Oh, all right TSCC, but your fandom has a tragic lack Agent Ellison icons.

[beccatoria]

Oh, all right. I still don't love it like burning, but when you start getting vid bunnies (even if they're the ones you're trying to ignore), it's time to call it quits and get an icon.

Plus there's the fact that I appear to be developing a rather large crush on Agent Ellison. It's somewhat embarassing. But not quite as embarassing as the time I realised I fancied Sam Anders. (Yes, I always get embarassed about having crushes on people; I go through denial, then bargaining, then acceptance. No, I'm not sure why either).

But seriously, where are all the Agent Ellison icons? Am I going to be forced to accept that NOT everyone thinks the show should be all about him, and perhaps Sarah? And that every episode ought to feature them having angsty conversations and nuanced portrayals of faith and robots?

I looked for like a whole THIRTY MINUTES and I only found two, and the other one was kinda crappy. It could have been worse, I could have been looking for Shirely Manson Catherine Weaver icons. There weren't any of those. But that's okay cus I don't really like her. Whereas:

AGENT ELLISON, DAMMIT! HE DOES AWESOME THINGS LIKE TEACH ROBOTS ABOUT GOD BECAUSE THAT ALWAYS LEADS TO PEACE AND HARMONY, AMIRITE?

And...there wasn't really any point to this post. Like, at all.

Also: I have inexplicably finished that fic I started about six months ago (where Natalie was alive and stuff), and I'm not really sure how that happened or how it got to be so long. I've become comfortable with being a fanvidder but I still feel odd about writing fiction like this that's not, like, as a result of a prompt or something. Which I'd try to explain but I already established I get embarassed and awkward about the stupidest stuff. So, my goal is to get it beta'd and such by the time the new series starts so it can invalidate it all. GO ME!

Also: Happy New Year to all you suckers who have to wait an extra 9 - 17ish hours for 2009!

Also: I am reading the script for the Caprica pilot. I am, so far, supremely unimpressed but I'm not that far through with it yet. It could redeem itself. More news as it breaks.

Comments

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

This is my only SCC icon and I made it three days after I saw the first episode. :)

I need to watch season two. The finale moment of season one is one of my favourite musical montages of all time.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Ah, if you love the muscial montage at the end of season one, season two kicks off with an awesome one as well!

I was immediately sure that I kind of liked the show after I saw it, but I'm still struggling with whether I think it's good enough for main show style obsession. We'll see... *gets dragged kicking and screaming into the fandom* :p

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Your love of Ellison is cute. He's one of my least favorite parts for me, mainly because he seems too trusting and willing to do what he's told.

Weee! fic!

To be honest, I'm not looking forward to Caprica either. I don't know if I'm going to watch it. I probably will because BSG in any form is BSG.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I think that I love him because I see him not so much as trusting and willing to do what he's told but willing to rationally reasses what he knows in ways that most people are to closed-minded to do. So like, his story arc in the first season going from skeptic to wary believer is interesting to me because it doesn't require him to be portrayed as a naive kook, but also not as someone who will - like most of humanity - believe the most ridiculous stories so as not to have to confront an uncomfortable and incredible truth.

The problem with Catherine Weaver is that Ellison simply doesn't have the data necessary to rationally deduce that what he's doing could be potentially dangerous. He thinks he's found someone who will work with him to prevent what's going to happen, and I'm interested in seeing how he responds now that he knows that Weaver is also using the future technology. Initially at least, that response is to try and instill it with something akin to Asimov's Laws of Robotics a la the Bible, which, all things considered, isn't a bad response to a situation it's too late to prevent.

Plus the fact that the Terminator from the future wanted to kill him (and presumably replace him) suggests that he's someone who hurts Skynet in the long run rather than helping them.

But that's a lot of wordage when I'm not really trying to convince you you're wrong - I do see your point - just...why I love him like I do?

I used to think I'd watch Caprica just because of its connection to BSG. Now I'm thinking I may actively try to avoid watching it because it'll piss me off - not so much the quality of the show in isolation, but it's relationship to BSG. I've finished the script now and I'm going to post a review soon.

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

OMG I LOVE AGENT ELLISON SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sort of just YES to all of this! The show should totally be about him, and maybe Sarah (and, um, I could totally ship them--IJS), and he is so unfairly neglected!!!!! I did find this icon (by sweet_disdain), which is not fabulous but works for me. I'd like sharper colors, and maybe a less straightforward crop, but I'm all about closeups in my icons right now for some reason. (Yet I have no interest in learning to make them myself...). But the thing that's really annoying me is that there seems to be absolutely no Ellison fic AT ALL. I'm planning to rectify this in the new year because OMG ELLISON!!!!!!!!!

