RE: Re: FIC; The Centre Cannot Hold(1/?) PG-13

[Kirayoshi@xxxxxxxxxx]

> ** Original Subject: RE: ~Buffy*Wants*Willow~ Re: FIC; The Centre Cannot Hold(1/?) PG-13
> ** Original Sender: "Quindo Ma" <quindo.ma@xxxxxxxxx>
> ** Original Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 18:50:19 +0000 (UTC)

> ** Original Message follows... 

> <<one thing i was hoping you'd helop me with tho. i've never even herad of
> this show 'the pretenders' so i'm a wee bit lost,  d'you think you could
> maybe give me a breif synopsis of the4 show if its no too much trouble?>>
>
> Hey Chris, the show "The Pretender" is about a man (Jarod) who doesn't know
> much of anything about his past, since he was more or less kidnapped by a
> private organization only known as "The Center" when he was a child of 6 or
> 7 I think (not sure, only saw the german version of the show, and even
> that's been a while back).
>
> Anyway, what makes this man unique, as opposed to your normal high IQ
> genious, is his ability to become whomever and whatever he wants to be, to
> Pretend (hence the name).
>
> The Center, used this ability to create scenarios where Jarod would tell
> them exactly what would happen, like a bank robbery for example, he's just
> become that bank robber.
> After years of this he eventually fled The Center, on search of his own
> past, his parents, and all the time finding out what it means to live, to be
> alive. He also keeps helping those who suffered wrongdoing, like a fireman
> that is in coma after falling from a building during training, who suffers
> this condition because of one of his coworkers that cut off the roap.
>
> Of course, The Center wants him back, and Ms. Parker's job is finding him.
> So he keeps running from The Center while searching for his family and
> helping others.
>
> HTH
>     Quin

Thanks for the overview, Quin.  I should add some details.

Jarod did not leave the Centre(which is how it's spelled on the show) because he simply wanted to be free of their influence, but because he learned that the Centre is Evil Incorporated.  The Centre, led by the sinister Mr. Raines(short bald guy who needs a nose tube to breath, looks like all the moisture has been sucked out of his face), used the info from Jarod's simulations to perform criminal acts.  Everything from elaborate bank robberies to political asassinations.  Since Jarod made his escape from 
the Centre, one of his main goals has been to atone for how his genius was used for evil.  As he said in one ep(a line later used in the opening titles), "How many people died because of what I thought up?" Jarod is especially drawn to people who have been victimized by corporations, the wealthy and the influential.  Those in power who abuse their power.

The show has a pretty involved mythology, almost second to the X-Files.  Miss Parker, for example, has a history with Jarod, the two of them being childhood friends(and possibly sweethearts?) before her father, one of the senior execs at the Centre, molded her into the ice-bitch we've seen on the show.  When he's not righting wrongs and outfoxing the Centre, he often attempts to contact Miss Parker, hoping to reach the young girl he knew and loved under the hard exterior she's projected around herself.

Another recurring theme of the show is that Jarod, while being a super-genius with the chameleon-like ability to assume any identity simply by reading about it, is very naive about certain aspects of real life that we take for granted.  One of my favorite moments of the show was when Jarod, as a defense attorney, defended a transvestite taxi driver against trumped-up assault charges.  He was then amazed when the taxi driver gave him a lift to the lawfirm and played a blues recording on his tape deck.  Esp
ecially in the earlier episodes, Jarod constantly discovered little things that fascinated him; Pez dispensers, Curious George, Santa Claus, so many other things that were new to him.

Like I said, it was a very well hanlded suspence series with a strong human angle.  And I can see Jarod connecting with Buffy; the Centre's controling of its Pretenders compared to the Council's controling its Slayers, that sort of thing.  I'm thinking this could be an interesting story.

Kirayoshi


"Friends are the DNA of society.  They are the basic building blocks of life.  If you have a couple of good ones, treasure them like gold.  There's nothing better.  Ever look at that MCI ad they have, "Friends and Family"?  Who do they mention first?  Your friends help you carry the big weight in life.  That big burden we've all got called, 'What the Hell am I doing?'"  
 --Jerry Seinfeld


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LIdGAA/qnsNAA/RoMolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

Community email addresses:
     Post message: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Subscribe:    buffywantswillow-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Unsubscribe:  buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     List owner:   buffywantswillow-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shortcut URL to this page:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow

Official archive for the list:
     http://www.ikoly.com/fanfic

Other links to Buffy/Willow fics:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/links  

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/