littles@lycos.co.uk wrote: <Explain to me what sort of chemistry there could be between two straight actors playing two straight men.>
'Chemistry' has been seen between just about every popular pairing of actors, whether the same sex or not, whether platonic or not, since the turn of the century (that is what 'buddy movies' are *based* on, in my opinion, though others may differ). What the viewer makes of that chemistry is entirely up to them. Millions of film-goers saw romantic chemistry between Doris Day and Rock Hudson' am I to say they were wrong because [a] I don't, and [b] we now know he was gay?
As anyone on FC will confirm, I'm actually of the opinion that the entire crew were celibate for the entire 4 years (with the exceptions of Vila in 'City' and Tarrant in 'Sand'). Other people see a romantic tension between Avon and Cally, despite the fact that she's supposed to be an alien (but luckily, not *very* alien :-).
To quote the FAQ, written by Sue Clerc years ago:
"Blake and Avon give off more sparks than California in brush fire season and the tension between them creates a rich subtext. One of them is an extremely intelligent, arrogant outlaw with a short temper and a ruthless streak. He can really be a bastard sometimes. And Avon is just as bad (and gets better lines). In spite of the pyrotechnics between them, however, there's a bond that leads Avon to risk everything, and everyone, to get to Blake. Twice."
The thing is, it's also a very *complicated* chemistry, and the result is people can see anything they want in it (I know one person who thinks they genuinely loathed each other from the moment they set eyes on each other). That's one of the reasons *why* there are so many stories centred on them; so many people can get so many different things from what they see on the TV.
Me: <even as I (being hetero) have one for pairings such as Avon and Servalan, where many many others see it - including the actors involved - and I don't.>
littles@lycos.co.uk <Passionate kiss in Aftermath... passionate kiss in Deathwatch... but both between Avon and Servalan. No heavy snogs for Avon and Blake that I can recall. Unless you know better?>
I didn't say that the script - and the film - clearly indicates that they are interested in each other. Of course they were. I said I saw no chemistry; that is, while I know I'm supposed to believe - because of the snogging - that it's a passionate relationship, I saw scenes between them that were as exciting for me as watching Doris and Rock entwined.
Avon and Servalan's interest in each other is canonical, but simply doesn't seem to push the same fanfictional buttons, gen or adult, as Avon and Blake's, or Avon's and Cally's for that matter (my data on this is Sarah Thompson's lists - covering adult - and the reading I've done).
That's why I said what I did. Chemistry is a very very *personal* thing, it's for each viewer to decide for themselves what is an interesting relationship and what isn't, and what they think that relationship is made up of.
And ... to turn the thread slightly ... it's not just romantic/sexual chemistry. Reading the archives, I came across a plaintive little cry of "doesn't anyone else think Avon *didn't* hate Vila?" and a huge range of responses ranging from "I think it's a brotherly thing" to "they enjoy each other's company" to "man and his dog, that covers it" to "oh, not hate, but he thinks Vila's useless".
Anyone want to talk about this? What do you think the Mutual Disparagement Society *actually* thought of each other behind all the insults?
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Sally Manton wrote:
Anyone want to talk about this? What do you think the Mutual Disparagement Society *actually* thought of each other behind all the insults?
I think this was another interesting, complicated relationship, one that *definitely* had, to use your word, "chemistry." Personally, I do think there was some genuine liking -- even affection -- between Avon and Vila, on both sides. I think, actually, that they were a *lot* more alike than either of them would ever have admitted. Indeed, I think they had very similar philosophies of life, in some ways: It's stupid to be a hero. Gotta look out for Number One. Money is wonderful, and there's nothing wrong with taking it from someone else if you can get away with it. Take pride in being the very best at what you do. Witty insults are fun. :) So I think, in some ways, they were more temperamentally compatible than nearly any other duo on the ship.
On the other hand, I think that Avon often very genuinely found Vila's cowardice and his complaining and his prattling to be extremely annoying. And I think it likely that Vila did sometimes find Avon's contempt for him -- apparent or actual -- rather hurtful. I mean, hey, Vila could be really immature, and Avon could be a total bastard, and neither of them was remotely blind to the other's faults. But I think they generally knew where they stood with each other, so that it was, generally speaking, a comfortable relationship (and, in that regard, and IMHO, rather different than the much edgier relationship between Avon and Blake).
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Betty Ragan -
Sally Manton