This was something I wrote awhile ago, during the "big discussion" on Unovis' LJ, and forgot about. Thought I'd post it now. Another discussion topic I'm interested in is looking at Methos as a flawed character.
Been cleaning the house and thinking about HL (what else. Damn the Jimmy scene outtakes!) So, before I move on to cleaning the bathroom... snippets.
Um, methos-centric, (do I write anything else??) but from Duncan's POV. All part of the long epic that sits on my hard drive and mocks me. All take place before/during/after the Warren Cochrane episode.
At this point all pieces are unrevised/edited and date over a span of an embarrassing number of years, so the quality is uneven. Probably hard to get anything from short snippets, but I'd appreciate any comments on the characterization of DM.
I want to write some Duncan, but am nervous about it. I've written him before, in the long evil story that shall never be finished, and in some other unposted snippets, but I've never felt I've gotten his character and voice down. It's why I avoid him. Not out of hatred for his character - the opposite really. I respect his character so much but just never get a handle on him well enough to get him on the page. I understand Methos and Joe and Amanda, can more or less become them in my head. I just can't see through Duncan's eyes. I know intellectually how his character would probably act given a situation, but it's not the same as feeling him, as a writer. Grr.
Maybe I need to get more of the series on DVD and re-immerse myself.
Mal complains about that nagging conscience of his, even though Book loves River probably more than anybody besides Simon and Kaylee. And Mal. "I could have left her there. I had an out. Hell, I had every reason in the 'verse." There's a spooky image of him, crouched over her, unconscious in the pantry, thinking of all the ways you could kill a sleeping girl, and what happens if you don't. .... (cut some movie dialogue) Mal -- now scared to death, because Book only speaks when he's got a powerful truth -- floats that, as usual, Book's in with the Alliance and its works is powerful interesting, and Book responds, also as usual, that he wasn't born a Shepherd, and that's all you're getting: "Have to tell me about that, sometime," says Mal. "No, I don't," says Book. And that's maybe the bravest thing about this movie: he doesn't. And he won't get to. And we get to suck on that. And that is good, because the point of him is: you can change it. You can be reborn. What he is, is what Mal deserves. And that's only true if we don't get access. It only means anything if we're denied.
Not to conflate my fannish obsessions, but this last part reminds me of discussions of Methos and Darius and how they changed. Whether Methos redeemed himself and atoned enough, and why he didn't tell MacLeod. This understanding of Book gives me a new possible insight on why Methos didn't tell Mac. It's a very similar situation in some ways. Book is a priest, so could be seen as doing more atoning than Methos... but we really have little idea what Methos was up to from the time he left the Horsemen to the 1800s. And he did spend some time with the monks in the boat... ;)
Book is pretty similar to Darius in some respects. Darius didn't particularly get into details with Mac about his warlike past, though he's more forthcoming than Book.
Very interesting, thought-provoking, and bizarre (to me) conversation at pat_t's place. It's always odd when you realize your understanding of a character, and even what happened in a given scene, is diametrically opposite to some of your fellow fans. Eye opening. I'm glad to have explored these different viewpoints, even if I strongly disagree with many of them. It helps me to understand my own interpretations.
This isn't mocking - but I really feel the conversation would have been clearer if everyone had gone and watched "Timeless" first. Because there were several comments that seemed to me as if the poster was coming from pure conjecture and fanon, having little to do with what was on the screen. Again, just IMHO. The tone of the conversation was very respectful, and I appreciate pat_t's patience and willingness to continue the discussion despite our differences.
Edit 2/23/06 I went back and re-read the beginning to Pat's post and she does say that she wants to know if we feel Methos is heads-over-heels for Alexa. So my insistence on canon was a bit unfair, I suppose. Don't know why I got worked up so about it. Like I said in the thread somewhere, I'm focusing on the aftermath of Alexa's death in my writing right now so it's close to the surface of my emotions.
A summing up of some of the ideas from the morality discussion below.
The discussion has wound down, I'm wondering if this summary makes
sense to people. I'd still like to discuss Amanda, Darius, Fitz,
and anyone else. Rebecca maybe?
These two were hard too. I paired them because they are both hugely important to Methos. We don't see enough of Alexa to get a good sense of her personality, so her card refers more to Methos' view of or relationship to her.
Duncan: The Chariot
balance of body and spirit. victory through self-mastery. focused
intent. rising above temptation. self-knowledge. strong center.
mastering emotions, impulses. discipline, power, authority. healthy
ego. firm control, strong will. control of environment. trained.
using emotions for greater good. defeating inner enemies. taking
action, making changes. confidence. transcending restrictions. warrior.
strong, central self. balanced. groundedness. autonomous. the activist.
leadership. Hero, rescuer. "freedom is achieved by combining veratility
and mastery, exertion and steadfastness". "alliance of the trained
intellect, disciplined body, and practical understanding served by the
optimism of youthful energy". "deliberate assumption of
responsibilities". "relationship between control and passion, intellect
and instinct". balance of intelligence and feeling.
Alexa: The Star
regaining hope. inner strength. generosity, sharing. "giving back what
you have received". opening your heart. "offering with no reservations,
holding nothing back". "In our darkest moments, we need to know that
there is hope,that there is light at the end of the tunnel." "soft
radiating
glow that warms and comforts, rather than burning" . faith. trust. Kuan
Yin. "conscious submission to fate". preparation for initiation.
overcoming despair. sharing fears. beginning transformation. handling
with grace. giving without thought of return. renewal. "doing the right
thing in the right moment". "giving up control and the need for
security." eternity. "reconciled to adverse
circumstances"
contemplative
frustrated
devious
bouncy