Veronica Mars dissatisfaction, the hotness that is Arjun Rampal and my Fushigi Yuugi date

[dangermousie]

I am losing interest in Veronica Mars. It has gone from "must be home at 9 and make sure the phone doesn't ring" to "I'll tape it and that way if I am late it's OK" to "I'll tape it and watch it at some point." Blah. I think part of it is the hiatus, but BSG had a much longer one and as soon as it restarted my love was rekindled. It's not really the lack of Logan/Veronica either because honestly? It never was a huge chunk of the show and I've jumped ship anyway seeing that neither of the characters seems to be interested in the other. Moreover, I have to like both characters in the ship and I don't like Veronica much now. And that I think is the key. I love shows centered around one character, because you can really get to know him or her but there is a downfall with that: the character has to be fascinating (even if not likeable) for you to continue. When it works, it can be amazingly satisfying. The reason Farscape is one of the best things I've ever seen is because John Crichton is one of the two most amazing fictional characters I've ever come across and I couldn't get enough of him and his saga. And Veronica of first season was a great heroine to be interested in. She wasn't always likeable but she was unusual, interesting, strong. Veronica of season 2 is BBB: bitchy (OK) bland and boring. She is like any average girl only meaner but seeing that VM doesn't dish out "Mean Girls" levels of nasty, bitchy alone isn't enough to keep my interest. She's done a number of actions this season that are not only wrong (heck, they are not even always wrong) but make me lose interest in her as a person: avoidance, conformity, shallowness. And ultimately, much as I might like Logan, or Cliff, or Cassidy, this is a Veronica Mars show, and if I don't like the lead, the rest of it is ultimately meaningless and the show becomes unsatisfying.

Then there is also the move of VM into soap land. Teenage fathers? Coma babies? I love a good soap (look at me rave about MARS (heh, irony!) lately) but those are shows explicitly designed with different format and expectations. Soapy type shows don't deal with realism by their very nature. They go the route of hyper-realism through dwelling on emotions. It works fine in that format and when done well can be lovely (MARS!). But VM doesn't work as a soap because in its case the soap plots are not combined with soap atmosphere or dwelling on character impact and emotions so the whole thing comes across as a giant malaprop, a monster hybrid neither one thing nor the other, with silly plot twists but no emotional angsty revelling in it that is the soap pay off, and with pretensions that this is realistic. Not to mention that when one watches VM one does not expect soap, any more than when one watches a sci fi show like BSG does one expect a fantasy episode about them all dancing in Swiss meadows. I love dancing in Swiss meadows in a Bollywood film, but in BSG it would be out of place. Ditto for VM and soap.

The world of VM is not a real world any more. Don't even get me started on the bizarre view of the legal system, medical conditions, and FBI competence we've seen in VM lately. Rob Thomas fix it, or I am gone.

In completely unconnected news and by popular demand (well, 7 votes constitute popular in my deluded mind) here are pictures of Arjun Rampal, the most gorgeous man in Bollywood, IMO.





Artistic:



Bare-torsoed:



Black and White:





Wet!





Just Plain Hot:

















Rent Boy:






Screw the mesh shirt. Check out the leather pants!



In Other News:





Who Is Your Fushigi Yugi Mystery Date?


Hosted by theOtaku.com: Anime. Done right.


I have never even seen Fushigi Yuugi but that quiz was beyond hilarious. Seriously. Makes me thankful for my spouse.

Comments

[syliasyliasylia.livejournal.com]

Arjun!!! *dies*

I share your disatisfaction with the last Veronica Mars, it was totally sub-par... I just wanted to slap Veronica!! What was she thinkin!? I'll keep on watching it anyway, I hope it will get better... please, pretty please cherry on top!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, Arjun is beyond guuuuh worthy.

I've been getting more and more disenchanted by VM. There have been a few brilliant eps this season (Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang, Rat Saw God, Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner) but most of them have just disappointed me.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I think it's hard to judge how much of the soapiness of VM was done to faciliate TD/Duncan being able to leave the show/if the soapiness will change now that they have finished that.

I think the difference between Season 1 and 2 really was that Veronica was on a mission. A mean, nasty mission of personal revenge. Now that they have resolved all those plots the new Veronica just doesn't have the same drive anymore.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think a show can switch direction if it's done gradually and believably and organically. I keep bringing up Farscape, but it really is a good example. Crichton started the show as someone who wanted to get home but by the end he's been home and didn't fit in and it was all about Aeryn for him. And I believed it because it was a gradual shift with plenty of foundation.

