Memorial icon use, which later actions will render indeciperhable

[jlh]

I wanted to upload a few icons, and nowadays that means losing a few, but before I take down my Gil/Nick icon I just wanted to say a few things about the CSI that is, that was, that never will be.

I didn't watch last night—I haven't watched at all this season except the opener resolution of the Miniature Killer—so boniblithe gave me the lowdown. And you know, I'm not surprised really, because I'm sure they're done with dealing with Dourdan and his "personal problems," but the comm is called deadbrowalking for a reason. Warrick's first plot arc had someone in the DA's office blackmailing him about his gambling addiction in order to get inside info, a plot I found so irritating that it kept me from watching the show when it was first on. And now he's going out after being framed not once but twice.

Warrick was very much a wasted character on the show—supposedly Gil's pick as the next in command, but never really getting enough moments in the sun; lots of hot interaction with Catherine only to mysteriously marry some nurse whom he divorced a year later; lots of playing up of Warrick's from-the-streets past without much on his geekiness at school. I mean, an African-American nerdy guy! And he was totally wasted!

The fandom followed in kind, with a weird lack of Warrick/Nick slash even though they were bffs. Warrick was really the only guy on the show who wasn't extensively slashed. The hetters loved him, though, and Catherine/Warrick (CWR) was popular with almost everyone. Shame that never happened on the show, but then again whenever Catherine actually had sex Bad Things Happened, such that Grissom said that maybe she shouldn't date and you sensed the show agreeing with him.

While I'm at it, there's another waste; the inherent misogyny of so many police procedurals (no woman can have control of her own sexuality without paying a high price, often the ultimate one) slammed Catherine hard—we were also reminded of her past as a stripper, her idiot ex husband (in early seasons before they killed him off) and her difficult relationships with her mother and her daughter. Marg Helgenberger is over 40 and hot like a firecracker, and Catherine's extended flirtation with Warrick was smoking, but Catherine could never settle into a relationship. Her sexuality was on display, but it never served her own needs.

Add that to the bizarre twists and turns of Gil/Sara—all that build up and we never get to see them actually get together, but rather have a dumb reveal of the they've-been-dating-for-a-while variety, and then Jorja Fox decides to leave, and that ended that. Or poor Nick, who can't seem to get out of the nice-but-not-quite-as-bright box, even after Grave Danger (the one where he was buried alive) might have given his character a little depth.

Frankly, I'd rather that a show just not have any character development at all—like the Law & Order franchise—than do this bizarre half-way thing of little glimpses but no real pay off, big shocking events with no fallout for the characters, a narrative that wants to be episodic and continuing at the same time.

As I said in the meme entry yesterday, I was going to make a Gil/Nick rec list but rereading those stories, with their hopes for actual Nick character growth, was too sad. But there's one story that I do come back to, and that I will recommend, and that's a series by janissa11: Spare Parts / Metadata / Meridian. It's melancholy and tinged with regrets, and Nick actually leaves Las Vegas, finally, to become the man he should be. Which, I've realized, is what would have to happen.

Good bye icon. Good bye show.

Comments

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

You know, in my memory, I think of my time reading and loving CSI like a dizzy hot summer - in retrospect, none of it seems real, and the memories of it are sweet and soft and hazy glazy. I haven't reread any of it in a while, because after they completely abandoned Nick and then the Gil/Sara reveal it was like a switch went off (what a break in faith with the viewers, man!) and I was just instantly done. I can't even be surprised or upset by the way they sent Warrick out.

But I pulled up those stories to read again, and they're in tabs. I'm looking forward to spending time with them, so thanks for bringing them up again.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

That's a great metaphor for it. Or a fever dream.

It's not that I'm upset—other than the symbolic why you gotta let a brotha go down like that?—but more that while before I might have been "gee, should I have stopped watching?" now I'm like, "that was absolutely the right decision."

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

I've come not to expect much from CSI when it comes to character development, precisely because of the reasons you mentioned. They needn't even have spent more time on the characters, but just spend the time they have better than they do. I've come to the conclusion that the writers, or whoever is responsible for the overall arc of the universe, are just not comfortable with letting the characters go anywhere. Ever. That's sad, and annoying, and is the reason why I'd never buy any dvds of this series. I'm just watching it, usually in the background while doing something else, for light entertainlent now, expecting nothing more but a short story featuring a couple of characters of whom I have much more interesting versions in head.

*rereads*

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've realized that the mindless thing in the background for me now is reality TV, and not sort-of-okay scripted TV. I'd rather just have Top Chef or something on the tivo and watch that. And I've realize that what I want from a show is character development, more than anything else at all, so I've started saying no to many many more things.

[consumedbywords.livejournal.com]

I've always had the suspicion that Warrick's lack of character development and banishment to the plot sub-basement was related to the increase in Gary Dourdan's personal problems and drug issues. Such a shame all around. But this gives Nick an opportunity to cry and lord knows I am such a sucker for Nicky's crying.

janissa11 is one of my favorite Gil/Nick slash writers. And now you've given me the urge to reread her fic. :)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Em is really fantastic.

hahah, oh, nicky crying. I'm totally with you on the reasoning behind it. And those little things that the creators can't control? Is another reason I'm becoming less and less enamored of scripted television, and I feel sort of rotten about that!

[ziggy1278.livejournal.com]

Eeeeew. CSI.

"Hey, we're professionals. Now let's talk to each other about exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it, as we go about our daily routine. That way, in case, through some fantastic twist of fate, we are actually just shallowly drawn characters on a tv show, viewers will understand what's going on. Ok? Ok."

[jlh.livejournal.com]

hahahaha. You know, I didn't start out watching it, and then I watched it all because I liked some of the characters, and that was a MISTAKE.

[salemdipity.livejournal.com]

I won't see the season finale until Tuesday so I suspect I'll have more to say then, but I got spoiled and know what happened to Warrick, and like you I can't say I'm surprised. I also agree that Nicky had so much potential after Grave Danger and they just let it slide - where was his flashbacks and sudden moments of panic afterwards, for example? But I'll keep watching, because I only missed one ep this season, because Nicky is my TV husband and I enjoy my weekly doses of him ♥