Nicely put, and I agree - especially with what you've said about Warehouse 13.
While I'd obviously love for Myka and Helena to walk off into the sunset together, it simply isn't what the show's about. Which of the Warehouse gang has managed to sustain a long-term relationship? None of them, and I think Myka's relationship with HG comes closest to that.
Of course, like you've said, it's important to realize that paratext does not equal text. And though they'll never get their happy ending, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, and think it was much better done than other shows that queer-bait with no real follow-through. (I guess I'm trying to say that they never once actually claimed that the characters themselves would end up together, and we got this wonderful relationship out of it.)
Yeah, I agree with you (and Heather Hogan) about Helena and Myka's relationship having greater depth and intensity than many canonically lesbian/queer relationships or hook-ups we've seen on other shows; there's definitely value in what we've gotten on W13. But without rising (sinking?) to the level of queer-baiting, the tantalizing possibilities for Bering and Wells that have been presented to us is, to me, in a way more painful than a show like, say, Once Upon a Time, where I also see the possibility of an epic love story for Swan Queen, but have never believed it would even happen in canon.
As for the lack of sustained relationships, I'm curious to see how things will play out for the other W13 characters, particularly Pete. But, as I allude to in my post, I discussed this a bit on Fandom Is in the Details' site, so I won't reproduce all my points about it here!
Swan Queen would be amazing for the show - but as you've pointed out, the writers/producers/head honchos are never going to make it happen. (And that's another thing about OUAT - there's so much potential in the show, and I feel like it's all wasted on crappy writing and one-dimensional characters.)
I guess I never really believed Myka/HG would happen in canon either. Yes, we got a very believable relationship out of it, but for some reason - maybe previous experience with networks lol - I haven't thought they would actually go there.
I did check out the post and the comments on that site - I do agree with a lot of it having to do with the characters themselves and what their definition of a happy ending is. I would honestly just be happy with Pete having the possibility of a relationship with Kelly (I don't think they're going to get married anytime soon after what happened between them, especially if she only comes back for one episode - it needs time to develop), and Helena coming back to work for the Warehouse in some form.
( ... )
Agreed re OUAT - the first season set up a great mythology, introduced interesting characters, and promised some wonderful arcs, but S2 has been rather uneven. Are they just going to keep adding new worlds and new characters?
What you hope for HG on W13 is as good as I think we'll get - she comes back to the Warehouse and it will be on at least a semi-regular basis, so there's the possibility that she can re-connect with Myka. I can also envision a S4 pop-in/pop-out thing though, although surely Kenny can't be so cruel as to not give us any HG/Myka scenes!
I stopped watching Rizzoli & Isles after the second-to-last episode of Season 3. I just couldn't take it anymore. The show turned into "The Mrs. Rizzoli Show."
As for Warehouse 13, I'm unhappy about the sudden emergence of canon Pete/Myka subtext. How did we go from Pete and Myka screaming when they woke up in bed together to Pete wishing Myka was pregnant?
I hope you don't mind me chipping in (and if you do, just ignore this, haha) - but re: W13, while that episode rubbed me the wrong way, I don't think it was that Pete so much wanted Myka to have his baby as it was that he wanted to have a family. But that's just my two cents.
Yeah, I don't really remember the hockey episode that well, but I think the show has been pretty good at tamping down any Pete/Myka romance. Even in the season finale's emotional goodbye between them, it came across to me as a bond of deep friendship, not one of romantic love.
Even in the season finale's emotional goodbye between them, it came across to me as a bond of deep friendship, not one of romantic love.
Yup, same here. Though I feel like in a sense, that's also how many people read Myka and HG's relationship: that it's one of deep friendship and that they don't see the slash - which is exactly how I see Pete and Myka's relationship. (But seriously, come on - back in season 2 or something - I don't remember exactly what it was, but there was that whole montage of Artie and Vanessa, Pete and Kelly, and then Myka and the grappler gun... COME ON.)
About Once: Jennifer Morrison said she's down for any storyline for Emma, as long as it gets her a boyfriend.
She then put up a status on Facebook, pulling the victim card, and saying that she feels insulted by the accusation of her not supporting homosexual relationships.
Lana Parrilla said Regina's love interest should be very manly.
