random lunchtime FK observation on favorite season

[brightknightie]

Last week, I rewatched "Black Buddha," both parts, to check some canon. The episodes made me sad. The dialogue was thin. The themes were thin. The plots shed loose threads. The tone was -- albeit unintentionally! but from this end of history -- helpless, hopeless, foredoomed.

Then, on the weekend, I rewatched a handful of first season episodes, and they made me happy. "Dying to Know You." "False Witness." "Cherry Blossoms." "Hunters." The dialogue and themes were rich. The plots built up. The tone was full of energy and hope and possibility. They sparkled, bigger on the inside, in a way few series to this day can even approach.

To each her own, but first season FK is definitely a very good place for me, personally.

Comments

[senmut]

I tend to rank them 1,2,3... and only rarely am willing to rewatch 3. Highly individual tastes to all, though.

[brightknightie]

That is my personal rank order, also! It's not that I don't also love the later seasons in their own ways, but first season brings me so much that I want from fiction; it feeds my soul and impresses my brain to this day, no excuses, no decline, no "for its era."

I was weirdly lucky to meet the series in reverse order. I discovered it during third season's first airings. Some kind ForKni-L people then shared second-season tapes with me, and then first season. There were still a number of first-season episodes I had yet to see for the first time when the final third-season episodes aired.

I'm sure that my "backward viewing" played some factor in my preference, but... first season is objectively brilliant. IMO. ;-)

[pj1228]

Although several of my favourite episodes are in season 3, S3 is not my favourite season either. That privilidge has season 2. Much probably owed to the Nick/Schanke dynamic.

[brightknightie]

Yes, with no disrespect to the new third-season characters, the thematic and tonal consequences of Schanke's removal were especially profound and far-reaching.

For myself, I would have extended the first-season milieu, if I could. And then if I couldn't, I would have extended that of second-season, yet could have happily then added the new third-season characters to an ongoing second-season story-world... I imagine Tracy as a recurring rookie character who joins both Nick and Schanke (and interacts with Cohen), and Urs at Janette's Raven, rather than Lacroix's Raven, and Captain Reese returning to his previous precinct, but with interactions across precincts...

2+3 = wonderful

[waltd]

Oh, that would be soooooo nice! :-)

[greerwatson]

Season 3 has some of my favourite episodes, especially in the first half. However, there was certainly a change of tone—not least, of course, because of the cast changes.

[brightknightie]

Yes, it's wonderful that every season and episode finds a home in someone's heart!

For me, personally, it's first-season all the way.

Vanishing Vachon

[waltd]

Yes, even though he is listed in the credits all the way through, they stopped using him about halfway through the season. It's like whoever owed the show then wanted to kill it.

Re: Vanishing Vachon

[greerwatson]

They also dropped using the clip of him in the opening credits. It was very frustrating: I loved the possibilities of having new vampire characters unrelated to LaCroix's family, and dearly hoped to see that explored. Instead, through the second half of the season, I looked each week in vain for Vachon or any of his friends. They only brought them back at the very end, and then killed them off.   :(

[elistaire]

Love the first season.

It's also on my list when we start to have the energy for me to binge FK in order w/ my guy. He's only seen parts of an ep or two here or there.

[brightknightie]

I imagine that sharing FK will be awesome. Something to look forward to!

I'd suggest that he see first season at least twice before moving on. ;-)

[sholio]

The early seasons were so much more optimistic and fun. For me 3rd season was like a whole different show, and one I didn't particularly like, even if it did have some interesting new characters.

[brightknightie]

There are so many changes we can specify and document and measure that make third season different, but there was also something all but inexpressible that slipped away, I feel. Something good, something bright...