HIGHLA-L Digest - 5 Jun 2005 to 6 Jun 2005 (#2005-61)
Automatic digest processor (LISTSERV@lists.psu.edu)
Mon, 6 Jun 2005 22:00:08 -0400
There are 10 messages totalling 408 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. HIGHLA-L Digest - 4 Jun 2005 (#2005-59) (3)
2. HIGHLA-L Digest - 2 Jun 2005 to 3 Jun 2005 (#2005-57)
3. the stuff we were talking about... (2)
4. Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
5. the stuff we were talking about...yeah, kinda OT
6. Seattle Highlanders (missed opportunities)
7. SG-1 vs. Atlantis: Duelling Cowlicks
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Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2005 23:22:02 -0500
From: Ginny <RED57@aol.com>
Subject: Re: HIGHLA-L Digest - 4 Jun 2005 (#2005-59)
T'Mar wrote on 6/5/2005, 12:42 PM:
> >Oh my.. this is one visual image I certainly didn't need. :-) Pass the
> >brain bleach please!
>
> I'm so sorry, Sandy! :)
>
Don't be too sorry, Marina, I find Rodney strangely compelling for a guy
who's supposed to be such a cranky whiner.
And woof! That John... woof woof. That's all. Woof.
Topic: I just returned from a visit to Seacouver - the one that was
actually Seattle, rather than the one that was *supposed* to be Seattle.
No Immortals were sensed, but did see one dude with a katana at the Folk
Life music festival. I did not dare ask him just why it was he felt it
necessary to wander around in a large crowd of music fans and Morris
dancers with a honkin' big sharp object.
--
Ginny
RED57@aol.com
Fresh out of .sig lines
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 01:19:14 EDT
From: Freddy V <Tecnogypsy3@aol.com>
Subject: Re: HIGHLA-L Digest - 4 Jun 2005 (#2005-59)
In a message dated 6/5/2005 10:06:35 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
RED57@aol.com writes:
Topic: I just returned from a visit to Seacouver - the one that was
actually Seattle, rather than the one that was *supposed* to be Seattle.
No Immortals were sensed, but did see one dude with a katana at the Folk
Life music festival. I did not dare ask him just why it was he felt it
necessary to wander around in a large crowd of music fans and Morris
dancers with a honkin' big sharp object.
NO! Ginny, I was there too. I'm the LIVE gay looking guy with a pony tail
and pink shirt, and jeans. (those wondering, No I am NOT gay or Bisexual but
flattered you thought so)
The Northwest has done me good, with the Yoga women around here.
And who said a simple T.V. show like Highlander couldn't change anyone's
life? (Okay, maybe Vancover's Sarah McLachlan too)
~~~Fred~~~~
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Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 08:39:32 EDT
From: Bizarro7@aol.com
Subject: Re: HIGHLA-L Digest - 2 Jun 2005 to 3 Jun 2005 (#2005-57)
In a message dated 6/5/2005 12:21:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,
tmar@sifl.iid.co.za writes:
Heh. Speaking of crossovers, I have thought of a perfect, scientific
explanation to explain how Immortals are actually humans who were tampered
with by the Goa'uld ten thousands years ago. And like some who have the
Ancient gene, some have the Immortal gene. If the SGC got their hands on
an immie and did tests, all would become clear. :)
Then again, can you imagine what the cast of CSI (Vegas) would make of
the bloodwork of someone who'd been host to a Goa'uld?
- Marina.
Annie and I came up with the same SG-1 theory for a fanfic. Knowing both
universes, it *does* make perfect sense.
Leah
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 09:08:16 EDT
From: Bizarro7@aol.com
Subject: Re: HIGHLA-L Digest - 4 Jun 2005 (#2005-59)
In a message dated 6/6/2005 1:06:35 AM Eastern Standard Time, RED57@aol.com
writes:
And woof! That John Shepperd... woof woof. That's all. Woof.
My opinion:
http://cartoons.ashtonpress.net/atlhair.jpg
Leah
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 12:49:06 -0400
From: Heidi <heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: the stuff we were talking about...
>met up with someone who had done something bad, and it was
>hurting someone he cared about, or messing with society as a
>whole, Methos would just whip out the old sword (or gun ot
>poison or whatever was easiest) and take care of the problem.
Do you really see Methos that way? I don't. Yes, if Methos had
someone he really cared about, he would fix the problem ..maybe
with a sword, or a gun or by gathering the person he cared about
up and running away.
I agree with (I think it was) Wendy. When did we see Methos
acting like he'd do something about someone messing with society?
Instead we got his `civilizations rise and fall' comments, and
he let Duncan deal with what Kronos planted in the fountain. (and
didn't seem too concerned about it.) I think the few times we
saw him get involved was because Duncan or someone talked him
into it after he orignally tried to stay out.
Not because he was Methos- since I assume most Immortals would not
know that - but because he was either just another Immortal they
met..
