Helen Magnus/Ranna Seneschal 4eva!

[fembuck]

So, I don't watch Sanctuary regularly but back in September I posted about Amanda Tapping saying that in the second half of season three there was going to be an amazing female guest star on the show for several episodes who goes toe to toe with Magnus, and that in reading the scenes Tapping thought that there was some romantic or at least sexual tension between the characters that she thought would be wonderful to explore.

I've just seen the second-half of the two-parter and it was glorious.  I totally understand what Tapping was talking about now that I've seen Pax Romana.

Download link: Episode 3x11 - Pax Romana

It was so wonderful getting to see two intelligent, forceful, confident, mature women interacting with each other as equals, and it was even better seeing the genuine respect for each other that grew between them through their interactions throughout the episode.  As they grew to trust each other, and especially by the end of the episode, I could definitely see the romantic potential/sexual chemistry between Helen and Ranna that Tappings was talking about.

Also, it was lovely for me as a Polly Walker fan to see her get to be commanding and forceful, but also display a softer, gentler side.  I loved to watch Clarice Willow on Caprica, but it was really hard to actually love Clarice because ... well, bitch was crazy.  So actually being able to respect Ranna and guiltlessly cheer for her was great! Also, (possibly because I wasn't scared of her character in this) I thought that PW looked fantastically, magically gorgeous in this episode.  I just wanted to run my fingers through her hair forever, and I could probably stare at nothing but her face for the rest of my life and be perfectly entertained.

In conclusion, Hollywood needs to let mature actresses be on screen together in meaningful ways more often, and while I still don't love Sanctuary as a whole, I'll be watching all of the Ranna Seneschal episodes, that's for sure!

Comments

[trancer21.livejournal.com]

Heh, I haven't watched the ep yet but I do have to say I've been enjoying season 3, somewhat. I think they've recovered a bit from the Ashley thing, ie, they're no longer square peg/round holing Kate's character. I still don't get the PTB's fascination with the Will character but they have seemed to have figured out that Helen works best when she's playing with GROWN UPS. These days, the show reminds me of old school Stargate, cotton candy for the brain but with room to be soo much better if they tried to be.

But.. *sigh* I still miss Ashley.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I want desperately to like this show, but have never really been able to. Maybe I'll give season 3 a shot though, if you think it's fairly decent.

In the bits and pieces of episodes that I've seen, Kate hasn't annoyed me as much as she used to, but I still think the actresses can't really act.

but they have seemed to have figured out that Helen works best when she's playing with GROWN UPS.

Yes, dammit. You'll really, really like the Helen/Ranna interactions. I feel like Tapping really enjoyed getting to work with a female adult as well.

But.. *sigh* I still miss Ashley.

*sigh* I know. Me too.

[karatam.livejournal.com]

So, I have never seen this show before, and yet am still downloading the episode. That is how desperate I am for actual female interaction on television lol.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

lol! Oh, Hollywood/entertainment industry! Do you see what you've done to us???

Seriously, though the development of the Helen/Ranna relationship was great, and even if you've never seen the show before it's worth checking out.

I just hope that when they say Ranna will be in several episodes that it's closer to 7 episodes than like 3. Cause I need to see more of these ladies in action together.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know. Polly Walker is magical. Like you said, there's just something about her. I never get tired of watching her, and there's like no place on her body I wouldn't put my lips. She's a goddess.

at the end I really thought Polly Ranna wanted to kiss Sam Tap Helen!:)

I thought so too! I knew that Tapping would probably try and bring the gay, and I def. saw Helen's woman!crush, but it was great that Polly was on the same femslashy page as well and really brought the subtext. That last scene between them was amazing. I'm shipping them hard right now. I'm very curious to see how the show is going to get them to interact though, given the nature of Ranna's speech to Helen.

(Good lord, tell Helen's father just to forget the attempt at the accent!)

