A question

[azziria]

Reading discussions on various boards about the introduction of the new female character on Hawaii Five-0 has got me thinking: What makes you like a character on a show who is not of the gender you're sexually attracted to? Which characters appeal to you and which don't, and why?

I've seen the opinion stated that Lori Weston was added to appeal to the male viewers; I've also seen it stated that she was added to increase the show's attraction for female viewers. Personally I find her just that little bit too perfect and doll-like to appeal to me as a female viewer, although I suspect that it's the lack of character so far that's really making me see her like that, not her undeniable beauty. I'm not sure that I can identify too closely with a female character who is presented as completely unflawed. I like to feel that my heroines are people I'd be interested in hanging out with.

So, who do you like and why?

Comments

[verasteine.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's a really intriguing question to me. A while ago (and this is a long story, excuse if I ramble too much, tl;dr and all that) I decided to stop watching American shows and start watching only or mostly European television. One of things I found myself enjoying a lot were the rounded, interesting female characters, who weren't all size 0, conventionally pretty, or constantly objectified. When I got into H50 and ended my EU-only television streak, I was really surprised, pleasantly so, about the casting choices on the show, and it made me realise something else.

I'm incredibly allergic to actresses who meet the conventional beauty myth in the extreme. Lori Weston, or rather the actress playing her, is a prime example. When we were first introduced to Jenna, I liked that she didn't. Of course, that's not my sole basis for liking/disliking female charactes, but it helps.

I also like them being humans first and women second, and I like them competent and professional. One of the reasons why I disliked Lori hugely in the first ep she was in was that she was completely unprofessional a lot of the time, and that's extremely unrealistic. Women, especially in a male dominated field, would never get anywhere by going teary eyed over things the way she does. This idea that women = compassion is not only insulting and generalizing, it also means you won't be able to compete.

Another thing: I like my women feminist. The way Lori talks to Steve puts my hackles up (the way she talks to Danny, ditto). Gender presentation is not unambivalent on this show, but some things it does with gender is unconventional compared to other US shows, and she actually breaks that streak in an annoying fashion. I like all the other women on this show hugely, but Lori does not have anything that would make me like her, in RL or as a character for me to explore.

[azziria.livejournal.com]

It's very interesting what you say about European vs US TV because I've thought it myself about British TV vs US TV. Our shows (and our soaps in particular) have characters of all shapes and sizes, some beautiful and some not, but when I watch American shows they seem to be full of beautiful thin people.

And like you I think I have a problem with actresses (and some actors, too) who as you say meet the conventional beauty myth in the extreme. I like some quirk to my beauty.

I didn't like Lori's 'sexist' remarks, either. I find those sort of remarks just as offensive coming from a woman as coming from a man.