Why is most non-Loss SVU fic so bad?

[ultraviolet730]

Man, another visit to FF.net, and I'm ready to turn in my SVU fic gun. I guess I was spoiled, first in GH and then in Oz, by a plethora of really good, really different stories. To be fair, the collection in almost any fandom at FF.net is atrocious. But there really isn't a lot of good SVU fic anywhere. With the exception of post-Loss fic, it's

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[alinewrites]

I remember an episode -before I completely gave up watching the show- about the story of a guy who pretended he'd been raped by three women during a party.... Stabbler's attitude was really incredibly stupid and rude.

I don't think he's really homophobic, but gay-friendly?????

I wouldn't pretend that he's a very sympathetic and understanding character, sincerely. But of course since I don't like the show... I guess I'm biased.

[ultraviolet730]

Hey Aline

[alinewrites]

I have to add that it's really the show I don't like. Stabler my favorite character. I especially dislike Benson...

I'm not sure it's very easy to write good fic with such a show.

Did you read the Stabler/Beecher X-over? God, I don't even remember the title but it was good. Unfinished but good. Beecher is in a coma and... I can't spoil the story if you didn't read it.

[ultraviolet730]

It feels like it should be easy to write fic for a show that doesn't dwell on the personal, because you can fill it in. But maybe that lack of detail in characterization makes it too broad a canvas?

I did read that Stabler/Beecher story you mentioned, but can't remember the name of it, either. Another unfinished one, too.

Off to do a search for it...

[rileyc]

Yay on the Stabler rant. :)

I'm convinced the bulk of SVU fic is written by 15-year-old girls who haven't got a clue about much of anything, let alone a guy like Elliot. And I have to admit I don't get the Elliot/Olivia at all. They have a decent working relationship, but beyond that have almost nothing in common.

There is an ongoing, AU, xover fic out there called "Arrested Development," written by Maverick & CatHeights, in which Elliot is teamed up with Tobias Beecher, and which I can recommend very enthusiastically.

I wish there was more too.

[ultraviolet730]

I should have amended my post to say that there is good Oz/SVU crossover fic. I've read "Arrested Development," and would love to read more. (Hint, hint, Mav and Cat, if you're out there!)

There are a couple of other stories, I think, though the names are escaping me. But it's a shame that there aren't more.

I do agree that the age/sophistication level of the writers, at least for non-femslash SVU stories. I don't mind the idea of Elliot/Olivia as much as many people do, at least not inherently. But I can't say I've seen it done very well, except for a few brief ficlets.

Stabler/Cabot is intriguing to me, and I've seen them done well in drabbles. And I toy with the idea of writing one.

But it's really the multi-chapter epics I miss in SVU fandom. "Fide" is such a good example of one, and it was my first exposure to SVU fic. I was then thoroughly disappointed by almost everything else out there.

Of course, luckily for me, there are ongoing Oz AUs to take up the slack. Many of which are written by you :)

[noir_moll]

I've read "Arrested Development," and would love to read more.

Where is this story? Y'all have got me really curious. Admittedly, I know very little about Beecher (still haven't bought the DVDs), but I'm certainly willing to get acquainted with him. :)

[ultraviolet730]

There are some Oz references (Elliot and Toby go to O'Reily's Bar), but I don't think you have to have watched Oz to get into the story: Arrested Development.

Sadly, the progress of the story seems to have been arrested, as well. But I think the authors intend to finish it someday.

I know there is at least one other crossover - the one Aline referred to, but I can't remember the name of it...

[meganinhiding]

While I sometimes watch this show I tend to avoid the fic. For one thing I'm a nonfan of St Olivia of the Special Victims and since most of the pairings feature her I naturally avoid them. For another, just because I like a TV show/movie/book doesn't mean I'll feel the need to look for fanfic. One thing I've noticed on the show is that Olivia is generally given the PC opinion to voice and whovever is with her gives the opposing opinion. This is usually Stabler (which sounds more like a German name than an Irish one) but I remember an episode where they had Fin say that a victim was lying about being raped by a cop because she had been drinking and sleeping around with a married man. Olivia of course turned out to be right.

[ultraviolet730]

I don't read fic for most of the shows I love. But SVU has CM; therefore, reading fic is more appealing to me. Or it would be, if the fics were any good.

I agree that the writers have made Olivia the martyr/saint of the outfit, and it is really annoying. Not sure if you ever visit TWoP, but we call it the Idiot of the Week syndrome, where one character or another is made to look like an ass in order for the writers to show one side of an argument. Only to have someone, usually Olivia, knock it down.

Ridicule, the episode Aline referred to, was the ultimate example of Stabler as Idiot of the Week. And it was hard to take. Munch has also suffered from this phenomenon, as has Fin, as you noted.

