Lesbian video from AfterEllen.com

Sexuality and gender in BSG-world

A few things I found interesting in After Ellen's interview with Tricia Helfer (6 on Battlestar Galactica) and Michael Taylor (writer of Razor, BSG movie):

AfterEllen: As a writer writing in the BSG universe, how do you feel sexual orientation is viewed in that (albeit fictional) society?

Michael Taylor: I tend to think that in this respect, at least, they're a bit more enlightened than we are, which is partly why we didn't want to make much of a fuss about the idea of Cain being "gay," if indeed she is gay, or if indeed Colonial society places much importance on sexual orientation.

Then why are all romantic and/or sexual relationships on the show (not counting Razor obviously) heterosexual? That seems very odd to me. When I started watching the show, I almost thought that men and women were equals on this show. I really wish they had created a world without gender in BSG, that would have been majorly awesome.



AE: When the Season 2 episodes "Pegasus" and "Resurrection Ship" were written, was Admiral Cain's relationship with Gina/Number Six already in the backstory, or was that relationship created for Razor? If so, why?

Michael Taylor: That relationship was indeed created for Razor, though it developed from our desire to explore whether Cain's anger and revulsion at Gina, so evident in her first appearance in Season 2's "Pegasus," had a personal component. At which point, the idea that the pair had had an intimate relationship quickly came to mind. It made Gina's betrayal that much more devastating for Cain.

I just saw those episodes of season 2, and I did wonder whether they had thought of the back story before that.. it certainly seemed like it judging by how strongly Cain felt about Gina and how she treated her...



AE: Gina in "Razor" seemed to genuinely care for Helena Cain, but she was also clearly doing the work of the Cylons. Do you think Gina had genuine feelings for Cain?

Tricia Helfer: I do believe that Gina had genuine feelings for Cain. Very much like Six (Caprica Six) who cared intensely for Baltar — that didn't stop her from completing her mission either.

Whole Interview




Edit: And geeze Admiral Cain is hot/interesting. Heh.

Eliza + Joss = TV = Love

I'm late and I bet you already heard of this. But nothing could make an epo happier. I cried, a little bit.

"Whedon's new Fox series, called Dollhouse, stars Miss Eliza Dushku, best known as Faith to you Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans."

Eliza + Joss = TV = Love

Strawberry Panic

I love subtext as much as the next sick-of-heteronormative-movies-y lesbian, I really do. But sometimes it's nice when something actually happens.

I'm not talking about nude sex scenes or even heavy make out sessions (though I guess I wouldn't complain about the last one), but at least crushes that aren't only subtext but actually outspoken? Kissing? I dunno maybe some romantic drama?

Yeah. I like Strawberry Panic. Mhm.

Lesbian paradise?

So I've started watching Strawberry Panic. And even though people have told me it sucks (*cough* mire *cough*), I am really starting to love it.

We've got three all girls boarding schools, where the girls from all three schools sleep in the same dorms. The characters aren't super original, neither are the storylines really, some relationships are kinda weird etc.

BUT.

There are only female characters in this show, they barely even ever mention boys and it's all about relationships/crushes/etc. What this leads to is that lesbianism becomes the norm. All the characters we meet have crushes on the other girls, and they don't even mention that it's girl/girl love and relationships.

Like I said, in this show and at these school lesbianism seems to be the norm (at least so far, I haven't seen the whole show). They don't even mention homosexuality – or heterosexuality for that matter – and we seem to be living in a world with only girls. Or, I suppose, a world without gender.

(I just wish Amane Ohtori would be promoted to a regular on the show...)

Hakura my love

I do love androgyny – right now more than ever. I've never had a very feminine body, but I've always looked/acted very "girly" and I really hate it. I should cut my hair but I dunno if it'd work. I should get taller and get muscles. Hm. Fuck.

I have a new major crush. Hakura aka Sailor Uranus. Seriously. And her and Michiru (Neptune), how cute aren't they as a couple? Seriously.

Hakura/Michiru - Androgyny - I'm not a fan of fan videos, especially ship ones, but hey

Faith – if you ever read this – isn't she the kind of girl you'd have a character crush on as well? Do you watch Sailor Moon?

What can I say, I want to watch Sailor Moon season 3 forever and all the time. Thank you Susanna and Jenni :)

The right and necessity to objectify

They might be oh so realistic, but I wouldn't miss the sexist remarks on women if they were removed. I love black comedy, especially of the high school kind. I love exaggeration and parody – to a certain extend. Both Mean Girls and the incredible TV show Popular do it, for example. And I love the extreme relationships between all the girls. I love the backstabbing, the bitching and the popularity wars – between the girls. I love everything but the obsession with looking supersexy for the guys.

