Round Table - The Friendship

[glenmered]

 

Last week we had a rousing conversation concerning Illya and his women, and his attitude towards them.  Out of that came a comment from vmccooley that had a promise of more comments as we explore what each of us perceives as the depth of the relationship between Solo and Kuryakin.
For the sake of a free exchange, I think we must make this forum truly open; that is to say, whatever your viewpoint on this it is welcome as part of the conversation.  I realize the fans of MFU range from those who hold to the series' presentation of the men as purely professional tinged with a solid friendship, while others have taken it to a romantic relationship.  This is the day to tell us how you got there and why it holds your imagination and attention as a writer and/or reader.
So, what do you think? Just what are the depths of devotion between Napoleon and Illya?

Comments

[msk1024]

Like Glenmered, I view Illya and Napoleon through the lens of my childhood self watching the show when it was first run. I don't easily buy in to a sexual relationship between IK and NS, but good writing persuades me. And a lot of stories make a really good case--Illya having an extremely guarded personal life, and Napoleon having what seems to be a casual, recreational approach to women.

I think we give the show and the relationship a lot more thought than the producers and writers did! Shows from that period were fairly lightweight emotionally. MFU does seem to have robust emotional underpinning, but I suspect that's due to two exceptionally fine actors.

My first online fandom was X-Files, and my take on Mulder and Scully was that they loved each other and were interested romantically in each other, but driving a lot of that was the fact that they were so unbelievably isolated from anyone else. Danger kept them from connecting with their families and friends, and made romance with anyone else far too risky. That would lend itself very easily to the MFU world. IK and NS are also isolated from anyone out of the organization. Humans have the need for intimacy--a hunger, really. Whether that relationship is sexual or strictly platonic, they would be drawn to each other out of a need.

[glenmered]

just imagine what the series would be like if it were done today. We'd have those layers of relationship, a continuing story line most likely, and so much more. I love the show as it is for what it is, but fan fiction has definitely improved on certain elements of what the writers couldn't delve into.

On the other hand

[msk1024]

On the other hand, from what I've seen in fandoms where the show is still ongoing, there is often a lot of heated discussion when the show doesn't go in the direction some fans want. We're blessedly free from that in MFU fandom, at least for the show. It's done and 50 years old, so we work with (and love and worship) what we have. I remember as a kid having very little say in anything--not at school and not at home. That's the way it was. I think we have a much calmer and more realistic attitude to the show. We don't expect to have any say in the direction of the show. (heck, most of the powers that were are no longer alive).

Re: On the other hand

[glenmered]

Very true, it's all just gravy for us at this point ;)