Alias thinking

[vaznetti]

First things first: go here to killabeez's recent vids, and download This Girl is Taking Bets. It's Sydney, just like she's supposed to be, with all the knife-edge energy, but also a weird kind of humor. Anyway, I thought there was humor. As you know, I'm not the biggest fan of Sydney Bristow, so when I tell you that something is all about Sydney, and very, very good, you can trust me. This vid is very, very good.

Am I the last to know about this vid?

And the song is by Thea Gilmore, whose name I've seen here and there on my flist, and who I think I may need ot hear more of. For some reason I'd got the sense she was all mellow and mopey, but not at all, or at least not here. In fact she has... motion, I guess. Energy.

I guess everyone has the vid they'd make if they could vid -- mine is Sydney and the other women in her life (Francie, Anna, Lauren, maybe Nadia) to "Gotta Get Over Greta" by The Nields. It's got just the right kind of creepy, suppressed homoeroicism and potential violence and betrayal, and you could time the fight sequences to the bit where the drumbeats speed up. Or rather, someone who could vid could do that. Not me.

But anyway, This Girl Is Taking Bets is not that vid. It's a different vid, all about Sydney herself, and very cool.

I've been out for dinner for the last two Thursdays, and have thus seen the second half of the last two episodes. Last week I was just confused, but this week I'm starting to get interested. What I like best here is the contrast between Sydney and the new girl (Rachel?). At first I assumed she'd be a Sydney knock-off, but she's not -- she's much less self-assured, much less driven. I like how lost she seemed in Sydney's world, despite her confidence in the things she knows how to do.

I also like seeing Sydney acting as a mentor -- and almost, as a handler. I like seeing her talk the new girl (who I'll just keep calling Rachel, until someone tells me differently, because I'm a little tipsy and bad with names) through difficult moments. It moves her outside herself, and since the thing that's always bothered me about Sydney is her conviction that she's the center of the universe, I like it. It seems like she's growing up, if you compare how she is now with how she was immediately after Danny's death. (Except that Danny was really dead, and we all know Vaughn's indestructible and coming back by May at the latest.)

That said, was it just me, or did everyone seem a little less competent than usual, tonight?

So I guess Crazy Uncle Arvin is evil again. To which I say, amen. We need Crazy Uncle Arvin out there playing his double game and lying to everyone, bad and good. We also need there to be slightly less anvilicious music as he walks off into the white light, because seriously, who orchestrates this show? Bon Jovi? No, it would be more subtle, then. Of course, there's never enough Arvin and Jack quality time, is there?

I had one other point, but I can't remember it. Oh, yes I very much want it to be Rambaldi in the box. I fear it won't be, though. It could be Danny. Danny would be neat. It won't be Vaughn, obviously enough. Please, let it be Rambaldi. Unless Vaughn is Rambaldi, which would explain a lot.

Comments

[dagnylilytable.livejournal.com]

Thea Gilmore does tend toward energy, actually, although I also like her meditative pace-- I like the ones of those that sound like she's thinking more than sulking.

My favorites are, "Juliet (Keep That in Mind)," "Rags and Bones," and "Heads Will Roll" (From the "Avalanche" album).

"This Girl is Taking Bets" is from "Rules for Jokers," and that song is probably one of my favorites on the album, although I also like, "Saviours and All," "Fever Beats," and "St. Luke's Summer."

Okay. Done babbling about Thea Gilmore now.

[vaznetti]

Hee! Nothing wrong with babbling. I now feel like an idiot for not paying attention sooner.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Oh, I highly highly recommend Thea Gilmore. I can send you some if you like.

[vaznetti]

I would not say no tothat offer, I must admit. I like what I've heard so far.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Here you go, just in case you didn't get the emails from YSI:

Tear it All Down (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2DA9P1CIFJC9P31JUZZ1NMSZC2)

Water to Sky (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1CICVBU4XSRW036ZXLCCCWKFXL)

Mud on my shoes (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2F6RJI9ATAO1F1RUVTSG3O3N0V)

Down to nowhere (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0X6XFFESBQSH3N9MG6XMU8JMK)

And We'll Dance (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=273YGEKRF9CT215P3BBWSDQDD6)

This Girl Is Taking Bets (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0GDFZZD04LE0R02O3FA2W7RXL2)

Saviours and All (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2Q5T9N76Q2KAX39N2BTC88YGFO)

Apparition No. 12 (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=326RNJW9WG3DI3BH5V90NP876Q)

The Things We Never Said (http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2X0CCCCCC6UVO1VVRQL89XYHX7)

[vaznetti]

Thank you! They're all sitting happily in my inbox, in fact, and I'm looking forward to listening to them. (In general, vids are a good way for me to find new artists -- I don't always like music the first time I hear it, but for some reason that doesn't apply to music on vids.)

[cofax7]

That vid premiered at Vividcon, and it was one of my favorites on the VVC dvd set. I think it's fantastic, and it even makes me want to watch the first 2 seasons of Alias.

[vaznetti]

It's a fantastic vid, definitely.

[fourteenlines.livejournal.com]

Okay, I don't even watch Alias anymore, but if Vaughn were Rambaldi? I'd totally start watching again.

[fourteenlines.livejournal.com]

P.S. Also if Marshall were Rambaldi.

[elishavah.livejournal.com]

Nonononono. Mitchell is Rambaldi.

Or at least he was when I was still watching. Does the kid still even exist?

And yeah, I'd pointed out that vid out as "the showcase of Sydney that ABC only wishes they could do" after Vividcon. (Sucking Rez into Highlander was an unexpected, and altogether bizarre, side-effect.)

