Criminal Minds

[xakara]

 The mark of a truly good series, be it in book form or on television, is how deeply you connect to the characters. Criminal Minds is one of those shows where I connected with every character on one level or another and want to see each of them find success and happiness. And as you do with people you care about, (even when solely on the acquaintance level), I took it personally that one of them was leaving and no one consulted me about it. 

The Gideon character was among my favorites because I've always been a fan of Mandy Patinkin. Unlike everyone else I can across, I didn't take last week's episode as a potential suicide from Gideon, but as an abandonment of his post. A turning in of his badge and gun as he took off to find himself. I was rewarded in that belief with the conclusion of Gideon's letter being found by Spencer and Gideon being seen paying for food a diner in Somewhere America as he traveled without destination. 

It was an upswing for me on the poutyness Gideon's departure induced. Spencer Reid is my favorite character, followed by Morgan, Gideon and Garcia, and to see that Gid's letter was addressed to Reid satisfied something in me and allowed me to let go. 

I used to think it was strange that I got so attached to fictional characters, that I could be made to cry or celebrate with them through trials and triumphs than never really happened. But eventually I started to wonder about everyone else who never got involved to that degree. How can you follow the glimpses of life given by a book or series and not care what happens to them. And if you care, then how can you not go that extra bit and really feel for them?

Most of us are voyeurs by nature which is why we read and watch the fictional lives of others with such dedication. It leaves me to believe that more people are affected by what happens to those fictional characters than they ever choose to let on. Perhaps if we were more open about how we're affected by the entertainment we indulge in, the standards for what we're given would rise to the heights we always say we want but rarely push for. 

There was more to this ramble, it, like so many things, led to commentary on character crushes and being involved with the development a heroine or hero goes through. But it's about to be Thursday which means I must abandon this ramble in favor of another. We'll pick up character crushes on...Saturday perhaps. For now...

Criminal Minds Ramble Done

~X

Comments

[moon-chylde.livejournal.com]

I used to think it was strange that I got so attached to fictional characters, that I could be made to cry or celebrate with them through trials and triumphs than never really happened.

That's interesting in that it's completely opposite of me. I never gave a thought about how attached I got to fictions characters, and man, I would get scarily attached sometimes.

But I thought everyone did. I thought you were supposed to.

[xakara.livejournal.com]

I thought it was natural too, but learned early that other people didn't. Then I thought is was something about me until I finally got to be around other avid readers and dedicated viewers. I saw that I wasn't alone and that led to wondering what was wrong with everyone else.

I still think it's natural, I think children come into the world ready to get attached through imagination and it's something rationalized out of them over time.

But I should stop there because I could rant on that concept for hours as you know.

[gairid.livejournal.com]

I get insanely attached to fictional characters--but I also always knew that I was perhaps a bit of an anamoly. At least I thought so until I found the internet. It comforts me that there are just as many people like me as there are people who scratch their heads at the idea of being attached to a fictional character.

[(Anonymous)]

Ugh I shouldn't have read it - I shouldn't have!! I love criminal minds and 55% of it is because of Mandy Patinken. Oh well - such is life. Of course I won't even get the new season here in England for who knows how long!
http://dontcallmemummy.blogspot.com/

[xakara.livejournal.com]

The interenet is the great leveller in the arena of validation. If you like, someone else loves it somewhere and it's just a matter of finding them.

I think that the biggest reveal to me about how attached others could get was fanfiction. The idea of so many, being so moved, and so caught up that they just had to leave their mark on a story left me feeling perfectly normal. *grin*

~X

[xakara.livejournal.com]

It's always a vast tempation to read spoiler info which is why I try to avoid them, but I couldn't speak to it without speaking fully to it. Sorry that you now know some 55% will be missing for the coming season.

Fortunately I still have faith in the rest of the cast to carry it through.

~X