I’ve got the itch to start blogging again. I can’t guarantee it will be regular blogging, but I’ll do my best. So I’ll post on Facebook and Twitter when I have a new entry up, and I hope to get some discussions going.
So, to start off, I wanted to talk about some popular TV shows and a trend I’m noticing. Talk me out of it, will you?
As many of you know, I’m a total Castle fanatic. (If you don’t watch, well, then I feel sorry for you. I mean…Nathan Fillion? All sweet and funny and with the greatest daddy-daughter relationship ever? Plus, he’s a writer!) I love the dialogue, the mysteries, the writer’s life aspect, and many other aspects. (eg, Nathan Fillion.)
And then there’s Body of Proof, with Dana Delany, to which I’ve really become addicted. The first few episodes I wasn’t certain about, but now I’m really hooked on the show (which is good because Castle is over for the season–and I haven’t seen the finale yet, so NO SPOILERS!), so MusicMan and I need something to watch.
Of course, I can’t help but make comparisons between the two shows, and in general, they’re favorable. We’ve got a self-assured male partnering with a driven, career-minded woman in a crime investigation. Decent mysteries, some good technical stuff, and a nice supporting cast. (Esposito, of course, is my favorite from Castle, and I love Ethan from Body of Proof.)
I got to thinking about another similarly set-up show: Bones. I’ve tried to watch it several times, and for some reason, I can’t connect with it. I just get too much of a sense of “try.” Like they’re trying too hard to put tension between Bones and whatever Boreanaz’s character’s name is. Like they’re forcing attraction between them.
Here’s the thing that stuck in my head, though: why is it that the women are the socially-inept, blinders-on-except-for-my-career, driven, remote halves of the teams? And the guys are the ones who seem to understand relationships and social interaction.
I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I’m just wondering why it’s always the women. Think about Moonlighting, too. Same deal. The guy clearly has the hots for the woman, who’s not looking any further than her career, whose attention is so far inside her work that she can’t see the forest for the trees. Oh, and The X-Files too! Scully and Mulder. (Those two names have never worked for me, by the way. Too many Us.)
Why is it always the woman? Or is it? Are there shows/set-ups where the guy is the driven character, with no social interest, while the female half of the team is the one who knows how to have fun, to joke around, to try and push the other half into a relationship? Any relationship?
If you know of any, let me know…there are probably obvious ones out there, but I can’t think of them.
Oh, and by the way, in regards to Body of Proof, let me just go on record as saying that so far I love what they’re doing with Megan (Delany) and her male sidekick (Peter?) so far. Nothing. Nada. Just a friendship–like Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghey in 30 Rock. He’s mentoring her in her interpersonal relationships, and she’s teaching him about dead bodies. Love it. I hope and pray they don’t ruin it and try to force some romantic relationship between the two of them. I’ll boycott if they do.
What do you think? Comment below!
May 23rd, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I haven’t yet watched Castle, but I did see Bones. I don’t feel like they are forcing the relationship. I think the chemistry has been building for years on the show. As for the Finale, they had to write the pregnancy into the script with Emily Deschanel being pregnant in real life. I think this addition is going to make for some interesting relationship changes with Booth and Brennan.
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I love Castle and I love Bones. I’m with Misty on the relationship; it has been building up quite naturally.In real life they have great chemistry too, without being romatically involved. I’m a Boreanaz-fan.
May 23rd, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@Misty I tried to watch BONES from the beginning–the first three or four episodes. That’s when I felt the “try.” But I’m assuming it’s gotten a lot better, since I know so many people who enjoy the show and love Booth and Brennan.
@Tink I was an Angel/Angel on Buffy fan, but lost a little of that when I didn’t follow him to BONES. Maybe I ought to give some of the later episodes a try.
May 23rd, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I started watching Bones a few seasons in. When I went back to watch from the beginning, I thought the first shows were not very good. But I love that show now.
Maybe the reason that shows like it keep getting created (man wants the leading lady who is only about her career), is because that isn’t the stereotypical way things are in Real Life? Usually women are the ones who want relationships/family,etc. More so than men. *Generally* Not always.
May 23rd, 2011 at 6:18 pm
I’ve started watching Castle this year and I love it.
I have never watched Bones coz I read the original books and I know for a certainty that if I ever watch the show I’ll never manage to picture Brennan with any other face than the one of the actress. And considering that Tempe Brennan is late-40ish in the books, that would be a mess. o_O So no Bones for me.
Body of Proof has become a favorite of mine after the first 4-5 episodes: I like how all the characters interact with one another and I love the comedic aspect given by Ethan and Curtis.
I don’t know if it’s actually a recurring theme the fact that it’s the main female character who’s driven by her job, but I think the other way around would feel a lot like the usual stereothype that women are all about feelings and relationships and such and men aren’t.
May 24th, 2011 at 9:08 am
I like Bones and Castle. Nathan Fillion is awesome. I even watched his series Firefly on netlix and the movie Serenity which is an extension of the series Firefly.
I was thinking the older series Hart to Hart was and even relationship. They were rich and both didn’t really work, but they were both intelligent. Or the Mystery series McMillan and wife. Even those the wife wasn’t in it all the time, it seemed she was smart and supportive.
May 24th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Amanda, you might have something there about it being stereotypical. Good thought. I should probably try to watch some later BONES episodes because sooo many people love it.
@mazoku I adore Ethan and Curtis too! The only false note for me in the series is Sam, the female cop. She just doesn’t work for me. I’m not sure if it’s the actress or the character, but I fairly cringe every time she comes on, especially if she’s trying to act tough. ugh.
@Jeanette I haven’t seen all of Firefly, but enough to know that I’m going to love it. I’m saving it for sometime when I have downtime and can get caught up in the show like I know I’ll want to.
May 24th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Just wanted to say I’m glad that you’re blogging again. I love Facebook…but it’s all about, the “one-liners” for the most part…so welcome back!
May 25th, 2011 at 8:31 am
Great blog, Colleen! And I think Amanda is right. These shows go against stereotype by making the woman the career-obsessed one. I’m with everyone on loving Castle/Fillion. But I agree with Colleen about the chemistry between Booth & Bones. It’s kinda there because they’re good actors, but it doesn’t entirely convince me. Unlike Jim & Callie on The Glades. Now that’s chemistry! Anyone see that show last season?
May 26th, 2011 at 7:27 am
@Norah I don’t even know what The Glades is…hmm. Now I’m going to have to check it out. I LOOOVE chemistry!
May 26th, 2011 at 7:58 am
Oh, you are in for such a treat!!! I’ve never seen this actor before, but he reminds me of a younger, cuter Nathan Filian. ,-) Treat yourself to watching the pilot here: http://www.aetv.com/the-glades/
May 26th, 2011 at 7:58 am
Oh, you are in for such a treat!!! I’ve never seen this actor before, but he reminds me of a younger, cuter Nathan Filian. ,-) Treat yourself to watching the pilot here: http://www.aetv.com/the-glades/
May 26th, 2011 at 10:25 am
I watched “The Glades” and really like it — the new season starts up in a few weeks.
May 26th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
i’ve actually been thinking about this question all week. how about the relationship between grissom and sarah, or grissom and lady heather or grissom and any other female on csi? that’s the flip side i think. and on the comedy side, there’s the boys and girls of the big bang theory.
May 26th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
oh, and since there seems to be a lot of nathan fillion fans on here, if you haven’t seen “dr. horrible’s sing-a-long blog” (but i am sure you all have), you’ve been missing out on fillion having some fun and chewing the scenery.
May 26th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Just watched Dr. Horrible a few weeks ago!