Returning to my fannish roots

[feliciakw]

I've been lax recently in spending time on the elliptical machine. I've been in need of some "new" viewing material to keep me entertained. So this morning, I decided to go back to my fannish roots and revisit the show that started me in on all this 'Net fandom thing: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.


Oh. My. Word. I'd forgotten how truly cheesy and campy this show is, and how much pure, unadulterated fun. It's cheesy like a nice queso dip: a thoroughly delicious indulgence, though you might suspect that it's more tasty than actually nutritious.

Since my time was limited, I skipped the five movies and started right in with the first ep of the TV series, "The Wrong Path." Now, I've made mention of the pilot eps to N3 and SPN being fantastic in that they're great stand-alones while also introducing the premise and the characters. I might also add that in both instances, the actors seem to have a fairly solid grounding in the characters they play. They don't seem particularly OOC compared to later in the series.

Not so sure I can say the same for H:TLJ. Now, bearing in mind that the actors had 5 (okay, 4.5, since movie #5 was basically a clip show) TV movies under their belts, I can't fault them for laying on the cheese. The dialogue! The OTT action sequences! The melodrama! It's just so freakin' much fun! Though I recall things settling into a slightly less campy (emphasis on slightly) variation later on.

This was also the show that introduced me to Michael Hurst, who played Hercules' best friend, Iolaus. And it was my interest in Michael Hurst that led me to get involved in internet fandom, since the man is a Kiwi and therefore it is nigh impossible for a Yank to follow his career without the 'Net. I fell for Michael Hurst for the same reasons I've fallen for Jensen--amazing talent, passion for the craft, a certain joie de vivre (though Jensen is far more low-key), handsome, professional . . . and an overall je ne sais quoi that just sucked me in. Plus, Iolaus just charmed me with his comedy.

After a year of thespicly crushing on Jensen, I'd forgotten how not tall Michael Hurst is. I am amused. Hee! (He's what's considered "average," 5'9", iirc. And Kevin Sorbo is tall, so that just exaggerates the difference. But people who mistakenly think that Jensen is short? Yeah. Um, no.)

MH is also the actor for whom I attended my first convention. It was a Creation Convention in Valley Forge, PA, back in . . . March 2001, I think. Will have to double-check. I had a blast, both seeing him in person, and with the sight seeing in Philadelphia. It was an adventure all the way around.

H:TLJ is the fandom in which I made my first foray into 'Net published fic. In fact, I believe next month will be my 10 year anniversary. I posted my first story, "All's Fair in Love and War," to the IML (Iolausian Mailing List) back in the day, before Yahoo mailing lists, even. (I think the list was on a server called angus, but now you're talking about "ancient history.") "All's Fair" is still one of the fics of which I'm most proud, and it is stylistically contrary to anything I've posted since. I know that only a very, very small handful of you remember me from the Iolausian fandom (if any of you do at all), but I might post the fic here just for kicks.

I won't get into how I discovered the show. But this was the show (along with the early seasons of Xena: Warrior Princess) that was Geo's and my must-see TV in the early days of our marriage. This show holds some history for me. I'd forgotten how much.

Comments

[mlevins.livejournal.com]

I really need to pull out my HtLJ DVDs. It has been too long since I've watched. Not my first fandom, but the one that introduced me to *you*!

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Love the icon! I should go find myself at least one HtLJ icon.

Yes, go re-watch your DVDs. They're gold. And such a kick!

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

I never watched Hercules, and only caught a few eps of Xena. I can't think of a proper cheese metaphor. Where's Jensen when I need him.

On another front. Disc 1 of N3 is in the mail. I'm putting my treadmill buddy, Veronica Mars, on hold to check it out. I'll let you know what I think.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Re: N3 . . . Excellent! Now, I will tell you one thing that might be a wee bit confusing continuity-wise. When the pilot first aired, it did really, really well, and they wanted to follow up with an ep that was equally strong and balanced between character and case. So they aired what should have been ep 4 (and is labeled as such on the discs) as the second episode. So later on, when ep 2 aired, it was a little "bzuh?" in that it goes back and explains a bit of continuity. But I think (I'd have to check my DVDs that ep 2 is actually on the second disc.)

So I guess what I'm saying is that the shows play in airing order on the discs, but are numbered in intended order. So if there's a little "bzuh?" going on, that's why.

Clear as mud?

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

Wha'chu'tawkin'bout Willis? Bzuh!

Okay. What you're saying is Ep 4 is really Ep 2, and it's on disc 2?? What if Ep 2 is on disc 1. Is that really Ep 4??

Do they name their episodes? I can look for a name.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

I don't recall the order by title, myself, but each ep should have a production number attached, and those are as they should be, even though the eps are arranged on the discs in airing order.

