It's Monday.
Jan. 24th, 2022 11:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rogueslayer452++ First of all, Critical Role released a behind-the-scenes video talking about the chosen cast for The Legend of Vox Machina, and the list they have is absolutely wild. I do recommend watching the video to get the reveals for who is voicing who, but let me just say that I'm absolutely excited. And it makes sense, Matt and the rest of them are voice actors and they have connections within the voice acting world since it is a very niche pocket of the entertainment industry, so of course it all fits into place. But moreover, knowing that about them being "nerdy-ass voice actors", it gives a level of confidence knowing that they carefully chose these people to voice these characters, especially fan favorite NPCs from campaign one. I'm so stoked, the 28th cannot come fast enough!
++ We have the teaser announcement trailer for the reveal of the Lord of the Rings prequel series on Amazon, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. Here's the thing, I've been mostly indifferent towards this, mainly because I'm nervous about what it'll do. While I know that different adaptations and takes on Tolkien's work can and do exist, this is a very ambitious task on creating something new that fulfills that void people have been having in regards to epic high fantasy and returning to Middle-earth, but I don't want it to be another Game of Thrones disaster, as in doing something edgy and grimdark and failing to understand and be respectful to the source material. I mean, I'll have to wait and see until more stuff comes out from it. I don't know.
++ The Undoing of Joss Whedon is an article that came out recently where Joss Whedon was interviewed and basically destroyed his own career in a single swoop.
It's astounding, really, the lack of self-awareness. Instead of listening and taking accountability for is actions and behavior, he outright denies and dismisses almost everything, and the things he does acknowledge he attempts to justify it by twisting a narrative that he believes benefits him the best, when in reality it just made him look even worse by going on the defensive. This could have been his opportunity for him to properly and genuinely apologize. It wouldn't have absolved him of what he'd done, but it would've at least been a step forward in making amends and changing for the better. But that would actually require, y'know, feeling remorse, which he clearly has none as evident with the way he talks about others in such a belittling and condescending way. He hasn't listened, hasn't learned, hasn't taken the time to self-reflect at all. I know it's like a broken record to continually say the "not surprised, just disappointed" mantra, but it's unfortunately true. I don't know what else to expect at this point, to be honest. Ugh.
++ We have the teaser announcement trailer for the reveal of the Lord of the Rings prequel series on Amazon, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. Here's the thing, I've been mostly indifferent towards this, mainly because I'm nervous about what it'll do. While I know that different adaptations and takes on Tolkien's work can and do exist, this is a very ambitious task on creating something new that fulfills that void people have been having in regards to epic high fantasy and returning to Middle-earth, but I don't want it to be another Game of Thrones disaster, as in doing something edgy and grimdark and failing to understand and be respectful to the source material. I mean, I'll have to wait and see until more stuff comes out from it. I don't know.
++ The Undoing of Joss Whedon is an article that came out recently where Joss Whedon was interviewed and basically destroyed his own career in a single swoop.
It's astounding, really, the lack of self-awareness. Instead of listening and taking accountability for is actions and behavior, he outright denies and dismisses almost everything, and the things he does acknowledge he attempts to justify it by twisting a narrative that he believes benefits him the best, when in reality it just made him look even worse by going on the defensive. This could have been his opportunity for him to properly and genuinely apologize. It wouldn't have absolved him of what he'd done, but it would've at least been a step forward in making amends and changing for the better. But that would actually require, y'know, feeling remorse, which he clearly has none as evident with the way he talks about others in such a belittling and condescending way. He hasn't listened, hasn't learned, hasn't taken the time to self-reflect at all. I know it's like a broken record to continually say the "not surprised, just disappointed" mantra, but it's unfortunately true. I don't know what else to expect at this point, to be honest. Ugh.
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no subject
Date: 2022-01-25 07:39 pm (UTC)At times it was like he thought he was just so much smarter than everyone - the 'bad actor' comment or talking about how the therapist told him to go to the washroom to take a break for tough questions... and then always having to pee. Neither of these things were actually clever but it came across like he thought he was outsmarting people. He lies by omission "that doesn't sound like something I would do" or deflection and it's so blatant and easy to see through. It's like he's still used to being treated like he's a genius and doesn't know how to function when people are calling him out on his actions.
If he'd apologized and had a statement that sounded genuine I suspect he'd have been given a show again shortly afterward. As it stands now I think he's done. Maybe someone will give him work or he can do script doctoring under a pen name but I don't see him rising to his former levels of adoration and success again.
You're right that he doesn't seem to feel remorse. His takeaway from everything was that he was maybe just too nice?! He's in therapy and clearly has learned how to reflect in a self serving way but he's stuck on processing what's been done to him and not what he's done to others. Everything is still someone else's fault and if he can't blame someone else for the behaviour he can't remember it or thinks it doesn't sound like something he did.
He reminds me of this:
A Narcissist's Prayer
That didn't happen.
And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
And if it was, that's not a big deal.
And if it is, that's not my fault.
And if it was, I didn't mean it.
And if I did...
You deserved it.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-27 09:18 am (UTC)Exactly, his ego is just that huge and this article really just highlights how the narcissism just jumped out.
As it stands now I think he's done. Maybe someone will give him work or he can do script doctoring under a pen name but I don't see him rising to his former levels of adoration and success again.
