Random Fandom Musings from 2008

[parallax23]

Hard to imagine it's been over 2 years since I officially joined the Dark Angel fandom.  It was a different show for its time, the first show that mentioned the Taliban and to use the ticker tape at the bottom of the screen that we're so used to seeing now.  It was also the first mainstream primetime show to actually have real diversity.  But it was hardly one of the truly epic TV series of all time.  Too many plot inconsistencies and fraying at the end are what did the show in. 

Still, it was one of the best worlds to play in.  If it wasn't, it wouldn't still be a pretty active fandom being written for FF.net, since the show has been off the air for almost 10 years.  Dark Angel and Firefly are two shows FOX canceled in succession and whose fanfics became in essence greater than the shows themselves in some ways.

When I joined in 2008, there was a lot more activity going on than its had recently.  Sure, when a fandom is new there's tons to discover and nothing will compare to that, but 2008 was a busy fandom year.  The Alphabet Games were going on and there were a lot more creative risks being taken with Max/Alec shipping, along with more M/A fics in general.  Several great serial stories were in full swing and it was an exciting time to be a reader -- where would Max and Alec be in their next adventure?  There were lots of different AU, Manticore, and S2 Redux stories.

Nowadays, it feels like  there's not much going on.  There are a few interesting stories, but nothing that's really grabbed me.  There are fewer M/A overall, which is pretty sad.  I've been thinking about posting that long awaited (and bemoaned) Chapter 6 of Wake... which is why I'm thinking about the series as of late.

FYI -- I use the Max/Alec ship as a litmus test for how much I'll get into someone's work.  Not that I'm hating on M/Ls, but from my experience I've been keener on the writing style of other M/A shippers.  It probably has something to do with liking snarky heroines and morally ambivalent bad boys.

Comments

[pat-san.livejournal.com]

I came to know the Dark Angel fandom late that year, but I really joined it (reading fics, searching for interviews, videos, every kind of graphic arts) only in 2009 and the fandom was already settling down.

I guess everything is destined to fade eventually, but Dark Angel (a flawned show for sure but a great one nonotheless) will always have a hold on my heart I think.

And it's not only my heart, you know, because every fic posted over ff.net has at least a few reviews. Plus judging by the numeber of people who commented my review/meta on The Berrisford Agenda I'd say the love for this show is always running somewhere, it's just that, well, years go by and new shows come up everyday...

You know, I'm still not totally over the fact that we'll never get to see Max and Alec together (and I'm so convinced they would have ended up together). It would have been epic.

Oh, I just recommened a your "Just Another 48 Hours" to a girl who asked for a Max/Alec friendship fic ^__-

[parallax23.livejournal.com]

Well, the fandom tends to fade then becomes busy again. It's had slow points in the past too. I think its because they were replaying it on TV (and SPN is pretty big) but once the reruns stopped, it didn't keep the steam.

[pat-san.livejournal.com]

Well, so there's to hope they'll replay it again on TV very soon :P

[parallax23.livejournal.com]

OK, I missed the sentence of your post and I have to say, that floored me. I'm very flattered that you recommended my story to someone. Thanks!

P.S.

This survey was done this year:

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/tv-couples/picks/results/488623/fav-couples-rarely-never-see-on-couples-picks-pt1-fav

[pat-san.livejournal.com]

You're welcome ^___-