Episode Discussion - "The Little Peas" (11/22/07)

[Ditchy McAbandonpants]

Hmmm... I gotta tell you, the whole "fanon" concept has always left me feeling a little uneasy. Naturally, I have no problem with fans isolating, separating and reinterpreting individual parts of a show to suit their personal tastes; that's all part and parcel of how to enjoy a creative work. What I've always been wary of is this perception (so rife amongst the hardcore fanfic-writing/"shipping" community) that the fans' interpretations and ideas are as important/more important than that of the creators themselves, and that it's up to them to influence the creators to produce work that better fits these interpretations. Not only does this suggest to me that said fans have lost track of what they were fans of in the first place, it's a dangerous form of power without responsibility, and it always saddens me when a creator does bow to this kind of pressure, because they always emerge with creative coherence and integrity diminished; the films Spider-Man 3, Star Wars Episode II and the game The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are three examples of projects that I feel ended up compromised by their attempts to "give fans what they want", rather than sticking to their own creative guns. Don't get me wrong, I'm not holding up "The Little Peas" as a bastion of artistic purity that must protected and cherished; more that I think it best that those who were dissatisfied with the episode deal with it in their own way, rather than starting a pressure movement to have it scrubbed from existence. Because that way lies madness.

As for the episode itself: I must say, I'm beginning to suspect that I'm something of a freak, because not only am I a Cheese-sceptic who thinks "The Big Cheese" was by far the best Cheese episode, but I'm also a Frankie fan who rather liked "The Little Peas". What can I say? I thought it was an original, fresh concept that was executed creditably. One thing I think everyone can agree on is that visually and design-wise, it was one of the most interesting episodes to date; reinterpreting everything in the house from the perspective of one so small completely changes its feel, and the episode had fun imaginatively transforming bits of scenery as familiar and innocuous as doorframes, elevators and carpets into terrifying chasms and lethal, intimidating deathtraps. As for Peas himself, I have to confess that I thought he worked. The central joke about the character - that he's a chipper, Mickey Mouse-esque do-gooder who imagines that he's inspiring those around him with his can-do attitude, but is in fact completely ignored - was sly enough to counterbalance his potential saccharinity, but without undermining him so much that his against-the-odds quest doesn't become actually a little inspiring.

My main problem with the episode, like most people, is that ending. Unlike a lot of others, I had no big problem with Peas's initial pep talk; it seemed out of character for Frankie to just give up like she did, but it was presented in an understandable way, and I read it as being sort of sweet that Peas should give this inspirational speech to the person who has clearly inspired him to do the things he did, and as quite an endorsement of Frankie as a person. The retcon of Peas whispering her entire TV address into her ear, on the other hand, just overplays that massively, changing Peas from plucky little helper to ridiculous deus ex machina and needlessly undermining Frankie's established character qualities of resourcefulness and intelligence, making her seem like a passive and hapless beneficiary of fortuitous circumstances. A major misstep, for sure, and one that leaves a slightly unpleasant taste in the mouth, but in a season that I felt cruised a little too much at times, the creative effort that clearly went into "Little Peas" still prevents me from judging it too harshly...

[antgirl1]

Originally Posted by Cassini90125

In that case I am declaring that Gooftard, Peas, and every Cheese episode after Mac Daddy no longer exists. Oh, and Dylan Lee got run over by a garbage truck.

And was crippled for life.

[Cassini90125]

Originally Posted by Cassini90125

In that case I am declaring that Gooftard, Peas, and every Cheese episode after Mac Daddy no longer exists. Oh, and Dylan Lee got run over by a garbage truck.

Originally Posted by antgirl1

And was crippled for life.

And smelled like garbage.

Originally Posted by Ditchy McAbandonpants

Hmmm... I gotta tell you, the whole "fanon" concept has always left me feeling a little uneasy. Naturally, I have no problem with fans isolating, separating and reinterpreting individual parts of a show to suit their personal tastes; that's all part and parcel of how to enjoy a creative work. What I've always been wary of is this perception (so rife amongst the hardcore fanfic-writing/"shipping" community) that the fans' interpretations and ideas are as important/more important than that of the creators themselves, and that it's up to them to influence the creators to produce work that better fits these interpretations. Not only does this suggest to me that said fans have lost track of what they were fans of in the first place, it's a dangerous form of power without responsibility, and it always saddens me when a creator does bow to this kind of pressure, because they always emerge with creative coherence and integrity diminished; the films Spider-Man 3, Star Wars Episode II and the game The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are three examples of projects that I feel ended up compromised by their attempts to "give fans what they want", rather than sticking to their own creative guns. Don't get me wrong, I'm not holding up "The Little Peas" as a bastion of artistic purity that must protected and cherished; more that I think it best that those who were dissatisfied with the episode deal with it in their own way, rather than starting a pressure movement to have it scrubbed from existence. Because that way lies madness.

