Richie, problems
Apr. 3rd, 2006 06:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethI've been thinking, trying to figure out why some people don't like Richie.
To me this is a tricky problem. I'm a Richie fan. I step up to flag wave by reflex. I like the guy, the story, the possibilities.
But, thinking on it, even I have to agree, there were times Richie was... less easy to adore.
And there were times he would have been easy to leave out.
Richie is the sidekick, usually the comedy kind. He plays the damsel in distress sometimes, or dates her. He's often the source of the plot. He'll bring home someone or meet someone or get the attention of someone and somehow it ends up being Mac's problem, especially in the early years. So he's annoying, because of being often the problem.
He is also often distracting. There's times Duncan and Tessa are talking and he steps in the middle. If you don't see his story as interesting of itself, thats kind of irritating. There are a lot of times he'll disagree with Mac, often turning out to be wrong, and using a lot of words to prove it. There are times when his plot seems totally irrelevant to the rest of the plot. I can see some thematic connections in 'Methos', but I have to stretch to find them, and I do sympathise if people want to skip his sections.
So the writers use him to say something, or to stretch the story out long enough. And because he isn't the main character, that's kind of annoying, because who wants to see him just to see him?
Well, me, of course. Because...
There was this post someone wrote the other day about the difference between hero, main character, and protagonist.
Richie is not the main character on Highlander. You can tell, on account of the show not being called Richie. With the way the show is structured, that means his basic function is to make Mac look good. Which necessarily involves him being not so good.
He always tries to be the hero. This involves a lot of Cunning Plans, some of which work out better than others.
But the part that I like the most about him is that he is, quite often, the protagonist.
In that he is often the one that is changed.
Richie starts off as our way in, breaking in to the world of Immortals. He starts off trying to steal all the shiny things, but Mac gives him some options, and soon he's the guy minding the store and protecting things. Richie changes enough that when he goes back to the old neighbourhood he doesn't fit in any more. He keeps trying to find a way to be, something to do to make his life mean something. Sales and bike racing in the more mundane side of the world, both of which he is good at but quits for moral reasons. And in the Immortal world? He keeps trying to make a difference there. Immortals never intimidate him. If he sees someone in trouble, he'll grab a gun and protect. Sometimes it'll get him in more trouble, sometimes he's chosen the wrong side, but he keeps trying and keeps getting better at it. And then he gets shot. And dies. And wakes up Immortal. And here's this whole world we/he has been watching, and here's his chance to be part of it. Which turns out not so simple. So he has to try and deal with all of that, and keeps finding new situations and challenges that require him to change to keep up with it all.
Richie is *always* being changed. Right up until his last line of the series (that I'll admit to), "I'm learning." That right there is essence of Richie.
So, yeah, there are episodes where he doesn't do so very much, and episodes where he needs bucket of cold water treatment, and he isn't always very skilled at what he tries to do, but. There are other times. When he's the story of growing up. Which I think is worth watching.
To me this is a tricky problem. I'm a Richie fan. I step up to flag wave by reflex. I like the guy, the story, the possibilities.
But, thinking on it, even I have to agree, there were times Richie was... less easy to adore.
And there were times he would have been easy to leave out.
Richie is the sidekick, usually the comedy kind. He plays the damsel in distress sometimes, or dates her. He's often the source of the plot. He'll bring home someone or meet someone or get the attention of someone and somehow it ends up being Mac's problem, especially in the early years. So he's annoying, because of being often the problem.
He is also often distracting. There's times Duncan and Tessa are talking and he steps in the middle. If you don't see his story as interesting of itself, thats kind of irritating. There are a lot of times he'll disagree with Mac, often turning out to be wrong, and using a lot of words to prove it. There are times when his plot seems totally irrelevant to the rest of the plot. I can see some thematic connections in 'Methos', but I have to stretch to find them, and I do sympathise if people want to skip his sections.
So the writers use him to say something, or to stretch the story out long enough. And because he isn't the main character, that's kind of annoying, because who wants to see him just to see him?
Well, me, of course. Because...
There was this post someone wrote the other day about the difference between hero, main character, and protagonist.
Richie is not the main character on Highlander. You can tell, on account of the show not being called Richie. With the way the show is structured, that means his basic function is to make Mac look good. Which necessarily involves him being not so good.