What I especially don't love is the guys, and the constant commenting on the girls. Why do even female writers feel the need to add small sexist remarks the whole fucking time in TV shows? The She's a hottie-type of comments. The constant looks, them turning their heads, forgetting about everything but the oh so sexy girl for a few seconds. The turning men into fucking hormone monsters. Do all males on TV have to be testosterone OD-ing? How is it possible that that's accepted, and even the norm?

Sure, most TV-show chicks are oversexed, stereotypically perfect babes. Who wouldn't look? Right? No. Wrong. Female characters on film and TV have to be prettygirls. Prettygirls are supposed to be on TV for everyone to look at, sureness. That's not today's topic. That does also not make objectifying them a necessity. It does not make it funny, "normal" or alright.

It does not bother me – anymore cause hello product of oversexed pop culture society – that the super clever and brainy Veronica Mars is cute as a button. She has to be, it's TV. What bothers me is that every male character on the show who lays an eye on her – no matter how nice, cool, smart they are – look like they're getting an erection right there and then. Is that necessary?

Again. Girls on TV are generally pretty, those are "the rules", and that's a subject for another rant, one that I'll never write. But that does not make objectification funny, and what is both scary and frustrating to me is that we almost expect it. In our own lives we shudder and walk faster when we – once in a lifetime unless you look like those TV show girls – get those comments. But on TV we expect it 'cause they are the prettygirls. They are the babes. They are there to be looked at, and they deserve the objectification.

Sure. Do turn all male characters into animals who crave sex with everything they lay eyes on with a pair of boobs. And you wonder why I prefer shows and movies with only female characters? The idea of men – that both men and women have – that they can't control their thoughts and actions 'cause of their dick, is demeaning and insane. Hormones and prettygirls do not give men the right to be assholes.

TV shows are not usually feminist, and quite often sexist. But this is absurd. This is not entertaining or okay. So please please please, tell me, are the constant sexist remarks a necessity?

Joan's and Angela's Mothers and Families

Joan of Arcadia. This show drives me nuts. Completely. Before I started watching, I heard rumours that it was a bit similar to My So-Called Life, and it sure is. Don't get me wrong, My So-Called Life is way better as a TV show, and still one of my all time favourites, while this one is hardly on the top 10 list – but, they do drive me equally nuts.
    There is nothing that bugs me as much – on TV shows – as when parents get mad at their kids for something they were not in control of. Parents yelling at their kids; kids yelling at their parents; kids in the end giving up, saying they're sorry – and actually being sorry – even though they had every reason to do what they did, and couldn't possibly have done anything differently. What's up with punishing your kids? What's up with "grounding" teenagers? Who grounds adults, who punishes them when they mess up? Everybody messes up dammit, and everybody feels bad enough about it without having other people making them feel twice as bad. It just kills when kids/teenagers/whatever don't stand up to their parents even though they're right! I would never – not when I lived at home either – agreed that I had done something wrong if I hadn't. Some things are just not in your control, some things just happen without it being anyone's fault.

Now, Joan's parents are ok. Her dad does drive me nuts, I really can't stand him, to be honest – but he's got nothing on Angela's mom. Angela's mom (on My So-Called Life), is probably one of the most awful fictional characters every created. She isn't evil, she isn't even mean, she actually tries to do – and believes she is doing – the right thing. She thinks she is a good mother when she tries to control every little thing that goes on in her daughter's life – and that is what makes me sick. That makes her disgusting and Angela a chicken/a hero for not standing up to her, for still letting her into her life.
    The creepy thing is that this woman is a realistic character. There are probably thousands of mothers just like her, and they all believe they are good parents – hell there are probably teenages who think that those mothers are good parents!
    This makes me think of 7th Heaven. And I won't get started on that show – cause I honestly don't think I need to – but I know people (Swedes god damn it!) who are of the opinion that this is a perfect family. And I honestly could not imagine a more creepy family than the 7th Heaven one. For real. I'd like to see the episode where Lucy tells her oh so sweet parents that she's a girl-loving lesbian, and how awesomely perfect they'd react to something like that. (Whatever, never mind me.)
    Now. Joan of Arcadia and My So-Called Life. Both endearing shows. Both with semi-alternative (yet not annoyingly cliché-alternative) characters and drive-me-nuts-y (err) yet oddly adorable families... But give me abreak. Joan of Arcadia is ok, but it sure as hell ain't no My So-Called Life. The cool thing about MSCL is that it feels real. Angela, Rayanne and Rickie feel real. Claire Danes is an actress who really lets us experience her character's thoughts, feelings and ideas. Both JoA's Joan and MSCL's Angela do stupid shit, they mess up badly from time to time – but with Angela, it feels real. I don't blame her for the things she does, it doesn't make me like her the least bit less, because I'm allowed to – with the help of Claire – see right in to her soul. So to speak.
    I've seen 22 episodes of JoA, and I still don't know Joan. She still doesn't manage to touch me. Unfortunately. But for one reason or another – Angela, Claire and My So-Called Life always have, and still really do.

