Just wondering ...

[arianna]

In the spirit of actual using a journal to record thoughts and seek the input of others, I've been musing about a few things and would like to hear your thoughts. Why? Well, mostly just 'cause I'm interested in your views, but also because some of your reflections may help me come up with plot ideas, lol. And because your perspectives can help enrich my view and appreciation of these characters, which hopefully will translate into better stories. Finally, I'm hoping your responses may lead me to some great fic I've not yet read. Feel free to respond to any or all of the questions below:

What first 'hooked' you to The Sentinel?

What do you most like about the series scenario?

What bugs you most about the characters?

What do you like best about them? Individually? Together?

Are there plots/situations/missing scenes that you'd really like to see explored in fan fic?

Are there storylines you hope to never see again? (Note: this is not to suggest that I'd never write such storylines again, lol -- but I might put on a warning so you wouldn't waste your time reading it)

Who are your favorite authors? Why?

Do you have any 'most favorite stories'?

Thanks!

Comments

You don't want much, do ya? LOL

[polly-b.livejournal.com]

I had to break this up into two comments because I exceeded the word limit.

What first 'hooked' you to The Sentinel? The fanfic, which I came to via a couple of crossover stories in fandoms I was already reading (X-Files, Highlander). I only saw bits and pieces of the show during its first run and didn't really remember who the characters/actors were, so it was the fanfic that drew me in. I have since seen all the eps and have most of them on tape (but, truthfully, I still like the fanfic better than the actual show itself, which happens to be true of all my favorite fandoms).

What do you most like about the series scenario? I like the idea of a man with enhanced senses. I don't find that implausible at all. I also really like the more mystical side of the sentinel experience (visions, spirit guides, spiritual bonding), and wish it had been explored farther in canon. Then, of course, there's the racial diversity in Major Crime, which I particularly appreciate. And the fact that Jim and Blair are two very pretty pretty men. *wink*

What bugs you most about the characters? I dislike seeing Jim portrayed as a stereotypical tight-jawed hard-boiled cop as much as I dislike seeing Blair portrayed as a flake and trouble magnet. And I greatly dislike it when one or both of them acts stupid over some BOTW or some case and doesn't put each other and their friendship first..

What do you like best about them? Individually? Together? I like the fact that Jim Ellison, while every inch the heroic archetype, is just a guy with flaws who occasionally messes up and uses bad judgment (as does Blair). I like the growth that Blair's character undergoes during the course of the season.

I've seen it said (over and over ad nauseum, lol) that the show was titled 'The Sentinel' and not 'The Guide', but for me, the entire show taken as a whole is just as much focused on Blair and his maturation into what he needs to do/be to fill his role as Jim's companion as it is on Jim and his senses. The series finale said to me that Jim and Blair were meant to stay together, that their friendship (or love, as a slasher) was more important than anything else.

I might add here that I'm a Classic Trek fan. In Trek, Spock and Kirk have a legendary friendship. Grand gestures like throwing a career away or sacrificing your life for your friend is ... how it's supposed to be done. TS comes near the same ideals, and I like that about it.

Re: You don't want much, do ya? LOL

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Polly B, hey, thanks for responding!!!

I still like the fanfic better than the actual show itself, which happens to be true of all my favorite fandoms)

I think this is so often the case, actually. The original canon sets up context and possibility, but leaves all these 'holes' like missing scenes that we wish we could have had, or an epilogue to go deeper into the issues or resolution. Fanfic also gives us a chance to get more into the characters' emotions or thoughts, let's examine one of their 'fatal flaws' maybe to take that further, allows us to explore the friendship/relationship theme (the one that draws most of us most) in a lot more satisfying depth.

there's the racial diversity in Major Crime, which I particularly appreciate

I didn't read much fic before I received tapes of the show from a friend (who wanted me to consider writing some fic for it) -- had never heard of the show before then, long after it was cancelled. But I took a quick look and found interesting characters and scenarios. One of the things I liked best when I got to see the actual episodes was how very multicultural it is both in characters and in plotlines. I liked that the multiculturalism was a 'given', so much so that it was perhaps unconsciously reflected in the fic I'd read (I didn't know the racial heritages of Simon or Joel versus Jim or Rhonda, for example till I saw the show and I thought how really neat it was that people were seeing personalities, not colour, for example, or that someone saying she was a channel for a goddess and the goddess witnessed a murder wasn't a cause for any rolling of eyes on the show, but a practical issue to be addressed. It's very respectful and, I thought, 'post modern', in terms of representing a rich, multi-faceted society with members who accept diversity as a given.

portrayed as a flake and trouble magnet

Ah, one of the things that makes me roll my eyes, lol. I wince whenever I see the 'trouble magnet' cliche in stories. Blair didn't often attract trouble on his own in the show, but usually fell into it as part of working with Jim.

a guy with flaws who occasionally messes up and uses bad judgment (as does Blair). I like the growth

I liked this growth of Sandburg as well. Though, in the last seven or so eps, I thought we were seeing a man who was increasingly depressed than one who was simply growing up and so was less exuberant. What bothered me in the show was that Jim didn't seem to go as much and they pretty much used his 'reactiveness' and Naomi's worst characteristics at the end (Naomi deteriorated as the show went on - she was much less clueless and more likeable in her first appearance than her last).

the show was titled 'The Sentinel' and not 'The Guide', but for me, the entire show taken as a whole is just as much focused on Blair and his maturation into what he needs to do/be to fill his role as Jim's companion as it is on Jim and his senses. The series finale said to me that Jim and Blair were meant to stay together, that their friendship (or love, as a slasher) was more important than anything else.

I agree wholeheartedly. The show was originally about adventure and ended up being about friendship ... about Blair's 'ritual sacrifice' to protect Jim and for the sake of friendship. The bouncy student in the first show had grown up a lot by the end.