He always tries to be the hero. This involves a lot of Cunning Plans, some of which work out better than others.
But the part that I like the most about him is that he is, quite often, the protagonist.
In that he is often the one that is changed.
Richie starts off as our way in, breaking in to the world of Immortals. He starts off trying to steal all the shiny things, but Mac gives him some options, and soon he's the guy minding the store and protecting things. Richie changes enough that when he goes back to the old neighbourhood he doesn't fit in any more. He keeps trying to find a way to be, something to do to make his life mean something. Sales and bike racing in the more mundane side of the world, both of which he is good at but quits for moral reasons. And in the Immortal world? He keeps trying to make a difference there. Immortals never intimidate him. If he sees someone in trouble, he'll grab a gun and protect. Sometimes it'll get him in more trouble, sometimes he's chosen the wrong side, but he keeps trying and keeps getting better at it. And then he gets shot. And dies. And wakes up Immortal. And here's this whole world we/he has been watching, and here's his chance to be part of it. Which turns out not so simple. So he has to try and deal with all of that, and keeps finding new situations and challenges that require him to change to keep up with it all.
Richie is *always* being changed. Right up until his last line of the series (that I'll admit to), "I'm learning." That right there is essence of Richie.
So, yeah, there are episodes where he doesn't do so very much, and episodes where he needs bucket of cold water treatment, and he isn't always very skilled at what he tries to do, but. There are other times. When he's the story of growing up. Which I think is worth watching.
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-04 01:56 pm (UTC)Richie and Joe are my entry points into the strange, wonderful, and often horrible world of Immortals. When Richie struggles with having to leave the life he was creating because of being publicly DEAD, I felt for him.
Of course he comes across as an idiot quite often. Partially because of the needs of the plot, partially because he's an 18-year old boy being compared with a 400-year old one. I'm sure, compared to many of his friends, Richie actually has a good head on his shoulders. So to speak.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-06 12:29 am (UTC)Richie changes very much, yes. Which is appropriate. Teenager vs man in his 20s. End of high school/college freshman vs postgrad age. Shop assisstant to dojo manager. Big changes, much growing.
Richie breaks in to the Immortal world, yes, and I with him. Initially there was no Joe, and he's more different from me, so less a way in.
... I never identified with Tessa. Even though she was mortal and there from the start. I guess... she had it all already? Shiny artist person living with Duncan, no seeing how she got there. Process is involving.
Richie is ill informed compared to most of the people he hangs out with because of Mac. But compared to the people from his old life, he's a genius. I mean they included the drug dealer teenage mother, and the con artist guy who was in court, and assorted thieves and miscreants. Cop expected Richie to be always in jail. Instead he found a way out, and did well at it.
And compared to most teenagers? Richie gets a good job, a place of his own, friends, martial arts skills, lots of admin skills, the bike racing career, a solid life with responisibilities. And lots of travelling, and having to step away from responsibility he'd like (the lady with the baby) because of all the unwanted stuff, but that's responsible too, given the circumstances.
So yeah, Richie, for what he was, was doing great.
*waves little flag*
no subject
Date: 2006-04-04 04:05 pm (UTC)Very very good points. As you said, HL is not an ensamble show, and if Methos stole the stage with a handful of episodes, it's because PW is brilliant and suave and lanky, and because his character is twisted and 5000 yo worth of fiction...and Duncan is the Hero, as you said.
Now, I've never been much attracted to one-manshows. The Hero type doesn't appeal to me at all. All in one piece, always (in the end) on the right side maybe even if doing the wrong side. Also, AP is much better in RL and when laughing than in his 'Duncan-is-brooding-yet-again' persona.
So, yes, Richie was a sidekick, there to make Duncan look good, so I understand how many just thought, hey, we dont need him, just give us the Highlander. But, as you wrote, Duncan was 400 year old and all wise with it, most of the time, whereas Richie was a kid and a somewhat lost one, and cocky with it, and he changed and learnt and grew up beautifully, I think.
thank you for making me think all of this, and for sharing your thoughts :D
no subject
Date: 2006-04-06 12:30 am (UTC)thanksyou.
*nods a lot*
sharing is cool :)