More Roswell: Yet more angst

[dangermousie]

More on Roswell. You know, in most shows I go to fanfic for h/c. Not in this one. There is so much angst here, I'd need fluff to read.

Of all the characters on Roswell, I feel the sorriest by far for Max. Liz is also heartbroken, but at least she knows all the facts, she knows Max loves her etc etc.

As to Max? He must be near collapse level. It’s doubly hard for him, not just because Liz is his OTP and he loves her truly madly deeply blah blah, but because he did put her on a pedestal, and (as far as he knows) she has gone and slept with Kyle, not even someone she is in love with, just for the heck of it.



I don’t think I have ever felt sorrier for him than when the Royal Four (huh. Stupid name but easier then typing out all their names every time) are meeting the morning after to discuss yet another evil crisis that will destroy them all blah blah and Max is just sitting there, completely drawn into himself, pretty near catatonic state. And of course he has to see Liz in Congresswoman’s office and the way he tries not to look at her is just awful. And then of course because they like to torture me for plot reasons, Liz, Max, Tess and Isabel have to drive for 8 or so hours together and I love the scene where Isabel and Tess are asleep, and Liz is driving and Max is just sitting straight up in the back, not saying a word and just staring and staring and staring at her. And tells her he hasn’t been able to sleep since he saw her and Kyle (which means he hasn’t had any sleep in around 48 hours, which is pretty near hallucinations level and makes him even more strung out, argh!).

And of course he confronts her later that night and basically begs her to tell her that what he saw wasn’t true. (I really do think that if Liz was Evil Slut and really did sleep with Kyle, she could just then come up with the stupidest explanation ever and he would take it because the alternative is unthinkable). And she looks at him and she isn’t angry or frightened or anything, just really sad and you can tell how much she is hurting for him. Because she has to keep breaking his heart over and over and over and it’s killing her a bit too.

But I love that even after all of that, even after Liz basically told him “Yes, I slept with Kyle. Yes, you were wrong about me” when Tess, Max and Liz are surrounded by baddies du jour, the first thing out of Max’s mouth? He asks them to let Liz go because she is human and they don’t want her. If you have to cause an apocalypse for the love of any guy (see “The End of the World”), Max would be pretty high on the list. And of course when he gets hurt, Liz jumps right to his side. Guuuh, there is enough true love angst in there for 15 romance novels.

But I think after that confrontation, he gets a little bit of a respite, at least enough to function. I am in the middle of the ep right now, where all the humans disappear, and I love the scene where Liz and Maria walk into Crashdown (they were out of town) and Maria runs straight into Michael’s arms and he hugs her really tightly (awwwwww!), and Liz just stands there and Max just looks at her but you could see him just visibly relax. Of course, the poor girl. She has a horribly raw deal as well. No way would I have the strength of character to do what she does. And when Max touches Tess to comfort her and she bolts into her bedroom because I don’t think she can deal (and how will she deal if they do get together?) and Max follows? (I love that he is always noticing what she is doing and vice versa. Love love love love). And they almost have a mini conversation (and I adore that he feels guilt about what happened to everyone. Boy has an overdeveloped sense of responsibility and is going to have a nervous breakdown really soon) and there is at least a semblance of normalcy for a second or so and then he sees her bed and flashes to Kyle and Liz in her bed and his face closes off and he just bolts out of there. God. The guy started the show already serious and lonely. The way he is going, he is going to end up a basket case with more issues than a magazine.


And speaking of issues, I have issues with the Michael and Courtney vibe. Michael is being nice to her because she did save his life and what not, but it better not be anything else. Because, Michael/Maria is my other OTP and no way will I deal with supreme angst in TWO couples at once. I love her reaction to when she discovers Courtney’s shrine to him. LOL. I love Maria because she just wisecracks and doesn’t give up. And Michael, try as he might to hide it, completely loves her back (I love how he just holds on to her in the disappeared people ep).

I love the fact that even in the past incarnation Michael was so supremely loyal to Max that even when he had the chance to be made king, he refused. Way to go. He really does have honor and integrity and caring and all that stuff he tries to show so hard he doesn’t. And I love the fact that he tries to take care of Courtney and get her a new skin etc etc (as long as there isn’t Michael/Courtney because then I will have to hurt someone). And he baked a cake, and was defensive about it. Awwww ;)

Isabel, Isabel, Isabel. You continue to annoy. You found out about Villandra? Why would you cheat on Michael, anyway, but that’s another matter. Not to mention betray your brother and your “race” (which implies it’s not a revolution per se, especially when Nicholas mentions they have a new king, the former rebel leader). How about telling Max and Michael, huh? Especially when you find out that it’s you the shedding aliens are looking for? Come ONNNNN.

Also, I assume everyone and their grandma knows she was the traitor (all the skin people talk about it as if it's common knowledge), so whose bright idea was it to send her along with the three people she betrayed? Huh?

Tess? Go away. Quick. I find her reaction to the believed Kyle/Liz very illuminating. Liz apologizes to her, because Tess might have fancied him, and Tess is completely surprised and replies “Why? You just slept with him.” I don’t think she’s the girl for Max at all.