I can't recall Benson being subjected to it, probably because, as we've been saying, she's set up as the arbiter of victimhood and righteousness.

(A note about Stabler: I agree that it isn't your typical Irish name, but Stabler has said on the show that it's Irish.)

[meganinhiding]

I take a look every now and then at TWOP. I try to avoid the SVU thread because it mostly seems to be a Benson fansite/Novak hatesite. I'm no fan of Casey but I find tolerable with a good script.(of which there have been few) When did Stabler identify him as Irish Catholic. Sounds like the writers thought "We want Stabler to be the traditional cop to contrast with Benson's enlightened views so he's going to be Irish Catholic even though he looks Italian and has a German sounding name.

[ultraviolet730]

Well, I'm in the Casey-hating camp, so I love the trademark TWoP snark on her. It is definitely not the place for a Casey sympathizer. And it is very Benson/Cabot-centric. For a long time, I hesitated to post because it felt like there was no place for Stabler fans. But the commentary is usually so sharp and funny that I finally just decided to just toot Stabler's horn myself. Eventually, more Stabler lovers have come out of the woodwork; though as I said, Benson and Cabot are definitely the faves.

Stabler-as-Irish has come up twice: in the Gale Harold episode, "Perfection," in which Harold's character (somewhat illogically, I agree) assumes, "Stabler - that's Irish Catholic, right?" Or maybe he just says Catholic. I can't remember now, damn it.

But in a Season Five episode, "Hate," involving the killing of a Muslim woman, Stabler is interrogating an Irish-American suspect who tries to bond with Elliot over the Irish Catholic thing.

[rowanfairchild]

Have you read ardent_muses Stabler/Cassidy story "Thrill"?

http://ardent.mrks.org/Thrill.html

And I know that Mav and Cat *are* still working on Arrested Development. As for "Fide", the author (who is a friend of mine) is pretty much out of writing show-based fanfiction, at least for the time being. I know she's had intentions of finishing "Fide" someday, but I...can't say if it'll actually happen.

For the most part, I'm with you on the Stabler rant. *g* It'd be cool if there were more/better fanfiction out there featuring him. It's not my passion to write (my plate is pretty full with OZ projects, LOL), but I'd sure read more of it, if there were decent stuff out there.

[ultraviolet730]

I'll check that out, but I have to admit that I wasn't much of a Cassidy fan. Now Keller/Ryan fic - that I would eat up :)

Speaking of which - I love your icon! Just such a yummy image, and the caption is perfect.

I periodically haunt the "Fide" author with requests for her to continue. You can ask her if I should cease and desist. Having two unfinished stories in another fandom, I definitely sympathize with her. And with my readers, lol!

Thanks for the link and the support on the Stabler front, rowan. You should definitely keep your focus on your Oz stories - don't want to distract from that! Maybe some new authors will pop up and surprise us. Or maybe I'll actually sit down and write that Oz/SVU crossover I daydream about...

[rowanfairchild]

I'll check that out, but I have to admit that I wasn't much of a Cassidy fan. Now Keller/Ryan fic - that I would eat up :)

Well...I think she actually kind of wrote it as surrogate Keller/Ryan fic. *g* And it's a sweet story. Give it a shot.

Speaking of which - I love your icon! Just such a yummy image, and the caption is perfect.

Hee, thanks! I don't do the slash thing with Keller and O'Reily, but I boy do I ever love their partnership of mayhem. :-)

I periodically haunt the "Fide" author with requests for her to continue. You can ask her if I should cease and desist. Having two unfinished stories in another fandom, I definitely sympathize with her. And with my readers, lol!

Hmm. I actually haven't talked to her in a while. I'm sure if she had absolutely *no* plans to finish it, she'd say so. And I'm sure you're not the only person who's asked her. :-)

Maybe some new authors will pop up and surprise us. Or maybe I'll actually sit down and write that Oz/SVU crossover I daydream about...Well, this is how it always starts! Heh.

[idledandy]

It will come as no surprise that I completely and totally agree with everything you said.

In fact, you've made me really want to write a multi-chapter Elliot-centric fic. Which is just the kind of distraction I need right now. I'm only setting up a classroom, starting a new job, organizing four rooms plus a garage of clutter, and crocheting a year-overdue baby blanket.

Oh, and Liv played Idiot of the Week in "Noncompliance."

[ultraviolet730]

Yes, yes, yes - forget about all those pesky professional and personal duties and write that fic! Heehee. Or at least, write another little drabble. Elliot's stuck doing surveillance while poor Alex is stuck in that beige Corolla! Surely, there's some way to get them out of their vehicles and into the library, if you know what I'm saying.

Oh, and thanks for the backup, as always!