You have no idea how strongly I agree with this. In any case, as far as I'm concerned The Little Peas is canon now, by virtue of the fact that it aired. I wish it hadn't, but I will have to live with it.

[AerostarMonk]

By no means was it my intention for fanon to be used unwisely. My perception of fanon has always been you keep it to yourself, unless there's truly a reason for it to be used. Many things that have fell victim of fanon were used to rashly. The Underdwellers wasn't so terrible of an episode that justified an ejection from canon.

Also fanon has been used to rectify some mistakes that the creators have missed. Once more I point to the DCAU, where in an episode of Superman, Wonder Woman was mentioned, an impossibility for she wouldn't be seen in man's world for almost 5 years after the mention. Or the existence of two Green Lanterns in the same sector. Now I'm getting way off topic. But what I'm saying is fanon is not all bad. You just have to use it wisely.

I still think that Peas was a highly annoying character and he wasn't too funny. I did like the different perspectives and the frame by frame identical scenes that showed improvement in the animation, but the central character was nigh unwatchable. The ret-con of an ending was a total copout. But one could actually figure that he just supplied the words, Frankie had to sell it which is something else entirely. What's a speech without a speaker?

[InsaneFan]

Originally Posted by Ditchy McAbandonpants

As for the episode itself: I must say, I'm beginning to suspect that I'm something of a freak, because not only am I a Cheese-sceptic who thinks "The Big Cheese" was by far the best Cheese episode, but I'm also a Frankie fan who rather liked "The Little Peas". What can I say? I thought it was an original, fresh concept that was executed creditably. One thing I think everyone can agree on is that visually and design-wise, it was one of the most interesting episodes to date; reinterpreting everything in the house from the perspective of one so small completely changes its feel, and the episode had fun imaginatively transforming bits of scenery as familiar and innocuous as doorframes, elevators and carpets into terrifying chasms and lethal, intimidating deathtraps. As for Peas himself, I have to confess that I thought he worked. The central joke about the character - that he's a chipper, Mickey Mouse-esque do-gooder who imagines that he's inspiring those around him with his can-do attitude, but is in fact completely ignored - was sly enough to counterbalance his potential saccharinity, but without undermining him so much that his against-the-odds quest doesn't become actually a little inspiring.

My main problem with the episode, like most people, is that ending. Unlike a lot of others, I had no big problem with Peas's initial pep talk; it seemed out of character for Frankie to just give up like she did, but it was presented in an understandable way, and I read it as being sort of sweet that Peas should give this inspirational speech to the person who has clearly inspired him to do the things he did, and as quite an endorsement of Frankie as a person. The retcon of Peas whispering her entire TV address into her ear, on the other hand, just overplays that massively, changing Peas from plucky little helper to ridiculous deus ex machina and needlessly undermining Frankie's established character qualities of resourcefulness and intelligence, making her seem like a passive and hapless beneficiary of fortuitous circumstances. A major misstep, for sure, and one that leaves a slightly unpleasant taste in the mouth, but in a season that I felt cruised a little too much at times, the creative effort that clearly went into "Little Peas" still prevents me from judging it too harshly...

Yes. I agree...Though, I liked the Big Cheese, but I don't count it as my favorite episode. If you're a freak, you're not alone. C=

[bloonuggets]

I guess there ain't no good times, there ain't no bad times.

It's just you and me and we just disagree.

I kind of liken this to what they call on wrestling boards as "an alternate perspective". The same program, but from a different angle (pun intended).

[CG]

This made me sad.

I don't know, first episode I watch since looking back into this series and... um. Wow. Mmhmm. It certain'y didn't catch me, if anything I felt kind of embarassed to watch this one. That's never happened before..!

Stupid Peas... I suddenly feel like mashing some peas into some pea mush..

[pitbulllady]

Originally Posted by CG

This made me sad.

I don't know, first episode I watch since looking back into this series and... um. Wow. Mmhmm. It certain'y didn't catch me, if anything I felt kind of embarassed to watch this one. That's never happened before..!

Stupid Peas... I suddenly feel like mashing some peas into some pea mush..

Yeah, it IS sad, especially if that WAS the last ep of the season, to end on that note.
For some reason, when I think of Peas, I can't help but be reminded of a certain scene in a certain old Linda Blair movie,

pitbulllady

[fosters home fan]

Originally Posted by pitbulllady

Yeah, it IS sad, especially if that WAS the last ep of the season, to end on that note.
For some reason, when I think of Peas, I can't help but be reminded of a certain scene in a certain old Linda Blair movie,

pitbulllady

You mean "The Exorcist"?! HAHAHAHA! The "Pea Soup" scene.

Yeah, This episode was Fair. Not my favorite, though.

[Dragonrider1227]

I JUST saw this episode. I like it. I always find episodes redone from someone else's point of view amusing, it was a good Frankie episode, and what's everyone got against Peas? He's ADORABLE!! I'd want to adopt him if I wasn't so sure our cats would eat him