I think VM is foundering because how do you make something as crucial as life-changing as Lilly's murder again? You can't. But I do hope at least the soapiness will be gone.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I think the shift in Veronica Mars was so sudden because they were afraid that they wouldn't be able to come back for a second season. So they tied up all the plot points (Lilly's murder, Veronica's rape, Veronica's paternity) by the end of season 1 and had to start from scratch in season 2.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Probably. But now it's left them adrift and scrambling.

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

I was never a fan of VM,  I like it so I tune in and that's okay for me. You're very right about the soap aspect... Its non-fitting and unrealisting for this show ;)

She is like any average girl only meaner...

I comepletely agree and she's just not interesting enough, she's too bland as you said.

Don't even get me started on the bizarre view of the legal system, medical conditions, and FBI competence .

Well the show has noir aspects and those are big parts of the noir genre, but I get what you mean.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Well the show has noir aspects and those are big parts of the noir genre, but I get what you mean

Yes, it's not the corruption that bothers me, it's the lack of realism. E.g. the coma baby storyline? Hah. Or the fact about the baby's custody or that Logan would be in trouble for what at most would be viewed as a self-defense killing? Yeah.

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

I know... again the soupy aspects... it bothers me too...
Yeah and I'm a little worried about the future storyline for Logan..*crosses fingers*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I like Logan the best so far so hopefully not too much soap for the boy.

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

me too, his scenes are always interesting ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Guuuuh, I love Holiday.

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

me too *g*

[sundevotee.livejournal.com]

Or the fact about the baby's custody or that Logan would be in trouble for what at most would be viewed as a self-defense killing?

Or how there is almost no solid evidence against Aaron for the murder of Lilly. Or how OAV clearly showed that the writers have no idea of how juries are supposed to work and the principle of "innocent until proven guilty". RT should stay far, far away from any legal storylines. (Okay, hard for a mystery.) Either he knows little and doesn't bother to research or he just doesn't care.

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

By the way I always enjoyed your FARSCAPE posts, because its a show I've wanted to see for years, but sadly they don't show it here. Yeah I know, weird! Its the kind of show, I know I would love, did I watch it...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Farscape is syndicated now so depending on where you are, it might be showing there.

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

well no because I live in Denmark... Their are sadly certain shows that isn't shown here... however they have luckily shown it a while back (over three years ago at the very least), so I'm hoping for a rerun *HOPES*, but I don't if that'll happen.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Farscape might be downloadable. Is it on bittorrents by any chance?

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

Yes season 1, but they take forever to download, sadly.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Depending on where you live in Denmark, you might want to tune into German cable (Kabel 1) on 30th & 31st January as they are are showing FS: Peacekeeper Wars. Yeah I know it is a) dubbed in German and b) it is like putting your shoes on before your pants as Peacekeeper Wars is the LAST part of the show. But perhaps for visual squee alone, this is worth it :)

[ex-beautyof.livejournal.com]

You read my mind, because I do have that channel, I just hate dubbed shows, so I'm hesitating. I was just sorta hoping that a danish channel would show it course they don't dub shows, they use the original languages... But sense you say its worth it, then I will...

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Maybe VM is just going through a sophomore slump. That happens a lot with shows. I've heard some people being less than satisfied with Lost and Desperate Housewives this season. Maybe it's because the shows settle into their story lines or maybe it's because the initial catch line of the show has gotten old, but season 2 generally tends to be the more shaky. I dread the dissatisfaction that season 2 of Supernatural is going to cause because it's a VERY vocal fandom.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Icon!!!

I guess I got spoiled with my favorite shows because shows like Buffy and Farscape got better in their second seasons and shows like BSG are just as good. Hmmm.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Hee...it's the naughtiest icon I own. And the sad thing is, I DO watch for plot. LOL.

Buffy unfortunately crashed and burned in later seasons as did Alias. I guess it's hard for these shows or they just get lazy. The fans tend to get spoiled though, just like the Lost fans are now spoiled and throwing fits about every little thing.

And sometimes you just get tired of a show. That's what happened to me with Angel. I just got bored the second or third season.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think shows have a natural life and when they keep running past that just because of the ratings, that is when suck happens.

And sometimes you just get tired of a show.

I guess. I just don't watch shows unless I am mad about them, so it's odd to be in this position with VM where I was so invested and now am blah.

[strippedpink.livejournal.com]

Arjun Rampal, the most gorgeous man in Bollywood, IMO.

You've killed me. WHAT IS HE IN??? I want to see live action.

G-U-H.

