Into The Sea We Go...

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Alas, poor Illya Kuryakin. The sailor who hates the sea. Thanks to The Shark Affair, we have knowledge of this weakness.
How many stories have featured this little detail? I don't recall it ever coming up again in the series. The number of times Illya ends up in the water is pretty often, swimming like a fish to do some sneaky maneuver and thwart or distract the enemy.
Is the fact (canon fact), that Illya is prone to being seasick an endearing quality? Do we write about it because a weakness makes him that much more human?
What do you think? And, if you write, how often have you drawn attention to a seasick Russian?
While we're on the topic of water, how ironic is it that Napoleon has been cast (thanks to st_crispins I believe), as an experienced sailor aboard his own vessel, but thanks to real life info, remains uncomfortable in the water.
I know it's a Holiday Weekend for a lot of us, but if you get a minute, leave a comment.


photo from Lisa's Framecap Library

Comments

Good topic

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Not only is Illya prone to seasickness, but he has allergies and is prone to colds...don't forget his dislike of dogs too. Poor boy. I've used the seasickness trope in a fair few stories as well as Napoleon's love of sailing on the sea...but not being in the water. His fear of water I related to in a backstory where he nearly drowned as a child.

Using aspects of the actor's life and personality helps flesh out the characters, making them even more real and believable.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Since seasickness is a totally different thing from swimming/diving, I can buy an Illya at home IN the water, just not so much ON it. :-)

As with sailors who can't swim (possibly not so true these days, but historically), I can sort of buy a sailor who hates water, but I don't buy that for Napoleon. That's too obvious a weakness for a spy (not being able to swim, I mean). Even if RV felt that way, Napoleon would've had to overcome it.

So I see them both as capable on and in the water, even if it isn't their very favorite pastime.

On the sea vs. in the sea

[k1p2psso.livejournal.com]

Being on the sea is quite different than being in the sea.

I've gotten seasick while crewing a sailboat in rougher seas. Normally, I looked to the horizon and that minimized the sensations of movement, but that's a luxury when crewing.

I'd guess that many would get sick after hours of bobbing without drinking water or shade in open ocean.

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

No-one who suffers it can help seasickness, so it's unfair to disapprove - after all, the hero of the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Lord Nelson, was notoriously seasick. His sailors loved him, so they weren't bothered by it. Whether he was afraid of heights is unknown but he seems happy to continue to stand on top of his column in Trafalgar Square.

I have mentioned Illya's problem with seasickness in passing, and also his swimming ability which I find much more interesting. Likewise Napoleon and his boat, but that only because it appears so much in the fandom.

RE: Good topic

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

He does have a cold in the The King of Diamonds (with Ricardo Montalban), but I don't recall the allergies. It's amazing what we remember about those episodes.
I do recall that Robert Vaughn had some sort of traumatic experience in the water.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Napoleon does have a few escapades in the water. The Ultimate Computer comes to mind. I don't think of him being unable to swim, just a dislike of being in the water.
I do seem to recall one or two stories where he was asking Illya to teach him to swim. It was probably more about getting something started between them.

RE: On the sea vs. in the sea

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

A brave soul out on the water. I'm not a good swimmer, I like cruise ships okay ;). You're right though, being on a raft out in the middle of nowhere... yuck.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I think a fair number of us see any weakness of vulnerability as something we can relate to, write about and use to make the characters more real. Comparing the unavoidable, such as being prone to seasickness, to his excellent skills as a swimmer create a sort of dichotomy that makes Illya Kuryakin that much more our hero.
At least that's one way of looking at it.

Re: Good topic

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I don't remember the name of the episode but it's the one where IK inadvertently saves the life of some foreign dictator and he's given a heroes sash to wear along the a bouquet of flowers, which makes him sneeze.

Now funny, I don't remember NS having had some traumatic experience in the water. I do recall RV complaining about the writers giving him water scenes when they knew he didn't know how to swim.

[irisheitie.livejournal.com]

I am very at home in the water and love to swim, but i get seasick VERY easily. So this little factoid about our fella, Illya, makes perfect sense to me.

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

In my world, they both know how to swim, but Illya is the far superior swimmer and Napoleon does have a fear of open water. In one of my stories they had to swim out from a beach to get to their boat. Napoleon was nervous, but didn't hesitate to enter the water because Illya held his hand as they swam.

My guys are human beings with fears and insecurities. I never liked the idea of the hero or heroes being basically invincible. I want them to win, not because they are the smartest guys in the room, but because they worked hard and overcame.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I think the original concept of the show was two men who weren't the typical super hunky types, something we've all taken to heart... quite literally ;)
Little things point to them being 'just guys', albeit handsome, talented and heroic, but still just ordinary men.
Okay, they're not just ordinary, but it's okay if Napoleon isn't keen on being in the middle of the ocean without a boat. I sort of feel the same way.