Smallville(s5): What was that name?

Ok, this ALWAYS bugs me no matter where it comes up:  In Smallville, Clark need to find a doctor named "Han."  Now...Clark didn't say how to spell the name, but Chloe immediately typed it in and spelled it.  Now, when I hear "Han," I think "Han, Haun or Hawn?" (I'm just going 'Han" because...well...Han Solo, really...)   It ALWAYS bothers me when that happens in fiction...when there are multiple spelliungs for a name but they act like there's only one.

Maybe it's because there are so many spellings to my name.  "Megan"  is apparently one of the least common spellings of the name, and no one who writes it down ever gets it right(WHY?  It's the one with the fewest letters...)  Similarly, while "More" seems to be a fairly obsolete spelling now, it is still out there, and Thomas More keeps it in cirulation.

Does it ever annoy anyone else?  One day, I want a scene like this:

"Ok, I need a location for Dr. Conner, stat."

"Is that C-o-n-o-r, C-o-n-n-e-r, or C-o-n-n-o-r?"

*blank stare*  "I didn't ask..."

I know they never cover that because it would jar the action, but...

Extremely briefly in Smallville:

1)  Why is it that Lex/Lana makes me want to hurl things at the TV(why Lex, why?  Don't you have higher standards than that? You could do so much better...) while I'm ok with Lionel/Martha.  They work on near identical principles and are wrong for the exact same reason.  I think it's because Lionel/Martha is portrayed as something wrong and something that Martha should be saved from, while we seem meant to support and hope for Lex/Lana.  Also, unless they completely butcher Martha's character, there's not a prayer of that being two sided for a long time, while, even without spoilers, Lex/Lana is obviously going to happen.  Then there's the fact that Martha is an infinitely better and more likable character than Lana...

Seriously, though, ever since early season 2, it's been pathetic how hard they've been trying to convince us that Lana is pertinent to the show, and at this point, they're pretty much literally raping Superman canon in every way possible to try to convince she's there for any reason than to keep things from happening.  (And...really...how could the show that gave us Chloe and these versions of Martha and Lois also have given us Lana?)

2)  Smallville's Cyborg is cute.  Not hot, just cute.  That is all.

Smallville(s5): What was that name?

Ok, this ALWAYS bugs me no matter where it comes up:  In Smallville, Clark need to find a doctor named "Han."  Now...Clark didn't say how to spell the name, but Chloe immediately typed it in and spelled it.  Now, when I hear "Han," I think "Han, Haun or Hawn?" (I'm just going 'Han" because...well...Han Solo, really...)   It ALWAYS bothers me when that happens in fiction...when there are multiple spelliungs for a name but they act like there's only one.

Maybe it's because there are so many spellings to my name.  "Megan"  is apparently one of the least common spellings of the name, and no one who writes it down ever gets it right(WHY?  It's the one with the fewest letters...)  Similarly, while "More" seems to be a fairly obsolete spelling now, it is still out there, and Thomas More keeps it in cirulation.

Does it ever annoy anyone else?  One day, I want a scene like this:

"Ok, I need a location for Dr. Conner, stat."

"Is that C-o-n-o-r, C-o-n-n-e-r, or C-o-n-n-o-r?"

*blank stare*  "I didn't ask..."

I know they never cover that because it would jar the action, but...

Extremely briefly in Smallville:

1)  Why is it that Lex/Lana makes me want to hurl things at the TV(why Lex, why?  Don't you have higher standards than that? You could do so much better...) while I'm ok with Lionel/Martha.  They work on near identical principles and are wrong for the exact same reason.  I think it's because Lionel/Martha is portrayed as something wrong and something that Martha should be saved from, while we seem meant to support and hope for Lex/Lana.  Also, unless they completely butcher Martha's character, there's not a prayer of that being two sided for a long time, while, even without spoilers, Lex/Lana is obviously going to happen.  Then there's the fact that Martha is an infinitely better and more likable character than Lana...

Seriously, though, ever since early season 2, it's been pathetic how hard they've been trying to convince us that Lana is pertinent to the show, and at this point, they're pretty much literally raping Superman canon in every way possible to try to convince she's there for any reason than to keep things from happening.  (And...really...how could the show that gave us Chloe and these versions of Martha and Lois also have given us Lana?)

2)  Smallville's Cyborg is cute.  Not hot, just cute.  That is all.

booksale reportish

 Found a few books on my list, got a small stack of historical romance novels which I'll probably only read about half of, found what I HOPE are the start of a few fantasy series, and got a few random things.

Come warn me if my grabby fingers grabbed something that sucks.  Or if I'm going to accidentally start something mid-series when it can't be started mid-series.

( apparently, though, most of what's worth mentioning are fantasy novels... )

In addition to the stil-sizable backlog I already had, I also have  Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn high on the "to read" list, and Dragon Sword and Wind Child by Noriko Ogiwara will likely by close after it when it gets here.  Been reading Jo Beverley's The Company of Rogues series lately, which is good though not amazing(I had trouble believing that the couple in the first book were actually in love by the end, and not "fond and posibly/probably in love once they know each other better," which has rather thrown me.)