[savingmykisses.livejournal.com]

Isn't he nice? I recommend his movie Elaan, starring four more beautiful people.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind action movies, I second savingmykisses and recommend Elaan which is a great fun clever movie that has also the benefit of starring John Abraham, the second hottest man in Bollywod. If you don't believe me, check John's pictures here:

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/90057.html#cutid1
http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/104274.html#cutid1

I think Arjun's best movie is Moksha a really good artsy flick about twisted idealism and messed up passion, and I really enjoy Dil Ka Rishta, a delightful and VERY soapy flick where Arjun woos equally beautiful Aishwarya Rai but she chooses someone else until amnesia (yes indeed) gives them a second chance.

He's been in a lot of bad movies (stay away from Asambhav) so choose carefully :P

[cosmicviolet.livejournal.com]

Have you checked out cadhla's awesome post (http://cadhla.livejournal.com/969717.html) about season 2 Veronica and the show in general? She's put into words what I think a lot of people were feeling but couldn't define.
I have faith that now that we're going into the second half of the season, it will get better. At least if last year is any indication. But I suffer from perhaps being too patient...I'll keep watching a show long after it's good anymore, just to see how things end. I don't know why. But I'm not giving up yet. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

I am not giving up yet, as I do plan to tape etc. It's just no longer gush-worthy.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Hey...I'm just impressed he's not wearing a headband of any ilk.

BTW, I've been watching Farscape gradually (I'm up to season 3 now)- and I'm not sure what I think of it. I don't think much of the ancillary characters they add (red headed shrieky woman and the one-eyed Stark set my nerves on edge every time I see them).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I like Stark, but he is really not much in S4. Jool started out annoying but hilarious and grew on me. How far are you into S3? I like the beginning but the second half is better as it always was with FS

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I am about a third of the way in. I don't think I'd mind Jool or Stark separately (but I'd still miss my blue priestess) but together...dear god. "Different Destinations" was just painful with all the shreiking and the twitching all. the. time. So I am guessing that they don't kill either of them off? Pity, that.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Awwww. DD is one of my faves.

[wasabi-girl1.livejournal.com]

I prefer Arjun in action rather than to any of his picture. I just don't like any of the pictures I see of him, and I have no idea why...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, he is hotter in action. But I do like him in pics.

[ange-louise.livejournal.com]

Veronica Mars has only just started over here (Australia, but we may as well be Swaziland for all the variety in TV we get)and I watched the first few episodes because I'd heard a lot about it. From what I saw, I think the show is over-rated. Veronica is just too perfect, whatever she does during the course of a show works for her, for a 'poor' outcast she's too pretty and well dressed. I don't even buy her angst over her mother leaving - is she supposed to have any? I know what you mean about shows revolving around one character. I think Buffy struck a good balance there in that there was just enough going on with the other characters to keep things interesting, without detracting too much from the main character - Buffy. Sometimes I even thought the other characters were more interesting than Buffy.

And thank you for exposing me to all these beautiful Bollywood boys.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Her angst with her mother comes later in the show. The show starts a little uneven and looks better if you watch it all in bulk but starting around ep 6 (one of my faves) gets really really good.

And eps 10, 15, 21, 22 are brilliant.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I can't really comment on VM as I have only seen one ep, but I found it a) hard to follow, b) no eye-candy IMHO whatsoever and c) Veronica was a snotty, obnoxious little girl.
Maybe I'm too old (I didn't get BH 90210 either and it seems it is the same target group - early twens) or maybe I'm just not getting it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

VM actually has a pretty different target demographic, as it's not soap it's noir. The ep? Do you know which one it was? VM is pretty arcish so it might be odd to watch a random one.

Re: eye candy. Yes. But the character of Logan made me fall for him quite hard, even though just like with SRK I was all "what? this is the sex symbol of the show?"

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Sorry, after your wonderful "North and South" posts i keep lurking into your journal ;) Just tell me if you wish that i rather not .. ;) I WILL TOTALLY UNDERSTAND!

BUT - THIS guy is absoulutely something and I just must find something with him TODAY! YES! I have found "Dil Hai Tumhaara" and added to my list. Thank you!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

No, lurk all you want! In fact, since I love your beautiful icon posts so much, may I friend you?

Dil Hai Tumhara is a bit uneven but not bad. But he isn't super-cute in it. I do recommend Elaan, Moksha or Dil Ka Rishta over DHT.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

since I love your beautiful icon posts so much, may I friend you?

Thank you! Of course! I will add you to my friends list too !

Thank you for the recommendation! Blockbuster has Elaan and Moksha , i have added them to my list ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And yes, Elaan and Moksha are fun.