Don't be embarrassed! He needs more love! :D

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

Dude. cisaac = Ellison fic. /PSA

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

Oh, awesome! Thank you. I've done a number of community sweeps and found nothing at all, but I always feel sure when I'm looking for something that it must exist somewhere--good to know that in this case it does!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

and, um, I could totally ship them--IJS

me too.

BUT YAY! SOMEONE ELSE WHO LOVES HIM! I am pretty pleased though, with his storyline in S2. Like, obviously, there should be more of it, but since I don't think they're going to write him as just hanging out with the Connors all the time (and though I loved loved loved his brief interactions with them, and while as I mentioned, I could 'ship it, I'm not even completely convinced that the character would fit well in the Connorworld on the show) then I think it's gratifying that he at least has a pretty significant independent storyline rather than just being a recurring character who occasionally gets calls from his ex-FBI buddies or something and helps out. So I'm pleased with it inasmuch as I didn't think they were going to actually do something as dynamic as split him off from the FBI, etc.

Yet I have no interest in learning to make them myself...

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!

I'm totally in love with beautiful icons, but the urge to make them is just...completely absent. So I get terribly irked when the rest of the world just doesn't go and make exactly the icons I want, dammit!

I actually really like this one in terms of colouring and composition. I just wish it were a little more close-up so that you could see who it is. But I'm happy with it for now.

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

So. Where did you look for Agent Ellison icons? 'Cause if nothing else, you could raid my friend cisaac's userpics for 'em. And I have a couple that I've made - just look in my tags for "my icons." :)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I just did a search for TSCC under interests on LJ and then went to the biggest and most recently updated icon comm and searched through the last few pages. It was hardly a conclusive search, cus I got a bit disappointed after finding only two. :(

But yay! Thank for the suggestions for icons! (And HEE, I love yours!) I'm okay with this one for the moment, unless I see one I like significantly more (cus this one is at least pretty), and I'm not ready for multiple icons yet; I don't want to get rid of any that I have. But...we'll see how ridiculous my crush gets... :p

[cosetteferaud.livejournal.com]

I've become comfortable with being a fanvidder but I still feel odd about writing fiction like this that's not, like, as a result of a prompt or something.

Heeee... I discovered BSG a year ago but I got into the fandom recently and... that's definitely weird: now I feel like I want to write fanfiction (I've never read a fic before in my entire life), and make vids and, OMG! I think I have a sort of crush with a fictional character!!!*_* (Kara, by the way, I'm the Kara/Lee shipper type of fan, I guess :-)). Well, like I told you... that is weird :D

IAlso: I am reading the script for the Caprica pilot. I am, so far, supremely unimpressed.

Oh, please, let us know what you think about it... I'm not looking forward to "Caprica", by the way... but I think I'll watch it because I don't know what I'm going to do without my "Battlestar" :-)

And Happy New Year for you, too!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I think it's also weird for me because I'm interested in writing independently of fan fiction. Fandom was what got me into video editing, so having my greatest acheivements in that field be vid-related isn't weird to me. It's why I do it. But fandom most certainly didn't get me into writing and so in some ways I suppose I feel odd that I wrote this instead of something original. But...I really wanted to write it and generally when that happens, it's best to write it rather than sit on it for stupid, arbitrary reasons.

I'll totally let you know what I think about Caprica. I've finished the script now and am going to write a review pretty soon. Maybe even today, time-permitting. :)

I think I have a sort of crush with a fictional character!!!*_* (Kara, by the way, I'm the Kara/Lee shipper type of fan, I guess :-)).

HA! Yeah, that's like, the FIRST thing you need to get used to in fandom. That will happen often. For me my BSG crush is totally Laura Roslin. She's just frakking amazing. Though Kara is pretty awesome too.

I should probably warn you that I'm not a Kara/Lee shipper - I'm one of those crazy people who totally thinks Apollo should have hooked up with the President and like Kara better with Sam! But I respect your right to your wrong opinion. :p (Actually, while I don't ship them, I do really love seeing them together and firmly believe that they love each other - I just think it's healthier for both of them when that's best friends/sibling type love. Also, I'm pretty convinced that a Kara/Lee relationship is where the show is headed.)

[cosetteferaud.livejournal.com]

I think it's also weird for me because I'm interested in writing independently of fan fiction.