I shall now go watch the last disc of Smallville s5.

ETA:  dangermousie, the Farscape discs(erxcerpt the last...can't remember if you said whethor or not you found it)  came today.  I shall start watching soon-ish.

booksale reportish

 Found a few books on my list, got a small stack of historical romance novels which I'll probably only read about half of, found what I HOPE are the start of a few fantasy series, and got a few random things.

Come warn me if my grabby fingers grabbed something that sucks.  Or if I'm going to accidentally start something mid-series when it can't be started mid-series.

( apparently, though, most of what's worth mentioning are fantasy novels... )

In addition to the stil-sizable backlog I already had, I also have  Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn high on the "to read" list, and Dragon Sword and Wind Child by Noriko Ogiwara will likely by close after it when it gets here.  Been reading Jo Beverley's The Company of Rogues series lately, which is good though not amazing(I had trouble believing that the couple in the first book were actually in love by the end, and not "fond and posibly/probably in love once they know each other better," which has rather thrown me.)

I shall now go watch the last disc of Smallville s5.

ETA:  dangermousie, the Farscape discs(erxcerpt the last...can't remember if you said whethor or not you found it)  came today.  I shall start watching soon-ish.

Smallville Season 5

You know, sometimes I can't figure out why I like this show so much.  I mean, yes, pretty much the entire upporting cast(read: all but Clark and Lana) is great, and even though Clark himself is far from amazing, he's at least a likable dork with good intention who means well.  Lana...well, frankly, not even the world's greatest thespian could make thi character work.  She started well in season one but then it all went downhill to the point where she was barely tolerable by the end of season three.  At this point, I'm forced to do other things when she's on my screen out of self preservation(not to mention that every "romantic" scene with Lex or Clark had me suppresssing the gag reflex.)  I mean really...how is it possible that the show that gave us Chloe, Martha and Lois also gave us Lana?

I mean, usually when I'm supposed to find a character amazing but don't, I still get it.  Take Starbuck.  When I tried watching Battlestar Galactica, I couldn't stand her...I thought she was horribly abrasive, her behavior an atrocity and disrespectful for her position and like she was being shovbed down my throat.  At the same time, though, I could see why others wouldn't mind that and would like her, and why TPTB thought making her that way could work.  Didn't work for me, but at least I could undertand it(I have the same problem and reaction to several dorama heroines.)  But Lana?    We're supposed to find her amazing and captivating and have our hearts break for her every 3 episodes, but WHY?  Because she whines?  Because she's pretty?  Because they need an excuse for Lois and Clark to not hook up?  Because both male leads are inexplicably in love with her?  Because she kicks butt but looks really fake doing it?  Because she has a superiority complex?  Because she's emo?  Because everyone on the show, even guest stars, is obsessed with her?  Because virtually every cast member starts singing her praises the second her name is mentioned?

Seriously, sometimes I think the main reason I like Lionel as much as I do is because he's the only person who couldn't care less about Lana.

BUT!

Butbutbutbutbut...

Then they go and have awesome little and not so little nods to comic book canon and my inner fangirl comes out and squees like a madwoman and I forget all about Lana.

I loved all the "other DC characters popping up"  bits that keep happening (including the superpowered Huntress-like girl) and the nods at what's coming(even though they've screwed it up so much that it'll never come across as Clark "choosing" Lois instead of settling for her, unless they have Lana go completely psycho evil.)

And I most definately, especially loved Chloe and Clark's partnership this season.

And how odd was it to see James Marsters bearing no resemblance in any way to Spike?  (Though I feel his controlled reaction to vampire being mentioned is on a par with Jared's when Gilmore Girls was mentioned on Supernatural.)

But you know what?  Forget all that!


OMFG!

ZOD!

PHANTOM ZONE!

Even if it's a severely changed Zod...

And I'm not even a Superman fan...

Smallville Season 5

You know, sometimes I can't figure out why I like this show so much.  I mean, yes, pretty much the entire upporting cast(read: all but Clark and Lana) is great, and even though Clark himself is far from amazing, he's at least a likable dork with good intention who means well.  Lana...well, frankly, not even the world's greatest thespian could make thi character work.  She started well in season one but then it all went downhill to the point where she was barely tolerable by the end of season three.  At this point, I'm forced to do other things when she's on my screen out of self preservation(not to mention that every "romantic" scene with Lex or Clark had me suppresssing the gag reflex.)  I mean really...how is it possible that the show that gave us Chloe, Martha and Lois also gave us Lana?

