plays Diana (Marsha Thomason) was not available during most of the first season, but when she did return (in the final episode), her sexuality was still an intrinic part of her character. Peter and Diana meet in a park and Peter asks about her significant other, and we immediately know that Christie is a "she."
Diana's sexuality is part of her character - but it doesn't define her or limit her.
2 - Senneth Brassenthwaite: The lead character in Sharon Shinn's Mystic and Rider, the first book of The Twelve Houses series - and a major character in the other four novels. Senneth is a mystic, someone who can use an innate form of magic to manipulate elements. She's an extraordinarily powerful mystic, and her chief power is over fire, though she can heal and manage minor shapeshifting. Senneth could so easily have been a Mary Sue of a character - her "mystic" gifts are nearly limitless, and she is initially presented as all-powerful, all-knowing and the one who the band of travelers look to. But as the story (and the series) progresses, we learn that she's not omnipotent, she makes mistakes, she's shockingly vulnerable and her magic isn't the answer to every problem.
By the time the series concludes, Senneth has mellowed into something incalculable human - she's cranky, she's frustrated at times and she definitely doesn't have all the answers.
3 - Olivia Benson: The female lead detective in Law & Order: SVU. When we were first introduced to Benson, back in 1999 (::blinkblinkblink::) we quickly learn that she was a child of a rape, and over the course of the early years of the series, it's revealed that her mother was a physically abusive alcoholic. And yet, despite the horrors of her childhood, Benson is both empathetic and tough. She gets involved with her cases - sometimes too involved - but rarely is our credulity stretched to the breaking point (as it has been - for me - at times by her partner, Elliot Stabler). She's a powerful female voice in a difficult role.
4 - Bond, James Bond: I have to admit to something of a love/hate relationship with this character (the movie role, not the literary figure). He's misogynistic, a child of class privilege, he smokes and drinks too much, he's careless with his life and the lives of others. As played by Sean Connery and Roger Moore, he's something of a lout and certainly a lothario - embodying all that was wrong with the 1960s and the 1970s. I adored Timothy Dalton's first movie - "The Living Daylights." It was refreshing to see a "real actor" in the role, and I remember the reviews noting that James Bond had been taken over by Hamlet. Dalton gave the character a dramatic intensity that Connery and Moore never could, and it helped that he was far less of a roue than his predecessors. Sadly, "License to Kill" was simply awful and the less said, the better.
Of the four Pierce Brosnan movies, probably the only one I liked was "GoldenEye." More for the villain than for Bond, to be honest (I love and adore Sean Bean).
But for me, the ultimate Bond will be Daniel Craig (a/k/a James Blond). As originally conceived by Ian Fleming, James Bond was supposed to be a blunt instrument - something that was never apparent in the studied elegance of Connery, Moore, Dalton and Brosnan. Craig's Bond is a sledgehammer, a bareknuckle brawler. I loved Casino Royale for many reasons, but the opening scenes - where he earns his 00 ranking - are the best moments in the entire series of movies. There is no doubt in my mind that this man is fully capable of killing with his bare hands.
5 - Anita Blake: Could I pick a more controversial character than Laurell K. Hamilton's vampire slayer and animator of the dead? As originally presented, Anita loathed vampires and had well-earned her nickname, The Executioner. At some point; though, the character just seemed to collapse on herself, becoming little more than an excuse for extended (and by extended, I mean EXTENDED) sex scenes. Anita Blake embodies the ultimate polyamorous relationship, having strong emotional connections to many (but not all) of her sex partners. The problem I have is that the character has become paralyzed by choice - unable to accept her needs and the damage she causes to others by her denial.
I no longer read the Anita Blake series. It's hard to continue to follow a character that refuses to grow.
Don't forget to ask me for your very own letter!
no subject
Date: 2012-04-11 01:25 am (UTC)And for once I'm not talking about your supreme awesomeness as a fanfic writer!
I went into the Anita Blake series kicking and screaming. I was a huge Buffy fan, but I wasn't a fan of vampires. I finally started reading her stuff and it was amazing. Blue Moon was in my mind, one of her best works. I wasn't all that thrilled with Obsidian Butterfly, but figured it was a one time deal. And then LKH found porn. And badly written porn at that. I saw a blurb about her where she said that she likes writing about sex and violence. I want to walk up to her and say "Not at the same effin' time!" or go find her editor and smack them around for not reigning her in.
OMG I'm on a rant!
And the whole area about how she refuses to grow...her "issues" and all the other asundry bullshit LKH has turned her into.
I'm like you. I had to walk away because I get all ranty! (you would have never guessed now would you)
MaryJanice Davidson who writes the "Undead and" is walking very close to that line. If her next book doesn't pull it out of the fire, I'm walking away from her too. Even if she does want MB to play Sinclair.
I'm done now! I have to go upload my Glee music to my Google Cloud so I can access it on my android! :-) I'm going to listen to Matt/Darren's version of Somebody That I Used To Know about a 1000 times. Thank god it's not vinyl or tape, I'd kill it!
no subject
Date: 2012-04-11 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-11 10:09 pm (UTC)However, the last couple of books have been a slight improvement, which is good as I'm apparently incapable of just GETTING OVER IT as well. :p
On that note, I'm going to be suicidal and ask for a letter. :s
no subject
Date: 2012-04-11 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 01:09 am (UTC)