Vala Mal Doran/Claudia Black WOW Thread

[cajnjirl]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a87...PTBcrash3a.jpg

AQOVC: Thank you, Sweetie. Going through that with me...meant a lot.
AQOECC: No sweat...though...if you want to pay me back...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a87...PTBcrash5a.jpg
I'll think of something...just as soon as there's a break in the nausea.

Just wait 'till the hormones kick in, EC.
then you'll have more payback than you know what to do with. lol

[ValaMalduran]

Great story again, AQO!

A.

[Farscapefan]

She's a cyborg.

Not anymore! I used to be till Monday 16th! It's one of 7 things which were inside my leg for 8 months - - I've got this as a gift after the surgery. As far as I know, it's titanium.

[ValaMalduran]

Not anymore! I used to be till Monday 16th! It's one of 7 things which were inside my leg for 8 months - - I've got this as a gift after the surgery. As far as I know, it's titanium.

Cool!



A.

[Aeryn/Vala]

Not anymore! I used to be till Monday 16th! It's one of 7 things which were inside my leg for 8 months - - I've got this as a gift after the surgery. As far as I know, it's titanium.

Cool!

[Admiral Q O]

Last stop in here today!

See you all next week!

[Stef]

Thanks for the nice words and recommendations guys. Those sets are really cheap, wow. Looks like I'll need to add one more thing to my christmas/birthday wish list (the one plus side of having your b-day 8 days after christmas, you get most of what you want).

It occurs to me that I didn't even answer my own question about Vala/Aeryn...probably because I don't want to chose. What is it about Claudia and her ability to create/get cast as strong and interesting female characters? Seriously, as sad as this sounds my favorite characters are usually men...with the exception of Vala on SG-1 and Farscape was a toss-up between Aeryn and Crichton. Both characters are endeared to me, partly because I'm so unused to seeing legitimately strong female WARRIORs and funny female characters. Sorry, you'll have to excuse my ramblings...too many papers being written about female action heroes

-Stef

[ValaMalduran]

Well, these two types of female character are very rare. Simply because, at least IMHO, very often they get labelled as she-man and bimbo, regardless if the actress plays them very well. It is seen as a male domain.

Ironically enough, Alien's Lt. Ripley was a originally a man. I read it in an interview Sigourney Weaver a couples of years back. This info is from Wikipedia (always a bit questionable, but here it's right):

In the original script, the ship has an all-male crew — including the Ripley character. Actor Tom Skerritt originally won the role of Ripley, but in the course of developing the script, character re-casting made Ripley a woman, reportedly at the insistence of producer Alan Ladd, Jr.. This decision proved crucial to the film's success.

A.

[Stef]

Well, these two types of female character are very rare. Simply because, at least IMHO, very often they get labelled as she-man and bimbo, regardless if the actress plays them very well. It is seen as a male domain.

Ironically enough, Alien's Lt. Ripley was a originally a man. I read it in an interview Sigourney Weaver a couples of years back.

Yeah, I remember reading that somewhere. This is a major topic of interest for me...I'm actually currently writing a paper on the representations of female strength. I'm particularly looking at it in terms of either becoming a "man" or hyper-sexualization, essentially a woman using her sexuality to gain power. I mean, honestly, we are living in a day when producers think that Catwoman (Halle Berry version), Charlie's Angels (movies), and Lara Croft are the embodiments of female strength. Did anyone actually see Catwoman? Arguably the most famous female comic-book character...and while her male counterparts are saving the world, she's trying to stop an evil cosmetics company...while wearing strategically ripped leather? WTH?

I think what really drew me to SG-1 and Vala is that I can't remember the last time that I saw a female character with a sense of humor (we have plenty examples of male characters). It was just so refreshing. Oh...and for anyone who's interested, there was this great essay written about the gender role-reversal on Farscape between John & Aeryn. Interesting stuff. Sorry, I've been reading books upon books about this stuff.

Just out of curiosity, what would you guys like to see for the new spin-off that's being talked about? I would LOVE to see a woman in charge of the military aspect...not like Weir....more like Sheppard, O'Neill, and to a lesser extent Mitchell. The Stargate franchise has done a pretty good job of creating interesting and different female characters so I'd really like to see them tackle this. I think they tried to make a warrior with Teyla but when you don't even attempt to develop the character....

