(no subject)

[out_there]

Just watched Act III of Dr Horrible.

Dude.

I have no words. Just a stunned expression and a definite desire to buy the DVD.

Comments

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

It's Joss Whedon, that's kinda expected.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

But so WONDERFUL.

I loved it. I just... wasn't expecting the heartache.

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

This thought just popped into my head: Joss Whedon = Andrew Lloyd Webber of Sci-Fi.

Next thing you know, it'll be on Broadway.

*runs away*

[catmoran.livejournal.com]

I loved it. It was full of geekiness and music.

Mind if I hide here awhile? There are outraged women on my flist, and I'm afraid they'll tear me apart if they hear me say that. D:

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Feel free to hide!

It was wonderful. Geeky and the songs were catchy (my favourite is definitely "With my freeze ray...") and Bad Horse was an actual HORSE! It was silly and ridiculous and great.

And, okay, the ending wasn't what I expected but Dr Horrible was a geek who'd chosen to go bad. He wanted social change but he wanted acceptance (from the Evil League of Evil) and revenge (over Captain Hammer) more than he wanted to do good. He wasn't a hero, didn't act like one, and therefore it makes narrative sense.

Also, if you think of superheroes and villians, this type of backstory is pretty damn common, so I'm amazed that none of us were expecting it.

[macadamanaity.livejournal.com]

I know! Gah, it was SO Joss! Make me cackle at the insanity and then gut me when I'm not looking...

Brilliant.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Make me cackle at the insanity and then gut me when I'm not looking...

That is the best description of Joss-works ever!

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

I loved it too.

But I feel like I can't say it because I'll be accused of being anti-feminist and stupid and non-thinking and...

[out-there.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

I... get that. Well, I get why there'd be backlash because the only female characer gets treated as a trophy and then killed, but for what it's worth, I think that's supposed to be a sign that both of the guys are jerks (in different clothing, but I have a whole rant about how priviledged, ego-driven, socially-acceptable, unthinking jerkhood isn't any *better* than underdog, ego-driven, "Nice Guy", self-rationalising jerkhood, that I want to type up some time today). The show itself doesn't portray Penny as brainless or skin-deep; in fact, it's the opposite: she's the most mature character of the three, the only one that's faced adversity and risen to the challenge, instead of running away (Captain Hammer) or wanting revenge (Dr Horrible). She's the only admirable one, who's struggled through disappointment, found a place and reached out to help others.

I don't think it's an inherently anti-female show. I think it's a show about this really interesting woman and the two jerks that are interested in her.

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I totally get why people have problems with it. I just hate the undercurrent of 'if you like it you're a misogynistic and stupid person'.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

I just hate the undercurrent of 'if you like it you're a misogynistic and stupid person'.

I haven't read the posts with that vibe but I've heard that reaction enough to realise they're out there.

Personally, I really, really enjoyed it. I know the characters aren't paragons of good-guy-ness, and the female character is treated badly, but honestly? I get a little sick of watching everything through the lens of an issue. I support feminism, I want strong female characters, but I don't want every story I ever watch to be about strong women breaking societal expectations. I don't want every single piece of entertainment held up against the lens of sexism. I want a variety of stories and characters, just like I see in real life: I want characters to be interesting and varied, in differing shades of grey.

More than that, I like the art of storytelling. I like that this entire musical is shown from the POV of an unreliable narrator. I like a show that trusts it's audience to be smart enough to think (not assume that because they're not directly told treating a woman like this is BAD and WRONG, it must be RIGHT and EXPECTED).

but, yeah, I get your point. There's nothing worse than being told how to act, how to think and what to like. People should be able to talk about the issues without implying you're a moron for not agreeing (mind you, this is the internets: the place that raised insulting those who don't agree with you to an art form).