Oh dear God he was awful. The accent was so patchy it took me a while to realize he was even attempting one. Tappings accent is passable (though, next to Walker's you could tell it was a put on one), but Daddy Magnus' was horrid (that dude isn't the greatest actor in general though, so I guess that's to be expected).

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I'm used to Tap's accent now - 1st few episodes = Wha'!?!

lol! I know. Me too. She's worn me down. I've gotten used to it. Though it was funny hearing it opposite someone with an actual British accent in this episode.

Polly Walker just exudes power, sexuality, mischief...that she's knows & is on to so much more than everyone else.



This, so much. Just your description of her is almost too much for my pants to handle. She's just so dominant. I love it.

he way she was fingering her tablet in that scene.

Oh dear god, I know! That was so ridiculously hot. It was like Ranna was trying desperately to stop herself from reaching out to touch Magnus. The repressed longing was delicious.

I'd have died if she bit her lip. :)

Oh, me too. I definitely could not watch that scene with anyone else in the room if she'd done that. I was barely able to handle the scene as it was, lol

I don't know anything about John Carter of Mars, but if Polly Walker is in it I will see it. If I saw Clash of the Titans for her, there's no way I'll stay away from this one.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I think I'd kneel for Polly.

I KNOW I'd kneel for Polly Walker, lol. She like wouldn't even have to ask/command. It would be my natural inclination to kneel in worship.

But you can make contact with ME any time. Right now in fact. Touch, kiss, lick...

I know right. You know they're both going to come up with any reason they can to seek out the others 'help'. Helen's gonna be inviting Ranna up to the surface to like find out if her shoes go with her jacket, just so that once Ranna's up there they can go out to dinner and like sex in front of the fire in one of Helen's giant libraries.

Will let you know when pic's are leaked.

It'll be very much appreciated. Is Polly's character a fairly prominent, or is it likely to be a glorified cameo role?

[ralst.livejournal.com]

I watched a few episodes of the first season but the misplaced fascination TPTB had with wonder-boy Will quickly eroded my interest. Then you go and mention sexual tension and Polly Walker and I'm all 'Will who?' and downloading.

The show is lint and Will is still excruciatingly annoying but the spark between Helen and Ranna renders that of little consequence. From the fifteen minute mark onwards the heat and chemistry flourished and left me eager to watch another - Ranna filled - episode.

Women, over thirty, working and talking and not competing over men? Surely, that sort of thing is illegal in TV circles?

As for the father's accent, during the last scene I did wonder why Helen, with her fake Old English accent, had a father with an American one.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

the misplaced fascination TPTB had with wonder-boy Will quickly eroded my interest.

Oh, I know. The amount of Will in the episodes in the first season made the episodes unwatchable. I'm glad that TPTB seem to realize that Magnus (and Tapping) is the reason people turned into this show.

Women, over thirty, working and talking and not competing over men? Surely, that sort of thing is illegal in TV circles?

lol *sigh* Considering how rare it is you'd think it really was illegal. And I don't understand why, because as these two showed women working together can produce some amazing TV. Stupid youth obsessed industry.

As for the father's accent, during the last scene I did wonder why Helen, with her fake Old English accent, had a father with an American one.


So true. As questionable as Tappings accent is, at least it's recognizable as an attempt at a British accent. The guy playing her father's "accent" was just abysmal.

Anyway, like you I am looking forward to more Ranna filled episodes. I just hope that when Tapping said several episodes, she really meant several and we've got 5 or so more Polly Walker episodes to look forward to.

[lisel (from livejournal.com)]

Thanks for this post and the link. I gave up on Sanctuary because of the Ashley fiasco but you've got me intrigued.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I gave up on it after the Ashley fiasco as well. I only watched this for Polly Walker, and I'll likely bail again after she's gone, but while Ranna is on the show I'll be watching.

wait, what?? how??

[plaguetalon.livejournal.com]

the episode is supposed to air in like 2 weeks, or am i mixing it up with something?

Re: wait, what?? how??

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's supposed to air on April 15th. It leaked early though.