While I don't see queerbaiting, either, it is noteworthy that the cast and crew of OUaT are the most outstanding example of homophobia and heterosexism I've come across in a very long time. I'm willing to cut Lana a bit of slack, because along with Jaime Chung she's the only one who's constantly showing support to the LGBTQ* community. But the show as an entity has become quite gross.
I don't recall any other example in which a show writer told a gay person (in this case: me) that gays are fairies.
Sorry for the delay in replying, I haven't checked into LJ for a long time.
I'm not sure that I'd call the cast and crew of OUaT homophobic, but I agree that not only have several of them expressed heterosexist comments, they also do not understand that critique when people have tried to explain it to them (hence, JMo's indignation on Facebook, which to me only showed her ignorance of what heteronormativity is and why it is hurtful and harmful).
They seem to be attempting some damage control this season (with JMo posting a photo of her and Lana Parrilla that she titled "Swan Queen," for example) but that's what it comes across as to me: damage control rather than genuine regard or comprehension of the issues.
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While I'd obviously love for Myka and Helena to walk off into the sunset together, it simply isn't what the show's about. Which of the Warehouse gang has managed to sustain a long-term relationship? None of them, and I think Myka's relationship with HG comes closest to that.
Of course, like you've said, it's important to realize that paratext does not equal text. And though they'll never get their happy ending, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, and think it was much better done than other shows that queer-bait with no real follow-through. (I guess I'm trying to say that they never once actually claimed that the characters themselves would end up together, and we got this wonderful relationship out of it.)
Anyway, thanks for sharing!
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As for the lack of sustained relationships, I'm curious to see how things will play out for the other W13 characters, particularly Pete. But, as I allude to in my post, I discussed this a bit on Fandom Is in the Details' site, so I won't reproduce all my points about it here!
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I guess I never really believed Myka/HG would happen in canon either. Yes, we got a very believable relationship out of it, but for some reason - maybe previous experience with networks lol - I haven't thought they would actually go there.
I did check out the post and the comments on that site - I do agree with a lot of it having to do with the characters themselves and what their definition of a happy ending is. I would honestly just be happy with Pete having the possibility of a relationship with Kelly (I don't think they're going to get married anytime soon after what happened between them, especially if she only comes back for one episode - it needs time to develop), and Helena coming back to work for the Warehouse in some form. ( ... )
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What you hope for HG on W13 is as good as I think we'll get - she comes back to the Warehouse and it will be on at least a semi-regular basis, so there's the possibility that she can re-connect with Myka. I can also envision a S4 pop-in/pop-out thing though, although surely Kenny can't be so cruel as to not give us any HG/Myka scenes!
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I stopped watching Rizzoli & Isles after the second-to-last episode of Season 3. I just couldn't take it anymore. The show turned into "The Mrs. Rizzoli Show."
As for Warehouse 13, I'm unhappy about the sudden emergence of canon Pete/Myka subtext. How did we go from Pete and Myka screaming when they woke up in bed together to Pete wishing Myka was pregnant?
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Yup, same here. Though I feel like in a sense, that's also how many people read Myka and HG's relationship: that it's one of deep friendship and that they don't see the slash - which is exactly how I see Pete and Myka's relationship. (But seriously, come on - back in season 2 or something - I don't remember exactly what it was, but there was that whole montage of Artie and Vanessa, Pete and Kelly, and then Myka and the grappler gun... COME ON.)
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She then put up a status on Facebook, pulling the victim card, and saying that she feels insulted by the accusation of her not supporting homosexual relationships.
Lana Parrilla said Regina's love interest should be very manly.
While I don't see queerbaiting, either, it is noteworthy that the cast and crew of OUaT are the most outstanding example of homophobia and heterosexism I've come across in a very long time. I'm willing to cut Lana a bit of slack, because along with Jaime Chung she's the only one who's constantly showing support to the LGBTQ* community. But the show as an entity has become quite gross.
I don't recall any other example in which a show writer told a gay person (in this case: me) that gays are fairies.
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I'm not sure that I'd call the cast and crew of OUaT homophobic, but I agree that not only have several of them expressed heterosexist comments, they also do not understand that critique when people have tried to explain it to them (hence, JMo's indignation on Facebook, which to me only showed her ignorance of what heteronormativity is and why it is hurtful and harmful).
They seem to be attempting some damage control this season (with JMo posting a photo of her and Lana Parrilla that she titled "Swan Queen," for example) but that's what it comes across as to me: damage control rather than genuine regard or comprehension of the issues.
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