That brings up another point. One of the things that makes him an
interesting character is the fact that we know he's the oldest
Immortal and 5000+ years old. And it's something that could be used
in HL because he was willing to let Joe/Duncan know. But since people
usually don't know, it really couldn't be used much in another series.
Most people he meets or already knows would think he's Doc Adams,
Adam Pierson, or whatever persona he was using at the time. It
wouldn't be believable if he kept meeting up with people who knew
he was actually Methos and how old he really was.
Methos' tender feelings towards Alexa. Compassionate,vulnerable,
loyal -- we saw all that in him then. It's as real a part of him
as the determination to survive is, though certainly he accesses
it far less often.
I think the `far less often' part may be key though. The fact that
it was unusual for him to take chances and go out of his way for a
few close friends was part of the character. If we saw him doing it
regularly then it would dilute some of what made him that character.
People have said there's plenty of time for him to have `played the
hero' in the past, but I think part of what alot of people like about
the character is the fact that he's ambiguous and not the typical hero.
Even if there was a believable way to make that part of some flash-
backs, what about the present day episodes? And since he avoids fights
and has for awhile, it would be odd to have a HL series with only a
few sword fights. While the idea of a Methos series is interesting,
it just doesn't seem like something that could actually be done.
Especially since it would need to bring in new or occassional
viewers who may not have seen HL or enough of it to know all the
backstory.
=}{=
(heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 12:50:25 -0400
From: Heidi <heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: Season Six DVD Commentary: Patient Number 7
The inane love-fests portrayed on most commentaries gets to be a
bit much. "He was brilliant" "No, you were brilliant" ..
I agree that easily gets overdone. I don't remember now if it was on
one of the DVD sets or maybe in the `Watcher's Guide' book where a
bunch of people kept going on and on about how great everyone was.
It quickly became repetitive and uninteresting. It's great that
they liked each other, but how about telling us something about
the show instead?
..and it is interesting to hear a director admit that an actor
was less than perfect or hear an actor say that another actor
was a pain to work with.
I'm not saying they shouldn't say anything negative. Saying
someone was a lously fighter, wouldn't rehearse fights, couldn't
remember their lines or other things directly related to episodes
can be interesting. But when it gets into their opinion on things
outside of the show that it gets less so. In one I think it was
JB made some crack about a guest actor was overweight. While he
was obviously right, it seemed an odd thing to point out for a
DVD when he could have been talking about the characters, story,
etc. Alot of us are interested in commentaries for what additional
info they can add about the show. So when it gets into their opinions
about someone's personality, ego, etc beyond the show and things
that just sound like gossip, it seems a waste. Or like the CAH/R6:8
one where they spent most of the episode making fun of the actors,
characters, joking around and adding almost no information about
the episodes or show.
=}{=
(heidi@bronze.lcs.mit.edu)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 15:02:15 -0400
From: Wendy <Immortals_Incorporated@cox.net>
Subject: Re: the stuff we were talking about...yeah, kinda OT
A necrotic equine continues to dance:
Me:
> >So... we have a series about Immortals and the main Immortal
> shoots the others and chops their heads off while they are dead?
You're
> serious? He doesn't fight...he "cheats" and what...laughs at how
quaint all those
> >silly Rules are?
Marina:
> No, no! Not every week. That's my point. With such a character and
> 5000 years (assuming he's not the DPM) of flashbacks, you can do
> something totally DIFFERENT every week. For crying out loud, you could
> have episodes set in the future in you wanted! Why not? With Immortals
> you could do anything.
We really only have about 3500 years of flashback , everything else is
just Methos blowing smoke. <eg> (which makes him not a whole heck of a
lot older than Kronos, Caspian, Silas, Rebecca, etc )(Of course they are
all dead)
I disagree that you could produce a successful TV show where each week
the main character's personality , motives, actions changed.
> >I keep hearing you (and others) say there is a way to do this but I
> >don't see any concrete ideas as to *how*.
>
> Oh, come on, Wendy, I've given you lots of concrete ideas. You just
> don't like them.
All right, yes <EG> . They sound like fanfic. Methos the Lawyer, Methos
the FBI man, Methos: Office Drudge. None of them sound like *Methos* -
they sound like a fan's urge to put Methos into funny situations. They
might even be fun for a old HL:TS fan to watch...but that's not enough
to make a series successful...and that's what I have been talking about.
Could TPTB have created a *real* TV series starting Methos that would
appeal to a large enough audience to pay? I say *no* because the
character is too ambiguous. He isn't a bad guy ( generally speaking). He
certainly isn't a hero. He doesn't care if society goes to hell as long
as some safe corner exists for him ...somewhere... to relax and have a
beer. He shows no indication of wanting or needing a 9-5 job. He
certainly doesn't want a student Immortal. He doesn't fight unless
really pressed. Yes, he has a long past to do flashbacks to but , budget
considerations aside, I don't think millions would tune in to see
Methos' mostly ambiguous past.
> >Give me two sample plots of what you envision as a typical episode.