[vaznetti]

Yes, I put that post in my memories, and have been working through it, starting with this vid.

OK, Mitchell? THat's not a bad thought... the reincarnation of Rambaldi?

[elishavah.livejournal.com]

Can't remember when it was I'd decided that Mitchell was the reincarnation of Rambaldi, but I do remember it making perfect sense at the time.

[rhi]

How did you get Rez into Highlander through an Alias vid? I have to ask, sorry.

[vaznetti]

I think it was just that Killa also has a number of excellent HL vids on that page, and you know how it is, once you see Methos and Duncan together, that's pretty much it.

[rhi]

::grinning:: Good point. They're not as blatant as Jim and Blair, but still....

[elishavah.livejournal.com]

After telling her she had to watch the Sydney vid, I pointed to Killa's site as a source of all-around goodness. Rez went wandering. Next thing I know, she's talking about Highlander DVDs. Soooo not what I intended.

[rhi]

::grinning:: May not be what you intended, but I'm grateful.

[vaznetti]

You know, I should write more of those crossovers, and now that I have that 100 crossovers challenge, I will do so.

But yes, Vaughn as Rambaldi would be such a crazy twist that it would rewrite the whole show in a completely twisted way. Plus, it's not like Vaughn can dies, is it?

[cija.livejournal.com]

At first I assumed she'd be a Sydney knock-off, but she's not -- she's much less self-assured, much less driven. I like how lost she seemed in Sydney's world, despite her confidence in the things she knows how to do.

Yes!- I especially like how she's not Sydney's replacement as wig-wearing sexbot, or at least not yet. And with Syd visibly pregnant and still a field agent, they either have to let her accomplish her spying by some other means than pouty seduction, or let her be a large, pregnant sexbot, and either option makes me very happy.

I like Rachel much better than I did last episode, but it makes me sad, a little, because the show is terrific at writing female characters for Sydney to interact with but terrible at keeping them around, and character continuity is what I want more than anything (the plot continuity being what it is.) I want Sydney to have history with women like she has with Dixon or Vaughn or Sloane. Nadia, Francie, Allison, Lauren before they made her evil, Irina of course - all great and all gone.

Also, with Syd taking the role with Rachel that Vaughn had with her, the romantic foreshadowing seems awfully strong. It's funny, knowing the show's not going to do it, but knowing that if Syd were a man, they'd be flirting angstfully for the rest of the season.

[vaznetti]

I think the problem is that (aside from Irina, these days, but even Nadia) all the other women in Alias are constructed as rivals to Sydney -- and so the plot arc of each season or two generally requires that they be defeated or rendered powerless. Weirdly, although I've seen the attraction between Sydney and Francie, Allison, Anna and Lauren, I don't see it here -- yet!

I would very much like to see Sydney as the heavily pregnant sexbot. It would make the whole seduction trope look completely different.

[ex-greythist387.livejournal.com]

Wow. Thanks for the link and rec--I've seen bits from maybe three Alias eps, as I said at killabees's lj, but the "This Girl is Taking Bets" vid is very cool. Nifty depths.

"Knights of the Round Table" is neatly done as well. ST:TOS counts as my first fandom, even if I didn't know what "fandom" meant at age nine....

[ex-greythist387.livejournal.com]

*killabeez, that was supposed to be

[vaznetti]

Yes, I also liked the ST vid -- so much cheesy, nostalgic fun!

[trixalicious.livejournal.com]

It could be Danny. Danny would be neat.

That is my greatest wish for this show.

And I love the dynamics of the Rachel & Syd relationship. I love that they haven't made Rachel a perfect Syd clone. She's scared and confused, but she's willing (eager?) to do the things that she knows how to do. It made sense to me that she would volunteer to help on the mission, because she needed to prove to herself that she still has value, even though she's in this completely new world. I think my favorite thing about her is that she's not motivated by revenge, but by a sense of duty. That right there is enough of a twist on the Syd character to keep my interest.

[vaznetti]

I think that it's very odd to see so many complaining about how Rachel is not Syd version 2.0 -- as if that's a bad thing! As you say, I think it's the differences between them, even though their situation is so similar, which keep me interested.

Oh yeah. Danny would be so good. But I won't hold my breath.

[se-parsons.livejournal.com]

I have a LOT of Thea Gilmore. I can send you some if you want to try.

I've adored her since infinitemonkeys pimped her quite a while back, now.

[vaznetti]

musesfool just sent me a bunch via YSI, which I have yet to listen to (just got home!), but I may let you know, because "This Girl is Taking Bets" has been running through my head ALL DAY LONG.

[rhymephile.livejournal.com]

Oh *sob*, my beloved Alias. She is no more. Gah, this season. No offense to those who are enjoying it and what not, but I completely stopped watching. The storyline shift was just so abrupt and annoying that I couldn't stand it.

And Miz vaznetti, is there any fandom you're not into? Damn, girl, when do you sleep? ;-)

[vaznetti]

I am the pollyanna of Alias. I cannot be bothered to criticise the bad stuff in it (at least, no more than I criticise the good stuff!). Like you, if I weren't interested, I'd quit watching.

And really, the only TV shows I watch regularly are BSG (when it's on!), Rome and Alias. I'd watch CSI, but I tend to fall asleep in the middle. I fell asleep in the middle of the Nick episodes, believe it or not. It's got to be some kind of weird Pavlovian thing.

Oh, and SG1 is on ALL THE TIME here. In that Law and Order all the time kind of way. So sometimes I see that.