Joan of Arcadia vs. Bring It On.. Or not..

There are a few things that will automatically make a TV show not worth watching for me. Not many, but a few things will disappoint me to the extent where I will just press stop and never press play again. Super crappy music can be one of these things, extremely lame dialogues is another. However, insulting or making fun of one of my favourite movies, is probably the fastest and most definite way to make sure I press the stop-button.
    I started watching Joan of Arcadia very recently. I liked the main character, she's a bit like a younger and way less geeky Mac (ok, look wise) – she's cute and all. The stories aren't fenomenally cool, and the family – even though less annoying – reminds me both of the one in My So-Called Life and the 7th Heaven one, but yeah, it seemed like a sweet enough show. However, the episode I just stopped, started off with God (in the shape of a homeless person) telling the main character, Joan, to try out for the school's cheerleading squad. Being a fan of cheerleaders in movies, this was a "yay fun"-thing in my head, but I should have seen the making-fun-of-cheerleading thing coming. They tend to do that in shows that try – but don't succeed too well – to be just a tiny bit alternative. And sure thing, not only did they make fun of cheerleading (hey I would have forgiven them) but they so mocked the awesomest movie ever – Bring It On! Ok, not awesomest ever, but definitely one of the better high school movies of the end of the '90s – I mean Eliza Dushku and Kirsten Dunst? Could it be any better? (Answer is yes, it could, but let's not go there.)
    Now, I will continue watching this show, of course I will, it does actually seem like a show worth watching. I'm not childish enough to give up that easy – I just need to calm down for a few minutes (yes I'm being silly). But I imagined my first Joan of Arcadia-rant to look a whole lot different than this one does. Mhm. The way to the TV-show space in my heart is just not by mocking awesomely hilarious and cute movies, uh uh...

:p

Hm, the Alias finale...

I'm not the hugest Alias fan ever. This was actually another show I didn't discover until way after it started airing – I never gave it a real chance until about seven months ago – but when I finally started watching it in December last year, I have to admit I was hooked after only a few episodes.
 So, the big Alias series finale was aired a while back. I was super excited about these last few episodes, and couldn't wait to find out what they would come up with. This was a show that started with the main character discovering her entire life was built on a lie (or, lies, plural, actually), and I expected something equally shocking – or at least slightly shocking – to happen in the finale. (Was that too much to wish for? Really? Well, apparently...)

Before I saw the second half (well less than half) of season 5, but had heard about all the characters who were supposed to show up etc., I felt like "how the hell are they going to fit all this in a few episodes?!", and well, after having seen the end, I still feel like that.
 I would have wanted an "OMG"-reaction. But after five – or in my case four since I haven't seen season three – seasons of Alias, there isn't a lot in the last few episodes that manages to shock me. What's surprising about Sloane and Irina being the super villains? And Sark and Anna Espinosa – once again – showing up as bad guys? That's what we have been seeing the entire time, every damn season. I would have prefered it if at least Sloane or Irina to turn out to be not-100%-evil.
 Now, the finale wasn't bad. Obviously it was the right thing to include some of these characters, as well as Rambaldi, but I would have wanted something new and huge, in a show like this one, that started off with the whole "your life as you know it is a lie"-thing. I would have wanted something really shocking to happen, because even though the finale was full of action as well as drama, it didn't bring tears to my eyes, and it sure didn't turn my (or Alias's) world upside-down.

The OC dialogues

 Summer: Remember when the guys made us watch that movie about the  gay guys on the mountain?
 Marissa: [Short pause] Lord of the Rings.
 Summer: Yeah.