Okay...ranting done.

-Stef

[ValaMalduran]

This is a major topic of interest for me...I'm actually currently writing a paper on the representations of female strength.

Good luck with your paper!

It is a very interesting topic. If you want strong and smart female characters you have to look in Katherine Hepburn movies or Shakespeare's comedies. It's ridiculous.

Spinoff:
Hm, given that it would be a Stargate show, the military aspect and the "we're good guys doing the right thing" aspect would probably have to feature highly.
I'd like to see a more rogue team, though. Or members of SG-1 having to act more rogue and in a shadier environment. Have them face more moral dilemmas.
But that could only happen, if they were completely cut off from Earth. As long as they can return to Stargate command or have regular contact like Atlantis, you've got a safe haven and the moral boundaries stay visible.


But I'd also settle for Vala's Han Solo-like adventures (and he did shoot first ).


Sorry, if that was a bit incoherent but it's late.



A.

[esoap524]

Just out of curiosity (sorry if this has already been asked), if you did watch Farscape, who do you like better: Aeryn or Vala?

-Stef

Aeryn by a mile. I'm enjoying Vala when she's not playing the fool so much (sometimes I don't think the writers have a lot of respect for the character) but Aeryn was so wonderfully complex, so full of pride and vulnerability, and I loved the way Claudia played her. After watching CB so expressive as Vala, it's interesting to see how Aeryn's face hardly moves in response to something, especially in late season 3, yet you can see by the lift of an eyebrow, or a glance, or an upward tilt of the lip, exactly how she's feeling.

So...ha...Aeryn. But major kudos to Claudia for creating two very distinct characters. They're alike in some ways--using defenses to keep their hearts hidden from everyone else--but so different in their use of those defenses.

Vala's cool and kinda fun but Aeryn rocks!

[esoap524]

Oh...and for anyone who's interested, there was this great essay written about the gender role-reversal on Farscape between John & Aeryn. Interesting stuff. Sorry, I've been reading books upon books about this stuff.

Just out of curiosity, what would you guys like to see for the new spin-off that's being talked about? I would LOVE to see a woman in charge of the military aspect...not like Weir....more like Sheppard, O'Neill, and to a lesser extent Mitchell. The Stargate franchise has done a pretty good job of creating interesting and different female characters so I'd really like to see them tackle this. I think they tried to make a warrior with Teyla but when you don't even attempt to develop the character....

Okay...ranting done.

-Stef

Back to Aeryn...that was one of the things that made her great. she could be in charge and no one ever batted an eye. On Farscape, for that matter, who was in charge wasn't really a gender issue but a matter of bigger, badder or, sometimes, smarter.

Of course, Farscape didn't have to deal with culturally based gender roles the way SG1 does.

And I'd love to know where you found that essay. "Farscape Forever" perhaps?

Although I do have to say FS did mess it up in the gender roles to some extent by letting John have some roving eyes and hands, while Aeryn never did, in spite of the fact that she was raised to believe that sexual intercourse was nothing more than another way to relieve stress. I guess it was ok to show the man having random sex but not so ok to show the female lead in the same situation, even if it made a helluva a lot more sense.

My rant over

What is it about Claudia and her ability to create/get cast as strong and interesting female characters? Seriously, as sad as this sounds my favorite characters are usually men...with the exception of Vala on SG-1 and Farscape was a toss-up between Aeryn and Crichton. Both characters are endeared to me, partly because I'm so unused to seeing legitimately strong female WARRIORs and funny female characters. Sorry, you'll have to excuse my ramblings...too many papers being written about female action heroes

-Stef

Her appearance, for one. She's beautiful but not in the typical Julia Roberts Hollywood way. There's an inner strength to her that you see in a lot of non American actresses (I'm thinking Helen Mirren, for one). She's got a fantastic voice, again especially in comparison to most American actresses. She also has very expressive eyes. As I said, when she played Aeryn, emotions were held in check, yet you could usually tell how she was feeling by the tilt of her head or the look in her eyes.

She's also smart and self-deprecating and I think that's why Vala works a lot of the time. I'm not a big fan of "stupid" Vala but Claudia seems like the kind of actress who's willing to put her dignity on the line anytime it's called for (as was most of the Farscape cast, for that matter).

