Writing and Treme

[shapinglight]

I don't have a Treme icon, (if anyone knows where I can get one, please tell me), so Lester from The Wire will have to do.

I didn't mean to go so long without posting (it's two whole days!) but I've been writing. Yes, really. I'm 4000 words into the last in my Spike/Giles season 7 series, and beginning to think I may actually finish it this year after all. Hoorah! I've also written several more chapters of that Ten Years After thing, but am not much closer to working out What Is Going On.

Speaking of Spike/Giles, what is wrong with the 'ship anyway (as opposed to other non-canon 'ships like Spike/Xander)? I saw a rather good comment fic the other day on a community actually called comment_fic, in a post entitled 'Ships of Shame. Apparently, according to the writer of this post, Spike/Giles is one of those. I don't get it. Can anyone explain why (beyond the obvious, Spike is Evil etc, etc, because that doesn't seem to bother the Spander 'shippers as far as I can see)?

But anyway, yay! for writing. The other thing I've been doing this week is finally starting to watch Treme. This is the first David Simon show I've watched since The Wire (I have Generation Kill on the shelf but am reluctant to tackle it), and so far I love it to bits.

Mild spoilers behind cut, as I've only seen four episodes of season 1 as yet. No spoilers please.



Of course, I've never been to New Orleans, but as far as I can tell the show is very authentic. It helps that, like in The Wire, Simon has used a huge array of local talent, including some musicians playing themselves. It also helps, I would imagine, that Wendell Pierce (Bunk from The Wire) who plays trombonist Antoine Batiste, is a native of New Orleans.

So far, the show is moving very slowly. Various storylines are evolving, and will evolve further over time (I assume). One character (Steve Zahn's Davis McAlary) started off being so obnoxious in the first episode you wanted to slap him, but has already become so complex after only four episodes that - well, you still want to slap him, but you also want to see him in more scenes. And all through the show, in every episode so far, there's music. Wonderful, wonderful music.

In fact, the only false note (that's a pun, see?) for me so far came in the pilot episode, when John Goodman's character was being interviewed by a British TV presenter, who was the usual supercilious bore and snob that Americans seems to imagine such people are. Did not like that, and felt annoyed for the sake of John Snow, the anchorman of Channel 4 over here, who went to New Orleans to cover the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and found himself in a boat rescuing people from the flood water. No need for those sorts of stereotypes (fear of which cropping up are also keeping me away from Sleepy Hollow, have to say). Anyway, Goodman's telephone argument with a US TV station had way more relevance to the story than anything a Brit might say.

Not much of a review, I know. It's nice to see Bunk and Lester Freamon back on the telly, and I really enjoyed the Slim Charles cameo in episode 4. Shall be on the watch out for any more appearances by alumni of The Wire.

Comments

[rahirah]

Huh. I can't imagine why Spike/Giles should be a ship of shame. They're unrelated adults with no other formal attachments, so why not?

[shapinglight]

I don't know. I really don't get it, but daren't ask why on that comm, in case I get some sort of rabid 'Spike's an evil rappist' and Giles just wants to kill him type of reply.

[missus-grace.livejournal.com]

'Spike's an evil rappist'

Oh God....LOL!

[snickfic]

I have no idea what's 'wrong' with Spike/Giles. First I ever heard of it. And while I can see what the 'shame' might be about for the other two ships on that list I recognize (big age difference, history of abuse), I can't see that any of them apply to Spike/Giles - at least, not more than 'age difference' is a problem for any vampire/human ship. I'd say the only thing wrong with it is that there isn't enough of it. :)

[shapinglight]

And while I can see what the 'shame' might be about for the other two ships on that list I recognize (big age difference, history of abuse), I can't see that any of them apply to Spike/Giles - at least, not more than 'age difference' is a problem for any vampire/human ship.

It's possible, I suppose, that the person who wrote the post thinks that Giles is way too young for Spike. But somehow, I don't think so, and I don't like to ask.