I mean, usually when I'm supposed to find a character amazing but don't, I still get it.  Take Starbuck.  When I tried watching Battlestar Galactica, I couldn't stand her...I thought she was horribly abrasive, her behavior an atrocity and disrespectful for her position and like she was being shovbed down my throat.  At the same time, though, I could see why others wouldn't mind that and would like her, and why TPTB thought making her that way could work.  Didn't work for me, but at least I could undertand it(I have the same problem and reaction to several dorama heroines.)  But Lana?    We're supposed to find her amazing and captivating and have our hearts break for her every 3 episodes, but WHY?  Because she whines?  Because she's pretty?  Because they need an excuse for Lois and Clark to not hook up?  Because both male leads are inexplicably in love with her?  Because she kicks butt but looks really fake doing it?  Because she has a superiority complex?  Because she's emo?  Because everyone on the show, even guest stars, is obsessed with her?  Because virtually every cast member starts singing her praises the second her name is mentioned?

Seriously, sometimes I think the main reason I like Lionel as much as I do is because he's the only person who couldn't care less about Lana.

BUT!

Butbutbutbutbut...

Then they go and have awesome little and not so little nods to comic book canon and my inner fangirl comes out and squees like a madwoman and I forget all about Lana.

I loved all the "other DC characters popping up"  bits that keep happening (including the superpowered Huntress-like girl) and the nods at what's coming(even though they've screwed it up so much that it'll never come across as Clark "choosing" Lois instead of settling for her, unless they have Lana go completely psycho evil.)

And I most definately, especially loved Chloe and Clark's partnership this season.

And how odd was it to see James Marsters bearing no resemblance in any way to Spike?  (Though I feel his controlled reaction to vampire being mentioned is on a par with Jared's when Gilmore Girls was mentioned on Supernatural.)

But you know what?  Forget all that!


OMFG!

ZOD!

PHANTOM ZONE!

Even if it's a severely changed Zod...

And I'm not even a Superman fan...

RONDO!

I have just started watching the japanese/korean drama, Rondo.  It's basically "Japan does a kdrama."

It's essentially about Nishijima Sho, an undercover cop trying to bring down the organization that got his father killed 24 years ago.  He is a true angry and dark and angsty hero and he only person he's nice to is his partner, Hide.  I feel that if Hide weren't played by Sato Ryuta, Sho wouldn't have time for him, either.  But since he is, being mean to Hide would be like being mean to an overgrown puppy.  Anyway, whilst being his angstridden self, he meets Choi Yoon A, a woman who recently immigrated from Korea with her younger sister and who doesn't speak any Japanese.  Actually, in true kdrama fashion, they ALMOST meet multiple times with the camera doing multiple takes each time.  I'm not sure why they moved to Japan, but Yoon A is a musician, and both Sho and Hide are fascinated (naturally) by her playing.  Sho by silently staring then pretending he doesn't notice and Hide by openly praising her.  I suspect Sho is friends with Hide so no one will notice that Sho doesn't speak much.

Anyway, Yoon A's boss tries to stiff her because she doesn't speak Japanese and he thinks he can get away with it, and pushes her hard enough to knock her against breakable things when she confronts him.  This results in a chain of events ending with ho bodily throwing himself over Yoon A to protect her from falling glass.

Now, when Korea does Korea melodrama, my eyes tend to glaze over before too long, but when Japan does Korean melodrama, I am entertained beyond words, just like with Love Generation.  As calixa  pointed out, it's probably because the melodrama lasts an eternity in kdramas, but in jdramas, you get the thrill and fun of the melodrama but it zips right by you and you're moving on before it can get boring.

( A few other pertinent details )

RONDO!

I have just started watching the japanese/korean drama, Rondo.  It's basically "Japan does a kdrama."

It's essentially about Nishijima Sho, an undercover cop trying to bring down the organization that got his father killed 24 years ago.  He is a true angry and dark and angsty hero and he only person he's nice to is his partner, Hide.  I feel that if Hide weren't played by Sato Ryuta, Sho wouldn't have time for him, either.  But since he is, being mean to Hide would be like being mean to an overgrown puppy.  Anyway, whilst being his angstridden self, he meets Choi Yoon A, a woman who recently immigrated from Korea with her younger sister and who doesn't speak any Japanese.  Actually, in true kdrama fashion, they ALMOST meet multiple times with the camera doing multiple takes each time.  I'm not sure why they moved to Japan, but Yoon A is a musician, and both Sho and Hide are fascinated (naturally) by her playing.  Sho by silently staring then pretending he doesn't notice and Hide by openly praising her.  I suspect Sho is friends with Hide so no one will notice that Sho doesn't speak much.

Anyway, Yoon A's boss tries to stiff her because she doesn't speak Japanese and he thinks he can get away with it, and pushes her hard enough to knock her against breakable things when she confronts him.  This results in a chain of events ending with ho bodily throwing himself over Yoon A to protect her from falling glass.

Now, when Korea does Korea melodrama, my eyes tend to glaze over before too long, but when Japan does Korean melodrama, I am entertained beyond words, just like with Love Generation.  As calixa  pointed out, it's probably because the melodrama lasts an eternity in kdramas, but in jdramas, you get the thrill and fun of the melodrama but it zips right by you and you're moving on before it can get boring.

( A few other pertinent details )