I can perfectly understand you: I love writing, but I had always thought that fanfiction was really pointless because, well, it is something non original! But then I started reading fic, and I loved so many stories and... well, now I find myself wanting badly to write fic (and I feel weird about that :-) ).

Oh, yeah... Roslin is an amazing character. I love her development throughout the seasons: from the reluctant leader to the woman that wants to believe that her sacrifice will save humanity, and is willing to make the hardest decisions for the welfare of the human race (though her decisions are very controversial and sometimes she looks like a tyrannical leader, I guess). Yeah, I like her, because I can understand her (even though many people I know believe she is an hypocrite, by the way...).

Oh, I know that you are not a Kara/Lee shipper (I've read a lot of your BSG-related posts), don't worry about that!:-) I also think that Apollo has always been a better character when he is in the political scenario (S1, for instance), and he has an amazing chemistry with Roslin (it was a shame that he broke up with her in S2).
And I don't dislike at all Kara and Sam... but I can't help it, I just love Kara and Lee dynamics and relationship: the mixture of friends/siblings/lovers feelings... In fact, I think they would have a very healthy relationship if they finally accepted what they feel for each other and gave them a chance to have a real relationship... But I agree with you (and I'm happy for that) that Kara/Lee relationship is the endgame for them.

PS. And apologies if I can't be more eloquent... English is not my native language (I'm Spanish) and I feel so clumsy sometimes :-)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

You should totally give writing fan fiction a try if you're interested. That is, after all, what it's all about. "Hmm, I wonder what it would be like if..."

I'm glad you enjoy Roslin's character. I really think she's fascinating and pretty unique on television today. I've heard people refer to her as a hypocrite, though thankfully not that many - it surprises me that you know a lot of people who think so. It doesn't surprise me people think she's tyrannical because that's definitely something that's a part of her story arc. But hypocritical? I can't associate her with that word because she's always so honest about what she's doing and her motivations. Like, even when what she's doing is horrible, she doesn't lie or try to hide it, and there's always the same motivation: save humanity. It strikes me as the opposite of hypocritical - she never does anything she isn't willing to a) do herself or b) do to herself.

I actually agree with you that Kara and Lee would probably have a healthy relationship if either of them could manage to be honest and work at it for a few minutes. I guess I also just feel a little like the 'ship has sailed for me and that there are other healthy relationships they could be having that I personally find more interesting. But I'm in the fortunate position that I don't hate the pairing so it's all good. :)

For someone who speaks English as a second language, your English is fantastic! I understand you perfectly and you are very eloquent.

Also I see from your LJ profile you live in Barcelona? I went there with my high school on an art trip when I was 17 (8 years ago now, wow, time goes quickly) and it's just beautiful there. The cathedral designed by Gaudi (the Segrada Familia - I think I spelled that wrong)? INCREDIBLE.

Plus, Catalonia! Hooray for minority languages/nations within larger countries! (I'm from Wales in the UK).

[beerbad.livejournal.com]

Personally I find Ellison to be totally blah and do not understand all the love fandom apparently has for him. The super religious and moral black man thing just does not do it for me. :/

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can get how that sounds bad on paper. Maybe it even is bad. I think the reason that, for me, it doesn't set of OMG STEREOTYPE alarms is the way his religion is portrayed within the show.

As someone who's nonreligious and even actively hostile to using it as a moral barometer in social contexts the way Ellison does, I'm still convinced by both his faith and his existence as a rational and moral person independent of that fact, even though it informs his behaviour (or rather, he uses it to understand his behaviour).

It's interesting to me because generally if you're going to have a religious character on television, they are either Wrong and Short-Sighted and Judgemental, or they are Magically Right because it's God and being Religious makes you Better.

And I really don't feel that Agent Ellison comes down on one side or the other of that fence. I never get the sense he's moral because he's religious. In fact I get the sense that he recommits in some ways to his faith because of the events he witnesses, but that he doesn't use his faith as an excuse to simplify them. He uses it as a framework through which to understand his world and his own instinctive reactions to it, but never a rigid framework, and never to the detriment of rationality?

Like, I'm sure other arguments exist, and as I said, I'm not even sure they'd be wrong. But I guess that's why I actually like the super religious aspect of it. Because as a non-religious person he's one of the few super religious characters from an essentially conservative religious background who actually makes me want to understand that mentality and even respect it?

[asta77.livejournal.com]

Cameron still remains my favorite character, but I'm growing fonder of Ellison with each episode. Catherine would be my least favorite and John I find rather 'meh', but, like BSG, I don't actively hate any character.