(It won't throw you that much. It was fine when I watched them in first run. *g*)

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I'll figure it out. Farscape did something wacky like this on their S2 disc.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

LOL! Yes, they title their episodes, but I can't recall them off the top of my head.

The episode 1.04 was the second episode to air, and therefore (I think) plays second on the disc. *toddles off to check TVGuide.com*

Okay, ep 1.04, which will play second, is "Uncertainty Prinicple," which, I believe, you will love. (If you like Dean-peril with worried Sam, I believe you will be all over this ep, because the dynamic here is similar.)

I think "Vector" was actually supposed to be the 2nd episode (and is labeled as 1.02).

But if it's all too confusing, just watch them as the disc plays them, and if you have any continuity questions, give a holler. :-)

I'm really looking forward to hearing what you think about the show. It's got really strong family dynamics and a good bit of tension and great case stories, too.

I do love it so.

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. I understand why they wanted to come with strong stuff early. Network made Whedon swtich around eps for Firefly as well. So is your recommendation to watch in aired order or production order. I'm easy.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I personally prefer production order, but aired order isn't as bad as, say, what FOX did to FF. So as Izhi said, watching in airing order (the way we all did when it was in first run *g*) won't irreparably confuse you. It just lends a little more understanding to a certain bit of continuity.

Yeah?

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

Alrighty then. I'll play it by ear. If I love ep 1 so much that I can't *wait* for disc 2, I'll head on to 4.

You're setting a pretty high bar here, you know. Expectations and all that. What if I think it sucks. Then you'll be mad and offended that I hate it. You'll send porny spam to my email, 24-7. Then you'll order pizza and chinese food deliveries to my house, COD. Then'll you'll have my heat "accidentally" turned off, in the winter, in Cleveland! You're pretty creative.

I'll just tell you I loved it...

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Mwahahahahah!

*ahem*

*blinks innocently* Would I do that?

Okay . . . *checking my DVDs* . . . Okey dokey. I was mistaken. "Sabotage" is 1.02. But I was correct in that it is on the 2nd disc.

And actually, now that you know, I'm gonna say go ahead with 1.04 if you want. There's just so much chewy angsty goodness in that one, which is why they aired it immediately after the Pilot to keep their audience.

And the only reason I'm bringing this up at all was because of the "bzuh?" that it gave me, until someone explained that the ep that aired 2nd was actually the 4th ep, and I went, "OH!!!! Now that makes sense."

But, yeah, go with what feels best to you. It's not like I'm gonna stop your trash pick-up or interrupt your phone service or anything.

If you don't like the show, I'll just chalk it up to the crime drama/math geek combo that apparently isn't for everyone. Go fig.

*does search of local pizza and Chinese delivery*

(Ask Izhi her first reactions to the show. Iirc, it took some convincing to get her to give it a shot.)

Btw, Izhi and I decided that after SPN, Jensen needs to be a guest Fed on N3. And he has to go on a raid with the team so that he has to wear Kevlar. I won't even get into my whole Kevlar thing.

Oh! Or conversely, he can be a guest academic and wear his glasses and get his geek on. That would be good, too.

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

... he has to go on a raid with the team so that he has to wear Kevlar.

Oh, my. *faints ded*

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

My reaction precisely.

[yasminke.livejournal.com]

I loved that show and its actors. The fact that it KNEW it was ahistoric and played with that knowledge was its most endearing quirk.

Plus the actors were cute,and some were native Antipodeans.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I loved how they took mythology and turned it upside down and sideways and gave it a modern language.

Oh, yes, a lot of the actors were Antipodeans. Yes, a lot of the guest stars/recurring characters were American, but if you watch the show long enough, you get to recognize the regular NZ cast.

Actually, my interest in MH taught me quite a bit about his adopted homeland (he's English by birth), which is fascinating. Thanks to him, I know what a haka is, and I've seen him perform one.

Oh, now you've got me babbling. :-)

[yasminke.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those actors keep cropping up on the shows we import from NZ. Or they just move here.

MH is a fantastic Shakespearean actor and a goof. Haven't seen much of him recently, though.

I keep forgetting that we Yanks don't compete with NZ in any "real" sport and so you wouldn't have come across the haka. Not sure MH doing a haka would be as intimidating as it's supposed to be.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Well, you know how MH is about performing with gusto. That he did.

And oh how I love Edith Sidebottom/Widow Twanky. Actually, Ms. Sidebottom is supposed to be a guest at an upcoming convention (or perhaps it's already passed?), along with Michael and his wife Jennifer Ward-Leland. I really hope someone posts con clips!

[just-ruth.livejournal.com]

Oh, do I remember! Hee! I found "the Wings of Pegasus" recently, the only fic I ever finished in the fandom.