Comments

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Michael really is a white knight, no matter how much he tries to convince everyone otherwise. He might be rude and callous sometimes, but that doesn't mean he won't put himself in harms way and get himself killed for you. Very much an underlying nobility to Michael. Yeah, he can be incredibly hard to deal with, but the bottom line is that he's an extremely honorable guy.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Basically, he'd be really hard to live with, but good to have at your back. And I love how he isn't even a bit tempted by Courtney's "You should be King blah blah" speech. No, he goes off to rescue Max.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

He always reminded me of Mulder in ways. I'm not sure if it's just because Fehr rather favors Duchovny or what, but the characters have similar personalities to me.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen X-files, but I must say that your icons are making me slobber a bit at my computer...

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I LOVED X-Files in high school. I watched that show religiously and shipped Scully/Mulder like it was going out of style. Still do. It was my first ship, honestly. Mulder was wonderfully snarky and playful and reminds me of a grown up Michael. He and Scully had a wonderful Ron/Hermione Maria/Michael type of relationship. They bickered like cats and dogs but were completely devoted to each other. Doesn't hurt that Fehr looks like a younger model version of Duchovney.

Fehr does it for me on looks like no other guy. If I had to pick out what a guy should look like in a catalog, I'd pick Fehr. I love other actors more, but Fehr just does it for me physically. I always went for the longer haired more punk looking guys.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You know which Michael scene really got to me? When he apologized to Maria and stretched his hands out and she put hers into his. Awwwwww.

Also liked how he was all for violence with that new UFO owner. He's got quite a hard edge (and I love how Max flashbacked to all the violence against them first season and didn't want to be like that).

I also think that Michael and Liz are doing the same thing, i.e. pushing away someone they love out of misplaced sense of loyalty. Guuuuh. I love how Maria (and Max) have the good sense to think it's stupid and push back. (Though I think Maria would have an easier time of it. Max was in denial the poor boy, and wants to have everything the same).

Heee, and he's got a motorbike! Woo.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Well, Michael is the more "authorative action" one of the two. He doesn't like killing people, but I don't think he has qualms with beating the crap out of someone when they get in his way. That's a beta male for you. He doesn't do the planning and thinking through, but he can take down who he's been told to.

I do like that even though he's awkward about the interpersonal relationships thing, he still instinctively knows what to do and isn't afraid to do it. For all his "mush is stupid" talk, he seems to have no issues with people seeing him physically being sweet with Maria when he makes an effort.

I don't think you'd like X-Files, but you'd love the relationship.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, I don't think Michael overthinks anything. And he'll do what's necessary even though he'd feel guilty about it later (as with Pierce).

people seeing him physically being sweet with Maria when he makes an effort

I love how matter of fact he is about it when they are together. None of that "tough guys don't show feelings" type stuff. He isn't afraid to be physically affectionate in public which is very sweet.

I also like how he keeps looking for father figures and I think because of that bonds a bit with Valenti.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

The thing with Michael being affectionate with Maria is doesn't even seem to think about it contradicting his "image" (I think that's more a Fehr touch than how the character is written). He is tough physically and mentally (not so much emotionally), but he loves Maria, knows what she needs and I don't think he has any issue with letting people know that she's "his" girl (in fact I think he's extremely proud of her). He's doing it not so much because he wants to impress Maria as because he just wants to do it. Michael can be one hilarious contradiction sometimes. He's unwaveringly loyal, but he needs a long leash.

And Michael is always going to have father issues, though I think he'd be a good one if push ever came to shove. He just never has the family base and that eats at him.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is not very secretive at all. He is pretty much an open book. And he loves Maria so he just shows it.

Yeah, I think he wouldn't be a bad father. Certainly, he really goes into the overprotective brother routine with Isabel (at least one thing on which he and Max agree on).

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

He's actually worse about Isabel sometimes than Max seems to be and when he gives the little speech to Maria about where ever she and Liz are going he's going too because he'll be damned if he's not there to protect her, guh. He's hard to deal with, but the boy's worth it.

And Michael couldn't do subtle if it hit him over the head. He's just unfailingly blunt and that's how it is.

For me, Michael is like Anakin without the blood lust and the snotty attitude.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Michael is like Anakin without the blood lust and the snotty attitude.

You know what? You are perfectly right. I do think it's because he didn't spend his childhood being either profesied as the Chosen One or fighting various life forms.

I do like how he couldn't do a pretty speech if his life depended on it, but he has all these really practical ways of showing affection. Basically, if you want him to bring you flowers and chocolates, you might as well slit your throat now, but he will be there to take care of you forever.

He is blunt, but I think Maria is too. Neither of them could bottle things up the way Max and Liz can.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I like the openness of their relationship. If he has something on his mind, he's going to say and he's terrible at reading people, so Maria has to tell him what she's thinking too (Anakin had reading people issues too, but his difference is that no one was up front with him like Michael's friends are with him). I like people who just lay their cards on the table. I think that's why Maria has an easy time figuring out how emotionally vulnerable Michael is. No matter how he tries to hide stuff, he's not good at it.

