Hi, I'm pretty new here, but I thought I'd put down a thought or two. I've been leery about starting this story, just because of its reputation, but decided to give it a shot.
Maybe I should hold off judgement after I've read the whole thing (if I can get there..) I'm maybe a fifth of the way into the first section, but it's getting harder and harder for me to continue reading.
I just don't see the characters anywhere in these characterizations. Here, they're both so angry and cold and malicious, taking pleasure in the ways they can hurt and use each other. That a partnership or a personal relationship could function or be maintained this way is ridiculous. Even the ways they think about each other, or remember the past, are either malevolent or emotionally barren. Huge chunks of Mulder are entirely absent - his kindness, his empathy, his humor, his respect for his partner. Even his respect for Skinner or his fondness of Frohike. Likewise, while Scully of course holds huge pieces of herself inside herself, the Iolokus characterization is entirely off the mark. She seems a shell of person, shallow and bitter... and I don't believe either of them would treat sex with one another so casually, or use it as a weapon against one another. I love Mulder and Scully, but I don't even like either of the characters in this story. They're needy, ugly, abused and abusive, and beyond dysfunctional.
Ok, I'm done, sorry for the rant... it may be hard for me to suspend my disbelief and continue reading this story, but I want to try. So far, I'm not seeing what all the fuss is about.
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Maybe I should hold off judgement after I've read the whole thing (if I can get there..) I'm maybe a fifth of the way into the first section, but it's getting harder and harder for me to continue reading.
I just don't see the characters anywhere in these characterizations. Here, they're both so angry and cold and malicious, taking pleasure in the ways they can hurt and use each other. That a partnership or a personal relationship could function or be maintained this way is ridiculous. Even the ways they think about each other, or remember the past, are either malevolent or emotionally barren. Huge chunks of Mulder are entirely absent - his kindness, his empathy, his humor, his respect for his partner. Even his respect for Skinner or his fondness of Frohike. Likewise, while Scully of course holds huge pieces of herself inside herself, the Iolokus characterization is entirely off the mark. She seems a shell of person, shallow and bitter... and I don't believe either of them would treat sex with one another so casually, or use it as a weapon against one another. I love Mulder and Scully, but I don't even like either of the characters in this story. They're needy, ugly, abused and abusive, and beyond dysfunctional.
Ok, I'm done, sorry for the rant... it may be hard for me to suspend my disbelief and continue reading this story, but I want to try. So far, I'm not seeing what all the fuss is about.
Thoughts?
-Kate