So, I love The OC. As in "hepo heart The OC"-love. Mhm. I'm a freak.
    Yes, this is a show that's got too many characters; too much drama; way too many soap opera elements. Many of the actors aren't super great, at all, many of the characters and stories aren't realistic, at all [etc. for-like-ever]. But hey, I can be in love with a show just 'cause of the dialogue, can't I? My love for great/funny/clever dialogues in TV shows is what finally made me realise that Buffy the Vampire Slayer (yes, that's the love of my life) was actually worth watching. Granted, The OC is no BtVS, far from, but the dialogues still make this show worth 40 of my time every week. I could probably buy a CD with the audio from the episodes, I don't need to actually see the episodes. (Yes I do, but you get my point? Seeing as I'm being over-obvious here, I'm kinda sure you do.. get my point.)
    Point: I love the dialogues on The OC. My friend Mire keeps telling me the only reason I watch the show is 'cause of the hotness of Mischa Barton, but that's so not true (honestly she isn't that hot, the Mischa-hotness would not be reason enough to watch this show). I would not have prefered Seth (do I even have to mention that I love him? Is it a surprise to anyone?) or Ryan or Summer to have died a tragical death instead of Marissa – seriously, come on, she's just not half funny as any of them. Seriously.

 Seth: Yeah... yeah, I should apologize. It's just my pride.
 Ryan: What pride?
 Seth: Yeah, I guess there's nothin' standin' in my way.

Marissa does however bring out funniness in the people around her, some how:

 Summer: The more time I spend with Zach, the less time I have to think  about - God, what's his face? Built like a beanpole, curly hair, runs  away like a little bitch on a sailboat leaving nothing but a note for his  girlfriend who cried and cried over him till the Fourth of July when she  decided she doesn't cry over bitches on boats.
 Marissa: Seth. His name. It's Seth.
 Summer: I know. I'm just doing that thing where I pretend I don't and I  have to use a lot of descriptive insults to give voice to my inner pain.

Nah this wasn't much of a TV show rant, but I'm having a crappy day (or something) and reading OC dialogues made me laugh a few times?

Prison Break's lack of females

This show is good. The episodes are all clever and cliffhangery. The characters are fine, even kinda interesting – the main character is cute (correct me if I'm wrong but I've heard rumours that he's even hot?). The story is somewhat a mystery, even after the entire first season. There is nothing wrong with this show. But I've got a question; where the hell are the girls?!
    Now, I know the main story takes (or took) place in a prison. For guys. Men. A boy-prison, etc. I also know that they do have two – actually really cute and interesting as characters – women. (And no, I'm not gonna count the vice president/president – don't even go there.) Mhm, I haven't missed that. But... do you really expect me to look at all those guys for fortytwo minutes a week? (Ok, minus the girl time, maybe 30.) I don't hate guys, I'm not one those I-hate-guys dykes, believe me. But do they really expect me to be able to tell all these men apart? Do almost all guys look sort of the same, or is it just me? (Please comment and let me know.)
    And hey, I'm not like, obsessed with hot girls. No really, I'm not. But I don't like having to watch guys (almost only guys), for like an hour a week. It's boring. I'm sorry. I would like this show but, err, two women just isn't enough for an hour long show. Nope.

Grey's Anatomy, gotta love

It took me unusually long to discover the new TV show love of mine, which is Grey's Anatomy. Actually it took me until a week ago, about a year and three months after the show started airing in The US. To my defence, I have moved a lot lately, and I don't own a TV, so it does take some effort from my side in order for me to find new shows. However, many people had mentioned good things about this show, and it seemed worth checking out. Now, I'm not a fan of hospitals, or blood, or needles – and Grey's Anatomy has got a lot of all those three things (well probably just the one hospital, but you get what I'm saying), but when I finally got around to watching the first episode, a "this show is actually kinda good"-thought started forming in my head. So I decide to give the show a serious chance, and I switched on episode two, and what do I hear? You Wouldn't Like Me by Tegan and Sara. Which - being a huge Tegan and Sara fan – made me really happy. Now, I know their music is played on a lot of TV shows these days, but when I discovered there was a Tegan and Sara song in five of nine season one episodes. And in season two? They play KT Tunstall, Regina Spektor and even more Tegan and Sara. Now, what can I say, that's reason enough for me to love a show. Mhm.
    But obviously there is more to Grey's Anatomy than the music, and I have to say the quality of this show really surprised me. What mostly surprised me, I think, were the characters. I can't help but loving almost all of them. Meredith, the somewhat confused but completely adorable main character, she's just the sweetest. Christina, the very sarcastic – god I love that with girls – and kind of private girl with the very weird looking – errr not in a bad way at all – face, gotta love. Izzie and George are both cute as hell, and Alex is just the kind of guy I can't not fall for in TV shows (hey, he's almost a bit like Logan...).
    This is a show I will keep watching, for sure. I just started with season two and already discovered a KT Tunstall song. And I can't wait the episode where Rosanna Arquette – omg could that woman be any more attractive? – will guest star. Gah.
    All in all. I love. You should be too. Off you go and watch. Mhm.