>
> No, no, with Methos you could NEVER have a typical episode! That's my
> entire point! The only thing you could hope to expect is that he will
> do whatever he needs to in order to survive. And you'd root for him
> on that basis.
And *my* point is that you can't sell a TV series with a main character
whose only defining quality is his survival instinct. Inevitably, the
plots would have to show him surviving by either doing the "right thing"
or by beating "bad guys". You are just not going to sell a show, nor
find an audience for , an Immortal guy who has no compunction about
whacking honorable guys or walking away from those in need if his own
survival odds dictate it. Shows about bad guys (The Sopranos, Shield
etc) "work" , as someone else said , because the other characters are as
bad or worse. While I disagree in part, it's true enough for the sake of
this argument. Methos' world is *not* populated *only* by bad guys -
unless you only show those times when he faced bad guys - which
sanitizes the character.
IMGLO, someone could certainly write 22 entertaining episodes about
Methos. You could *not* actually produce such a series and have an
audience for it.
Wendy(I wonder where the DHFAQ is?)(On a disk somewhere.....)
Immortals Inc.
immortals_incorporated@cox.net
"Weasels for Eternity"
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 15:22:00 -0400
From: Wendy <Immortals_Incorporated@cox.net>
Subject: Re: the stuff we were talking about...
Heidi says:
> That brings up another point. One of the things that makes him an
> interesting character is the fact that we know he's the oldest
> Immortal and 5000+ years old. And it's something that could be used
> in HL because he was willing to let Joe/Duncan know. But since people
> usually don't know, it really couldn't be used much in another series.
> Most people he meets or already knows would think he's Doc Adams,
> Adam Pierson, or whatever persona he was using at the time. It
> wouldn't be believable if he kept meeting up with people who knew
> he was actually Methos and how old he really was.
Yes! Thank you. Something has been bothering me all along and I
couldn't quite place it. That's it!
Somewhere along the line Methos quit advertising who he was. Unlike
Duncan who is always DMOTCM, Methos changed his name along the way.
There is no indication that he ever told any mortals about what he was
(I guess he told Alexa before she died). Immortals are not in the habit
of announcing their age to each new Immortal they meet (quite the
opposite, I'd say) He certainly didn't go around introducing himself
as "The Oldest Living Immortal". So, while the flashbacks could move
through 3000+ years, his age couldn't really be used "internally" -
except with some kind of voice-over narration ("I'd faced this problem a
thousand times before but each time it was hard...")(Bleech)
One gets the idea that perhaps Methos didn't leave very many Immortals
alive that knew who he really was and , perhaps, didn't leave too many
alive who might remember him centuries down the line- regardless of who
they thought he was. That means he either killed every Immortal ( good,
bad or indifferent) he crossed paths with over the years - or ran away
fast enough that no one saw his face.
Wendy(Methos didn't actually become the "Oldest Living Immortal" until
Darius killed the previous holder of the title.)(And Methos can't even
prove he is the OLI because, of course, the *real* OLI is much better
at hiding than Methos is<g>)
Immortals Inc.
immortals_incorporated@cox.net
"Weasels for Eternity"
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 20:12:46 -0500
From: Ginny <RED57@aol.com>
Subject: Seattle Highlanders (missed opportunities)
Freddy V wrote on 6/6/2005, 12:19 AM:
> NO! Ginny, I was there too. I'm the LIVE gay looking guy with a
> pony tail
> and pink shirt, and jeans. (those wondering, No I am NOT gay or
> Bisexual but
> flattered you thought so)
>
> The Northwest has done me good, with the Yoga women around here.
>
> And who said a simple T.V. show like Highlander couldn't change anyone's
> life? (Okay, maybe Vancover's Sarah McLachlan too)
ARGH! Okay, now I regret not sending a warning to the list advising of
our impending trip to Seattle. It was the first time attending Folk Life
for us in 10 years, so it was a very sentimental journey indeed.
What with all the Utilikilts (and regulation kilts) being worn, it was
like being in an extended HL flashback (with a really eclectic soundtrack).
--
Ginny
RED57@aol.com
Fresh out of .sig lines
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 20:15:36 -0500
From: Ginny <RED57@aol.com>
Subject: SG-1 vs. Atlantis: Duelling Cowlicks
Bizarro7@AOL.COM wrote on 6/6/2005, 8:08 AM:
> And woof! That John Sheppard... woof woof. That's all. Woof.
>
> My opinion:
> http://cartoons.ashtonpress.net/atlhair.jpg
Excellent good cartoon! I've been laughing at that raging nest of
cowlicks ever since the premiere. I used to laugh at RDA's hair and call
him General Cowlick, but Sheppard's hair is mucho mas macho.
--
Ginny
RED57@aol.com
Fresh out of .sig lines
http://www.blogula-rasa.com
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End of HIGHLA-L Digest - 5 Jun 2005 to 6 Jun 2005 (#2005-61)
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