If Anakin had had the same family life and friend base that Michael did, I think he would have turned out something like that. Socially awkward, but genuinely sweet and straightforward with a little bit of attitude and sarcasm.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I do agree that Michael was luckier than Anakin. He had no one whose primary occupation was to play with his head a la Palpatine. Michael knows that no matter what Isabel and Max are always there for him. I don't think Anakin realized how much Obi Wan cared for him until it was too late (and it doesn't help that like Michael he has a strong interest in father figures).

They both seem to buck against authority (Anakin with Obi, Michael with Max) but when push comes to shove, Michael's primary characteristic seems to be loyalty. He might rail at Max and fight with him and what not, but no matter what, he'll always do everything to try to save him.

And yes, Maria doesn't seem to mind the fact that he is terrible at reading people. It gives her a bit of an advantage even. And I love that as long as she know his heart is hers, she doesn't mind his awkward behavior. She will run after him and have no problem doing that, which I think someone like Michael needs. She only backs off when he thinks she doesn't love her.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Ironically I think Anakin's primary instinct is loyalty too. He's loyal to Obi Wan as he can be until the end, when he's trying to be loyal to Padme. And I think out of Max and Michael, it would be Michael who would rip the place apart to save Maria. It's that volatile nature both of them have. Horrified as he is of it, Michael would go bad if he had to. It'd tear him apart later, but he'd do it.

And I think part of Michael's lack of mush with Maria is that he sees her as an equal. If he doesn't need it, then why does she? I don't think it crosses his mind initially that she's a girl and might want that. And after she gets adjusted to him, I think Maria realizes that she's never going to get the wine and roses, but he's never going to give up on her.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes. As "The End of the World" proved, both Max and Liz would give each other up to save the world. It would kill them, but they would do it. Michael? I don't think he could.

If he was in Anakin situation, I could see him do an Anakin, I suppose (I just can't see him squaring against Max to the death, but with Anakin it just spiralled out of control). Max? He would talk it over with Liz and she'd forbid him to do Sithly stuff and he'd try everything, but he won't become Sith, and then she'd die and he'd kill himself, and I am getting all depressed :)

Actually, I think Palpy could get both of them, because the whole Sith thing is such a slow insidious slide, but that's another point.

If he doesn't need it, then why does she?

And when he tries to do something "romantic" it just doesn't work (see the double date) because his brain just isn't wired that way and it doesn't come naturally at all.

I just love the fact that he finds Maria and they are happy together (ultimately) because he might not be good at people skills, but he is a genuinly lovely person who deserves to be loved and who can truly love back.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

He would talk it over with Liz and she'd forbid him to do Sithly stuff and he'd try everything, but he won't become Sith, and then she'd die and he'd kill himself, and I am getting all depressed :)


LOL. Actually I think they'd just find another way. They're willing to give each other up for a while to find the "right" way to do it.

Not so much Michael. While he is willing to let Maria go her own way by her choice, if someone threatens her there's going to be hell to pay. There's not going to be so much talking over stuff with him.

I think that aspect of the personality has to do with NOT having love for so long that when they finally do get it, if someone tries to take it from them they fly off the handle. Michael is obviously more grounded than Anakin ever was, but if pushed to the edge, I could see Michael being willing to do the same thing if it saved his loved ones.

And I'm sorry, I find the mental image of Evil!Michael rather sexy. Me and my choices in men.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I find the mental image of Evil!Michael rather sexy

Heh. Maybe he could just be Future!Michael as it appears that the dress code of the future according to Roswell (and every other scifi show) is leather, leather, and more leather.

if someone threatens her there's going to be hell to pay. There's not going to be so much talking over stuff with him.

Yes, he is very impulsive....

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I love that episode with the disappearing humans, even if it was only for the glowing penis kryptonite that Maria has to remove. Hilarious.

As for Villandra, well I can picture it not being common knownledge back then. But now, 50 years or so later, with Villandra's side having won, she could easily be part of every history book.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Haven't gotten to the end of the ep yet. Had to go to work. How dare they? :)

I like it for the angst.

I don't know, I'd imagine at least the Mummy would know about the betrayal. Hmmm.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

Maybe they knew that somebody had betrayed them, but didn't know who and just assumed it was someone outside of the family. Must suck to be Villandra, betray your family and your race for your lover and then be forced to go into exile with your family just to keep up appearances and not to be found out.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Well, was she even alive at that point? It's pretty clear Michael and Max were dead. Must be so bizarre...

[umassbluangel.livejournal.com]

harvest was a REALLY bad episode except for the part where max confronts liz. it is heartbreaking.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. The rest of the ep was OK (I didn't think it was that bad. The birthday ep was the most boring one of the season so far. I kinda liked the idea of a town full of fake people), but what really got me were all the Max-Liz related scenes. Guuuuh.

[glitterprinxess.livejournal.com]

if you watch season three you'll find out about what really happened in their past life..

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to get to it. This show is like heroin, instantly addictive!