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crack_van2004-01-31 10:32 pm
liviapenn.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2004-01-31 10:32 pm
Memorex by Nicole Anell (PG-13)
Fandom: ROSWELL
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:
My last rec was Tess/Kyle het, "Many Sweet Companions," which I recced because it's a gorgeous example of what could've been.
Tonight's rec also focuses on the Tess/Kyle relationship, but the stories really couldn't be more different. Instead of exploring what *might* have happened, it's all about making sense of what *did* happen, as confusing and fucked-up and traumatic as it was.
In the episode "Departure," it was revealed that Tess had killed Alex, and had been mind-warping Kyle to cover up for her crime. I don't know if Nicole did it on purpose, but the way the characters in "Memorex" react to Tess' betrayal is a good mirror of the way Roswell fans reacted to the storyline.
Some fans had been enchanted by Tess' redemption storyline, her slow evolution towards humanity and her devotion to the Valenti family. They were shocked, angered and betrayed by TPTB's apparent decision to tie up all their loose plot ends with a cheap trick like "Tess was SECRETLY EVIL ALL ALONG!"
On the other hand, some said they had known all along that Tess was no good, that at her core she was simply a heartless alien bitch who didn't care what happened to anyone else as long as she hooked up with Max in the end, and the storyline made perfect sense. Okay, they'd *shown* certain things happening, but when Tess had the power to create illusion and warp others' minds, what could you really believe? Tess had never made any secret of her disdain for humanity, or her ultimate goals.
In the end, Kyle was the closest, canonically, to Tess. And "Memorex," he picks his way through the minefield of memory, trying to figure out what he's feeling. Trying to make Tess make sense. In the end, of course, nothing comes together neatly, everything is still confusing, and Kyle still hurts. The story resonates with me because, hey. Sometimes life is *like* that. Sometimes things happen that just don't make any sense, that don't fit with the story you've been telling yourself all along.
In "Memorex," Nicole uses the confusing and contradictory writing of "Roswell" to give her story depth and soul. She turns a flaw in the show into a strength. That's why it must be read.
I'm linking to two versions of the story. The first one is hosted at ficorama.net and features double spaces between paragraphs, which hurts my eyes to read. The second one is hosted at the Guilty Pleasures archive; the formatting is slightly messed up on the song lyrics quoted throughout the piece-- they're supposed to be italicized, but they're not at GP, making their inclusion somewhat jarring. Pick your poison.
1) http://www.ficorama.net/nicole1.htm
2) http://sevensoupcans.com/guilty/showfic.php?ficid=1194
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:
My last rec was Tess/Kyle het, "Many Sweet Companions," which I recced because it's a gorgeous example of what could've been.
Tonight's rec also focuses on the Tess/Kyle relationship, but the stories really couldn't be more different. Instead of exploring what *might* have happened, it's all about making sense of what *did* happen, as confusing and fucked-up and traumatic as it was.
In the episode "Departure," it was revealed that Tess had killed Alex, and had been mind-warping Kyle to cover up for her crime. I don't know if Nicole did it on purpose, but the way the characters in "Memorex" react to Tess' betrayal is a good mirror of the way Roswell fans reacted to the storyline.
Some fans had been enchanted by Tess' redemption storyline, her slow evolution towards humanity and her devotion to the Valenti family. They were shocked, angered and betrayed by TPTB's apparent decision to tie up all their loose plot ends with a cheap trick like "Tess was SECRETLY EVIL ALL ALONG!"
On the other hand, some said they had known all along that Tess was no good, that at her core she was simply a heartless alien bitch who didn't care what happened to anyone else as long as she hooked up with Max in the end, and the storyline made perfect sense. Okay, they'd *shown* certain things happening, but when Tess had the power to create illusion and warp others' minds, what could you really believe? Tess had never made any secret of her disdain for humanity, or her ultimate goals.
In the end, Kyle was the closest, canonically, to Tess. And "Memorex," he picks his way through the minefield of memory, trying to figure out what he's feeling. Trying to make Tess make sense. In the end, of course, nothing comes together neatly, everything is still confusing, and Kyle still hurts. The story resonates with me because, hey. Sometimes life is *like* that. Sometimes things happen that just don't make any sense, that don't fit with the story you've been telling yourself all along.
In "Memorex," Nicole uses the confusing and contradictory writing of "Roswell" to give her story depth and soul. She turns a flaw in the show into a strength. That's why it must be read.
I'm linking to two versions of the story. The first one is hosted at ficorama.net and features double spaces between paragraphs, which hurts my eyes to read. The second one is hosted at the Guilty Pleasures archive; the formatting is slightly messed up on the song lyrics quoted throughout the piece-- they're supposed to be italicized, but they're not at GP, making their inclusion somewhat jarring. Pick your poison.
1) http://www.ficorama.net/nicole1.htm
2) http://sevensoupcans.com/guilty/showfic.php?ficid=1194
no subject
But yeah...IMO the Roswell PTB chickened out and made Tess the evil bitch that the more rabid Dreamers wanted her to be, and that was a big disappointment. :-P Especially since she was the most interesting character on the show. *sigh*
Thanks again.
no subject
Sweetie, Nicole has an LJ. She's on my flist. As, I believe,
But, dude. Good choice with the rec. And with the whole month.
*applauds*
Re:
Oh, thanks-- except I can't edit the post now for some reason-- I think the month is over. But oh well. It's here in the comments.
*snugs Fox*
no subject