My impressions of the newest Dresden Files episode

[gategrrl]

It was a good episode. 

The Guy was raving about Claudia Black, and how she works well with anyone on screen. And he's right about that: but I could see the set-up with her character to become recurring, at the very least.

I think Black's character is VERY similiar to Vala - she has the hard-luck story, is impetuous, has no idea how to behave with what's going on with her, and of course, gets the backing of the main male character to do what she wants.  She's entertaining, but I don't want her to become recurring, as I'm content with the actress who plays Murphy as a foil for Dresden, when they bother to use her that way.

If Black's character becomes a regular, I'm afraid I'll have to stop watching, as it will seem as if she's invading every show I enjoy *without* her to begin with.

Comments

[nialla]

I think Black's character is VERY similiar to Vala - she has the hard-luck story, is impetuous, has no idea how to behave with what's going on with her, and of course, gets the backing of the main male character to do what she wants.

I could tolerate her much more than Vala, because Vala is just too over-the-top and "Me, me, me!" for my tastes.

The concepts behind the characters are similar, but Liz strikes me as much more of a "real" character who's had some hard luck and worked her way out of it, versus Vala who was a liar and a thief and generally unrepentant about it until a handwave of the writers was supposed to make us forget she'd done some really bad stuff.

I do see the potential for a recurring character, but there's a lot of ways that can be played. From a simple mention by a client that Liz referred them to Harry, to an actual onscreen appearance in one or more episodes.

I wouldn't mind another mention or appearance, but I wouldn't want her as a regular or heavily recurring. I don't think they've made the most of the cast they have yet, so I don't want to see any changes like that at this point.

However, there's only four more episodes left, so we won't be seeing her again this season (else we would have already heard about a second appearance), but there's also not any word yet about a renewal. The ratings have been decent, sometimes even beating BSG from what I've heard, but BSG has already been renewed for a partial season and then extended to a full one, yet no word on Dresden.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

It would seem that the crew over at DF were told to write Black into the show in a way that would allow her to come back. If, after all, she "saved" Stargate from falling into the toilet ratings-wise, SciFi probably reasoned that she can possibly do the same for DF.

Thing is, it's too much. Too much Black. If she's That Good, I wish they'd simply give her her OWN show without constantly using her as a "show saver".

And I agree, the characters on the show that are already *there* aren't used nearly well enough as it is. Just like on Stargate, to be honest. Teal'c could have been given a meatier, better role than what he was handed - instead of exploring his friendship with Daniel or Sam, we got Vala.

And there haven't been any mentions on DF's renewal yet?

[nialla]

I don't see any "saved" from the ratings toilets for SG-1. SG-1, Atlantis and even BSG have had ratings that were pretty consistent and neck-and-neck with each other. The reason SG-1 was cancelled was a combo of age and cost.

I like Claudia Black, but I don't see her as a savior of shows. In SG-1's case, I think her character repelled as many as it drew in, hence the ratings didn't really so much as hiccup. The only spike I recall in SG-1's recent history was for 200 because Jack was there, and I expect it again for his return appearance in the latter half of the season, but even that spike wasn't all that spectacular.

I would like to see Claudia in her own show instead of as a Johnnie-Come-Lately addition or guest star. She's got an interesting "look" about her, but I think that may actually work against her in some cases. She doesn't look "traditionally pretty" by American standards, so some casting director's aren't willing to take a chance.

And I agree, the characters on the show that are already *there* aren't used nearly well enough as it is. Just like on Stargate, to be honest. Teal'c could have been given a meatier, better role than what he was handed - instead of exploring his friendship with Daniel or Sam, we got Vala.

It's always much easier to write for the "fun" and "naughty" characters than for those with a more serious demeanor. And the Bridge Boyz seem to have real issues with doing anything with emotional resonance instead of cheap and easy laughs. Even when they do something that should be emotional, it often comes across only due to the acting, not anything the writers did.

I have hopes for Dresden Files to really expand the characters if there's a second season. Kirmani has been sorely underused as nothing but someone to toss out some anti-Harry sarcasm now and again, and I'd like to see him a bit more and actually doing something relevant to the plot.

And there haven't been any mentions on DF's renewal yet?

Nope, nothing yet.

It puzzles me

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

That similarity to Vala, I mean. I still feel that Aeryn Sun was far and away Black's best role, and don't understand why the actress seems to be cast as far from serious as showrunners can get.

Re: It puzzles me

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Somewhere along the way, TPTB on Stargate figured out she could play comedy, and had great timing.

TPTB at DF found the same thing, although the role here was less for comic relief than Vala was.

Frankly, as I was watching CB, I thought SHE was playing up the comedy angle, by her background responses to Dresden - she can't/won't keep her face still and is ALWAYS reacting to what the other character is saying/doing, and that gives the impression, and sometimes the real impression, that she's playing it for laughs.

It's annoying.