Head Canons And Lister's Sexuality

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

We all have them, but some are more deeply entrenched than others.  The recent plethora of BDSM fic (thank you, Kronette and Felineranger) made me realise that I have problems imagining Lister as a natural, dyed in the wool submissive, which *spoiler* is a major aspect of "Lessons In Heroics", even though it's an alternate version of him.

(Kronette, this is not a criticism of your fic in any way.  You can write whatever the hell you like and I'm finding the story riveting regardless.) :)

Those who are following this story will know that, on the list of disquieting aspects, an alternate version of Lister being an enthusiastic sub is so far down it shouldn't even register, but somehow it does for me.  I think it's because his usual character is so anti rules and regulations that it's hard to imagine BDSM being a fundamental part of his sexuality.  Which isn't to say I can't see him enjoying it (as in "FSOS") but enjoying and needing are different.

I apologise in advance if my ramblings offend anyone.  I don't mean to imply that there's anything wrong with being a natural sub or Dom, just that it's not how I interpret his character.  I can imagine either of Rimmer though.

Does anyone else have head canons which you thought were casual until you read a fic which contradicted them?

Comments

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

I interpret Rimmer's homophobia (as displayed most strikingly in "DJ") as partly jealousy of Ace but also internalised self-hatred, sadly. His upbringing is also a major part of it. I have wondered whether Grant Naylor simply made a mistake when they briefly brought back Sam Murray in "Holoship" - as in, they either forgot or didn't care about the cut scene. It's possible that Sam was originally intended to be short for Samantha. Although Andrew Ellard bringing up the question in the Series V booklet does pretty much say: "Go ahead, slashers!". ;)

I realise I don't know that much about D/s relationships and am probably projecting my own assumptions a bit. FWIW, I found the initial portrayal of the relationship between alternate Rimmer and Lister in "Heroics" to be reasonably convincing - it was only towards the end of the latest chapter when Lister became more and more passive and seemed to stop having a life of his own at all that I began to think it was OOC. I realise that there's almost certainly more to that than meets the eye and I await the final chapter with bated breath.

(Kronette, I hope you don't mind having your WIP discussed here. I'm only doing so because it's gripping me so much.) :)

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

Could you explain this Sam Murray business janamelie? I don't have the show on DVD so I've missed out on a lot of background information and extras. Just curious what the cut scene was?

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

The extras packed versions of the Series I - VIII DVDs have lovely booklets about the making of each series written by Andrew Ellard who's the script editor on "BTE" and Series X and also ran the official website for about a decade.

This is a direct quote from the V booklet: "Briefly revived in "Holoship", it came as a surprise that Sam was male. In the original pilot script - and Series I's deleted funeral scene [from "The End"] - deceased crew member "Sam Murray" is said to be dating "Rick Thesen". Possibly Red Dwarf's first gay couple?"

If you remember, Felineranger took that interpretation and ran with it in "FSOS". ;)