I have to say, what sold me on Farscape was the first Aeryn scene in "A Bug's Life." She's holding a huge gun on some incoming commandos, wearing an awesome red and black uniform and looking every bit strong and a teeny bit nervous and I thought--"wow, I have NEVER seen a woman like that on modern television." Yeah, yeah, the guy's cute but who the heck is this woman? I was hooked in five minutes.

Naturally, since then I'll watch just about anything she appears in, which is why I'm now a Stargate viewer when I wasn't one before. I'm not 100% sure I'd watch it without her.

I hear ya regarding female heroes/action heroes. That was the thing I liked about the Xfiles as well (GA also had those great expressive eyes), the whole idea of the woman as the intellect and the man as the instinct. Scully didn't beat up a lot of people but neither did Mulder and I always got the feeling that she was tougher than he was. Plus, short chicks! yay for cool short chicks!

[valaCB]

Although I do have to say FS did mess it up in the gender roles to some extent by letting John have some roving eyes and hands, while Aeryn never did, in spite of the fact that she was raised to believe that sexual intercourse was nothing more than another way to relieve stress. I guess it was ok to show the man having random sex but not so ok to show the female lead in the same situation, even if it made a helluva a lot more sense

That what's make me like Vala more. Farscape writers did put Aeryn behind Jhon most of the time. Claudia was also the main star of the show and i did want to see more stories about Aeryn. Her stories was dependent on what stories will get Jhon.
In Stargate Vala is her own character, and she get from the writers her own story and she is important as much as every others characters in the show. There isn't one characther who pull the show and YEAH!!!! for that and hope it will stay like that!!

I have to say, what sold me on Farscape was the first Aeryn scene in "A Bug's Life." She's holding a huge gun on some incoming commandos, wearing an awesome red and black uniform and looking every bit strong and a teeny bit nervous and I thought--"wow, I have NEVER seen a woman like that on modern television." Yeah, yeah, the guy's cute but who the heck is this woman? I was hooked in five minutes.

Naturally, since then I'll watch just about anything she appears in, which is why I'm now a Stargate viewer when I wasn't one before. I'm not 100% sure I'd watch it without her.

I agree

I hear ya regarding female heroes/action heroes. That was the thing I liked about the Xfiles as well (GA also had those great expressive eyes), the whole idea of the woman as the intellect and the man as the instinct. Scully didn't beat up a lot of people but neither did Mulder and I always got the feeling that she was tougher than he was. Plus, short chicks! yay for cool short chicks!

Gillian is also amazing actress.

[ValaMalduran]

Back to Aeryn...that was one of the things that made her great. she could be in charge and no one ever batted an eye.

It's especially a joy to watch her when the camera doesn't focus on her. She's always adding to her characters without taking away attention from the actor in the foreground.

Although I do have to say FS did mess it up in the gender roles to some extent by letting John have some roving eyes and hands, while Aeryn never did, in spite of the fact that she was raised to believe that sexual intercourse was nothing more than another way to relieve stress. I guess it was ok to show the man having random sex but not so ok to show the female lead in the same situation, even if it made a helluva a lot more sense.

My rant over

That and their inability to write friendship or even normal interaction between all their strong females.
John and D'Argo would bond and become buddies, which more or less by definition includes bickering. The women would just bicker.

I have to say, what sold me on Farscape was the first Aeryn scene in "A Bug's Life." She's holding a huge gun on some incoming commandos, wearing an awesome red and black uniform and looking every bit strong and a teeny bit nervous and I thought--"wow, I have NEVER seen a woman like that on modern television." Yeah, yeah, the guy's cute but who the heck is this woman? I was hooked in five minutes.

"Throne For A Loss", Aeryn behind the wall causing a diversion for John and D'Argo to get out of Bekhesh's camp. I was sold.

I hear ya regarding female heroes/action heroes. That was the thing I liked about the Xfiles as well (GA also had those great expressive eyes), the whole idea of the woman as the intellect and the man as the instinct. Scully didn't beat up a lot of people but neither did Mulder and I always got the feeling that she was tougher than he was. Plus, short chicks! yay for cool short chicks!

I might get stoned for this, but she was also the one of the two who could really act (sorry). Duchovny was great for quips, but his believabilty in emotional scenes always depended on GA acting her heart out.

A.

[phaeton]

I finally saw 1st half of S10 a while ago

Loved Vala/CB in Memento Mori great ep