I'm skipping reading the Caprica script because I'm fearing disappointment. In fairness, I wasn't blown away by the BSG mini so it's possible the series could end up being better. Still, given feelings on prequels in general and worries about retconning I'm not very enthused about the project...as you know. ;)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Cameron still remains my favorite character, but I'm growing fonder of Ellison with each episode. Catherine would be my least favorite and John I find rather 'meh', but, like BSG, I don't actively hate any character.

Yeah, I agree with your assessment of Catherine and John. Though I hate Catherine less now; I think that her acting limitations are being used in a better fashion or perhaps she's just receiving less screentime. Also I think Agent Ellison's presence makes her a lot more tolerable.

I actually neglected to mention that I also really like Cameron. She can also stay on the show. Actually my potential vid bunny is probably going to be from her POV, roughly. If I ever make it. I think I'm mainly wary of Cameron because she's so fascinating but I feel kind of off-balance because my mind keeps comparing her to cylons which she clearly isn't. And I have to go into all these new weird questions about robot sentience when she's a lot further behind on that evolutionary scale. Which is all kinds of interesting in a good way, but also kind of uncomfortable. Which is also good, but...means that I avoid her when I'm trying not to get headaches. ;)

Though it's worth noting that the Cameron episodes of TSCC are consistantly my favourites.

[silverblade219.livejournal.com]

There are a few of Ellison and Weaver here http://community.livejournal.com/zeskimo/tag/tv:+the+sarah+connor+chronicles

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

Yay Agent Ellison!

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I'm always afraid they'll kill him eventually, but then I tell myself, no, he's the only black character, if they kill him it'd look like racism.

TSSC... I don't love it with a burning passion, either, but I'm enjoying it. I think that's the right word. It engages me enough to want to watch the next ep, and check out the occasional vid (I recommend LithiumDoll's "Human Behaviour" and, err, a totally amazing vid by, I think, kiki_miserichick, whose title I have forgotten - it's a song by Laura Veirs. There's also a pretty nice one called 'Paris Is Burning' by I don't know who. They're all in the tags at vidding, I think.)

I suspect that if I allowed myself to think more about it, the show would annoy me, but I'm watching it very much like 'normal' people watch TV, without thinking too much about it. I've always had a weak spot for the Terminator universe, but in a 'guilty pleasure' kind of way, and I'm comfortable adding another version of Terminator to the guilty pleasure vault of my brain, where all the stuff that requires a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief is stored. *g*

Re: Yay Agent Ellison!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Also, if they killed him, I would cry.

I guess I know what you mean about "normal person TV" style watching. It's kind of the way I used to watch Heroes which was nice because then I wasn't quite so crushed when I had to quit it for becoming awful.

The problem with TSCC is, I think, that slowly it's getting into my brain on a deeper level of being interested but it's not like, flat-out obsessiveness like I have for BSG or Farscape or something. And my brain does not know how to handle this. Because I don't know the series well enough to get all thinky about it, nor am I sure I want to because I have a sneaking suspicion I couldn't make it make sense. But my brain dislikes not being able to do that too. :/

I GUESS WE'LL SEE.

Re: vids - I hae actually seen Human Behaviour and Paris is Burning (omg that vid is awesome!) I think I've probably seen the kiki_miserychic one too? I've seen a very cool one by her, "Does Cameron dream of Electric Sheep," which may be the one you're referring to? (Can't remember the name of the song, offhand.) Though she also recently made a cool one about Sarah - Ding! Dong! (http://kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com/142043.html).

Re: Yay Agent Ellison!

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

>The problem with TSCC is, I think, that slowly it's getting into my brain on a deeper level of being interested but it's not like, flat-out obsessiveness like I have for BSG or Farscape or something. And my brain does not know how to handle this. Because I don't know the series well enough to get all thinky about it, nor am I sure I want to because I have a sneaking suspicion I couldn't make it make sense. But my brain dislikes not being able to do that too. :/

This is why I'm lucky that my main approach to fandom is mostly emotions-based... I've always had fandoms - primary, i.e. active ones (Highlander), and secondary, i.e. passive, occasional ones (Terminator and a dozen more) - that really aren't all that great, or don't make that much sense etc. As long as there's the right emotional hook, I can ignore a lot of nonsense, suspend my disbelief, and just enjoy.

But yeah, I do try pretty hard not to think about TSSC too much. *g*

Re: vids: Yes, "Does Cameron..." is the one I meant. Thanks for the rec for the Sarah one; downloaded, and will watch at home. :-)