Yeah, like, let's be honest. He's a white man in the entertainment industry, and he has connections, so he'll still get work regardless of what comes from this, but I agree that he won't ever reach that level of success again. His name has been tainted, and it's funny because this article was the nail in the coffin and he did it to himself. He had years to sit and contemplate, self-reflect, and even if he did give an apology that seemed very PR-like it would've at least been better than this. On the other hand, his true colors really showed here so perhaps it's a blessing in disguise that he revealed to us precisely who he is underneath.
Also, in a way I feel foolish for having fallen for his schtick for so long. I even defended him many, many years ago when people were speaking out against him for what I thought was just their own harsh opinions about his work. This was, of course, all before his ex-wife's statement which I instantly believed her and changed my opinion on him, but still. I know I'm not the only one who feels fooled by this man for many years, because I used to love watching interviews, commentaries, panels and the like with him, I liked hearing what he had to say, and in a way I feel like I missed some obvious red flags. I don't know. I mean, I've already done this kind of mulling over some while ago and I'm just done with him, but still. I can't help but just think back and go, "what did I miss? how could I have not seen this?"
And funnily enough, others did, I recall there being people in fandom back in the day kind of making posts about how Joss was actually a misogynist masquerading as a feminist, but would get drowned out by the majority of the "Joss Is Boss, How Dare You Speak Against Him!" crowd. This, unfortunately, is what he was feeding into and is still holding onto to this day.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-27 07:11 pm (UTC)He also absolutely did it to himself twice. Once by being abusive in the first place to his staff. The second time is this interview. I'm glad he showed us who he is but it still hurt too.
I'm with you that I feel a bit foolish because I really did think he was a good person who promoted values that I shared. I ignored a lot of the criticism of him as I felt the good was worth more than the bad and I didn't need him to be perfect in order for me to respect his work. I do have one friend from conventions who is reveling in this information because he's always hated Joss and is really being all "in your face Whedon fans!" about it... which is not a good look to be honest. It's easy to say things were easy to see in hindsight. But I don't think that people being a fan makes them stupid or morally deficient in some way.
When his ex wife's statement came out I believed her and understood that while Joss was good at his work he was bad at being a husband and was clearly not a feminist in his personal life. I could still know that and be excited to see him create new shows/movies etc. thought because someone being a crap husband is their personal business. Knowing that his actions have been far worse than any of us knew and it's been across the board - horrible to actors, to writing staff, to his wife, to girlfriends etc. That's a different thing again. I can't support someone who uses any power he gains from my support to be cruel to everyone he encounters.
Joss was good at showing us the parts of his personality that he wanted the world to see. That's celebrity culture and the real takeaway from this is not that Joss is bad and everyone who is not like Joss is great - it's that when we're looking at public personas we need to remember that no one is what they're showing to the world and hero worship itself is harmful. The fact that Joss was seen as untouchable for so long meant that his victims felt they couldn't speak up.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-28 09:16 am (UTC)Yeah, I was the same, because for the most part I found a lot of the criticism to be mostly based on individual opinion which is fine to have, but oftentimes people often treat their opinions as fact which can spread a lot of misinformation or take a lot of things out of context. Online culture is like that, especially on social media where people don't get the whole story and they just seize the opportunity to hop on that bandwagon to hate. I mean, in hindsight a lot of the criticism makes sense now, but at the time I didn't like how it was handled, if that makes sense, and it's why I ignored most of it until the statement made by his ex-wife.
I would say that the Joss Whedon revelation came in stages for me, and the more that's been coming out and exposing of his behavior further changes my previous opinions on him, and this interview really was the final nail in the coffin.
It's easy to say things were easy to see in hindsight. But I don't think that people being a fan makes them stupid or morally deficient in some way.
It's similar to how some are acting in regards to Harry Potter, shaming fans for still enjoying the series because JKR is a bigoted asshole. Seeing so much of the, "omg just let the series go it's not that hard jfc" and "read another book" to "if you're over 12 and still enjoy HP then you have serious mental issues and deserve to be mocked" and it's such a shitty and immature way of behaving towards others, and yeah, I agree it's not a good look because you're just being a dick for no reason.
Joss was good at showing us the parts of his personality that he wanted the world to see. That's celebrity culture and the real takeaway from this is not that Joss is bad and everyone who is not like Joss is great - it's that when we're looking at public personas we need to remember that no one is what they're showing to the world and hero worship itself is harmful.
Agreed, absolutely.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-28 03:20 pm (UTC)If you love something in a way that it's a core part of you then being told to just like something else isn't helpful. I don't think I can turn off my love of Buffy or Firefly or Harry Potter. These things mean something to me and so many memories and friends are linked to them. That said I can avoid new things that their creators make.
It feels fair to point out problems with creators but not to try to crush the joy people have. This world is so cruel and if something makes it easier for people and isn't harming anyone else then leave it alone. I can't undo the harm Joss has caused on his sets. I don't want to support him in having the power to cause harm like that again. But watching my Buffy DVDs at home isn't going to change things for the better or worse for anyone involved. I'd argue further with shows and movies there are so many people involved in making them that saying they're all bad now isn't helpful. Like does Charisma Carpenter not deserve residuals because her boss was a cruel bully? Is that the argument we're making now?