DPP: In the End

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

I thought maybe today we could talk about the evolution of things. From start to finish, what do you think of these characters and this relationship now that you've digested the whole show? Have your views of the characters both individually and together changed from when you first started watching/first entered fandom?

A lot of fans from the early days of the show stopped watching because they were let down too many times by the narrative. But those who stuck it out tend to try to define the places where things changed definitively for them. Some people say their personal canon stops after a certain episode (maybe Maelstrom, maybe Unfinished Business, maybe Lay Down Your Burdens, maybe even sooner)? I think, for me, I adored their relationship in S1 and early S2, but I love their journey in Season 4.0/4.5 the best. They didn't have nearly as many moments as they should have, but what they did share was beautiful--every moment was about growing and supporting each other both emotionally and physically. (My one exception is Daybreak Part 2, so I guess my personal canon ends their journey at Islanded... or maybe Daybreak Part 1, since that has the scene where they are revealing the mission to everyone together, finishing each others' sentences.) 

The words in the banner above are from the song "All We Are" by Matt Nathanson. The lyrics talk about love wasted, believing that the simple must be hard, and dreams that scatter and fall like (nothing but the) rain in the end. It is my end-of-story song for pilots and was even before I saw the finale. That resolution was not what I wanted for them (I still and will always believe their story required a happy ending to come properly full circle) and I can't fathom fanwanking it or pretending they meant the hollow words they spoke to each other or ignoring the painful expressions on their faces. But I can believe in this song which says in the end, all the mistakes and missteps didn't matter, because from start to finish, the brig to the memory wall, the love was always there.

I think I've strayed from the point in all this, which was to ask how our feelings about this ship changed or didn't with the conclusion of their story. My answer is that I love them possibly more because I will always feel the injustice of that ending. Maybe if I loved the ending I wouldn't be as interested in them still. I don't know.  I've always loved Kara and that has never changed. I didn't always love Lee and that has totally changed (s4.0 is my favorite Lee in fact). I love them together more now, as I have this overwhelming protective instinct towards this relationship that makes me want to write fic and natter on and just attempt to fix the ingregious injustice any way I can.

So what's your answers?

Comments

[acsgrlie.livejournal.com]

I loved them in Season 1 and 2 as they danced around each other and their angst-ridden relationship grew and they had more UST than ever. I really felt like after UB they had a chance and it killed me that when one said yes the other said no in back-to-back episodes.
I agree that they didn't get nearly as many scenes as they should've had together in 4.0 and 4.5 but I think their scene in "Island" describes their relationship the best at that point after all they've been through "I'm Lee. You're Kara. The rest isn't worth a damn."
I always felt like they should be together since the miniseries and as I kept watching that feeling grew stronger and stronger. UB will always be my most favorite episode ever and I guess my personal canon stops at Island because after everything he didn't care and was ready to accept for whoever/whatever she was.
As to how my feelings have changed due to the conclusion, I will always believe that Lee and Kara were meant to be together and maybe it's just me but I felt like my determination for them to be together was fueled by the crappy ending they got. There will always be a feeling of "what if" and it is a bit harder now to rewatch and feel the amazing chemistry they had knowing what their ending is.