Ugh, Monday.
Mondays are good for random thoughts. Here’s one:
I’ve never watched the new Battlestar Galactica. I watched the original when I was a kid, and I remember really digging it for a while, and I still think the Cylon design was great. But I have this weird disease when it comes to anything new: I regard it with extreme distrust until someone convinces me it really is good. I think this is a reaction to marketing – I’m convinced that whenever I’m hearing buzz about a great new show/movie/album/book, what I’m really hearing is advertising of some sort.
Then, when someone finally does convince me that something is really good, two years have gone by. It’s sad. I’m like that dimwitted hillbilly who won’t sign nothin’ because he’s convinced he’s being fleeced.
So, when the reboot of BSG came out, I ignored it. I keep hearing how good it is, but it’s just off my radar. I like what I’ve heard, and recently watched a recap over on scifi.com (here) and it does look good. I might one day fire up the dusty DVD player that doesn’t see much use these days and check it out.
One thing that I noticed in this recap is how much of the story is devoted to the romantic entanglements of the characters. I always find this a bit dull in SF/F works. Now, I know that you want your characters to appear human and thus have emotions etc., sure, but I don’t read SF in order to have lukewarm romance, I read/watch it for the frakin’ aliens and technology and mind-warping concepts. I don’t object to the characters being distracted by relationships – indeed, of course, the characterizations are deepened and made more believable and the plotting complicated by the complex relationships – but I also think stories, especially serials, get bogged down by it. Once you introduce a romance to the mix, it can send out silky tendrils through your whole story until you suddenly realize the last 4 chapters were devoted solely to your protagonist staring out a window, sighing.
This of course is not necessarily fair to BSG, which may have a perfectly balanced storyline that uses romance and interpersonal relationships to make the story that much deeper and more satisfying. But then, Mondays are for random thoughts, not fairness.
Nah, I agree with you. It annoys the snot out of me when romance becomes too much of the focus in…well, any genre except romances. In books, TV, AND movies. We watch/read SF&F to get the different, the abnormal, the original, and the mind-bending. And I’m sorry, romance of all stripes has been done so often that it is not any of those things.
And to be honest, I felt like BSG fell smack dab into that trap.
It’s good. Sure there is some of that kissy stuff but the meta themes are amazing. Bust out the hip flask and watch the first three episodes in your robe (what else do you have to do, write?) If you aren’t sold then you’ve lost two hours of your life, if you are then you will be happy.
Either way you will be drunk and isn’t that what it is all about?
Rebecca,
Yeah–it’s about proportion. If you want to read romance, there are stories designed to give that to you. And I think that good SF/F – or any genre – has room for all sorts of subtleties and flavors and memes and themes, but they need to be portioned in right.
Of course, one of the pleasures of our modern age of the DVD and the DVR is that I can speed through scenes and sections that look a bit too Lifetime Movie for my taste.
J
Damaso,
You’ve sold me: I’m going to start drinking immediately.
J
Excellent! Let me know how that goes…
Jeff,
I’ve enjoyed your books so far!
Anyway, you might like the one character, Baltar, on the show.
He is in the same vein as the lead from your last two books. A guy who behaves badly, in this case cowardly, but actually has many good points. In this case Baltar is a genius, but a bit shallow and driven by sex. In a way he’s a hero because he isn’t for either side in the battle, and the battle is pointless.
I only enjoy this character because I’ve never seen one like it on TV. Generally though, the show is a bit like Lost and Xfiles in that I doubt the writers ever had a point, thus it’s sort of a waste to watch.
TheAdlerian,
Thanks, for the shout-out and the recommendation.
J
J,
No problem.
I live in Philly and I’m a therapist. For many years I’ve worked in the prison system and in the Philly ghetto areas after that. So, I know how criminals think and talk, and was pretty surprised to see that you capture the combo of tough talk and emotional complexity very well in your main character. Your guy reminds me of several Irish guys I’ve known from Kensington.
I don’t know if you’ve been hanging around the wrong crowd or what, but try not to get shot (anyplace important), because we all want to read more. And yes, if you ever get pinned down on Broad Street, I got people, so don’t worry.
The Adlerian,
Wow–that’s a tremendous compliment. You’ve certainly made my Prepackaged Corporate Holiday Consumption Season!
We’ll have to work out a ‘bat signal’ of sorts in case I need peeps fast in Philly. I don’t suppose you can detect terrified mewling at 500 feet?
J
I’ve been quelling terrified whimpering for decades. It’s what I do.
I’ll bring a flask of Tullamore Dew, sometimes it works better than Cognitive Therapy, or a pistol. I’m sure you’re well aware of that though.
Happy Holidays!
Speaking of which:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas
Check it out, he saved girls from becoming hookers. That’s the complete opposite of the corporate agenda.
Save a hooker this Christmas!
Saint Nick
I Love this show! It has the romance thing in only about 10% to 20% of the show. I don’t like the romance thing that much either, but only one or two episodes ever bothered me.
This show is the only reason I even have the SciFi channel. Everything else on that channel sucks!
I’m actually thinking of canceling cable after it is over.
Anyway. Try the miniseries that started it. Even if you don’t watch the series, it’s worth it.