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seriousficQ: Is your show like the anti-Heroes?
A: I don't think we're the anti-anything, that kind of sets you off in a negative way. We're a show that's very much aware of everything that came before it, and we're happy to stand on the shoulders of giants, and we refer to a lot of popular culture in our show. But if [The Middleman] is anti-anything, it's anti- the idea that heroism is ultimately tragic, which I think is the dominating trope of most scifi shows that I watch, shows that I like and admire. Doctor Who is an example of a show that doesn't go there that much, a show that doesn't say being heroic will destroy your life. Doing the right thing will not kill you, will not destroy your friends. A lot of popular culture insists on sort of a pornography of despair. I don't think this makes any shows bad or inherently evil and dark, but there is a real darkness in scifi today. I have worked on shows that are very dark shows thematically, and that's really not who I am inside. Every show is a therapist's couch for it creator, so I can't help but bring my optimism [to The Middleman]. - Javier Grillo-Marxuach
I'd disagree with his accessment of Doctor Who, as these days it really has transformed into the David Tennant Cries Prettily Show, but the rest of this is RIGHT ON. Which is why you should be watching Middleman. That, and the very nearly canon femslash.
In fact, picture Doctor Who, only the Doctor is more Buck Rogers-y (actual adjective!), Martha/Ace is canonically a Time-Lord-in-training who receives compliments when she does well and is forgiven when she screws up, Rose is Martha's roommate and kinda hung up on the Doctor but still willing to move on with her life if that doesn't work (uhh, ditto with Martha... actually, maybe Wendy is more like Donna...), and the TARDIS is a middle-aged librarian.
Epic win? EPIC WIN!
A: I don't think we're the anti-anything, that kind of sets you off in a negative way. We're a show that's very much aware of everything that came before it, and we're happy to stand on the shoulders of giants, and we refer to a lot of popular culture in our show. But if [The Middleman] is anti-anything, it's anti- the idea that heroism is ultimately tragic, which I think is the dominating trope of most scifi shows that I watch, shows that I like and admire. Doctor Who is an example of a show that doesn't go there that much, a show that doesn't say being heroic will destroy your life. Doing the right thing will not kill you, will not destroy your friends. A lot of popular culture insists on sort of a pornography of despair. I don't think this makes any shows bad or inherently evil and dark, but there is a real darkness in scifi today. I have worked on shows that are very dark shows thematically, and that's really not who I am inside. Every show is a therapist's couch for it creator, so I can't help but bring my optimism [to The Middleman]. - Javier Grillo-Marxuach
I'd disagree with his accessment of Doctor Who, as these days it really has transformed into the David Tennant Cries Prettily Show, but the rest of this is RIGHT ON. Which is why you should be watching Middleman. That, and the very nearly canon femslash.
In fact, picture Doctor Who, only the Doctor is more Buck Rogers-y (actual adjective!), Martha/Ace is canonically a Time-Lord-in-training who receives compliments when she does well and is forgiven when she screws up, Rose is Martha's roommate and kinda hung up on the Doctor but still willing to move on with her life if that doesn't work (uhh, ditto with Martha... actually, maybe Wendy is more like Donna...), and the TARDIS is a middle-aged librarian.
Epic win? EPIC WIN!
