Fanfic pet peeve #197

[graculus]

What is it with people writing Daniel Jackson as this self-loathing weepy character, more reminiscent of a Victorian maiden than anything else, who sits in his lonesome room, cutting himself while he sheds a solitary emo tear. Oh, and he's amazed when anyone says he's any good at doing anything and overwhelmed by any sign of appreciation.

Why is this still happening? Have you people never actually seen either the movie or the series?

In the movie, Daniel is the one who strolls into the depths of Cheyenne Mountain, casually correcting the translation someone has been working on forever, and he doesn't think 'oh noes, they'll all hate me!', he just gets on and does his thing. Brilliantly. Despite the fact this should all be well outside his comfort zone as an academic. And then he's going offworld without a second thought through this bizarre alien device, throws himself into this new civilisation he's encountering for the first time and isn't at all abashed when his understanding of the language turns out to be not quite as good as he thought it was, not to mention that he casually quizzes Ra about his plans before getting involved in an escape plan. Oh, and then he helps to blow up a spaceship with a nuclear warhead.

See any difference between the two characterisations? And that's just the movie! ;)

Comments

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

There's this very long fic (I won't name names, because a few of my friends adore it, and the lady who wrote it is a sweetheart) that has an AU Daniel and Jack crossing with our Daniel and Jack - and the AU Daniel, who's been through hell, IS the stereotypical weedyweepyDaniel of yore, always calling Jack, J'ck. Now, how the hell do you SAY that?

Even in an AU Daniel, who's been through Goa'uld hell...I can't quite buy it.

[stacy-l.livejournal.com]

Oh Lord this sounds suspiciously like one of mine *headdesk*

Perhaps I'm wrong about that. Of course now that I think about it one of my WIP's I started WAAAY back when I first entered the fandom has a rather weepy AU Daniel...Lord I may have to rethink that story! (hey maybe that's why I've been unable to complete that particular story *shrugs* who knows but it gives me something to think about)

: )

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

well, that's the thing about starting out writing, even fanfic: if you can look back and see your mistakes, that's all for the good, you know?

I think all writers go through it (esp if they want to improve) Not every fic written can be the Fic To End All Fics!

[stacy-l.livejournal.com]

Oh so very true : D

And I think that's all part of improving. Being able to look back at what you've written in the past and accept that there is always room to improve, even with the fics one is presently working on : D

I gotta tell you some of my earlier stories actually make me cringe at the writing...thank heavens I've improved some : )