I'd say the only thing wrong with it is that there isn't enough of it. :)

My sentiments exactly. :)

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

I think any shame would emerge from the fact that they are supposed to be mortal enemies, Vampire vs Watcher. Even more so than Vampire vs young (presumably virginal) Slayer, because a Watcher ought to experience an instinctive revulsion and have better defences against falling for a Vampire, or sorta-ex-vampire, imbued with a soul, yadda, yadda. However, I could see a Watcher being fascinated by a complex character and the knowledge he possesses.

After all, you know all too well how many Bangel apologists there are, accepting their relationship only because Angel had a soul, conveniently forgetting that it was imposed on him without his consent. No matter, just a wee bit of hand-waving and Buffy's got the green light to continue with her one twu wuv.

[shapinglight]

It's true. People will jump through any old hoop to justify their 'ship. Likewise, to trash other people's. And people are squicked by different things.

I'm inclined to think lokifan is right, though, and the dislike for the 'ship stems more from the fact that a lot of fans think Giles is really old.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

I've got a (very tiny) soft spot for well-done Spike/Giles. I've read some amazing ones. I normally prefer them as friends - bonding over the things they have in common - but I can certainly see them in another sort of relationship (however temporary it may be) if it's presented in a believable fashion.

[shapinglight]

Nice to know that not everyone thinks it's a 'ship of shame' anyway.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

LOL I don't know why it would be. Not my favorite thing, perhaps, but believable. Now Giles/Buffy - that's a ship of shame, IMHO. But some people find that very believable. Which... maybe so, but squicky never-the-less.

[shapinglight]

Have to agree. I saw a Giles/Buffy story posted on summer_of_giles a while back, which the author had graced with a foreword, telling readers that Spike was hardly in the story (it was set in season 6) because she hated Spuffy so much.

I think that's a bit of a case of pot/kettle myself.

[yourlibrarian]

You've got me -- Giles/Buffy, sure, Giles/Angel, pretty unlikely, but Giles/Spike? You'd think they'd understand one another particularly well, plus canon provides a number of opportunities while Giles and Spike are living together. I agree that in a fandom of unlikely ships, it certainly doesn't seem to be the least likely.

I will say though, that past the declared vampire hatred and the likely Angel-hate-carryover that Xander has, there is actually more canonical likelihood that those two would have something going on. But we're talking relative terms, not something highly likely or obvious.

[shapinglight]

You'd think they'd understand one another particularly well, plus canon provides a number of opportunities while Giles and Spike are living together. I agree that in a fandom of unlikely ships, it certainly doesn't seem to be the least likely.

I agree. Have to say, it doesn't seem more unlikely to me than Spike/Xander (which again seems to be based on the fact that the two were temporary room mates), and possibly more likely. They have more in common.

[lokifan]

Either just because it's rare and some people find that shameful on its own, or because it involves actively shipping middle-aged Giles, is my feeling.

[shapinglight]

I suspect your feeling is right. Either that, or the person in question just doesn't like Spike much and thinks it's wrong to wish him on Giles.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

So, turns out this was the kick I needed to start watching Treme. Four episodes in I'm liking it a lot - yeah, it moves slowly, but it moves, with every episode carrying each character a little further. And like you say, the music! And all the cameos by actual musicians - not just New Orleans profiles, they got McCoy Tyner to play himself. And Steve Earle (another Wire alum) actually gets to play a musician this time.

But above all, I'm loving the tone of it. If The Wire was about deconstruction, this is about reconstruction in every sense.

And I get what you say about the British reporter, but... wasn't the actor in Angel at one point?

[shapinglight]

Four episodes in I'm liking it a lot

Yay! Though also boo! as you'll probably go charging ahead of me and I still won't be able to talk about it with you. Am still no further than ep 4.

But above all, I'm loving the tone of it. If The Wire was about deconstruction, this is about reconstruction in every sense.

Ooh, I love that. What a great way of putting it. The show ends this year, btw. The final season will have only 5 episodes.

And I get what you say about the British reporter, but... wasn't the actor in Angel at one point?

Was he? I didn't recognise him. Am I losing my BtVS/AtS watching skills? Nooo!