Heated Rivalry - is it really a new fandom culture?

[Willie Oleson]

I think Gen Z has a tendency to rewrite history, as in: "this has never happened before! OMG"
But I'm old enough to remember TITANIC and the way it affected disturbed young women. Jack died! Now I can't live anymore!!
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY became a globally popular romance fetish for housewives, and goth romance soared courtesy of the TWILIGHT saga (yes, a saga).
Therefore it makes perfect sense that we now have the gay version especially since the gay part in previous series (Sense8, OZ, Elite) leaned towards bisexuality.
Of course there are many great gay dramas on film (e.g. GOD'S OWN COUNTRY) but it doesn't compare to the availability of streaming.

As for "never happened before", I think it's nice to remember this heated rivalry scene that was shown in the peak of the AIDS crisis.

And it's also nice to remember that the whole world basically came to a standstill when they showed the reveal of WHO SHOT JR?

In that regard, both the new HBO series and its immense popularity are not quite as groundbreaking as the internet wants us to believe.
I think LOST may actually be the most talked-about TV series ever. And how could it not, with that first episode?
Nevertheless, the Heated Rivalry phenomenon IS happening now and that's perfectly fine with me even though I'm not the target audience.
I was the DYNASTY target audience therefore I've already had that experience.

What does surprise me is that "phenomenon" is being confused with "masterpiece".
I mean, a masterpiece compared to what? Breaking Bad? The Sopranos? New Doctor Who?
Shouldn't there be a sense of proportion? Apart from its (not-too-controversial) subject matter, it seems that HR doesn't have a lot to offer in terms of plotting or acting.
It's not a "if Woody Allen and Roman Polanski had a baby" creation (here's an opening for anyone who feels compelled to post a witty one-liner).

Or is it THE gay TV representation we've all been waiting for? The positive reaction is certainly a good thing, but I also know there's going to be a backlash, because that's how it works these days.
My issue with backlash culture is that these people are far more fanatic and dangerous than the fanboys. Like true vultures they are waiting for something like this to happen. All they have to do is sit back and let the unsuspecting fanboys do all their work. A scheme so simple it's almost brilliant.

Or maybe next month there's going to be another phenomenon. I'm sure bitchy Netflix is cooking up something super over-the-top in an attempt to dethrone Ilya ♥ Shane.

 

[Crimson]

Is the hype out-of-proportion? Probably, although that's reflective of the generally dismal state of TV/movie output these days that a relatively minor drama can excite people this much. Will the haters backlash be more out-of-proportion? Also, probably.

Yet the show was way better than I expected it to be. I remember the gay shows of the, what?, early 00s. A few pretty boys who were abysmal actors, and chintzy production values. This show was far more solid than I would have expected. I admit I didn't care much for the B-plot or those actors, even if I acknowledge how that plot informed the A-plot. And overall not much happened; I think this could have been a movie rather than a series without much being lost. But that's rather the norm these days. Many streaming shows feel like stretched out, interrupted movies rather than condensed television series.

I was thoroughly engaged in Shane and Ilya's developing relationship and found it surprisingly affirming; sufficiently dramatic without being torturous and anxious. And, biggest surprise of all, this is a gay, not queer, show. No socio-political ideology or preachy, blue-haired they/thems, just men who fall in love with men. I'm genuinely shocked anyone was bold enough to make a show unincumbered by messaging in the mid-2020s. Maybe the world is healing. Unfortunately I think whatever follows, including the second season, will likely learn all the wrong lessons from this show's success.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I'm genuinely shocked anyone was bold enough to make a show unincumbered by messaging in the mid-2020s.

Maybe that's it: a public craving for simplicity and transparency, they just didn't realise it until they saw it.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

 

[Daniel Avery]

I think Gen Z has a tendency to rewrite history, as in: "this has never happened before! OMG"

Indeed, it makes me roll my eyes every time some younger person "discovers" something that was "discovered" long, long ago. A co-worker recently "discovered" you could cheaply buy and prepare popcorn on a stovetop, as opposed to the packaged, microwave popcorn. I rolled my eyes so hard, I think I saw my brain. Many pop-culture websites behave as if nothing of consequence happened prior to 2010, which does not help.

The tendency toward hyperbole when discussing even the most mundane matters online means that HR is THE most important thing to happen in entertainment IN OUR LIFETIMES....at least until next week when the next thing comes along.

 

[Crimson]

What does anyone thing of the scene where the mother 'apologizes'?

Like most of the show, I thought it was refreshingly undramatic. I mean do we really need Blake Carrington style response in 2026? A lot of modern shows lean towards gentleness, seemingly reluctant to put the characters (and the audience) through much emotional turmoil. In some cases, this feels fake or precious, but I found HR to be kind of lowkey natural.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

 

[Willie Oleson]

at least until next week when the next thing comes along.

The Heated Adolescence Of Baby Reindeer

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I guess lesbianism doesn't take anything away from women. But male homosexuality very much does (or did): attention, utility, protection and resources are wasted on other men....!

How can this happen??

1964:

 

[Willie Oleson]

I guess lesbianism doesn't take anything away from women

Interesting. Because it kinda sounds as if they've got nothing to lose.
But is that a good thing? Doesn't that sorta imply that the female is inferior to the male?
And if women hate men, is that because men are aggressively masculine - or because they're jealous they weren't born in a male body?
But if everybody wants to be a man then why has the female physique always been the predominant selling point in erotica?

This is not an opinion, I'm only asking questions to see where it goes.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Interesting. Because it kinda sounds as if they've got nothing to lose.
But is that a good thing? Doesn't that sorta imply that the female is inferior to the male?
And if women hate men, is that because men are aggressively masculine - or because they're jealous they weren't born in a male body?
But if everybody wants to be a man then why has the female physique always been the predominant selling point in erotica?

This is not an opinion, I'm only asking questions to see where it goes.

Oh, who knows? Some have suggested it may be all of the above.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Some have suggested it may be all of the above.

That doesn't really narrow it down. That's not how people discovered that the earth is round (but is it perfectly round?)

 

[Daniel Avery]

Now I have to step in and curb this nonsense. You can't go throwing bombs like "the world is round" in here and not expect pushback.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Well I guess that perfectly proves that moon landings are fake.
Because the earth is only round from the perspective of the moon, or at least that's how they've tried to sell it.

But noooo, let's ridicule a fictional soap opera for doing a UFO scene!

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Well I guess that perfectly proves that moon landings are fake.

Oh, don't get me started. I've long-suspected that that conspiracy theory is probably fact, but realize that one simply can't talk about it.