Story 91: "The Fractured Landscape" by Zuffy and Littljoe

[wendelah1]

Welcome back! I hope you had a great August holiday.

In light of some recent discussions I've had about character POV, and whether or not writing a character unsympathetically accurately represents how an author feels about the character, especially in season 8 fic, I decided to read some season 8 fic. Just to get my biases out of the way, I haven't read much of it because I kind of hate season 8. Okay, I really hate season 8. But we aren't here to discuss that, we're here to talk about fan fiction!

Synopsis: How does the tense and chilly Mulder of 3Words turn into the relaxed and confident man joking about "the pizza man"?

The authors rate this story PG-13 for language.

If anyone has season 8 fic they would like to recommend we discuss, you may make those suggestions here. If you think reading season 8 fic is a terrible idea and want to read something else, you can make that suggestion at the same place. I know I've skipped over some of your suggestions, but I promise we'll get to them eventually.

Give feedback to the authors and then tell us what you think about the story. Heck, you can even tell us what you think about season 8 and/or author POV versus character POV in season 8 fic. Come prepared with supporting examples of your thesis. Joke. Just read the fic. Although, I would love to read meta about that topic if there is any, she said wistfully.

"The Fractured Landscape"

Comments

Re: hastily joining the conversation late

[wendelah1]

yet it seems to me that the way mulder and scully have learned to cope with all of the horrific and complicated situations they face is by not talking. they come to their own terms, and there is a question as to whether they somehow sense exactly how they must adapt in order to fit with the other, or if the natural product of their adaptation simply fits well with the other's. either way, over the years they seem to fare remarkable well without directly addressing many of the problems that plague them.

Do they fare all that well? I would say that's up for debate. But I don't think they talk less in season eight exactly, it's more that the personal stakes have gotten so much higher, and that both Mulder and Scully have been traumatized beyond belief. A little more talking might have been helpful along the way, but I can't say how much. They seem very disconnected just when they need to be getting their acts together. But I'm more than willing to blame all of that on the series writers.

but at this point i realize it's because as of S7 i pretty much stop paying any attention to canon, as it pertains to characterization. i may follow the events that happen on the screen, but i then rework the implications of those events entirely.

Honestly, I do my best to pretend that everything from Requiem on never happened. Obviously for the purposes of reading season 8 fic, this little quirk of mine has been set aside. For now.

i think this fic does a wonderful job of enriching canon. I agree. Now I just need to figure out what to post next.