What happens when you don't watch where you're going

[icepixie]

So. I appear to have tripped and fallen headfirst into The Mentalist fandom. Well, just the fic, really, and nothing else. I...actually have no plans to watch the show, for the following combination of reasons:

1.) I need another cop show like I need a hole in the head.
2.) I need another cop show with an unorthodox investigator like I need a really big hole in the head.
3.) Patrick Jane appears to be a dick of the highest caliber, and while they can sometimes be amusing and lovable if written with a certain amount of sympathy (see: my GIANT AND INEXPLICABLE LOVE for Megan Hunt), in general, I'm not a fan.
4.) I am especially not a fan of The Jerkass character with the oh-so-angsty past, and Jane falls squarely into that category. Again, I need a character bent on revenge for a serial killer's murdering his wife and child about as much as I need a puncture in my pate.
5.) Between Jane's past, Lisbon's past (dead mother and abusive/alcoholic father, wheee), and Rigsby and Van Pelt's star-crossed lovers thing, it sounds angstier than BSG. That's saying something.
6.) What I have gleaned of the emotional dynamic of the two lead characters reminds me waaaaay too much of the codependent angst-fest that was Mulder & Scully: The Later Years, without the sci-fi and the goofiness to leaven it. (I don't mind that so much in fic, but on a show itself it drives me a bit mad.)

BUT, I have somehow gotten sucked into the world of Jane/Lisbon fic. I don't. even. know.

However, this one is quite nice. And there is a steampunk AU novella that I haven't read yet, but which is very intriguing.

(Dear Self, you could be being productive, why are you doing this, why why why)

Comments

[bessemerprocess]

The Steampunk AU is really good and totally worth reading, I think, even if you aren't into steampunk.

Jane is totally an ass. But I feel like once his and Lisbon's dynamic changes from asshole!genius and minder to asshole!genius and co-conspirator that I end up liking the show more. (I didn't watch later X-files, but, oh yeah, to me, Jane and Lisbon can be pretty co-dependent. For me, it's totally in ways that hit all my buttons, so YMMV. And when they break out of that mold, well, the things that happen are even more interesting.)

[icepixie]

The Steampunk AU is really good and totally worth reading, I think, even if you aren't into steampunk.

I'm enjoying it so far! I'm kind of iffy on steampunk; I really liked the short-lived Secret Adventures of Jules Verne show that was on about ten years ago, but I haven't really found many steampunk books I like.

I didn't watch later X-files, but, oh yeah, to me, Jane and Lisbon can be pretty co-dependent. For me, it's totally in ways that hit all my buttons, so YMMV.

Co-dependency drives me a little nuts--it's one of the things I really don't like about Mulder & Scully, now that I'm no longer a teenager and can see it as rather unhealthy rather than as PROOF OF THEIR LOVE--so I try to just avoid shows and ships that look like they're going in that direction. But somehow these two are interesting in fic. I don't know why.

[bessemerprocess]

I think the co-dependancy works better when both people involved have opposing goals, which the tv writers may not be so interested in, but the fic writers totally are. (Jane wants to kill Red John, Lisbon wants to arrest Red John alive, and they are never ever going to come to an agreement about this no matter what they go through or how entwined they get in each others lives.) Also, fic writers are way better at realizing that the codependency can be a bad, bad thing.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Dear Self, you could be being productive, why are you doing this, why why why

I've been asking myself that question for the past couple weeks. I can't say I don't have a certain amount of schadenfreude for you right now. ;D

[icepixie]

Yeah, I was figuring you'd say something like that. ;) How far into S3 are you now?

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

3x07 PETER JUST GOT A MESSAGE FROM OUR OLIVIA FLAILFLAILFLAIL!!

[icepixie]

FLAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIILLLLLLLLL!!!!!

[alethialia.livejournal.com]

Not that I'm invested, since I've dropped that show, but Jane himself actually doesn't come off like a jerk (unlike House, for example). He says incredibly jackass things in such an understanding/sympathetic/empathetic way that it makes you like him. Partly on the strength of the actor's charm.

[icepixie]

since I've dropped that show

Any particular reason?

Jane himself actually doesn't come off like a jerk

From the fic I've read and the odd YouTube clip I've watched, he strikes me as very Mulderesque in that way; you knew Mulder was an absolute selfish, prima donna asshole, and wondered why on earth Scully put up with him, but something about him was still just so damn endearing that you couldn't stay mad at him. I always feel a little dirty when I like those characters. ;)

[alethialia.livejournal.com]

Any particular reason?

Not really. Just lost interest.

And heh. Charm helps a lot.

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Speaking of unorthodox investigators, I can't remember if we've ever talked about - did you watch "Life"? With Damian Lewis as a detective framed for murder, sent to prison for 12 years, becoming a zen Buddhist while there, and then using that perspective to solve crimes and hunt the conspiracy that framed him? It only lasted two seasons, but it was sooooo good. Rachael and I are rewatching it now. I'd say it just beats out Due South for my favorite quirky cop show.

[icepixie]

I believe you mentioned it at one point, yes. I'm...kind of burnt out on crime shows now, but next time I'm in the mood for one, I'll totally check out it. :D

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I am especially not a fan of The Jerkass character with the oh-so-angsty past, and Jane falls squarely into that category

Though, for all that Patrick Jane is that character, he honestly doesn't come off that way so much. He certainly is a jerk in the way that he will play the rest of the team to reach his conclusion, but he really doesn't come off that way. And while he's certainly claimed to want revenge for his wife and daughter's death, it's not like he goes around seeing red or anything.

And in many ways I like The Mentalist because it's a much lighter toned show than most cop shows these days. I'd probably put at the Castle end of the spectrum - where Criminal Minds would be the dark end. In other words, I enjoy watching it, while there are times that many crime shows these days are rather too dark.

it sounds angstier than BSG

There are moments, but for the most part it's not even in the same ballpark as BSG for angst - BSG leaves The Mentalist far behind on that scale.

[icepixie]

This is not helping my resolve not to actually watch the show, you know? ;)

I've gotten the impression that Jane is kind of like Mulder, in that he is objectively kind of a selfish jerk who uses people (even people he's supposedly close to) for his own ends without much consideration of their feelings, but he's so damn charming that you wind up ignoring all that.

The Castle end, really? I was able to tell it wasn't on the Criminal Minds end, but I figured it was still pretty dark. (Maybe because I automatically assume anything on CBS is both darkish and lacking in character development. CBS, your brand identity is working, but not really in a way that helps you...)

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. ;-)

I don't know. I think Jane genuinely cares about the people that he works with, even if he will manipulate them for his own amusement at times. I think he does get a but guilty about it sometimes, but will charm his way out of it. I've never thought of him being like Mulder though. He could be I suppose, but it's not a comparison which has come to mind.

And no, definitely not dark. Some dark things do happen, but I always have found it to be on the lighter side of cop shows. Especially the way which Jane approaches people and his interaction with everyone.